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The Thursday Murder Club
Book Club Night - Cozy night

The Thursday Murder Club

Richard Osman

Four spirited retirees in a peaceful English village solve a real murder over biscuits and gossip. It is gentle, funny, and unexpectedly tender.

Reading level: Easy Best for: clubs who like mysteries with heart, tea on the table, and laughter between chapters

Discussion

Warm-up

  1. 1.What was the first moment in the book that made you smile or feel cozy, and where were you reading when it happened?
  2. 2.If you joined the Thursday Murder Club, which snack would you bring to the Jigsaw Room, and would you actually want to solve crimes or just hang out?

Digging in

  1. 1.Coopers Chase feels like a whole little world. What detail about life there did you find most comforting or wish existed near you?
  2. 2.Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim each bring something different to the group. Whose company did you most enjoy spending time with on the page, and why did they feel like good company?
  3. 3.The book treats older characters with real warmth and mischief. How did that make you feel about your own ideas of getting older, or about people in your life who are at that stage?
  4. 4.Joyce's diary entries have such a soft, chatty voice. Was there a passage that felt like it could have been written by someone you know and love?

Going deep

  1. 1.Underneath the humor, the story sits gently with loss, loneliness, and memory. Was there a quiet moment that moved you more than you expected?
  2. 2.The Club finds purpose, friendship, and a little adventure later in life. What does the book make you hope your own later years could feel like?

On the table

Shepherd's pie in little ramekins
A warm, homey English supper that feels like a hug, perfect for a village-mystery night
Scones with clotted cream and jam
A nod to Coopers Chase tea time, easy to set out on a tray and graze
Tin of mixed biscuits and shortbread
Because no Thursday meeting is complete without something to dunk in your tea

To sip

Proper pot of English breakfast tea (no alcohol)
The unofficial fifth member of the Club, served with milk and sugar
Mulled apple cider (non-alcoholic) (no alcohol)
Warm, spiced, and gentle, ideal for sipping during quieter chapters of conversation
A small glass of sherry or port
An after-dinner tipple that feels right at home in a tidy English sitting room

Run of show

7:00
Welcome and warm drinks
Greet everyone with tea on arrival. Keep lighting soft, lamps on, overhead off.
7:15
Cozy supper
Serve shepherd's pie and let people chat freely while they eat.
7:45
Warm-up questions
Start with the two warm-up prompts so quieter guests can ease in.
8:05
Theme chat over scones
Move to scones and biscuits as you work through the theme questions.
8:40
Deeper conversation
Pour sherry or more tea, dim the lights a touch, and slow down for the deep questions.
9:10
Trivia, scorecards, and goodbyes
Light trivia round, fill out scorecards, send guests home with a bookmark.

Host tips

  • Set out a blanket basket near the seating so anyone can grab one. Cozy means physically cozy too.
  • Print the diary-style discussion questions on small cards so guests can pick one to read aloud, like Joyce sharing a page.
  • Keep the pace gentle. Silences over tea are part of the vibe, not something to rush past.

Playlist

soft English afternoon, teacup clinking, gentle strings and easy old favorites

  1. 01The Way You Look Tonight - Tony Bennett
  2. 02La Vie en Rose - Édith Piaf
  3. 03Cheek to Cheek - Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
  4. 04Songbird - Eva Cassidy
  5. 05Moon River - Andy Williams
  6. 06Fields of Gold - Sting
  7. 07What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
  8. 08Vincent - Don McLean

Trivia

  1. 1. Who is the author of The Thursday Murder Club? (Richard Osman)
  2. 2. In what year was the novel first published? (2020)
  3. 3. What is the name of the peaceful retirement village where the story is set? (Coopers Chase)
  4. 4. In which country is the village located? (England (Kent))
  5. 5. What are the four main members of the club commonly called by their first names? (Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim)
  6. 6. On which day of the week does the club meet? (Thursday)
  7. 7. Before becoming a novelist, Richard Osman was best known as the co-host of which British TV quiz show? (Pointless)
  8. 8. What genre best describes the book? (Cozy mystery)

Rate the book

Coziness ☆☆☆☆☆
Charm of the characters ☆☆☆☆☆
Warmth of the humor ☆☆☆☆☆
Comfort-read factor ☆☆☆☆☆
Would meet this club for tea ☆☆☆☆☆
One word for how this book made me feel: ______________________
The character I would most like to share a pot of tea with: ______________________
A small moment I want to remember: ______________________
You're invited
Thursday Night at the Murder Club

Pop the kettle on and pull up a comfy chair. We are gathering for shepherd's pie, scones, and a gentle natter about Richard Osman's coziest mystery.