The case file
Four friends in a Kent retirement village turn their weekly interest in cold cases toward a murder on their doorstep.
Get this book
ISBN 9780241988268
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Can I start here?
Yes. This introduces the quartet, their allies and Coopers Chase from the beginning.
Who will enjoy it
A welcoming place to begin
The Thursday Murder Club suits readers who enjoy warm ensemble mysteries, dry humour and character-led investigations.
Tone & themes
Warm, wry and quietly moving
Friendship, ageing and community sit alongside the puzzle. Expect emotional weight without losing the comic touch.
Listening note
Lesley Manville
The English recording listed below is unabridged.
Our opinion · 30-second verdict
The natural first choice for readers who want the full Coopers Chase experience.
Four friends who examine old case files find themselves investigating a fresh murder on their doorstep.
Spoiler-free companion
Inside this case
Warm, wry and gently suspenseful.
- Key locations
- Coopers Chase · The Jigsaw Room · Kent
- Characters in the story
- Elizabeth · Joyce · Ibrahim · Ron · Donna · Chris · Bogdan
- Themes
- Friendship · Ageing · Community · Second chances
Our opinion · reader profile
What kind of case is it?
Content notes
- Murder and discussion of death
- Ageing, bereavement and family illness
- Occasional violence and threat
Formats & languages
How else can I read or listen?
Penguin lists print, ebook and audio editions. For The Thursday Murder Club, the details below cover 4 audio recordings, including Deutsch, Español (Castellano), Italiano. Exact formats, covers and availability vary by country.
While you read
Three things to notice
- How apparent innocence becomes an investigative advantage
- The contrast between official police work and the club’s methods
- Early details that establish friendships used throughout the series
Reading-group file
Three spoiler-free questions
- Which member of the club first earned your trust?
- Does Coopers Chase feel like a refuge, a trap, or both?
- How does humour change the way the murder is experienced?
Quick answers
Frequently asked
Does this book solve its central mystery?
Yes. The Thursday Murder Club has its own central case, while the character stories continue across the series.
Should I read the series in order?
Yes. This introduces the quartet, their allies and Coopers Chase from the beginning.
Are translated audiobooks available?
This guide includes Deutsch, Español (Castellano), Italiano recordings. Check the audiobook section below for marketplace details.
Edition details
UK edition history
Formats on the publisher record
Edition described above
- Format
- Paperback
- Published
- Imprint
- Penguin
- Dimensions
- 197 × 24 × 129 mm
- Weight
- 271 g
- 2020HardbackFirst UK publicationFirst publication
- 2020Ebook
- 2020Audio download and CD
- 2021Paperback
- 2025PaperbackFilm-era edition listed by Penguin
Reception
Awards, milestones and critical pattern
Celebrate the books’ awards and bestseller milestones, and discover what readers and critics enjoy about them.
Books Are My Bag Readers’ Choice 2021
Readers across the UK and Ireland selected the novel in the open-vote Readers’ Choice category.
A record-breaking debut
Penguin describes the novel as one of the fastest-selling debuts in publishing history.
Available recordings
English
- Narrator
- Lesley Manville
- Audible marketplace
- UK · US · DE · IT
- Running time
- 12 hrs 25 min
- Audio release
- Edition
- Unabridged
- Includes a conversation with Richard Osman and Marian Keyes
Der Donnerstagsmordclub
Deutsch
- Narrator
- Johannes Steck, Beate Himmelstoß
- Translator
- Sabine Roth
- Audio publisher
- Hörbuch Hamburg
- Audible marketplace
- DE
- Running time
- 11 hrs 44 min
- Audio release
- Edition
- Unabridged
El Club del Crimen de los Jueves
Español (Castellano)
- Narrator
- Marta Martín Jorcano, Azucena Díaz
- Translator
- Claudia Conde Fisas
- Audio publisher
- Planeta Audio
- Audible marketplace
- ES
- Running time
- 11 hrs 30 min
- Audio release
- Edition
- Unabridged
Il club dei delitti del giovedì
Italiano
- Narrator
- Gigi Scribani, Francesca Vettori
- Translator
- Roberta Corradin
- Audio publisher
- Saga Egmont
- Audible marketplace
- IT
- Running time
- 10 hrs 57 min
- Audio release
- Edition
- Unabridged
Meet characters in this book
- Elizabeth Best — Retired intelligence professional
- Joyce Meadowcroft — Retired nurse and diarist
- Ibrahim Arif — Retired psychiatrist
- Ron Ritchie — Retired trade-union organiser
- Bogdan Jankowski — Builder and all-purpose problem solver
- Donna De Freitas — Police officer
- Chris Hudson — Police detective
- Stephen Best — Retired academic
- Patrice De Freitas — Donna’s mother and a friend of the club
- Joanna Meadowcroft — Finance professional
- Penny Gray — Retired police detective inspector
- John Gray — Retired veterinarian
- Jason Ritchie — Former boxer