One of my favorite authors, Kate Atkinson, best described this debut novel in the blurb on the cover: “A little beacon of pleasure in the midst of the gloom. . . SUCH FUN!” (Which, now that I think of it, was pretty much my reaction to Atkinson’s very first book in 1995, Behind the scenes in the museum.) If you need a lift, put this book on reserve right now. Set in a posh retirement home (think The Gatesworth), the retirees there are far from doddering old folks pegging out their sunset years. Led by Elizabeth, who may have had a shadowy career in espionage, the other three members of the Thursday Murder Club are Joyce, a retired nurse; Ron, a rough-edged former Labor leader; and Ibrahim, a cultured psychologist. Joyce has replaced Penny, who suffered a stroke, and whose old files (which she surreptitiously copied when she retired from the police force) they peruse seeking the answers to the unsolved mysteries. Soon, however, actual dead bodies will start piling up and the quartet has real investigating to do. Full of rich characters, psychological depth, and wry British humor, this book is just what we need right now. Hope Mr. Osman has some more ideas for future books! 368 pp.
No comments:
Post a Comment