Join Judith, Suzie, and Becks in their fourth exciting escapade, 'Murder on the Marlow Belle'! This charming trio, aided by their law enforcement friend Tanika, dive into a new murder mystery in the quaint English town of Marlow, following leads and solving puzzles along the way.
A worried wife arrives at Judith's door, convinced something's happened to her hubby. Judith gets pulled in, and soon they're in over their heads in a mystery where clues are scarce and everyone's a suspect!
I'm a sucker for a good whodunit, and this one delivered. The setup was classic: a man dies on a boat, and the list of suspects is limited to the other guests, who were all tucked away in their cabins. It was a real puzzler, and I was eager to see how the mystery would unfold.
The cliffhanger ending was expertly crafted, leaving me dangling in suspense. I'll definitely be back for more – bring on the next book!

It's so good to see Judith, Becks, Suzie, and Detective Inspector Tanika Malik back. This time with a very complex case that has too many suspects, and maybe more than one killer!

A boat is hired to host actress Lizzie Jenkins by the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society ( MADS). Oliver Beresford, their leader, knew Lizzie when she was younger, and he pushed her into the acting scene.

Verity Beresford seeks Judith's help because her husband Oliver never made it home after the boat party. Oliver's body is found to be shot twice. It is later discovered that he was shot on the Marlow Belle ( the boat) during their boat party. 6 people were invited to the party, and one of them shot Oliver. After the trio goes through the secrets, lies, hatred, and resentment that the guests had towards Oliver. It seems like there is more than one killer!

Thank you, Netgalley, and Poisoned Pen Press for this eArc. All opinions are entirely my own.

Huge thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the gifted ARC of the fourth installment in the Marlow Murder Club series.

I’ve had the first two books sitting on my TBR forever, but when I saw this could be read as a standalone, I jumped straight in. And I’m so glad I did! Within just a few pages I was hooked — this book was pure cozy mystery joy.

It had everything I wanted: witty banter, quirky yet lovable sleuths and a pace that kept me turning the pages while I tried to solve the mystery before the ladies did. The Marlow Murder Club is such a fun trio to follow — sharp, charming, and unstoppable — and their dynamic gave the story so much warmth alongside the intrigue.

What I loved most was the perfect balance: light and entertaining while still delivering a twisty, satisfying mystery. By the end, I was both invested in the case and also wanted to spend more time with these lovely women. Safe to say, I’ll be binging the earlier books in the series soon!

This one got boring at times. I am looking forward to to his next book though nonetheless. I didn’t find myself wanting to noice this one up and it took me forever to finish.

Author Robert Thorogood has penned yet another fun and fabulous page-turner following the clever hijinks of the trio that make up the unofficial Marlow Murder Club. An alarmed Verity Beresford visits semi-recluse Judith Potts when her husband Oliver goes missing. Verity knows of the success that Judith, dogwalker Suzie Harris and vicar’s wife Becks Starling have had in solving murders — the whole town has! Turns out Oliver Beresford, the flamboyant director of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society (MADS), has been shot twice and left in the Thames River.

The threesome can’t get their usual support from the Maidenhead Police Station’s Tanka Malik, newly promoted to detective inspector, but Judith, aided by Suzie and Becks, manage to figure out who killed Oliver Beresford and why. Murder on the Marlow Belle works as a stand-alone for newbies, but I highly recommend catching up on the previous three suspenseful and humorous novels in the series.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for an honest review.

Lady-of-a-certain-age Judith and her best friends Becks and Suzie are back on the case in Murder on the Marlow Belle. A local blowhard who runs the town’s drama society and playhouse is killed on a boat where everyone is a suspect. Was it his protégé who is now an elite Hollywood star? His long-suffering wife? Or one of the other three people on the boat, all of whom have both motive and opportunity?

This is the fourth book in this series. While I enjoyed catching up with the girls, the denouement feels rather unfair from a fair play mystery perspective. I think it is highly unlikely that any armchair detectives will solve this convoluted plot with its relevant clues revealed only at the very end of the book. Despite that, I did enjoy the characters in Murder on the Marlow Belle so 3 stars for this lesser entry in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advanced review copy.

Murder on the Marlow Belle is a delightful cozy mystery that’s equal parts charming and clever. Robert Thorogood delivers a classic whodunit feel with a fresh twist, setting the mystery aboard the picturesque Marlow Belle. The atmosphere is perfectly done — you can practically hear the water lapping against the boat as the amateur sleuths piece together clues.

The cast of characters is quirky and fun, with just enough tension and humor to keep things engaging. The puzzle itself is well-constructed, with plenty of red herrings to keep readers guessing until the satisfying reveal.

While the pacing slows slightly in the middle, the sharp dialogue and warm, inviting tone make it easy to stay invested. This book is a treat for fans of Agatha Christie-style mysteries or anyone who loves a cozy setting with clever twists.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Murder on the Marlow Belle is the fourth installment of the Marlow Murder Club series. Set in the small English town of Marlow, it features friends Judith, Suzie, and Becks, who just can't seem to stop solving murders. Assisted by their somewhat reluctant friend in law enforcement, Tanika, who throws them clues and puzzles she can't quite sort, the friends follow leads and somehow keep managing to catch the killer.
This time the story starts with a worried wife showing up at Judith's door convinced something has happened to her husband. Naturally Judith gets involved and suddenly the trio are neck deep in a mystery where few facts make sense and everyone seems guilty.
I love these mysteries because they're clever. This particular one had some of the elements of a locked room mystery--man dies while on a boat while all the other guests were safely tucked away in their own cabins. Who could have done it? This is the first time in four books that I've managed to cotton onto some of the clues author Robert Thorogood sprinkled into the story, and it was so rewarding. There's never a shortage of guilty-looking suspects, and it's fun watching our amateur sleuths take turns shining as the case calls upon their various skills. Judith, who sets crossword puzzles, is wonderfully adept at taking the scattered facts of a case and smoothing them into a coherent narrative. And oh! it comes together in such a fun and dramatic fashion!
And as much as I enjoy the mystery, it's actually secondary for me. I come for the mystery and stay for the friendship, because that's where these mysteries really shine. Judith, Suzie, and Becks have become that level of friends who might annoy the snot out of each other for a minute, but they'll always be the first to support each other when it counts. It's a love that can take some good-natured ribbing and prodding. There's a scene near the climax where Judith falters for just a moment, doubting herself, and without skipping a beat Suzie is there, offering her the encouragement she needs to go on. it's such a small moment in this key scene, but it absolutely touched me and reminded me of why I devour these books. In a world where it's so easy to alienate others, it's endearing to see these three unlikely friends come together and continue to support each other.
This book also ends on something of a cliffhanger which will have me eagerly anticipating book five until I can get my eager little hands on it, so reader beware!
I will be posting my review on my social media and the retail sites closer to publication, all links will be included.

Verity Beresford contacts amateur sleuth Judith Potts to locate her husband, Oliver, who never came home last night, and isn't answering his phone. It goes straight to voicemail.

Oliver, founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, booked The Marlow Belle, a pleasure cruiser, for an exclusive party with the MADS committee, plus the driver and one important guest—six on board.

While speaking with Judith, Verity takes a call from a friend. Oliver's body has washed ashore on the River Thames with two bullet holes. With only six people on the cruiser during the party, and five of them not seeing Oliver exit, it seems Judith, Suzie, and Becks—AKA The Marlow Murder Club—have a locked room murder mystery to solve...

"Murder on the Marlow Belle", I'm sorry to say, felt slightly more than flat. Okay, it felt blah. Where was all the fun and laughter? Even the writing was lackluster. And why didn't Judith go skinny dipping? I think she could have used a nice cool dip in the Thames midway through this one!

The pace finally picks up at about three-quarters through the story, but my-oh-my, that's a long way to go to feel engaged. It's easy to see this isn't my favorite, and I'm still not sold on how Judith fits all the pieces together in solving this mystery. Even so, I remain loyal to these three female super-sleuths!

What I did enjoy was the intriguing cliffhanger ending that has me wanting and waiting for book #5!

3.25⭐

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Robert Thorogood for the gifted DRC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

3.25/5

At this point, I am familiar with the layout of the plot and when to expect twists. Because of that, this book in the series felt super repetitive and it turned me off a bit from reading it. However, I do love Judith, Suzie, and Becks. I even bought a sudoku book to do a puzzle everyday just like Judith.

In my opinion, the ending is really what saved this book. I have been waiting for the book about the mystery of Judith’s personal life and I think that’s what book 5 will give us!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book and the opportunity to read and review it. My thoughts are my own unique opinions.

I love love love a good cozy mystery and this one did not disappoint. Judith, Suzie and Becks are the perfect mystery solving trio (with the help of DS Tanika Malik of course). The book was well written and honestly kept me guessing the entire time.

This series is one of my favourites and one that I have recommended many people to read. The perfect “cozy up with a cup of tea and solve a mystery” kind of read

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The Marlow Murder Club is back to the drama with a full cast this time. Will they all play along or will Judith and her crew be caught acting out?

This is the fourth book in this series, and this trio of women just keep getting better and better. When Verity's husband goes missing, and is later found dead, she heads straight to Judith for help. Judith enlists the help of her friends, Becks and Suzie and together they try to figure out who killed Oliver. Since there were only a few people abroad the boat when he was shot, it should be easy to solve, but everyone seems to have a motive, and no one seems to have witnessed anything. Judith and friends have their hands full, and the twist at the end was great, and very unexpected! I highly recommend this for fans of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club sereis.

3.5 stars. This was an ARC from NetGalley. I have read this series and this is the fourth book. This is a traditional British cozy mystery featuring a set of older village sleuths. I felt this novel was more closely aligned with what I enjoyed about the first one. I think cause they were back to work in secret from the police and fully up to their own devices. Per the norm, the ending did get a little sideways and over-the-top, but overall it was an enjoyable addition to the series. #netgalley #murderonthemarlowbelle #cozymystery

I'm enjoying this cozy series about a group of women in Marlow, UK who solve murders in their town. Yes, Marlow is beginning to have the Cabot Cove syndrome, but I can get past that. I think this is my second favorite of the four books. I loved the fun locked room aspect of the mystery, though things did get a little complicated at the end. If you love this series, all aboard for more murder and mayhem!

The ladies of the Marlow Murder Club are back, and they’re just as sharp, witty, and downright entertaining as ever! Book four delivers another clever mystery with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, reminding me why I adore this series so much.

This time, the drama hits close to home—literally...when Oliver, the somewhat pompous founder of the local amateur dramatics society, turns up dead after a night aboard The Marlow Belle. With two bullet holes and a boat full of suspects, Judith, Suzie, and Becks are once again in their element, unraveling secrets, lies, and more than a little backstage theatrics.

What I love most about this series is the perfect balance between humor and heart. Judith’s eccentric brilliance, Suzie’s no-nonsense approach, and Becks’ endearing practicality make for a trio you can’t help but root for. Their friendship shines just as brightly as the mystery itself, and it’s impossible not to smile at their banter.

Murder on the Marlow Belle proves once again that Thorogood knows how to spin a cozy mystery that feels both comforting and fresh. While Oliver may have been universally disliked, the twists and turns in uncovering his killer kept me guessing right up until the end.
Another hit for the Marlow Murder Club! I can’t wait to see what mischief (and murders) these ladies stumble into next.

What really stood out was the plot—it was layered, full of unexpected twists, and kept me guessing until the final reveal. Every time I thought I had it figured out, the story shifted in a way that surprised me without feeling forced. The tension builds steadily, and the payoff is completely satisfying.

Book four in the Marlow Murder Club - strangely I have somehow missed book one in the series so I quickly reserved it at the library for future pleasure.

In this outing with the Marlow Murder Club, Judith, Suzie and Becks, a man is found drowned and it is soon discovered that he had been on a pleasure trip on a river boat, the Marlow Belle. There are a very limited number of suspects and even Judith struggles to see a logical conclusion to their investigations.

The author writes well and the story is well paced and always interesting. A quick and unexpected twist at the end is beautifully played. I enjoyed it a full five stars worth.

Murder on the Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood was such an enjoyable read. This is the fourth book in the Marlow Murder Club series, and I continue to love spending time with this clever, quirky group of women. The mystery is both fun and intelligent, with plenty of twists to keep you guessing, and the dynamic between the characters adds real warmth and wit. I hadn’t realized until now that the series has also been adapted for TV — or that Thorogood himself lives in Marlow, which makes the setting feel even more authentic. A perfect pick for fans of The Thursday Murder Club who enjoy smart, cozy mysteries with personality.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poison Pen Press for this ARC . This is my honest review.

This was my first read from Robert Thorogood, and first of this series. It was a classic mystery of whodunit, and I love the banter of Judith and her friends, their detective skills, it was comedic, yet they just can’t help themselves to be the armchairs detectives! It starts off with murder, and a multitude of suspects at hand, who could it be? And the ending left me
Deciding I will want to read the next book, so I am glad I got the opportunity to read this ARC! Thanks NetGalley, poisonedpenpress and Robert Thorogood for the opportunity to read this early copy! Every one should get a copy, September 16,2025, great cozy mystery for fall!