The Marlow Murder Club: The first novel in a gripping and funny cosy crime and mystery series from the creator of the hit TV series Death in Paradise: Book 1 (The Marlow Murder Club Mysteries)

Okay, lets deal with the cavils (and the cavillers) first: yes there a several moments of high improbability and others where the noise of clunky plotting almost drowns out the rest, and yes the police officer character is so thin as to seem an amateur exercise in plotting (give her a couple of banal, minuscule and stereotypical personal problems to make her seem real) and at times the style of writing itself, especially the dialogue, is so naive I thought it was a first novel and not a very good one at that. But ... but ... the whole thing is just so much fun!Disclaimer: as a woman in her seventies whose lack of height is fully compensated by her rotundity, who enjoys one privilege of her age, remaining in bed if there's no particular need to get out of it, whose house care standards can fairly be described as relaxed and whose friends and detractors alike would probably describe as feisty and, er, idiosyncratic, I was destined to enjoy the main character immensely from the start. (I might even take up the nude swimming if I had a suitable river handy.) But I don’t think this blinded me to the book's weaknesses. I think anyone who is willing to just accept a little license with probabilities in places, ignoring any pompous little internal critic demanding strict adherence to police procedural norms, and can just hang on tight for the ride would enjoy this joyful little romp of a book immensely.As I said, I took an immediate liking (and fellow-feeling) for the main character, and found her wholly believable barring a little — quite unnecessary — stretching in a (to me) over-sentimental ending, quite out of step with the overall tone of the book. The two other characters were both recognisable types though by no means stereotypes, and although the younger of the two was a little exaggerated she was nevertheless an amusing satire of a type of woman familiar to anyone who has ever been involved in a parent-teacher committee for a school in one of our leafier suburbs or more socially-desirable county towns. The third character, the dog walker, was so well-realised I knew her at once. (I was once married to a vet so am thoroughly familiar with the type of woman who has come to view the world largely through canine, or sometimes feline, eyes and as a result has come happily adrift of social norms and cares not a jot.) These three women were such fun to spend time with and were so sympathetically — and knowledgeably — portrayed I thought for a time the author was a woman. (Congratulations are due to his wife, I think, for probably many years of helping him to understand — and value — women, and congratulations to the author for paying attention.)As for the plot I think, by and large, he plays fair. Although a seasoned crime novel reader may suspect the solution before the end, I doubt if many will notice one crucual clue hidden in plain sight early on in the story, resulting in a good few slapped foreheads when it is put into context at the end: mine is certainly still (metaphorically) smarting and my shins are equally in some pain because I missed it. But there are others aplenty and the central puzzle holds up well.But don’t read this if you're looking for a plot full of forensic detail and carefully based on exact police procedures. (Though the essential problem of having amateur sleuths working alongside the professionals is neatly and even almost plausibly got round.) And don't even open it if you want one of those books in which a tormented investigator wrestles with personal demons while hunting down a sadistic killer whose crimes are portrayed in full-on blood and gore horror. They can be enjoyable too, in a different mood. But this book doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is: an enjoyable gambol with origunal and entertaining characters in an attractive setting, and all topped off by a decent puzzle to solve.It's not great literature, it's not gritty realism, but it is the most enormous fun!I'm very impatient to spend more time with these wonderful characters and see how they've developed. Will Judith still be oblivious to her local fame or will this have turned into unwanted notoriety encroaching on her privacy? Will Suzie still have a missing house wall but be on better terms with her family? Will Becks continue to dust anything that stands still or might she now be able to relax a little and finally grow into using her full name? I want to know.So as soon as I’d finished I immediately ordered the next in the series and now can hardly believe I’ll have to wait nearly TWO YEARS to see them again! What will I do? ( Read it again in about eighteen month's time, probably!)

I really enjoyed this. It was a lot of fun and the three women are great characters in their own individual way.I loved the setting. It was easy to read and I loved the gumption particularly of Judith and Suzie, with the more reluctant Becks in tow. There was a lot of funny bits throughout and I'm still laughing at the idea of a pensioner swimming in the nude in the Thames. It's a real page-turner and I can't wait to read the next one.

I had this on my wishlist for a while but with the TV show coming out, I decided to bump it up my list so I could read it before watching. I'd heard good things about this series and being a lover of Death in Paradise, I had high hopes.It took a bit of getting into, although I find that is often the case in the first book in a cosy murder series when you don't know the sleuths (and in this case, they don't even know each other). Judith is the head sleuth, has many quirks to her character and is a witness to the first murder which kicks off her investigation because she feels the police are quick to dismiss the death of her neighbour as suicide. Along the way, she inadvertently recruits Becks (the vicars perfect albeit a bit ditzy housewife) and Suzie (a local dogwalker who discovers one of her clients has been murdered) into her investigation team. Each character is very well written with their own distinct personalities.Tanika is the detective who has to put up with Judith and her new friends getting in the way of her investigation before realising their un-police-like investigation style may be useful to her.Lots of twists and turns go on throughout with many funny moments. I eventually worked out who and how the murders took place (which is rare for me!) but overall it was a very enjoyable book.The TV show is well worth a watch. The plot is simplified somewhat compared to the book and there are a few noticeable changes, but it's not a bad adaptation at all.

Very enjoyable. Setting, posh, scenic Marlow and grand houses by the Thames. A skinny dipping septuagenarian eccentric lady out for a swim hears a gunshot at a neighbour's house (on other side of river from her own). She dutifully reports this to the police. A body is found, by eccentric, deemed to be possible suicide, a verdict our nude swimmer disagrees with so she inestigates. More murders occur. Two other women of varying ages get pulled in to help investigate, one a suppressed, overworked vicar's wife, the other a huge dog walker. The women become friends. The first woman, a widow, is a compulsive newspaper boarder with a secret. Did she or didn't she? Hmmm! She composes crosswords. Together the women solve the case. Now this an all female show, even the main detective is female. Their husband's are less than perfect but there are no anti-men rants. Little excitement until the end, but if you are looking for a non gory, non threatening puzzle with pleasant people, then this is the one for you. I enjoyed it and recommend it with the caveats mentioned. Easy to read. Not great literature, but I have read worse. I'll get the next one. I might add I read this after finishing an outstanding novel and it's straightforward approach helped me to calm down from the uber high I had reached. Books are greatly varied. You can enjoy the magnificent along with the mundane.

A brilliant cozy mystery. Judith is 77 likes whisky, lives in a crumbling mansion and compiles crosswords. When her neighbour is shot she begins to investigate, when another murder is committed is drags in Suzie and Becks. Loved the story, loved the characters. The writing is entertaining and has some nice humour. Nicholette McKenzie does a fine job with the narration apart from a couple of audible swallows. I look forward to listening to more of these.

I thoroughly enjoyed this delightfully engaging murder mystery set in England. Loved the main character, Judith and her new found friends Suzie and Becks. These three new friends with such diverse backgrounds come together to solve a murder in Marlow and wind up becoming the best of friends. Highly recommend this murder mystery.

The characters were diverse, the mystery real and the ending a great surprise.

Bem escrito!

I can only say I was drawn into this (quite quirky) story right from the beginning. The main character is anold lady but, wow, what a lady... Strong for her age, both physically and mentally, somewhat of an eccentricbut nevertheless likeable. As she stumbles across a murder victim by pure chance, she doggedly pursuesall possible leads and finds a couple of new friends - both very different from each other - helping herinvestigate. The characters all come across as very believable, the story evolves steadily but never dulland the end is pure drama!The background, the lovely town of Marlos, provides an extra interest (I'll soon be going there as friendsof mine have just purchase a house there which aroused my interest in the first place).Well done...

It was lovely to read a series set in England although the plot at the end was familier it was still a very good read and I am looking forward to the next book. I even bought the German version to give to a relation who enjoys reading books like this!