The Unlikely Detectives: Books to Read if You Loved ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ Series
Clue. Scooby Doo. Only Murders in the Building. What do all these series have in common? Loveable groups of crime-solving pals. As readers we love when an unlikely band of misfits bond over their shared love of solving a case that they’re suddenly dragged into. Perhaps in someways we relate more to them than a seasoned detective or P.I. Or perhaps watching a group of teens or elderly folk stumble and bicker their way through a case only to somehow find their way to the killer by the end of things.
The Thursday Murder Club is one of the best iterations of this genre and with the upcoming release of its on-screen adaptation coming to Netflix, we’ve curated a list of books with charming crime fighting teams for you to enjoy.
Margaret Winterbottom, 89, has lived on Garnon Crescent her entire life—except for a few years she never talks about. She knows all the neighbors: their lives, their hopes, their heartbreaks. Only recently, Margaret’s memory isn’t what it used to be. She’s sure Barbara, her best friend and neighbor, told her something very important . . . but what? When Barbara is found dead in an apparent homicide, Margaret is determined to recover the missing memory. Margaret and her grandson, James, begin investigating, but soon strange things begin happening in her home—objects moving and cropping up in odd places, the television turning on by itself. Some believe her memory is worsening, but Margaret knows somebody wants her out of the way because she holds the key to solving the case—if only she could recall where she put it . . .
It’s the opening night of The Manor, the newest and hottest luxury resort, and no expense, small or large, has been spared. The infinity pool sparkles. The “Manor Mule” cocktail (grapefruit, ginger, vodka, and a dash of CBD oil) is being poured with a heavy hand. Everyone is wearing linen. But under the burning midsummer sun, darkness stirs. Old friends and enemies circulate among the guests. Just outside the Manor’s immaculately kept grounds, an ancient forest bristles with secrets. And it’s not too long before the local police are called. Turns out the past has crashed the party, with deadly results.
A fresh round of violent deaths begins, and Ayatsuji’s skillful, furious pacing propels the narrative. As the students are picked off one by one, he weaves in the story of the mainland investigation of the earlier murders. This is a homage to Golden Age detective fiction, but it’s also unabashed entertainment.”
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