Two books feature in this post-session review of April's 'Mystery Month' themed session.
Thursday Murder Club, Richard Osman
The first of a series by Osman about some feisty oldies in a luxury retirement home [wish we had some places like this one!!!]
With traditional witty British humour, Osman introduces us to the four unlikely characters who team up weekly to discuss and solve cold cases: Elizabeth - the leader and a former secret service agent; Ron – a former radical union leader; Joyce a nurse and Ibrahim a former pychiatrist. A real murder occurs when the shifty owner of the establishment is stabbed in his nearby home. He is planning to enlarge the number of retirement villas on surrounding land and also destroy the nuns’ cemetery located in a peaceful part of the retirement village, which was a former convent repurposed for luxury retirement units.
When a second murder occurs and an additional skeleton is found in one of the nun’s graves, the list of suspects grows. The resourceful foursome befuddle and assist the two detectives assigned to the case. Without this help it’s unlikely the police would have unravelled the surprising perpetrators or their motives for killing.
A good holiday read.
Old God’s Time, Sebastian Barry
Barry is an Irish writer with other books to his credit, mostly exploring some of the tragic themes of his country including the potato famine, the Irish Civil War and the influence of the Catholic Church on politics and the population.
Old God’s Time looks at the life of retired policeman, Tom Kettle, who is induced to return to service to help solve the mystery of the murder of a catholic priest, allegedly by his curate: both priests had abused children and police wanted to close this cold case.
Kettle has also had a sad life, his wife and two children dying, and a neighbour seeking help from him over her abusive husband. He seems confused and aimless but agrees to assist his former colleagues. This book explores tragedy and resilience while treating the reader to sensitive descriptions of the Irish countryside and insights into Kettle’s reimagining of his past.
A tough read that may appeal to those with a taste for Irish prose and an interest in social issues.
Coming up in May - 'The Wren' by Anne Enright.
Meg Dillon convenor
Thursday Murder Club, Richard Osman
The first of a series by Osman about some feisty oldies in a luxury retirement home [wish we had some places like this one!!!]
With traditional witty British humour, Osman introduces us to the four unlikely characters who team up weekly to discuss and solve cold cases: Elizabeth - the leader and a former secret service agent; Ron – a former radical union leader; Joyce a nurse and Ibrahim a former pychiatrist. A real murder occurs when the shifty owner of the establishment is stabbed in his nearby home. He is planning to enlarge the number of retirement villas on surrounding land and also destroy the nuns’ cemetery located in a peaceful part of the retirement village, which was a former convent repurposed for luxury retirement units.
When a second murder occurs and an additional skeleton is found in one of the nun’s graves, the list of suspects grows. The resourceful foursome befuddle and assist the two detectives assigned to the case. Without this help it’s unlikely the police would have unravelled the surprising perpetrators or their motives for killing.
A good holiday read.
Old God’s Time, Sebastian Barry
Barry is an Irish writer with other books to his credit, mostly exploring some of the tragic themes of his country including the potato famine, the Irish Civil War and the influence of the Catholic Church on politics and the population.
Old God’s Time looks at the life of retired policeman, Tom Kettle, who is induced to return to service to help solve the mystery of the murder of a catholic priest, allegedly by his curate: both priests had abused children and police wanted to close this cold case.
Kettle has also had a sad life, his wife and two children dying, and a neighbour seeking help from him over her abusive husband. He seems confused and aimless but agrees to assist his former colleagues. This book explores tragedy and resilience while treating the reader to sensitive descriptions of the Irish countryside and insights into Kettle’s reimagining of his past.
A tough read that may appeal to those with a taste for Irish prose and an interest in social issues.
Coming up in May - 'The Wren' by Anne Enright.
Meg Dillon convenor
