Cover Image: The Bullet That Missed

The Bullet That Missed

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The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman is the third book in The Thursday Murder Club series. Each entry in this series just gets better. The murder the gang is looking at has plenty of twists and turns and I did not guess the villain. What I love about this series are the characters. Each book let's us know these characters a little better and in this third book, several new characters are introduced who I hope to see in future installments. I loved this book.

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The Bullet That Missed is another wonderful addition to the mystery stories of Richard Osman. The geriatric characters appeal to any generation of mystery readers although those of a certain age group find much to relate to. The storytelling is suburb as usual. I recommend these books for readers of all ages.

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My favorite septuagenarians are back in book #3 of The Thursday Murder Club series, and this is the BEST ONE YET!

Another Thursday…another crime to solve.

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim find an old cold case that interests them, and they’d like to solve it. When they’re on the prowl, they’re going to get their way. Unfortunately for Elizabeth, she’s also dealing with a personal issue when someone from her past threatens her future. She’s reluctant to share this with her friends, but by keeping it to herself…is she putting them in danger?

I cannot get enough of this series, and I can honestly say that each book gets better and better! I loved learning more about the characters we’ve come to love. There are some new dynamics that keep things really exciting…and put a big ‘ol smile on my face. There are also new characters who are highly interesting. And let’s not forget about the crime(s) and case(s) that the Thursday Murder Club is determined to solve. It’s highly intriguing, and I think fans of the series will really be impressed with the direction it’s going.

There are plenty of laughs to be had, and I am already eagerly awaiting the next installment. If you haven’t started this series yet, DO IT NOW!

Thank you to Pamela Dorman Books for a widget of the ARC through NetGalley. Expected Publication Date: 9/20/22.

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This is different mystery set in the same setting and same characters. The Thursday murder club meet and decide on a cold case to investigate. Does it have anything to do with certain celebrity Joyce has crush on? Is this a teen mystery? Will they get involved in more than they bargained for? What romance, what love? Well, dear well read friends, I highly recommend you read to find out!

I loved this book! I was apprehensive about it because I loved the first two so much. But the author’s charm just shines through the book. This book made me laugh in the middle and it’s a thriller with assassins, spies (retired tho they say), bodies dug up, code words. I am on edge of the seat and what will surely happen? Next dead body, yes but also laughs. Wit never misses!

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** “Life is about understanding opportunities. Understanding how rarely they come along, and then rising to meet them when they do.” **

The Thursday Murder Club once again comes together to solve a cold case in Richard Osman’s “The Bullet That Missed.”

Club members Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim decide to look into the decade-old case of a missing and most likely murdered reporter, Bethany Waites — her car was found at the bottom of a cliff but her body was never recovered.

But as they dive deeper into the case, former MI6 agent Elizabeth finds her life as well as Joyce’s in danger. Can she protect them all while figuring out what happened to Bethany 10 years ago?

Once again Osman does a brilliant job of developing quirky and lovable characters, as well as new characters that readers will delight in. He also creates a divinely twisty plot that keeps the reader guessing until the very end.

Besides being a suspenseful yet fun read, “The Bullet That Missed” is filled with some good themes too, like age is nothing but a number; we each have unique skills that when we work together we can achieve a goal; you have a choice — to protect the weak or prey on them; keep your head above the water; the power of friendship; the impact of greed; and take advantage of opportunities when they come along.

Fans of Robert Thorogood’s “The Marlow Murder Club” and Deanna Raybourn’s “Killers of a Certain Age” will love “The Bullet That Missed,” which is due out Sept. 20 and does include the occasional mild swearing.

Five stars out of five.

Pamela Dorman Books provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

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Third installment in the Thursday Murder Club. In this series, it is helpful to have read the first two books; the books help establish the members and what they did in real life, if any of it is to be believed, of the Thursday Murder Club.

The gang is back again in this installment, Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim. While watching the news one evening, they discuss whatever happened to the news reporter who used to be on, the one whose murder was never solved and no body was ever found. Drawing on their large number of contacts, they find people to help them solve the murder. We have a head of the Leningrad KGB, a money launderer or cryptocurrency, a Polish construction worker, TV personalities and the list goes on. Elizabeth, formerly employed by MI5, does get captured in this book. Is she losing her touch? More murders occur, more people become involved and the members of the club - all in their 80s - appear to be in their element. Will they get their killer before he/she gets to them? And what adventures might the next installment hold?

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Combine four septuagenarian detectives, an ex-KGB agent and a Swedish assassin -- and you get a rollicking good time. This was an absolute DELIGHT. I want to be Elizabeth or Joyce when I grow up!

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Wine may get better with age, but The Thursday Murder Club series gets better with each new installment.

Elizabeth, Ron, Ibrahim, and Joyce, residents of Cooper's Chase, an upscale retirement complex, are working on their current cold case. Ten years ago, the car belonging to Bethany Waites, a young TV journalist, was driven off a cliff. Bethany's body has never been found. Nothing is ever straight forward with this group. As they work to solve the case, they get involved in money laundering, kidnapping, a hint of romance, and, of course, murder(s).

The characters are as quirky and charming as ever. The story moves quickly, and there are several plot twists and turns that will keep you guessing as you read with a smile on your face.

I highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys well-written mysteries. I am anxiously awaiting the next book.
Thank you, Penguin Group Viking and Net Galley for an ARC of this book. in exchange for my honest review.

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What a delightful trip back to Coopers Chase. The Thursday Murder Club has picked a locally interesting cold case to investigate and the path gets twisty. I felt like this one was perhaps a bit more convoluted than the previous two installments in the series, but that's not to say I didn't enjoy every minute of it. I think that this particular mystery had less meat than the others or perhaps introduced too many new characters. I never warmed up to Pauline, though I immensely like Henrik and Victor.

But the heart of this series is the member of the club. I especially love the chapters from Ibrahim's, Bogdan's and Elizabeth's points of view especially. I know Bogdan is not technically a member, but who are we kidding? He's a member. I am always delighted to spend time with the gang and can't wait to see what their fourth case will involve, if ever Mr. Osman continues the series.

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Richard Osman hits the ground running in his third installment of The Thursday Murder Club series, The Bullet That Missed. Osman just keeps getting better with each book. This time the club is on the case of a reporter who may have gotten too close to a crime ring for comfort. All of Osman’s favorite characters are back along with a former KGB colonel, a 6’6” Swedish money-launderer known as the Viking, and a few love interests to keep things spicy as well as sweet. The pacing is energetic, and the plot is multi-faceted as he keeps all his characters involved in the investigation. Osman ties up the loose ends nicely with a few hints of what’s to come in the next book. While the bullet may have missed, this book is a bullseye.

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This series started out strong, and it just keeps getting better. The Thursday Murder Club group consists of four "seniors" living in an independent living development. The four very different personalities and backgrounds make this a fascinating quartet: A retired spy, a psychiatrist, a nurse and a former labor union activist.

They amuse themselves by looking at old cold case files for unsolved murders. This time around, the victim was a TV investigative journalist on the cusp of a huge scoop involving a financial scandal. She went out to meet someone at 10 p.m. one night and was never heard of again -- but her crashed car was found over a cliff with her bloodstains inside.

The clever plotting, the surprise twists, and the priceless interactions among the set make these eminently readable and enjoyable. Intelligent writing and well drawn characters make every book a pleasure. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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Thank you Netgalley for the free ARC provided in exchange for a unbiased review.

Best of the series so far. The group stumble into a new mystery as they recover from their previous exploits, which also adds drama and more murder into the mix. Elizabeth is blackmailed, Ibrahim picks up someone to counsel, Ron and the real detectives develop romances, and Judith continues to surprise everyone with her observations. Funny with good mysteries.

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The Cooper's Chase Thursday Murder Club has taken on another cold case. Ten years ago a popular television personality, Bethany Waites died under mysterious circumstances. Her car was found at the bottom of a cliff but her body was never recovered. The club is taking on the case. In order to discover some background information Mike Waghorn , who worked with Bethany, has been invited to Cooper's Chase supposedly to film a segment on retirement communities but the real reason is to pick his brain for clues.
That's not all that's happening though. Elizabeth is receiving threatening messages from someone who knows of her previous career as an international special agent. If she refuses his request one of her friends will be killed.
This third in the TMC series is terrific! The two plot threads are artfully intertwined. The cast of characters expands with a former KGB operative liking Cooper's Chase so much he wants to move in. Ron and the makeup artist who preps him for his interview find they like one another a lot and the romance meter among other characters escalates as well.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to share in this exciting, funny and touching adventure of the TMC.

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Another absolutely delightful visit with the Thursday Murder Club. This is my favorite thus far. We know the characters so well at this point that it feels like Osman is free to let them loose to be themselves with all their clever and charming quirks. Every novel has been full of heart, but friendship is overtly the theme of the latest adventure. At the end of the day, and especially toward the end of a life, even seasoned criminals want genuine camaraderie. There’s sweet romance, deft twists, and plenty of laugh out loud moments. It’s another gem of a book.

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Cute, cosey, lots of laughs but is it in the same league as the first two in the series-no. This one reads more like a sophomoric attempt which is disappointing. It’s almost as though the writer is tired of his characters. Did I laugh-yes; lots of red herrings/yes; enjoyable-yes but forced in some places. High expectations based on the first two in the series. Still enjoyable.

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Elizabeth faces a new nemesis as the Thursday Murder Club is back together to solve a decade old murder with no body with help from friends both old and new.

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I continue to love this series, and am impressed as it evolves and starts to carry plotlines and supporting characters forward.

As always, we have the core "club" of four elderly people (Joyce, Ron, Ibraham, and ex-spy Elizabeth), this time looking into a cold case of a missing reporter and embezzled funds. But along with the current case, the past cases provide an antagonist (and potential ally) in prison, and Elizabeth's own past adds a potential new killer to the mix.

Osman's nicely fleshing out both Ron and Ibraham (who always seemed to take second fiddle to Joyce and Elizabeth in the early books), but not at the cost of other characters. The story is as witty and fun as always, with just enough real violence as well as pathos around Elizabeth's husband (slowly being claimed by Alzheimer's) to ensure no one reads this as just a light cozy.

Highly recommended, though I can't suggest starting here instead of with the first book.

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This series continues to entertain with book 3. As always the book blends a page-turning mystery with humor without ever putting the humor at the expense of the murder club.

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It is an ordinary Thursday, and things should finally be returning to normal.

Except trouble is never far away where the Thursday Murder Club are concerned. A local news legend is on the hunt for a sensational headline, and soon the gang are hot on the trail of two murders, ten years apart.

To make matters worse, a new nemesis pays Elizabeth a visit, presenting her with a deadly mission: kill or be killed...

While Elizabeth grapples with her conscience (and a gun), the gang and their unlikely new friends (including TV stars, money launderers and ex-KGB colonels) unravel a new mystery. But can they catch the culprit and save Elizabeth before the murderer strikes again? (Goodreads synopsis)

I absolutely adore this series! The characters are fantastic, and the reader feels as if they are just one of the gang. Joyce’s diary entries assist that feeling, as if we are a confidante.

There is a lot of activity in this third installment. Blackmail, money laundering, murder, secret dating, and tv personalities. However, everything flows so smoothly and combines so well, that if one thing was missing then nothing would make sense.

The emotions are also high in this particular novel. I have been in Elizabeth’s shoes and it is extremely hard. I wanted to hold on to Stephen as Bogdan and Elizabeth did, and pray for him to stay with us a little while longer. Make sure you read from book 1 and then in order. Otherwise, you might not fully understand the relationships.

Overall I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.

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After a trying day, or month, or even year, there are books you reach for like a cocktail while kicking off your shoes and curling up in a favorite reading nook. These books effortlessly nudge the outside world and it’s stresses away. The first two books in Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series are on this Reading Rx shelf, and now there is a third, The Bullet That Missed.

The world being what it is today, I was quite eager to dive into this novel and it once again accomplished the job. This time former spy Elizabeth Best (and of course she is the best) and a member of the quartet of Thursday Murder Club retirees, is kidnapped and threatened by a large menacing bearded man they refer to as The Swede. She is released, but the conditions of her release are that she murder a former Soviet spy/friend or the Swede will exact his deathly revenge on a person near and dear to her. But this is only one tentacle of the plot, which sprawls out to encompass some characters from previous books, including the riveting crime boss reprobate Connie Johnson who is serving a prison sentence but serving it with lattes made to order, suede prison garb and special food deliveries. It also sweeps in some new characters and old murders, some cliff-hanging moments (literally), and many of the unpredictable turns and discoveries and delights we’ve come to rely on in the Thursday Murder Club. One slight caveat though, Richard Osman is a hopeful romantic and it can cause him to make a few too many love connections between all his characters. Less is perhaps more? Still, one of the big payoffs to me as a reader, was the big surprise of the who did it in the whodunit -I love when that happens.

Confession: my favorite book in the series is still the second, The Man Who Died Twice, for its character development, its spiraling plot twists, its humor, and for the sensitive and insightful portrayal of trauma recovery. This set the bar for the following book quite high. And even if The Bullet That Missed doesn’t quite pole vault to that height, it is still incredibly entertaining, with characters that beg to be asked for a return engagement. I will be waiting. My gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc of the book.

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