It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Back in 2011, I was an avid reader who had somehow lost my way with reading. Between working and being a full-time student, reading for pleasure had slowly fallen by the wayside.

I wanted to change that. So I gave myself a New Year's resolution to read one book every week for a year. I started A Book A Week on January 1, 2012 as a way to hold myself accountable and share what I was reading along the way.

I didn't quite reach my goal that first year, but I kept reading. I kept reviewing. And all these years later, I'm still here, looking forward to whatever book comes next. Some years I crush my goals, some years I don't, but my love for a good book has never wavered.

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

I'm a lifelong reader with a particular soft spot for mysteries and thrillers. I've always loved the genre, and I credit those stories—the twists, suspense, and need to know what happens next—with keeping me a reader as an adult. My reading has taken me in all kinds of directions since then, but I'll always come back to a good mystery.

I love creepy horror novels. A fascinating work of nonfiction can completely pull me in, too. And I've found plenty of favorites in science fiction, literary fiction, romance, and other genres I might never have picked up when I first started the blog. That's part of the fun. I never quite know what kind of story is going to grab me next.

When I'm not reading or writing reviews, you'll usually find me at home with my husband and our pets. I'm a classically trained musician and composer, an enthusiastic home cook, and a backyard gardener. There's usually a trip to look forward to or some new project that has caught my interest, too.

At the end of the day, I just really love books. There's nothing quite like discovering a story I can't put down or finding an author I can't wait to read again. Even when a book doesn't quite work for me, I still enjoy thinking about why and putting those thoughts into words. That's what keeps me reading, reviewing, and sharing it all here on A Book A Week.

Honest reviews, always.

Some of the books I review are ones I've purchased myself. Others are provided by publishers or authors in exchange for an honest review. Either way, what I write here is always what I really think.

Not every book is going to work for every reader, and that's part of the fun of talking about books. I'll tell you what worked for me, what didn't, and hopefully give you enough to decide whether a book might be right for you.

Good, bad, or somewhere in between, you'll always get my honest take.

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I'm always open to considering books for review. I read across a pretty wide range of genres, though mysteries and thrillers tend to be particular favorites. If you'd like me to consider a book, send along a little information about it and why you think it might be a good fit for A Book A Week.

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"A few glasses of wine and a mystery---very social, but also gory. It is good fun."

When you think of a retirement community, what is the first thing that comes to mind? I have memories of visiting my great grandmother in her nursing home, seeing the other folks gathered in the cafeteria/activities room, playing dominoes, and sharing stories. My guess is that you would think of something similar. What you probably wouldn't imagine is a group of seniors investigating murders, but that's exactly what British TV Presenter Richard Osman has conjured up in his debut novel The Thursday Murder Club. I was so intrigued by this inventive premise that I was eager to dive into the copy of the book that Osman's publisher graciously provided me.

Joyce is one of the newer residents of the upscale senior living facility called Coopers Chase. She's a former nurse who did well enough financially to end up spending the rest of her days in the luxury retirement community. The rooms are spacious enough, but the rest of the amenities really sealed the deal. She spends her time enjoying a glass of wine and honing her baking skills, but Joyce longs for something more stimulating to occupy her days.

Enter Elizabeth, perhaps the most determined person Joyce has ever met. Not much is known about Elizabeth's secretive past. Suffice it to say that whatever work the woman did, she is well-connected and has a seemingly endless chain of contacts to achieve whatever she desires. One day Elizabeth recruits Joyce's medical expertise by showing her a set of crime scene photos. At first, Joyce is a bit taken aback by the images shes seeing. As she begins to study the pictures and apply her knowledge to form medical conclusions about the crime, however, she begins to feel the same thrill she has been lacking since moving into the retirement community. Joyce is hooked, and Elizabeth is pleased.

Elizabeth reveals to Joyce The Thursday Murder Club, a group comprised of herself and two other men. The friends meet weekly in the jigsaw puzzle room and hash out their theories around various crimes. Elizabeth's connections to the police department help to keep a fresh supply of cases for their weekly gatherings. Joyce is excited to join in all the fun. When one of the owners of Coopers Chase is suddenly killed, the murder club shifts its focus from decades-old cold cases to the one that has occurred in their own back yard. If they can help solve this killing, they'll legitimize their club beyond the current perception of four friends meeting to reminisce about times gone by.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman might be the most charming book I've read all year. Osman combines elements of a more traditional cozy mystery with the strong character work and plot points of a more hardened crime novel to form a genre-bending novel that gripped me for the entire duration. I'm not sure what inspired him to write a book about a group of crime-fighting octogenarians, but I'm really happy that he did. Osman cleverly uses the age of his main characters to build a deep history into each one of them, imbuing them wisdom and struggles that can only come from time and experience. The retirement community where the majority of the novel is set is a fully-realized world, full of detailed settings and well-drawn supporting characters. I truly felt like I was there with the characters. As for the mystery, Osman layered in enough red herrings and twists to keep me guessing all the way to the big reveal at the end. With a unique premise, alluring characters, and a captivating mystery, The Thursday Murder Club is a nearly perfect debut novel.

For more information visit Amazon and Goodreads.

(2020, 42)

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24 Comments

Comments

Lark September 23, 2020 at 2:45 PM
This is another one I want to read, so I'm glad to hear you really liked it. The characters in it just sound like a lot of fun. My library has a bunch of copies "on order" but none of them have come in yet. Hopefully soon. :)
Kimberly @ Caffeinated ReviewerSeptember 23, 2020 at 8:38 PM
I have this for audio review Ethan and I am curious about the hybrid.
Sophia RoseSeptember 23, 2020 at 9:15 PM
I only noticed this one the other day and was curious about it. So glad to see what it's about and that you found it charming, Ethan.
Tanya @ Girl Plus BooksSeptember 24, 2020 at 6:45 AM
What a fun concept! Usually when you see characters this age in a mystery they’re relegated to knitting grannies who didn’t see the suspect well because of failing eyesight. :) I love that these are vibrant elders engaged in solving mysteries.
LuanneSeptember 24, 2020 at 8:57 AM
I hadn't heard of this one - it sounds like fun!
Samantha@WLABBSeptember 24, 2020 at 10:54 AM
I love the premise! You're never too old to solve a murder, eh? I won't lie, the first thing that popped into my head was Murder She Wrote.
KarenSeptember 24, 2020 at 1:51 PM
This does sound charming! I hadn't heard of this one before.

I think of STD's when I think of retirement communities lol I lived near one the largest ones in FL and they have one of the highest STD rates in the country lol And when my father had to go to an assisted living facility everyone has to be tested first. So I have that burned into my brain hehehe

Karen @ For What It's Worth
Heather @ Random Redheaded RamblingsSeptember 24, 2020 at 2:32 PM
I’ve seen this one everywhere along with Richard Osman, he is always on tv. I certainly like the sound of this one!
SusanSeptember 26, 2020 at 10:22 AM
I've heard amazing things about this book. Reading your review just makes me want to read it more. I love the unique setting, too. I usually hate nursing homes, but it sounds like this fictional one is the place to be!
Rachel @Waves of FictionSeptember 26, 2020 at 6:59 PM
I've seen this one around a bunch but had no idea what it was about. It sounds exactly like my kind of read! I love the premise. Glad to hear it was a hit. Off to reserve a copy. Wonderful review, Ethan!
VerushkaSeptember 28, 2020 at 6:31 AM
Ohhh you made me look forward to thus one even more — the whole premise just grabbed me right away!
Shooting Stars MagSeptember 28, 2020 at 7:45 AM
This sounds so good! I love a good cozy mystery, and this one sounds like it really brings that element a lot. Plus, what a fun premise all around!

-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net

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About Me

It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

Honest reviews, always.

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