I like (love) Robert Thorogood’s work so y’all will get a positive review of his latest output entitled “Murder on the Marlow Belle.” Furthermore, I enjoy the Thursday Murder Club and his previous three stories with his Marlow Murder Club. This book continues the series and therefore I savored reading each chapter till the interesting end. I offer my only critique that this story lacked some of the “joy” of the previous three books. Why? I believe it is due to the lack of focus on the quirky characters that comprise the Marlow Murder Club. The four protagonists have interesting storylines and I want to learn more about them whilst they deliver their brilliant deductions on the whole, the what, and, most intriguing, the why.
So I am grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read “Murder on the Marlow Belle” and shall await the next chapter in their journeys.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

It’s time to return to Marlow, where the delightful and unconventional crime-solving trio—Judith, Becks, and Suzie—are once again at the center of an engaging mystery. For the uninitiated, this trio comprises a witty and intellectually formidable septuagenarian crossword setter, a vicar’s wife with a penchant for sleuthing, and a spirited dog-walker/DJ whose energy often disrupts the quiet of their idyllic village. Together, they strike a charming balance of eccentricity and intellect, making them as compelling as they are endearing.

In this installment, a murder aboard The Marlow Belle—an elegant pleasure cruiser—sets the stage for intrigue. The victim is the founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, an individual surrounded by the sort of theatrics one would expect from such an organization. Naturally, the passenger list reads like a roster of potential suspects, and once again, Judith, Becks, and Suzie cannot resist diving into the case.

While previous investigations had the unofficial backing of DI Tanika Malik, this time the dynamic shifts. Malik is now under review for her prior leniency toward the trio’s meddling, forcing the women to proceed without the benefit of her cooperation. Predictably, this does little to deter them. As they wade through a web of deceit and shifting alibis, the narrative cleverly misleads both the characters and the reader. Just as one becomes confident in the identity of the killer, new evidence surfaces to upend those assumptions.

The story moves at a brisk pace, unveiling long-held grudges, hidden agendas, and layers of personal drama. At several points, nearly every character falls under suspicion, creating a dizzying but thoroughly enjoyable puzzle. Personally, I made five confident guesses at the killer’s identity—each of them wrong. The final reveal is both unexpected and brilliantly executed. And just as the dust begins to settle, author Robert Thorogood delivers one final twist that is sure to leave readers stunned.

For those who appreciate a clever, character-driven whodunit with witty dialogue and genuine surprises, this novel is a must-read. Pour yourself a cup of tea—or perhaps something stronger—and prepare for a thoroughly entertaining ride through the charming yet murder-prone village of Marlow.

I will always eat up this series, even if it doesn’t quite reach the heights of The Thursday Murder Club. The crime in this installment was genuinely compelling, and the twist was a lot of fun. I loved that the story took place on a boat and involved an amateur dramatics society — it made the cast of suspects delightfully wild and unpredictable.

My favourite trio — Judith, Suzie, and Becks — were on top form, and I really enjoyed watching their teamwork and friendship as they worked to crack the case. The characters have their quirks, and while they aren’t always deeply appealing, their dynamic keeps things entertaining.

That said, the plot sometimes felt a little contrived, and the writing is solid but doesn’t quite sparkle. Still, it’s perfect for passing the time when I’m waiting around, and I always find myself eager to dive into the next book. And can we talk about that final line? I need book five immediately!

How do you bring the world of movie stars to a small English town… amateur dramatics, an old river boat and a murder mystery of course.

This time Judith, Suzie and Becks are solving the locked room (boat) murder mystery of the local Am Dram leader. A big personality who everyone has a motive to murder, including the visiting film star?

The puzzle is engaging and the relationship between the ladies and Tanika the police detective is interesting to watch. Although its slightly frustrating how she forgives them every time they break their promise about not investigating the crime.

We also get to learn slightly more about Judith's background including a dramatic teaser for the next book. Will we finally learn what happened to Judith's husband?

I really enjoy this series of cosy mysteries and am looking forward to the next one.

Just when you thought the three ladies of Marlowe couldn’t possibly find another murder to solve - they do. This one literally falls in their laps. Verity Beresford’s husband goes missing and she asks Judith to look for him. He had recently gone missing after a houseboat party for his amatuer acting company. His body washes up with two bullet holes and the sleuthing begins. The threesome consisting of the Vicar’s wife, a dog walker and of course Judth a crossword setter begin looking for clues. They are asked to stand down because their friend and police inspector Tanka malik is under probation because of their earlier “help” . Of course, the three try to behave and not get in the police ‘s way but they do. I really enjoyed this installment of the Marlowe Murder Club books, especially the cliff-hanger of an ending!

I'd like to thank Netgalley for the ARC. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

The Marlow Murder Club provides a fun mental vacation. Overall, it doesn't take itself too seriously, and they're quick reads. I do feel that the further I progress with this series, the less and less they have to them.

The writing is a lot of telling and not a lot of showing, which makes it feel very written for TV (and I expect this trend to become more pronounced as it has become a TV show already picked up for a second season). We also didn't get as much fleshing out with the characters, especially the main ones and their own personal stories.

The one we get the most of is Becks, who has a storyline that lacks closure. <spoiler> What was Hugo's deal and why did he take the money? I would have hoped for something addressing that, but I feel like it may also come in a future book. </spoiler>

That isn't to say I don't enjoy them. I do. They're satisfying in the way the mystery is wrapped up, in the characters and their quirks, and in the fact that the setting is always charming. So, of course I'll come back for the next one.

The book was engaging and kept me hooked until the very end. I thought the ending could have been better because of how it left the reader wondering what happened to one of the characters. Overall, it was a good book and I would suggest it to readers who like a cozy mystery.

The girls are back! Judith, Suzie and Becks are involved in another murder in Marlow when a worried wife calls Judith when her husband did not return home the night after a party on a boat. Did he ever make it off the boat alive? How could someone who is larger than life not be noticed leaving? Who didn't have a motive to kill him? These question and more need answered throughout a weaving and bobbing storyline that leaves you guessing until the very end who killed Oliver Beresford.

I am 100% obsessed with Robert Thorogood and his ability to craft an excellent mystery. I started out with The Marlow Murder Club, then read the Death in Paradise books. Now I am 12 seasons deep into the Death in Paradise TV show. Please keep them coming!

The good ladies of the Marlow Murder Club are once again called into action. 79 year old Judith Potts, self-appointed Club leader, is at home enjoying peace and quiet when an unknown lady, Verity, comes to her door requesting Judith’s help. Verity’s husband, Oliver a larger than life and pompous amateur theater director in Marlow, is missing under mysterious circumstances and she wants Judith to investigate. In short order Oliver’s body is discovered floating in the River Thames with two bullet holes now included. Verity pleads with Judith to continue her investigation as she has little confidence in the local police. Judith agrees to look into the murder and enlists the help of good friends dog walker Suzie and vicar’s wife Becks.

The rebuilt Marlow Belle cruising along the Thames is the site of Oliver’s murder and the five passengers plus the boat’s captain quickly become prime suspects. I’m reminded of Agatha Christie and her locked room novels. Judith, Suzie, and Becks undertake a close look at each suspect, their motives, and their connection to Oliver. Each has a solid reason to send Oliver to the bottom of the Thames. The author kept me guessing as Oliver was disliked by all and each holds back vital information throughout the investigation. At several points in the book the Club members exclaim each of the suspects is the murderer. Not so. Frustrated at a lack of progress Judith volunteers to take an acting part in the upcoming local play most suspects are part of to get to know their motives better. The amateur production plays a major role in the eventual outcome.

It’s highly entertaining to follow the three women chase lead after lead across Marlow while trying to piece together clues while avoiding Detective Inspector Tanika Malik. She has been told by her superiors in no uncertain terms that her job is on the line if she brings in Judith, Suzie, and Becks to assist her. Several hilarious scenes have the three amateur detectives sneaking out a back door of a suspect or witness as Tanika or her partner are knocking on the front door. Yet it’s the three who wrap up the case in an incredibly creative fashion. Kudos to the author for such an unexpected solve by the Marlow Murder Club.

I have read all the books in this outstanding mystery series and found Murder on the Marlow Belle the most entertaining. Judith, Suzie, and Becks seem more comfortable with each other and willing to accept each other’s individualism. When not solving murders they are more than willing to help each other with their personal problems. This time it’s Beck being suspicious of her daughter’s boyfriend, Suzie upset by a Tarot reading that causes her to worry about Judith, and Judith receives a huge shock when she answers her door in the book’s last line. The Marlow Murder Club may seem like of group of busy bodies unable to mind their own business but they sure know how to solve a murder.

I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this very enjoyable book. Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley.

The latest Marlow Murder Club mystery is clever and charming, if a bit more by-the-numbers than earlier entries. Judith, Suzie, and Becks are once again told to stay out of the investigation when a local theatre director is found shot in the Thames. Naturally, they don’t listen.
The story plays with the classic locked-room setup, and while the characters surrounding the amateur dramatics scene are over-the-top, the mystery itself is tight and satisfying. The red herrings land well, and the twist, though a touch too convenient, ties up most threads neatly.
Some of the warmth and character development from previous books is missing here. The trio’s dynamic still works, but feels less lived-in this time. Still, it’s readable, fun, and worth picking up if you're already a fan of the series. For new readers, it holds up fine on its own, but the earlier books offer a bit more depth.

The Marlow Murder Club consists of three friends, Judith, Suze, and Becks. They have solved murders in the past, and now have a new murder to contend with.
Verity Beresford's husband Oliver, did not come home one night. Verity was concerned, and went to Judith to enlist her help in finding out what happened to Oliver., it was unusual behaviour for him to stay out all night. Oliver was the founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, (MADS), and he had hired a pleasure cruiser for a private party with the MADS committee, but no one recalls him leaving the cruiser at the end of the night. Oliver's body is discovered later by the riverside, with bullet holes in him.
Judith, Suze and Becks are asked to stay out of this case, but they have already started their sleuthing.
This was the kind of locked room thriller that I really enjoy, with lots of plot twists and red herrings along the way. (No, I didn't foresee the ending!)
I love the whole series of books about these three amateur detectives, I can't wait for the next none.
Thank you for my advance copy.

See my full review at http://michelleardillo.com/2025/06/16/book-review-death-on-the-marlow-belle-by-robert-thorogood/

The Marlow Murder Club returns and does it in style!

Verity Beresford approaches Judith as her husband Oliver has gone missing after a boat trip on the Marlow Belle. Oliver is well known locally as Director of the MADS, which is the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, but well known doesn't always equate to well liked.

I mostly enjoyed the book but felt it was a little formulaic, in that the police are very stereotyped and come across as totally incompetent and can't solve any crimes without the help of a 79 year old woman, a vicar's wife and a lady who runs a dog walking company. I know you have to suspend belief but I certainly wouldn't answer any questions they ask......

On the whole a cozy crime read and would recommend it

"This review is for an ARC received through Netgalley!"
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I recently devoured my latest instalment of "The Marlow Murder Club Series," and let me tell you, it did not disappoint me! This fourth book picks up with our beloved trio—Judith, Becks, and Suzie—who are once again trying to solve a murder mystery. The story begins with Verity, the wife of the missing Oliver, the founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, personally asking Judith for help. What initially seems like a request for help to locate her husband quickly escalates into a gripping murder investigation when Oliver's body is discovered in the river, shot with two bullets. The catch? The suspects are all part of the same drama society, making it even more complicated to sift through the act and uncover the truth.

What I particularly loved about this book is how the humour is brilliantly interwoven with the plot, keeping the reader engaged and entertained throughout. I found myself constantly guessing who among the characters could be the culprit, all while navigating the "unreliable" narratives. Though I must admit that I skimmed over some parts due to a few overly lengthy descriptions that felt a bit unnecessary, it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the story. I also noticed that this particular book took me a little longer to read than the previous three, but that only heightened my anticipation with each turn of the page.

The ending brought everything together neatly, delivering a satisfying conclusion that explained who was behind the crime, as well as the motives driving their actions. I genuinely felt a pang of disappointment when I realised I'd reached the end—it left me shouting "NOOOO!" and eagerly awaiting book five. The bond I've formed with our quirky amateur sleuths is undeniable, and I can't wait to see where their next adventure takes them. Overall, it was an enjoyable read that ticked all the right boxes for me!

Many thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this cozy murder mystery.

This was a fun book to read. When a man is shot while out on the Marlow Belle pleasure boat, Judith is called by the widow to help find the killer. Immediately she enlists the help of Becks and Susie. There were five guests and the captain of the boat, so not many suspects. They each had motive to kill the man, but the evidence does not work. The dead man was the director of the Marlow Dramatic Society, and Judith is asked to join in The Importance of Being Earnest, a play she had performed in in her youth. Just when the group thinks they have found the killer, it all goes sideways.

I really enjoy this series and look forward to more!

Judith Potts, Becks Starling, and Suzie Harris—with the help of DS Tanika Malik—are back on the case in Robert Thorogood’s Murder on the Marlow Belle. With three mysteries under their belts, the crime-solving trio find themselves attempting to solve the murder of a bombastic theater company founder, whose past and present are littered with subterfuge, cruelty, and betrayal.

When Oliver Beresford—a “chancer” at heart—is shot to death on a local party cruiser, the list of suspects is long. They include Oliver’s neglected wife; a wild-child Hollywood starlet with childhood ties to Marlow; members of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society; and the owner of the ill-fated Marlow Belle.

With Judith, a formidable septuagenarian known for her brilliant mind (and nude, cold water swims) at the helm, the crime solvers uncover decades-long secrets, lies, and betrayals that make everyone in Oliver’s orbit a suspect. The multiple plot twists and red herrings, and allusions to Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and Dickens, make for a fun, engaging read. Those who’ve worked with small town dramatic societies will recognize, and giggle over, the petty rivalries and intrigue.

Unlike previous Marlow Murder Club mysteries, Murder on the Marlow Belle neglects the powerful backstories that drew these characters together. Unless one has read the previous books, it’s easy to forget that Judith is a retired archeologist who writes crosswords for a living; Becks is adjusting to life as a vicar’s wife (her husband left a lucrative banking career for the church); and Suzie is a struggling dog walker who moonlights as a radio chat show host. I hope there’s a return to what made these mysteries magic in book number 5 (there appears to be, so fingers crossed). However, if you’re looking for a fun, clever, and engaging whodunnit, Murder on the Marlow Belle does not disappoint.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an ARC of Murder on the Murder Belle. I love this series and am rooting for it to continue.

To be honest, I haven’t read any of the earlier Marlow Murder Club books, so I came to this one without much context. I was surprised to discover its premise is quite similar to another series I’d read, only to find both were developed around the same time.

A group of 6 people on a yacht, and one person dies. Everyone seems to have a motive and an opportunity to kill this person and everyone is a suspect, until someone confesses, but are they the real killer?

Perhaps it’s because I missed the first three instalments, but I struggled to connect with the main characters. Despite the author’s efforts to convey their quirks, I didn’t find them particularly compelling or well fleshed out. The supporting characters also felt underdeveloped, making it hard to truly care about the outcome or root for anyone.

The police are portrayed as largely ineffective, and the dynamic between the inspector and Judith felt a bit repetitive, with the inspector oscillating between seeking Judith’s help and trying to avoid being seen with her.
Overall, the tone and style seem more suited for a television series than a gripping murder mystery novel. However, it was an easy read and I enjoyed it overall.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The plot was imaginative and convoluted - in a good way! Reading about the characters was like catching up with old friends. It's refreshing to have books where the main protagonists are older women, who are both strong and vulnerable, but with an unshakeable bond. Within each book in the series, a little more is revealed about each one. Can't wait for the next in the series.

This is a very charming cozy mystery with likeable characters. This is the fourth book in the series and I have enjoyed them all. Judith, Suzie and Becks get involved when a local man is found murdered in the Thames after a a party on the pleasure cruiser, The Marlow Bell. All of the characters experience personal growth in this one and it ends in a cliff hanger! I already can't wait until the next one to see what happens.