Definitely missed these characters and helped cure my "Thursday Murder Club" hangover! We get more depth of character as this series goes on and I love the cozy mystery vibe! Another well done installment in this series!

Murder on the Marlow Belle, the fourth installment in the Marlow Murder Club series, brings back the brilliant Judith Potts alongside her crime-solving partners, Suzie and Becks. When a murder occurs on a pleasure cruise on The Marlow Belle, Judith finds herself diving into the secrets of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society to unravel the mystery. This time, the trio tries to avoid interfering with the police as they dig into the case.

With an engaging cast of background characters and a cleverly woven plot, this installment keeps readers guessing at every turn. The mystery unfolds with plenty of twists, constantly challenging perceptions of guilt. Judith’s signature grand reveal ties everything together in a satisfying and entertaining conclusion.

A fun, easy read and a fantastic addition to the series, Murder on the Marlow Belle delivers all the charm, intrigue, and suspense fans have come to love.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

*Murder on the Marlow Belle* was pure cozy crime bliss—clever, charming, and filled with just enough twists to keep me happily guessing from start to finish. From the moment the riverboat set off, I knew I was in for a classic mystery with a fresh and witty spin, and Robert Thorogood didn’t disappoint.

The return of the Marlow Murder Club felt like catching up with old friends. Their chemistry, banter, and unrelenting curiosity made the investigation feel fun, even when things turned dark. Each of the amateur sleuths brought something unique to the table, and their teamwork was just as entertaining as the case itself.

The setting—a murder aboard the Marlow Belle—was deliciously atmospheric. The confined space, the cast of suspicious passengers, and the steady churn of secrets beneath the surface created the perfect backdrop for a whodunnit. I thought I had the culprit pegged more than once, only to be gleefully proven wrong.

*Murder on the Marlow Belle* is a delightful mix of classic detective storytelling and modern character-driven charm. If you love mysteries with sharp wit, heart, and plenty of red herrings, this is a river cruise worth taking.

It is rare for a series to be as good in its fourth installment as it was in its first, but this was truly a perfect addition to the series! Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of the book!

My favorite summertime type of book is a cozy mystery with equal parts heart and un-put-down-able-ness and this book hit the nail on the head. I hope to see another book in the series this time next year.

3.25 Stars

I have been reading quite a few of these "elderly detective" cozy mysteries and it's been a fun ride. I've always enjoyed reading from perspectives that are different from mine. That's why I enjoy, for example, historical fiction from the English Victorian era. So much propriety! Reading about elderly detectives is the flip side of that coin. No propriety whatsoever. It's delightful and hilarious. Judith (retired widow), Suzie (dog walker) and Becks (vicar's wife) have very little hesitation about diving right into an active murder mystery and poke their amateur noses everywhere. They are surprisingly adept at ferreting out secrets and connecting the dots. This fourth installment has a larger than life thespian Oliver who died on a boat that only had a handful of passengers. Thus, the suspect pool is narrow. But as the three ladies learn more about Oliver, the more secrets unravel about each passenger.

It's definitely a fun cozy mystery. It is, of course, difficult to read this and not compare it to other books in the genre, such as the Thursday Murder Club. That said, I think this series stands on its own. It is a very, very breezy and readable book. No flowery language or intricate descriptions. Plain, simple, and fun. The dialogue is also straight forward but not stilted. My criticisms of the book include: all men in this book seem to be pretty lame. They are either criminals, deadbeat, or straight up jerks. Reducing all of the male characters to negative stereotypes is very one-note. Secondly, for a mystery novel, there isn't really very much tension. The cast seem to go from person to person, each one looking suspicious, but somehow the stakes feel so far removed. Lastly, the detective of the case and her relationship with the amateur sleuths is rather unrealistic, but I can suspend disbelief for a fun novel, and make no mistake, this murder mystery is a pretty good time.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press.

I enjoy the work of Robert Thorogood--his television show, Murder in Paradise as well as the Marlowe series. This book was on my must read list before I saw it on NetGalley and I'm very grateful to have received it.

We are back again in the company of septuagenarian Judith Potts, instigator and chief investigator of the informal murder detective squad which includes Becks (the local vicar's wife) and Suzie (a dogwalker with an interesting past). This time, we begin with a frantic wife coming to Judith about her husband's apparent disappearance. Of course, this turns into a murder case. Lead detective (official--as in actually working for the police department) Tanika Malik is in trouble with the department for using the help of amateurs in her investigation. However, Tanika recognizes how helpful this somewhat wacky and unconventional group of women are.

Oliver Beresford is larger than life (that is, until he's dead). He runs the village's local amateur theater company (which like all such groups is riddled with politics and strife). He is directing their upcoming production of The Importance of Being Earnest when he disappears after a party aboard a boat (the Marlow Belle) welcoming a former member and now famous celebrity Lizzie Jenkins.

Oliver has many enemies--including his wife--but everyone has an alibi. It's up to our crime-busting trio to uncover the truth. In the pursuit of the killer, Judith joins the theater group run by Oliver in their production of The Importance of Being Earnest. The look into the world of amateur theater is enjoyable.

I was left a little unsettled by the ending and am looking forward to the next installment. There are mysteries within mysteries in this story!

I greatly enjoy this lighthearted series in which three unglamorous, older women bond with each other. Although I usually prefer stories a little (although not a lot) harder hitting, I find these books, soothing, relaxing, and entertaining. I especially like Judith, although likability is not a quality she leads with! Feisty, thorny, bright--she generally rejects the company of others but in the course of the series has become more open and very attached to her sisters in crime (including Tanika).

In this book, Judith joins a theater company to help in her pursuit of the killer. So we also get a fun look at the amateur theater world

And I didn't guess the murderer--which (having read so many books in this genre) I often do so I very much appreciated this!

Murder on the Marlow Belle will be published on September 16 2025 by Poisoned Pen Press. I'm grateful to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Murder on the Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood is book 4 in the utterly delightful Marlow Murder Club series, and this time, the sleuthing trio sets sail!

When Oliver Beresford is found dead during the maiden voyage of the refurbished Marlow Belle, the suspects are limited to an elite and eccentric circle: members of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society (MADS). Judith Potts, ever the fearless puzzle-solver, infiltrates the society by taking a role in their play, while her partners-in-crime-solving run down leads.

As egos clash and secrets unravel in the cutthroat world of community theater, everyone seems to have a motive, and the police would really prefer the trio butt out. Thorogood blends sharp wit, quirky British charm, and satisfying clues into another well-paced whodunnit. This one brings the same Golden Age flair fans love, with the added thrill of backstage drama and riverboat ambiance.

🎭 If you adore clever cozies with a side of amateur sleuth mischief, you’ll want front-row seats for this one.

#MarlowMurderClub #MurderOnTheMarlowBelle #RobertThorogood #CozyMystery #PoisonedPenPress #SleuthingSisters #WhodunnitWithTea

Thorogood has done it again. The Marlow Murder trio is just as nuanced and insightful as the last 3 books. Thorogood manages to weave a story that is suspenseful while staying (relatively) light-hearted and humorous. I truly enjoy seeing how these ladies grow and are able to solve cases with as limited "official" resources as they have.

This series is still entertaining, either way a creative mystery and well executed whodunnit. It ends on a MAJOR cliffhanger, and now I can’t WAIT to read the next one!

Another fine mystery from this crew. I love older women solving mysteries so this is perfect for me! I enjoy the humor and all the shenanigans!

Another clever mystery in the excellent Marlow Murder Club series! These books are always so much fun. I just love the characters, their friendship and the way they work together to solve murders. This time a seemingly impossible murder takes place on a boat. It seems as though no one could have done it, while at the same time evidence points to all of them. This was a very well-crafted novel, and I was surprised by all the twists and turns. I definitely didn't guess who the murderer was! There is a little bit of a cliffhanger at the end, and I can't wait to see what comes of that plot. You could read this as a standalone, but I highly recommend you read the series from the beginning if you haven't already. Highly recommended and I can't wait for the next one to come out!

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.

What another absolutely delightful installment of the Marlow series!

Thorogood is a master of deception as he weaves the story of the mysterious death of Oliver, a man known for his theatrics and love of theater. Seemingly killed on a boat with a fixed cast of characters, the reader has to determine who pulled the trigger and why.

Judith returns with her sidekicks as she untangles this wild whodunnit. I love the relationship between these gal pals - it was refreshing to see how they complement each other and ultimately spur each other on to solve the crime while also providing comedic relief.

This story kept me guessing with so many twists that I didn’t see coming. For readers who enjoy a thoughtful, cozy murder mystery with a cast of lovable characters, but also like to be surprised in the end.

A nice cozy read! It was fun to return back to Marlow and delve further into these characters lives. What a cliffhanger ending!

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.

Another winner from Robert Thorogood! I love this series and was happy to read more about the unique crime-solving trio in Marlow. This book had lots of twists and turns and red herrings. The author did a wonderful job bringing both the main characters and other members of the community to life. I enjoyed the unusual murder setting, and I never would have imagined the ending. I highly recommend this book and the series, and I can't wait for the next installment promised at the end of this one.

Another very entertaining Marlow murders book. Twists and turns, red herrings galore and a surprising murderer. A fun read!

The Marlow Murder Club is back and better than ever! When the founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, Oliver, goes missing, his wife finds Judith to take up the investigation. When Oliver turns up dead, killed on the maiden voyage of the Marlow Belle, Judith, Suzie and Becks are on the case. The suspects are members of the Dramatic Society, along with one very famous Hollywood start who got her start in Marlow, thanks to Oliver.

Drawn to the Society members and looking for answers, Judith decides that in order to get closer to the killer, she must join the Dramatic Society as a member of the play, The Importance of Being Earnest.

While everyone seems to have a motive to want Oliver dead, the Marlow Murder Club must rely on each other and their vast talents and community resources to solve the crime baffling the police. This is another excellent addition to the wonderful series from Robert Thorogood!

What another great addition to this series. So so many red herrings. A closed room mystery set on a boat in a delightful location. Red herrings abound and the perpetrators all have a reason to murder. A most enjoyable read!

This is another delightful mystery in the Marlow series. I have enjoyed following along as Judith, Susie, and Becks’s friendships have deepened; the books are as much about solving a murder as they are about the importance of community and interpersonal connections. The murder at the heart of this book is also a good mystery—I didn’t want to put it down until I found out what happened. Definitely recommend!

I liked this book. I really like this author. Realistic characters become familiar. This talented author has written a page turner. Curl up n a comfy chair and become lost in this novel. Thanks Netgalley