The Marlow Murder Club (Marlow Murder Club, #1) (2024)

What a sh*tshow.
And the more I think about it the more I dislike this one.

I loved the premise, and I'm also a huge fan of these elderly detective stories. And this seemingly ticked off all the right boxes when I read the blurb.
77 year old Judith is living her best life in an inherited mansion, has a job she loves, and drinks like a fish. In fact, the opening sequence where she takes her evening skinny dip (also how she hears the murder taking place) was awesome.
I loved that she was a loner who finds a group of women who are completely different from each other, and how they all learn how important it is to have girlfriends. And I loved that it was hinted at that she had some sort of delicious secret in her past that has something to do with a locked room and a dead husband.

However, the murder mystery was utter sh*t.
Judith is convinced she knows who the murderer was from the get-go because she thought they seemed shady, and then spends the rest of the book trying to prove they did it.
Yup. They did it.
What? Shouldn't there be a twist? Somewhere? And no, the fact that there were 3 of them was not a twist. That was just dumb.
I should probably mention that Judith designs crosswords.
Why?
Because it will be shoved down your throat throughout the book over and over as though it somehow means she's able to solve murders. It's ridiculous.

And as much as I love books that promote healthy relationships between women, I equally despise books that think in order to do that you have to portray every man as a douchebag.
Judith's husband was an abusive cheater. Beck's husband ignores her as a person and he and her children just expect her to do everything for them. At the end, when she is helping the police and her husband grabs her in the middle of it (even though they are in a hurry b/c Judith might be getting murdered at any moment) and declares that she's AMAZING, I thew up in my mouth at how cheesy that whole scene was. Suzy's husband left her and she had to raise her children as a single mother. Judith's murdered neighbor turns out to be a thief and a cheat. Liz's husband is the only guy who seems nice but he turns out to be one of the three killers. Obviously, Suzy misjudged Liz by thinking she was a bitch who killed her dog. It was her terrible husband who killed the dog and poor Liz was framed. Suzy's friend the cab driver was a pretty nice guy, but he gets killed in the first few chapters.
The policewoman's husband is a loser who spends his time trying to make it as DJ, hasn't made any money at it in a decade or so, and expects her to take care of the children. Her father is elderly and he and her brothers expect her to be the one to take care of him, including doing all of the repairs on his house.
The lawyer they think is mixed up in everything is a sexist scuzzball that harasses Becks when she goes to his office.
It's f*cking overkill.

The clues to the mystery make no sense.
Why would Liz have written Rowing Dinner in her calendar? If that was the ONLY entry in her entire calendar, then she quite obviously didn't use her calendar at all. The only reason it was in there was PLOT. Supposedly she wrote her husband's rowing reunion dinner in her calendar because she was a good wife - once again men suck and women are so thoughtful, just in case you missed it - and that way she wouldn't book anything else for him for that night. What?
IT IS LITERALLY THE ONLY THING IN THE CALENDAR.
For that clue to make sense, there would have had to have been a calendar jam-packed full of things she didn't want to be mixed up with his rowing dinner!
There are so many things that didn't make sense in this book.
At the end, Judith plans this (incredibly flawed) trap for one of the murderers because she knows he's going to come to her house to kill her.
When he does, she tries to get him to monologue by confronting him with her knowledge of how the 3 of them committed the crimes. Each of them basically killed one person they had no reason to kill that the other wanted dead, while the other 2 get rock-solid alibis.
Liz's husband is the one that comes to kill Judith.
And even though he is standing in her living room pointing a gun at her he keeps acting confused and denying that he and the other 2 guys were part of a murder plot.
WHAT. THE. f*ck.
Dude, you are aiming a gun at a little old lady. Why are you getting all mad and trying to defend yourself from her accusations?
So. f*cking. stupid.

When the (female) dog saves someone's life at the end? NO. That whole sequence of events was impossible. Suzy can't swim. But she jumps into a raging river during a terrible storm and tries to get to Judith. Naturally, she doesn't die like a normal human.
Why? Because her Doberman Pinscher drags her to shore like a dolphin. Oh, and the dog also somehow understands her and goes to save Juith when she gets to the other side.
*head explodes*

Oh, and remember that delicious secret about Judith?
She wears a key around her neck that goes to a locked room in her mansion!
Surprise! The room is full of newspapers. She has collected every newspaper and pamphlet and periodical and apparently anything else made of paper since her husband died a million years ago.
Wow.
The big reveal is that she's a hoarder.
But there's more! Supposedly her abusive husband fell off a boat by himself during a storm.
But it's hinted at for the entire book that he died under more mysterious circ*mstances and Judith killed him.
She did.
Yes. At the end, she basically tells the girls that she shoved his ass off of that boat.
Wait. What?
So the thing you were hinting at WAS actually the thing that she did?
Like...no twist to it at all?

I was listening to the audiobook, so I didn't have the satisfaction of throwing the book across the room.
This could have been such a cool book but it wasn't.
Oh, and why does she wear that stupid cape everywhere? It's this little cloak that she loves, and she tosses it on and bikes around everywhere feeling like a superhero with this thing flapping behind her. I need more of a story behind this thing because, to be honest, it sounds like she looks ridiculous.

And why can't she drive a car?
You can't say she's ballsy and cool but also that she never learned how to drive!
It's f*ckin weird.
And I'm not reading any more of this damn series, that's for sure.["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>

The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood

Seventy-seven years old Judith Potts loves her life and being totally in charge of it. It consists of her routine of setting crosswords for the The Times newspaper, swimming nude in the Thames, drinking, lots of drinking, and riding her bike in town where everyone seems to know her, to her constant surprise. She's not big on keeping her mansion tidy, there might be a bra hanging from something in the living room, but she is happy with her way of life. When she is nude swimming in the Thames one hot summer night, she hears a yell and a gunshot from her neighbor's place. When the police do a lousy investigation, Judith takes matters into her own hands and investigates her neighbor's property herself and finds his body. She knows he's been murdered even though the police, which seems to be mostly just one beleaguered police woman, aren't taking the death of her neighbor seriously.

Soon, the Marlow Murder Club comes into existence, once Judith recruits Suzie, a dog walker, and Becks, the wife of the local vicar (I couldn't help a real laugh when she saw herself on video). Each woman brings their own unrealized special talents to the forefront and they start uncovering shady and unsavory dirt on the murder victim and someone he'd fought with recently. And then there is another death, a murder, they just know it. A serial killer in their midst, for sure. Judith gets things done, even things no one knows she's gotten done, so with the help of Suzie and Becks, they are going to break this case wide open. With whiskey and wits, these women are on a mission!

So many twists and turns in this cozy murder mystery. I would never have figured out what was going on because there are so many suspects with alibis that check out. But there are also strange connections between people, red herrings galore, and the police woman telling the women to stand down, not talk to suspects, so Judith just lies to the police woman and does what she was going to do anyway. Judith didn't become a wiz crossword puzzle setter by letting a puzzle go unsolved!

Publication: May 3rd 2022

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

Judith is a 77-year old…a septuagenarian (please don’t ever ask me to pronounce that) who likes to relax in the evening by drinking scotch and swimming naked in the Thames River. On top of that, she also creates crossword puzzles for the newspaper. On top of THAT, it turns out she also may be good at solving crimes.

When Judith’s neighbor is shot dead, the police don’t immediately jump to action. So she decides to start digging around to find out what happened. Soon after, she questions Suzie, a dog walker, and Becks, the wife of a Vicar. Before you know it, they join her on the quest for truth as more murders occur.

With a cop named Tanika who reluctantly asks the women to assist in the case, can these ladies solve it before one of them dies?

If you’re like me, you’re instantly thinking that this is a rip-off of The Thursday Murder Club. I can’t help but think that’s where part of the author’s inspiration came from. However, whether I’m right or wrong, this one is enjoyable on its own merits and so much fun! The similarities end after the basics.

I loved getting to know all of these fun characters, and chuckled throughout. It’s on the cozy side, but there is definitely a worthy mystery filled with plenty of suspects and red herrings.

The charm doesn’t come from the mystery itself, but from the spunky and smart ladies who are trying to solve it.

Even if the denouement is a bit contrived and OTT, the book is a hoot, and I can’t wait to read the sequel…which will be out towards the end of the year.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a widget through Early Reads. Available now.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

I fell in love with seventy-seven year old Judith Potts immediately!

She was entirely happy with her life-enjoying a job as a crossword compiler, and grateful that she didn’t have to share her life with a man who would be asking where she was going every time she left the house, or what’s for dinner every night. She didn’t have to listen to one moan about the money she spent, or how much whiskey she was drinking in the evening as she assembled her jigsaw puzzles. Yes, life was good!

That is not to say, that she didn’t like men. In fact, when she is convinced that she heard an altercation and a gunshot at her neighbor, Stefan Dunwoody’s house, she goes above and beyond to be sure that he is ok.

Initially, local police don’t take her claims seriously-murders don’t happen in Marlow-but when he does indeed turn up dead-Judith decides to investigate on her own.

During her queries, she meets Becks Starling, a woman trying to be the perfect Vicar’s wife, and Suzie Harris, a local dog Walker with no filter-who unapologetically says whatever she is thinking.

The book started out a just a bit slow, but by the mid-point, I was as vested as the women were in solving the case.

All three were TENACIOUS, CREATIVE and BRAVE-and as their friendship grew, their personal confidence and self worth grew too-a lovely thing to witness.

While the mystery itself may have borrowed from a CLASSIC, the strength of a COZY is its characters, and the women of the Marlow Murder Club, are a delightful bunch and very easy to root for!

Will I read a sequel? Don’t Mind if I Do!!

And, PROPS to the adorable book cover which initially drew me in!

AVAILABLE NOW!

A sincere thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the gifted copy. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

The Marlow Murder Club follows 77-year old Judith Potts, a crossword setter, who lives in a slightly-fading mansion on the banks of the River Thames.

Judith's mansion lies on the outskirts of the little town of Marlow and one thing her prestigious property offers is plenty of privacy. Therefore, Judith skinny dipping on a hot summer night generally goes unnoticed.

On one particular evening, as Judith is quietly swimming and enjoying the beauty of nature surrounding her, she hears a gunshot and sounds of distress come from her neighbor's property across the river.

She's stunned and has no idea how to react. Did someone just murder Stefan Dunwoody? Judith alerts the police and watches their hasty search of the property. Rolling her eyes, Judith knows they'll find nothing.

So, she decides she needs to take matters into her own hands. As you do.

Along the way she teams up with the vicar's wife, Becks Starling, as well as a free-wheeling local dog walker, Suzie Harris. Together the trio digs into not just Stefan's murder, but others that pop up along the way. Does Marlow have a real life serial killer on their hands?

The Marlow Murder Club gave me all the Cozy Mystery vibes I cherish, with a charming group of main characters to follow. I had so much fun reading this.

This group of characters, Judith, Becks and Suzie, were well fleshed out, relatable and likable as heck. They're the type of people you can root for no matter how crazy their hijinks get. I am so looking forward to more in this series!!

There's not much more I can say about this. It's a ton of fun. It's a book that doesn't take itself too seriously. It's a breath of fresh air.

Seriously, when can I expect more?

Thank you so much to the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review.

I had an absolute blast. Judith Potts is definitely a new favorite heroine for me. I basically want to be her when I grow up; whiskey, skinny dipping, a mansion to herself and amateur murder investigation...sign me up!!!

"The Marlow Murder Club" by Robert Thorogood is a fun and delightful cozy-mystery!

Seventy-seven-years-old Judith Potts certainly enjoys her daily dose of whiskey, skinny-dipping in the Thames, and creating crossword puzzles for The Times newspaper. She's up for a new challenge though, and she's taking it on with everything she's got!

During an evening dip in the Thames, Judith hears a gun-shot coming from the direction of her next-door neighbor's yard. When the police discover Stefan Dunwoody’s body they declare it a suicide. A bullet wound in the forehead? No weapon discovered? Judith's convinced it's murder!

When Judith meets Becks Starling, the sweet wife of the local Vicar, and Suzie Harris, a dedicated dog walker, they both agree to assist in the 'unofficial' murder investigation and The Marlow Murder Club is formed!

Question: When a third murder is reported does that mean there's a serial killer on the loose?

A cozy mystery with a septuagenarian protagonist? I'm all in! I love this main character and her unconventional ways. She's a kick in the pants, on the hunt for a cold-blooded killer, and I'm rooting for her all the way. Her cohort's are equally interesting, convincingly quirky, and this becomes quite the trio!

A fun read with delightful characters, and an ending that's edge-of-your-seat exciting. I'm so glad I squeezed this one in and I can't wait for book #2 in this new series!

Was it over-the-top? Yep. Did you need to suspend belief? Absotively! But that's the best part!

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Robert Thorogood for a free ARC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

A cozy isn’t my usual genre but I do love Agatha Christie, who is my benchmark for a well-done cozy mystery, and so decided to pick this one up. I should have known better as I’ve dnf’d similar books.

I do appreciate that the author featured an older protagonist, which is a refreshing change of pace. Judith is in her late 70’s, bicycles everywhere, drinks whiskey, skinny dips in the Thames, and has a job setting crossword puzzles. She’s a great character!

One night while swimming she hears a gunshot coming from a neighbor’s house, and the next morning a body is found. The police call it a suicide despite the fact that no gun is found and the shot was in the middle of his forehead (?!?!). The police aren’t the sharpest knives in the drawer, but OK, it’s a cozy so I can go along with it.

Judith decides she has to investigate her neighbor’s death. She is soon joined by Becks, the vicar’s wife, Suzie, the local dog walker. As well as the police detective. So, yeah, you have to suspend a lot of disbelief. But again, it’s a cozy so I can go along.

The mystery wasn’t much of a mystery, as it’s telegraphed pretty early who did it. The how could have been interesting (but it wasn’t). In Agatha Christie’s books, her protagonists solve the crime with the powers of observation and detection. Unfortunately, in this story the events took a downhill turn when it became slapstick, silly and OTT. Giving the characters backstories in an attempt to make them socially relevant didn’t do the book any favors.

This was a buddy read with Marialyce and Dorie, one that left all of us annoyed and disappointed.

I’m usually not a big fan of cozy mysteries. But I love books with older characters. And I loved Judith Potts. Seventy seven years, she lives alone, designs crossword puzzles and has her whiskey every night. While swimming nude in the Thames, she hears a gunshot coming from her neighbor’s property. When the police insist it could have been a suicide or an accident (despite the man being shot in the middle of his forehead) she decides she will need to be the one to investigate. And soon thereafter, another man is killed in the same manner.
The book has a great sense of humor to go with its fabulous main character. Judith is soon joined in her murder investigation by two other women, the vicar’s wife and a local dog walker. All three women warmed my heart and kept me engaged. The plot was ingenious in keeping me off balance but unfortunately, it’s been used before. But the strength of this book is the characters and because of them, I will gladly check out the upcoming sequel.
Robert Thorogood is the creator of the tv series, Death in Paradise. If you are a fan of that show, you will enjoy this book.
My thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advance copy of this book.

What did I expect from a book featuring murder and an elderly woman who likes to swim nude in the Thames and set crossword puzzles for her local paper? Well … fun, of course! That’s exactly what I got. Meet the Marlow Murder Club: seventy-seven-year-old force of nature Judith Potts, mild-mannered vicar’s wife, Becks, and salty but lovable dogwalker, Suzie. These three may not look like much of a threat, but criminals beware: there’s more to these ladies than meets the eye!

Judith Potts lives alone in a mansion inherited from her aunt. While out for one of her naked swims, she hears her neighbor Stefan cry out and then a gunshot. Reporting it to the police and getting an unsatisfactory follow-up from them, she takes it upon herself to look into things, beginning a series of events that starts with finding his body and follows with two more victims. Realizing the police don’t have the manpower or resources to do the job alone, Judith pulls Becks and Suzie into her sleuthing, much to DS Tanika Malik’s initial dismay.

Who killed Stefan Dunwoody? Furthermore, a well-liked cab driver, Iqbal Kassam, and rowing club owner, Liz Curtis, have each been killed in the same manner, and all three were left with similar engraved gold medallions attached to their bodies. Judith has her ideas about who’s guilty, and for her these crimes are just one more puzzle to solve. After all, as someone who creates crossword puzzles for a living, she’s spent a lifetime working with clues.

What worked?

The Characters. Judith, Becks and Suzie are so lovable - each in their own way. I like that they have such different personalities and their ages are spread out a bit, keeping them from the inevitable comparison to The Thursday Murder Club gang. Yes, they both involve at least one elderly woman amateur sleuthing a crime, and Judith has a similar spitfire personality as Elizabeth in the TMC, but I think all the characters stand alone in the two series.

The Writing. Thorogood brings his own clever voice and writing to this story, and for the most part I really enjoyed the mystery and how things unfolded. The ending felt like a Murder She Wrote episode, but instead of Jessica Fletcher, Judith spelled out how the crime was solved. Fans of that show should enjoy this.

The Narration. Nicolette McKenzie knocked it out of the park. Every voice was perfect and the gender voicing was spot on. She captured the personalities so well!

What could’ve been better?

The Plotting. I admire the creative spin Thorogood was going for, but the ambitious attempt to do something different with the “whodunnit” made the culprit reveal a little more convoluted than I would’ve preferred.

The Ending. Things went a wee bit silly in the end with a series of events that were meant to heighten the suspense and sense of peril, but it didn’t quite work for me.

My grievances were very minor in comparison to my enjoyment, and I’m so glad I have the next installment Death Comes to Marlow to look forward to!

Thanks to Libby for both the audio and Kindle versions which I enjoyed together.

★★★★

3.5 STARS

Cozy mystery fans - a new series here! Three amateur sleuths (all women in this case) get together to socialize, have a bit of whiskey and solve a local murder mystery (or two)!

Loved the character of Judith, a seventy-seven year old, happy go lucky lady who lives alone in her old mansion right outside of Marlow. Her hobby/part-time job is coming up with crossword puzzles for the newspaper. I enjoy (easy) crossword puzzles. I'm completely addicted to Wordle right now. Any fans?

The setting of Marlow and the surrounding area was perfection. The mystery isn't original, but this is more about the characters/personalities and how they set out to solve the crimes. My major complaint is the way the motive is explained point by point in excruciating detail! I prefer to be surprised and discover the solution.

Overall it was fun, light and enjoyable. I'm looking forward to the next in the series!

Seventy-seven year old Judith Potts lives on her own in her mansion along the Thames. She compiles crosswords for the national newspapers for a living, enjoys her whiskey, loves jigsaw puzzles and swims the river in the nude when she pleases. While swimming one evening she hears a gunshot echo across the garden of her neighbor, local art gallery owner Stefan Dunwoody. She calls the police and upon initial investigation, they don’t find anything that would warrant suspicion and assume that Mr. Dunwoody is probably away for the duration. Judith, not entirely convinced, goes exploring and finds the body of her neighbor at the base of his garden on the other side of a dam along the river.

“Murders just didn’t happen in Marlow.”

Judith is on high alert when subsequently, two more people are found dead - Iqbal Kassam, a taxi driver and Liz Curtis, Olympic silver medalist and owner of Marlow Rowing Center. All three murders have the same signature and the weapon is determined to be an antique German Luger pistol.

“Nothing links a local art dealer, a taxi driver, and the owner of a rowing center.”

Is there a serial killer in Marlow? Is it someone they know? Is there any connection between the victims? Is the killing spree over or are there others whose lives are in danger? Initially, Judith isn’t impressed with Detective Sergeant Tanika Malik, who in the absence of a superior offer is assigned as acting SIO to the case, and decides to engage in her own investigation. In the course of her sleuthing, she is joined by Rebecca “Becks” Starling, the dutiful, prim and proper wife of the local Vicar and mother of two and straight-shooting dog walker Suzie Harris. Judith, Becks and Suzie - The Marlow Murder Club, is a force to be reckoned with and loads of fun to be around! Together they embark on an intense search for answers despite DS Malik’s warning to not engage in any “amateur sleuthing”. Eventually, as the case garners national attention she relents and takes in the trio as “civilian advisers” to help in the case. The Marlow Murder Club is relentless in their pursuit of any clue that could lead them to solve the murders. These ladies are sharp, attentive and do not shy away from either legwork or homework. They can (and do) give seasoned law enforcement officials a run for their money. They line up a list of probable suspects and leave no stone unturned in exploring every possible lead, often leading to risky situations. Their antics will either have you in splits or gasping in disbelief, or maybe both! Their unlikely friendship and camaraderie make for some delightfully heartwarming moments. The drama in the personal lives of the main characters felt a little out of place in some parts of the narrative and that is where the pace faltered a bit but not so much that you’d lose interest.

The author does a good job in keeping us guessing the identity of the culprit, throwing in numerous red herrings and enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged and entertained till the very end. I adored Judith and admire her spunk! The Marlow Murder Clubby Robert Thorogood is a fun cozy mystery with an interesting cast of characters, a good dose of humor (some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments) and a satisfying ending. I eagerly look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Thank You NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Judy Potts is a 77-year-old lady who lives alone in an untidy, imposing mansion on the River Thames. She is content with no man around to tell her what to do. Judy swims nude in the Thames at night, constructs crossword puzzles for a major newspaper, enjoys jigsaw puzzles, and drinks plenty of whiskies. One night while on her evening swim, she hears a shout followed by a gunshot across the river. She fears her neighbour, an art gallery owner, may have been killed.

Murders do not happen in Marlow! When she reports what she witnessed to the police, they do nothing until Judy investigates and finds the body. The one policewoman, new to being in charge, finds herself doubting her own competence. She dismisses the death as suicide or accidental. It is learned that he was shot with a missing antique gun. Since the police are not taking the killing seriously, Judy decides to prove the man was murdered.

Soon, Judy recruits two women to help in the investigation. One is Suzie Harris, a local dog walker who enthusiastically involves herself in solving the mystery. She has the annoying habit of speaking her mind. The second recruit is the uptight, introverted Becks Starling. She concerns herself with morals and rules and tries to present herself as the perfect vicar's wife. She becomes thrilled with being a part of what is known as the Marlow Murder Club. Soon, there is a second murder, a taxi driver, killed with the same gun.
Clues have been left on both victims, indicating a third murder is to be expected. When a third character is murdered, there seems to be no connection between the three victims. Is there a serial killer loose in Marlow? The three women eagerly pursue clues, interview suspects, examine alibis, and realize they have a highly complex puzzle to solve. They are enticed and puzzled by the twists, dead ends, and red herrings. They are undeterred by the possible dangers they bravely face.

I enjoyed the first part of the book, where the three very different women form a bond. Towards the end, it describes frenzied, slapstick action that would be more amusing on screen. The solution to the mystery made sense, but we learn it by Judy explaining the twisted, complicated answer.

I enjoyed the growing friendship between the group's three women, and their dialogue and changes in attitude were amusing. There was a surprising background story thrown in.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of this cozy mystery in return for an honest review.

I love a good cozy mystery!! I thoroughly enjoyed the Thursday Murder Club, The Postscipt Murders and others. So I set my expectations into the “cozy” setting, sat down and was ready to enjoy.

We first meet Judith Potts, a 77 y/o woman who lives in a mansion (which she inherited from her aunt) on the banks of the Thames. While going for her nightly nude swim she hears what she knows is a gunshot!! It came from the yard of her neighbor across the river, she’s sure of it.

She diligently reports what she hears to the police but they don’t seem alarmed or even interested. She decides it will be up to her to investigate.

The first ancillary character we meet is Suzie, a local dog walker. She will keep an eye on the neighbors and her ears open for any clues. Next to be included is Becks the vicar’s wife. She is slowly pulled into the plotting and investigating and finds herself enjoying the change!!

It isn’t long before there is another murder – performed the same way and with a certain “tell” left behind. Then, a third murder – incredibly unheard of in the small, sleepy town of Marlow.

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK:
The setting along the Thames was well described and I liked the atmosphere..
I enjoyed the character of Judith, but the other two were a bit weak.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK:
At about the 70% point the book started to go from quirky and fun into la la land. The police consisted of one, out of her depths, detective, who LITERALLY hands the files for the murders over to this threesome of women. Where in real life would this ever happen??

I’ll just get to the point – the ending was so over the top that I almost couldn’t finish it. The ending broke my cardinal rule of SHOW ME, DON’T TELL ME when we listen to Judith reciting exactly how she solved the mystery.

Such a disappointment!! My reading buddies Jan and Marialyce felt the same, simply unbelievable and not worth the reading time. Be sure to check out their reviews!

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.

What an adorable main character and comrades! Move over Murder She Wrote…you have some competition! 77 year old Judith Potts is up for an adventure, no husband to please, drinking with no limits and swims naked each evening in the Thames! Yes, Why not? Her friends Susie and Becks join her when she investigates a murder next door. She was swimming naked when she heard her neighbor yell then a gunshot. She calls 911 and they are apprehensive to investigate. When they don’t do a thorough job, she goes back and finds his body.

These 3 hoots are funny and unafraid when their amateur sleuthing make several connections, but the body count continues to climb. They concocted many stories to weasel their way into offices and businesses and confront their suspects even when the police told them to back off.

The ending was surprising and fun summing up all their clues they had gathered. If you are into an old vibe mystery, this one is for you! It kept me going with their nonstop energy.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this delightful read in exchange for my review!

EXCERPT: Judith's cape was her most treasured possession. She'd tell anyone who asked, and many did, that it kept her warm in winter, served as a picnic blanket in the summer, and she could pull it over her head if ever she was caught in a spring shower.

Best of all, Judith believed it was a cloak of invisibility. Every evening, come rain or shine, she'd take off her clothes, wrap the cape around herself, and step out of her house feeling a delicious frisson of naughtiness. She would plunge her feet into a pair of ancient wellies and stride through the knee-high grass - swish, swish, swish! - to her boathouse. Like the rest of Judith's house, it was pink-bricked, timber framed, and somewhat crumbling.

Judith entered the cobwebby darkness and kicked off her wellies. She hung her cape on an old hook, and, still hidden from the outside world by a pair of ancient boathouse doors, stepped down the stone slipway and into the Thames.

It was almost a religious experience for her, accepting the cold water onto her skin, and she exhaled with a whoosh as she leant forward into the embrace of the river. Suddenly she was weightless, supported by the water that felt like silk to her body.

She swam upstream, the evening sunshine flashing diamonds on the water all around. Judith smiled to herself. She always smiled to herself when she was out swimming. She couldn't help it. After all, there might be dog walkers on the Thames path, and there were very definitely plenty of people in the near distance as she looked at the spire of the Marlow church and the span of the Victorian suspension bridge that linked the town to the neighbouring village of Bisham. None of these people were aware that there was a seventy-seven year old woman swimming nearby entirely in the nude.

ABOUT 'THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB': To solve an impossible murder, you need an impossible hero…

Judith Potts is seventy-seven years old and blissfully happy. She lives on her own in a faded mansion just outside Marlow, there’s no man in her life to tell her what to do or how much whisky to drink, and to keep herself busy she sets crosswords for The Times newspaper.

One evening, while out swimming in the Thames, Judith witnesses a brutal murder. The local police don’t believe her story, so she decides to investigate for herself, and is soon joined in her quest by Suzie, a salt-of-the-earth dog-walker, and Becks, the prim and proper wife of the local Vicar.

Together, they are the Marlow Murder Club.

When another body turns up, they realise they have a real-life serial killer on their hands. And the puzzle they set out to solve has become a trap from which they might never escape…

MY THOUGHTS: Judith is a character! How could anyone not love her? She is opinionated, brusque, and bossy.

The murder mystery is immensely enjoyable, and I had great fun trying to figure out whodunit - I was way off base, even having changed my mind half a dozen times. I figured out how it was done, but not the who.

My enjoyment was in no small part due to the characters. As well as Judith, there is Suzie, a dog-walker, and Bex, the timid wife of the local vicar. The police don't have a chance against this lot, who continue to poke their collective nose into the police investigation. I felt quite sorry for DS Tanika Malik - she really was no match for the trio.

This is a warm, humorous read, and I am excited to see that there is a sequel in the pipeline.

Nicolette McKenzie is an excellent narrator. Her range of voices is amazing. I thought I was listening to several different narrators.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

#TheMarlowMurderClub

I: @robertthorogoodwriter @hqstories

T:

#contemporaryfiction #crime #murdermystery

THE AUTHOR: Robert Thorogood is an English screenwriter. He is best known as the creator of the BBC 1 Murder Mystery Series, Death in Paradise.

DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of The Marlow Murder Club written by Robert Thorogood, narrated by Nicolette McKenzie and published by HQ Audio. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Instagram, and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

Our story takes place in the English town of Marlow, a quaint community where just about everyone knows everyone else. Judith Potts is one of those well-known to the Marlow public. Her home is a mansion on the River Thames that perhaps has seen better days. Judith lives alone and that’s okay with her as she is VERY independent-minded—likes to do what she wants, when she wants, without answering to anyone. Did I mention that she is 77 years-old and enjoys her whisky, her job as a crossword setter, and swimming down the Thames at night during the sweltering days of summer? Judith is one feisty cookie!

It is on one of these swimming ventures that she hears someone cry out in the dark followed by a gunshot. Judith is certain that a neighbor has been murdered and tells the police so when she calls 999. However, the police decide otherwise. This must be rubbish, thinks Judith!

There’s nothing else to be done. Judith decides that she must investigate what happened. On her pursuit, she comes across dog-walker Suzie Harris and vicar’s wife Becks Starling. These two ladies are quick to assist Judith and they become THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB.

The trio are off on a madcap adventure of false clues and twists and turns. Will they be successful in solving this important puzzle, or will they be dismissed as irrational/eccentric women?

This book is very Agatha Christie-esque. The author admits and embraces this posture. I enjoy a good Agatha Christie story and I’ve heard “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”. I also enjoyed the characters and this story. However, there were things within the story that rang very familiar to me. For this reason, the rating I chose reflects that.

I thank the author and Sourcebooks for the ARC and the opportunity to delve into this book and share my honest opinion.

RATING: 3.5 stars

3.5 stars
Seventy seven year old Judith Potts takes her nightly naked swim in the Thames (rather you than me,Judith!) when she hears a shout followed by a gunshot from her neighbour Stefan Dunwoody's property. She returns to terra firma, calls the police and a bobby takes a cursory plod around and finds nada. Judith is dissatisfied, she knows what she heard and goes to take a look herself the following day. Guess what, she finds Stefan's body semi submerged in the shallows and it's clear he's been shot through the head. Sadly, that's not the end of it ... in Marlow for goodness sake, what a shocker. Judith turns detective accompanied by two new pals, Becky Starling the vicars wife and dog walker Susie Harris. Oh, with the occasional input from DS Tanika Malik!! What on earth is going on in beautiful, peaceful (expensive) Marlow???

I love Judith, what a character she is and she's having great fun with Becky and Susie! Talk about the three musketeeresses! Mind you, it's the biggest wonder they can solve anything with the amount of Scotch they consume thanks to Judith! It's lively, and funny in places and in a terrific setting which allows the author to create a good atmosphere and some exciting situations.

Unfortunately, despite the many positives it doesn't entirely hold my attention and my mind wanders! The ending kind of had to be but by the same token it's a bit bonkers!

It's an enjoyable read and whilst I like the book I don't love it.

Gosh, I have read some really atrocious books lately and unfortunately now I need to add another one to the pile of "Books I will never go near again." Thinking I was going to have a slight reiteration of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club and its sequel, I dug in waiting to enjoy the antics of three older women, Judith, Becks, and Suzie who link up because of a local murder that had occurred. It was definitely a cute idea and one that initially had something going, but then at about the 50% percent mark, it died. (the book I mean,not the women)

The story became utterly ridiculous and knuckleheaded. From the police who couldn't find their nose on their faces to the three ladies performing feats of daring do, that women of a certain age would certainly not be stupid enough to attempt, this book went downhill faster than the Flash could. (whom I am told by my grandson is the fastest man on the planet!) The writing was off in the author's attempt to pull humor out to try and make one lol. My face went from 😐 to 🙄 to this 🙁 in a "flash".

I think Mr. Thorogood's idea for the story might have been a tad innovative, but the💤 portrayal, left much nonsense in its attempts at frivolous gibberish. So disappointing that I had to push myself before 💤 set in to finish the book.

The dynamite reading team of Jan, Dorie, and I were sadly disheartened, disenchanted and disgruntled, (never a good combination when reading a story). I gave this book a 2 because 1. I could possibly be one of the mature women in the story, (I mean seriously, I could have been Suzie!) and 2. the beginning was promising. So, my advice would be as a seasoned, in my prime lady, to give this one a pass, but if you are at all interested in mystery that isn't a mystery than give this one a go.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this story.

4.5/5

so funny and such a good murder plot! never read one like it but have heard some real life stories on podcasts that are similar which makes it all more believable

i am a little tired of the privileged middle class white women solving crime trope even though it is very funny… that’s why it’s not 5 stars

also, obviously it’s similar to richard osmans books, they pretty much have the same name, but i think it stands alone and a good book and deserves the praise

4 cute and unexpected superhero stars - *now available

This one was definitely a cozy read with three unlikely women who band together to stop a killer.

First up is Judith, she’s 77 and sets crosswords, so she knows how to put clues together! Then there’s dogwalker Suzie, she knows everyone in Marlow and their dogs. And the final one in the trio is Becks, she’s the wife of the vicar who always says and does the right thing.

Judith’s neighbor is murdered, and she thinks she heard the shot while swimming in the Thames. The police aren’t quite doing enough so Judith takes it on herself. Along the way she ropes in Suzie and Becks and soon the women are having the time of their lives!

When another murder rocks the small town, the women double down despite being warned away by the police. One thing I like about this style of book, is that I never feared for the women. They just go blazing in to confront suspects and it comes across as more comedic than dangerous. It made for an entertaining read and more power to older women that can feel invisible! I have a feeling there may be another case for the Marlow Murder Club to solve in the future.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this one and provide my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! I like the writing style as well as the premise. The main character was hilarious.

Judith Potts is a seventy year old woman lives by herself in a home in Marlowe. She writes crossword puzzles for the Times paper, and is very good at it. Judith witnesses what she believes is the murder of her neighbor one evening while swimming in the river.

The police of course think she’s a meddlesome old woman who should mind her business. They don’t take her seriously at all. So she takes it upon herself to solve the murder. She receives help with her endeavor from her new friend Suzie and together they form the Marlowe Murder club. When another body appears, they believe there is a serial killer on the loose. Will the murder club be able to solve the case?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....

"...as far as I can see, she could be our killer."

Beck's eyes widened in amazement.

"That's not posible, she does yoga!"

"The Marlow Murder Club" is the second book I've read in the past few months where a group of senior citizens go and solve a murder. It seems to be becoming quite a trend and I only have three words: KEEP THEM COMING! I loved "The Thursday Murder Club" and I've loved "The Marlow Murder Club". I find so refreshing to read a murder mystery with a group of unlikely sleuths and not a tormented detective!

Meet Judith Potts, 77, living in a mansion and designing crosswords for the paper. When she stumbles upon her neighbor's murder police don't listen to her cause, murder don't happen in Marlow, so she must try to solve it herself.

I just knew I was gonna love Judith after her first appearance, when she goes skinny dipping into the Thames. In that moment is made clear that she's not a frail old lady and that nothing will stop her till she finds the truth. She reminded me of Miss Marple on steroids!

But she's not alone doing all the sleuthing. She enlists the help of two unlikely allies. Suzie, the village's dog walker and Becks, the prim and proper Vicar's wife. Besides DS Tanika Malik, the acting police investigator, they conform a group of absolutely delightful and charming characters. I loved their friendship and the bond it was established between them. Once they all started working together I came to think of Judith, Suzie and Becks as Tanika's Angels! They had some pretty funny interactions and there were several laugh out loud moments throughout the story.

The murder mystery itself was a bit overcomplicated at times but at the end every piece fit together as in one of Judith's puzzles.

The story also pointed the finger to some issues that added a layer of depth to the characters, such as loneliness in the old age, being invisible to others when you're past a certain age, being taken for granted by your own family or estrangement from your kids. All this made the characters not only quirky and funny but also humane.

The writing was so good I could easily visualize Judith cycling around Marlow. Nicolette McKenzie, the audiobook narrator did an outstanding job giving each of the characters a distinctive voice.

An engaging murder mystery and a group of lovable and humorous characters make of "The Marlow Murder Club" a really enjoyable read. Hoping to meet Judith and co. again really soon!

Had heard a lot about this book and was glad it lived up to the good reviews. It is a cozy mystery set in the town of Marlow, England. And the plot is quite involved, which is really good because it keeps the reader guessing as we see not one but three murders in this sleepy little town. We follow the exploits of three ladies: Judith who is 77 and who creates crossword puzzles for a living and who loves to go swimming naked in the Thames; then we have Suzie, a local dog walker; and finally Becks who is the wife of the local vicar. These three ladies paths cross as Judith hears a gunshot while swimming naked and arrives (fully dressed) at the home of a local antique dealer who is shot dead. Eventually a Muslim taxi driver is killed in a similar manner and finally a former UK Olympic rowing champion is also killed in a similar manner. The police are baffled but the ladies are able to find some initial clues (this is so typical of cozy mysteries), and after the police hit a wall in their investigation the ladies are officially brought into the case. Lots of twists and turns, and all in all a good effort by the author. The action is fast-paced, dialogue is crisp and the ladies are a hoot to put it mildly! Very enjoyable read!!
See my full review of this and other books at www.ViewsonBooks.com

This was a fun read that gets points for having two elderly protagonists and a 40-something as the amateur sleuths. The official investigator is a very patient and competent woman who I wished had even more characterization. This also gave some humour between the growing body count. I enjoyed each woman here and while they all had growing to do, I cared about it so that made a good read for me.

On the downside, there was a recurring "What's that?" by probably every character at one point or another as they stalled for time or didn't hear what was said. It was so repetitive (and jarring) that I wondered if this were a regional village quirk or this was the largest collection of people suffering from George Bailey's addled ear (the movie It's A Wonderful Life, if you don't know who that is) ever read in fiction. It was tedious and I hope it doesn't appear in the next book which I look forward to reading. I'd visit these ladies in Marlow again.

This was written by the guy who brought the world Death In Paradise which I have enjoyed so I'm not surprised I enjoyed this. I would watch an adaptation of this and I did a little fan-casting in my head as I read so that was fun also. In book-likes it reminded me a bit of The Thursday Murder Club and if you've read my reviews of that, you know that is a very good thing. I don't know if elderly main characters in mystery are having a moment but I do have a couple of others in my TBR and I say keep it coming publishing world! I can't just get my fix reading about Poirot and Marple and send more 40+ women too! Send them all!

I still don't know how to exactly classify these types of books. They're cozy-ish but don't quite feel like they should be categorized as such. But they also feel more specific than "mystery". They're a particular thing and I feel like there should be a simple thing to say when referring to them or looking for other books like them. I'll keep thinking about it while I read more.

Recommended.

“Got it in one!”

Judith Potts is not an average seventy-seven-year-old widow. Living alone in her mansion, she sets crossword puzzles, drinks whisky, and plays the role of neighborhood busybody. When she unwittingly witnesses the murder of her neighbor, she vows to find the killer. However, when the single murder turns into a triple homicide, it turns out that a serial killer may be at large. Teaming up with Becks, the vicar’s prim and proper wife, and Suzie, the neighborhood dogwalker, the unlikely trio are on the case.

Woohoo! After waiting on hold for the audiobook for six months, I finally got to listen to this little gem! I am not really a Cozy Mystery reader, but have enjoyed books about octogenarians in the past, so I couldn’t wait to read this one.

I listened to the audiobook read by Nicolette McKenzie, who is absolutely fabulous. I highly recommend listening to this book, as her voice is PERFECT for a character like Judith. She also manages to create several distinct voices for the other characters (both male and female) as well.

You do not need to be a fan of cozies to enjoy this mystery. Thorogood’s phenomenal characterization of Judith, Suzie, and Becks, really helps this book shine. The actual mystery is both intriguing and complex. While I mostly had this one figured out, it did not hinder my enjoyment of the book. This is a terrific start to a book series, and I cannot wait to find out what these ladies are up to next!

I highly recommend this book to readers who have enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman and Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn. This was my favorite book of the three!

4.5/5 stars rounded down

3.5 stars rounded down.

This was a charming cosy mystery with delightful characters. Mrs Judith Potts, 77 year old cruciverbalist, was having her customary nude evening swim in the Thames when she heard a call and a shot from her neighbour, Stefan’s, place across the river. She couldn’t actually climb ashore there so swam home and called the police. Stefan had been shot dead right between the eyes. The very next day though the local Marlow taxi driver, Iqbal Kassam, is also shot dead in the same manner.

Judith meets middle aged Suzie Harris who walks Iqbal’s dog Emma and these two ladies eventually hook up with the vicar’s wife, Becks Starling, and they take it upon themselves to investigate these murders because the police seem to be making no headway. They identify a handful of suspects but the pieces don’t seem to fit. Soon there is another murder! Liz Curtis who runs the boat hire place is also shot between the eyes. None of this is making sense.

The characters were lovely. Judith is a formidable old woman with a sharp mind and a great deal of determination. Suzie is a staunch ally and Becks finally comes out her shell and realises she is for more than just a vicar’s wife. It was a very character driven story and it is lovely to see older people, particularly women, kicking ass! The three women got themselves into a lot of amusing situations while they were playing amateur sleuths. The book was a bit slow and ponderous in the first half but got much better in the second half.

The resolution of these murders was an eye opener. I suppose a savvy reader could, in theory, have worked it out but you would have had to make a lot of assumptions so it was satisfying in that respect. I enjoyed this story although I wouldn’t say I loved it. I suppose I’m open to reading more cosies now that I’ve dipped a toe in the water. They can be quite fun without the blood and guts of some of my usual thrillers. Many thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

Delightfully cozy with a touch of eccentricity.
You know your in for something quirky when the main amateur detective is a seventy-seven year old lady who enjoys swimming naked in the Thames each night.

It's during this nightly routine that Judith Potts hears an altercation from her neighbours house that oddly the police just brush a side as possible suicide.
I'd have though a likely murder (which is uncharacteristic for the small town) would have seen the local constabulary jump at the chance to solve...

Instead this invigorates Judith to investigate further.
She's soon joined by Becks the vicars wife and Suzie a local dog walker in an attempt to solve the case.

One of the prevalent themes running through the book is Judith's role as a crossword setter for The Times.
The clues are easily presented to them, it's just trying to figure out the obvious connection.

'Two girls, one on each knee' - Roger Squires.
I'm terrible when it comes to crosswords and as Judith cites this famous example I was none the wiser until she revealed the meaning.

That brilliant captures the whole tone of this mystery, I was delightful suprised with the solution.
It's always the seemingly unimportant clue that ends up being so vital.

1.5/5

I'm sorry to say but I wouldn't recommend this book!
It started out well enough but then it became so obvious as to what was happening that I couldn't be bothered less by the revelations in the end since I already new!
I would have enjoyed it immensely if the author had the creativity to plan a huge plot twist that I couldn't see coming!

The main characters sympathetic enough but indifferent as personalities and didn't manage to captivate me!

Some things in the writing style managed to irritate me especially the repetitive "what's that?"
The setting if Marlow quite charming but at the same time not enough to bring me back for the second story at least that's how I feel now!

A nice attempt at criss cross with a touch of Miss Marple but oh so very predictable!

Judith Potts is 77 ears old & lives in a museum on the Thames river, she likes to drink scotch set out cross word puzzles for the newspaper, she loves to swim naked in the Thames river, but this isn’t all she likes to solve crimes.

Judith is what I call a tough nut with a lovely personality a super sleuth to the bitter end she won’t give up until she gets her man 👨.
With the help of DS Tamika Malik & her menagerie of friends she wants to solve the murder of Stefan Dunwoody who was found in the river where Judith swims.

This was one of the funniest books I have read, it did at times remind me of The Thursday Murder Club but that’s not a critique of Mr Thorogood it was witty yet serious at the same time a few OTT moments but I chuckled to myself several times, I loved getting to know the characters the ins & outs of the crimes, that evolve through out the plot line an enjoyable laugh out loud series.