The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman

I remember discovering that TV quiz presenter Richard Osman was launching his debut novel during the dark days of the COVID lockdown of 2020. Being a fan of this intelligent and funny man, I was keen to read the book as soon as possible.

I’ve always felt a bit of kinship with Richard as we were born in the same year, although that’s where our similarities end. He’s rather tall and I’m rather not-tall; he’s a bestselling novelist and I can only dream of someday editing a bestseller; and he’s the holder of a Guiness World Record, which I, sadly, am not.

But I digress. As the COVID pandemic continued, I, like millions of others around the world, was introduced to Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron, and the rest, as they say, is history. Five years later, and we now have the fifth instalment of their sleuthing adventures to enjoy.

Blurb

When Elizabeth meets a wedding guest who fears for their life, the thrill of the chase is ignited once again. A villain wants access to an uncrackable code and will stop at nothing to get it. Plunged back into their most explosive investigation yet, can the gang solve the puzzle and a murder in time?

My Review

I’ve enjoyed each of the Thursday Murder Club novels, but I’ve always felt that the characters were stronger than the actual mystery itself. This fifth outing, though, has the tightest and most engaging plot of the series, in my opinion. I found it easier to follow than previous ones – even though my understanding of bitcoin is extremely limited! – and I found I wasn’t forgetting who was who like I had when reading some of the earlier books.

In the four prior outings, readers have had the chance to get to know the members of the Thursday Murder Club really well, and that knowledge continues to be built on and expanded in this book. As these four beloved characters are so well established, Richard Osman is also able to draw in and flesh out secondary characters from earlier books. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of Connie Johnson, who is now out of the prison cell where she was put by the sleuthing seniors.

The way I see it, there are two aspects of Mr Osman’s writing that make him unique and have ensured that he remains at the top of bestseller lists the world over. The first is that he is somehow able to write about serious issues with both sensitivity and a light touch. Grief, domestic abuse, and family relationships all feature in this novel, but readers aren’t left feeling weighed down by such potentially heavy topics.

The other unique aspect of Richard Osman’s writing is his delightfully humorous Britishness. He’ll throw in a motorway number here or a variety of chocolate bar there, all of which remind readers that this book is quintessentially British.

And on that note, do I recommend The Thursday Murder Club’s latest outing? I most certainly do. It’s a joy to read, and Richard Osman’s light touch and clever humour shines all the way through. What are you waiting for?