Author: Robert Thorogood
Published: January 16, 2025, by HQ
Format: Kindle, 333 Pages
Genre: Amateur Sleuth
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: The Marlow Murder Club #4
Blurb: Verity Beresford is worried about her husband. Oliver didn’t come home last night so of course Verity goes straight to Judith Potts, Marlow’s resident amateur sleuth, for help. Oliver, founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, had hired The Marlow Belle, a private pleasure cruiser, for an exclusive party with the MADS committee but no one remembers seeing him disembark. And then Oliver’s body washes up on the Thames with two bullet holes in him – it’s time for the Marlow Murder Club to leap into action.
Oliver was, by all accounts, a rather complicated chap with a reputation for bullying children during nativity play rehearsals, and he wasn’t short of enemies. Judith, Suzie, and Becks are convinced they’ll find his killer in no time. But things are not as they seem in the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, and this case is not so clear-cut after all. The gang will need to keep their wits about them to solve this case, otherwise a killer will walk free.
My Opinion: If you’re jumping into The Marlow Murder Club, I’d recommend picking a lane: either the books or the TV series. I started with the novels, so the show’s tweaks feel like unnecessary detours. The heart of the story is still there, but the rhythm and tone shift just enough to be distracting if you’re toggling between formats.
This installment is light and easy to follow, even if you opt to change between the written page and the audiobook. It’s not trying to be profound, just a typical whodunnit with one body and a buffet of suspects. The pacing meanders a bit, with stretches that feel more like scenic detours than plot propulsion. But just when I was settling into the idea that this one might coast to a predictable finish, Thorogood pulled the rug out with a twist.
What keeps me coming back isn’t the mystery itself; it’s the Marlow Murder Club ladies. Their banter, their quirks, their refusal to stay in their lane. They’re the glue holding this series together, and their antics still make me smile.
And just when you think the story’s wrapped up, it throws in a final flourish that retroactively ties the chaos together. It doesn’t change the picture much, but it does make it feel more complete.
That said, a few days after finishing, I couldn’t tell you the finer points of the plot. It’s more about the ride than the destination. If you’re here for depth, this isn’t it. But if you’re here for charm, a dash of absurdity, and a trio of amateur sleuths who refuse to quit, you’ll find enough to enjoy.
Oliver was, by all accounts, a rather complicated chap with a reputation for bullying children during nativity play rehearsals, and he wasn’t short of enemies. Judith, Suzie, and Becks are convinced they’ll find his killer in no time. But things are not as they seem in the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, and this case is not so clear-cut after all. The gang will need to keep their wits about them to solve this case, otherwise a killer will walk free.
My Opinion: If you’re jumping into The Marlow Murder Club, I’d recommend picking a lane: either the books or the TV series. I started with the novels, so the show’s tweaks feel like unnecessary detours. The heart of the story is still there, but the rhythm and tone shift just enough to be distracting if you’re toggling between formats.
This installment is light and easy to follow, even if you opt to change between the written page and the audiobook. It’s not trying to be profound, just a typical whodunnit with one body and a buffet of suspects. The pacing meanders a bit, with stretches that feel more like scenic detours than plot propulsion. But just when I was settling into the idea that this one might coast to a predictable finish, Thorogood pulled the rug out with a twist.
What keeps me coming back isn’t the mystery itself; it’s the Marlow Murder Club ladies. Their banter, their quirks, their refusal to stay in their lane. They’re the glue holding this series together, and their antics still make me smile.
And just when you think the story’s wrapped up, it throws in a final flourish that retroactively ties the chaos together. It doesn’t change the picture much, but it does make it feel more complete.
That said, a few days after finishing, I couldn’t tell you the finer points of the plot. It’s more about the ride than the destination. If you’re here for depth, this isn’t it. But if you’re here for charm, a dash of absurdity, and a trio of amateur sleuths who refuse to quit, you’ll find enough to enjoy.
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