Author: Richard Osman
Publication: Viking, hardcover, 2020
Genre: Mystery
Setting: Present-day England
Donna De Freitas looks around at the Murder Squad. There are a few new faces. She simply cannot believe her luck. Two murders and she is right in the middle of it. She has to hand it to Elizabeth. She definitely owes her a drink, or whatever else Elizabeth would prefer. A scarf? Who knew what Elizabeth would like? A gun, probably.My Impression: I heard about this book way back in November from Cath at Read-Warbler and was intrigued to learn about the author, a popular game show host on British TV who clearly loves the classics of the Golden Age of Mystery as we do. The book is so popular in the US, despite few here ever having heard of Osman, that my reserve copy did not show up until February. I thought it was fun and funny, as the four friends try to outpace the police despite being at times perplexed by some of the popular culture that confronts them. Elizabeth is a wonderful character, calculating but kind, and she reminded me a little of my grandmother who would have enjoyed her assisted living so much more if she’d had an interest and friends like those here. Some of the narrative is told in the first person by Joyce, whose rambling sounds a little too much like my internal thought process! However, Joyce, in her 70s, is shrewd enough to know how to deal with Elizabeth, figuring out that the best way to find out what brilliance Elizabeth is planning is to coax it out of her by not asking questions. I really liked the police team investigating the murder, Donna and her boss, DCI Chris Hudson, and how – somewhat against their will – they are flattered and coaxed into allowing the Club into their investigation:
Chris had his own chair and his own side table, and he now feels like the King of the World. He sometimes forgets the impact a police officer can have on members of the public. The gang in front of him are looking at him with something approaching awe. It’s nice to be taken seriously once in a while, and he is happily giving them the benefit of his wisdom.I only had three quibbles: one was that the ending was somewhat confusing and I thought it improbable that so many people with murderous thoughts were in roughly the same place and two, at times the four friends were portrayed as a little more clueless about modern culture than seemed realistic at the ages they are depicted. For example, Elizabeth knows how to text but only just learned what LOL stands for and never heard of a Fitbit? Coopers Chase is expensive (Joyce points out she is only there because her hedge fund daughter purchased her unit) so some of the residents are probably just as health-conscious as their American counterparts. Finally, as I have mentioned before, I wish people wouldn’t write in the present tense.
I am pleased to hear this will become a series. This is my second book in the Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge.
I don't like when authors write in the present tense either! But I do like the sound of this book. Great review. :D
ReplyDeleteThis one has been pushed so much in the UK and that always puts me off a bit, but as you enjoyed it-ish, I'll give it a go at some point.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't bothered by the present tense writing, makes a change, but I do agree that the ending got quite confusing. I lost track of who had done what to whom. I agree too about their lack of knowledge of modern culture, but I also know that I have two female relatives aged 80 and 65 who know absolutely nothing about phones or the internet and don't want to. This never fails to shock me. LOL
ReplyDeleteCath, I liked the bit where Donna called Elizabeth late and woke her up and Elizabeth pretended she was watching Inspector Morse but Donna wasn't fooled. That did seem very convincing (although even friends my age now seem to be going to bed much earlier than before).
ReplyDeleteKatrina, I sometimes resist new books that everyone is reading but it is sometimes fun to be in the know! It's nice that the author is enjoyed it so much he is planning to write more.
I gave this book to my 80 something mother for Christmas and will read it once my sister is done with it. My mom liked it. She knows how to text but probably doesn't know what LOL stands for either. I like mysteries in general and often forgive or read over bits that would bother me if I read them in other books/genres.
ReplyDeleteI bought the book almost as soon as it was out. I began it with high hopes but found myself bored very soon. The characters didn't seem like real people to me. It was an odd feeling- one that I happily don't get very often when I read. I still have the book and may pick it up again.
ReplyDeleteI also don't like the group living aspect. I would go insane.
I am glad you warned me about the present tense. I don't always hate it, sometimes I don't even notice it, but I like to know in advance. I plan to try this someday because it sounds interesting and I like the premise, but I don't need to be in a hurry.
ReplyDeleteGlad that it really turned out to be as funny as I'd heard! This book showed up in the best-of-2020 lists for a lot of bloggers, so I'd added it to my TBR too. Great entry for Cloak & Dagger
ReplyDelete~ Lex (lexlingua.co)
I purchased the audio version of this one but haven't listened to it yet. It sounds different so I hope to try it soon.
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