Sunday, 28 June 2026

The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman

Description from Amazon:

Who’s got time to think about murder when there’s a wedding to plan?

 

It’s been a quiet year for the Thursday Murder Club. Joyce is busy with table plans and first dances. Elizabeth is grieving. Ron is dealing with family troubles, and Ibrahim is still providing therapy to his favorite criminal.

But when Elizabeth meets Nick, a wedding guest asking for her help, she finds the thrill of the chase is ignited once again. And when Nick disappears without a trace, his cagey business partner becomes the gang’s next stop. It seems the duo have something valuable—something worth killing for.

Joyce’s daughter, Joanna, jumps into the fray to help the gang as they seek answers: Has someone kidnapped Nick? And what’s this uncrackable code they keep hearing about? Plunged back into action once more, can the four friends solve the puzzle and a murder in time?

 

I read the previous four a while back but didn’t do reviews on them – naughty me. And then I found this in the library! Two more Craven books and then I must go back to indie publishing as those are where the reviews are needed!

Honestly, these books just let you turn your brain off and enjoy a rollicking good read. I did watch the movie about the first book too and thought it was relatively close to the book. Bogdan was way off though and Pierce Brosnan as Ron? Nope. I’ve seen Mobland but he still can’t pull off what Ron was. Actually, neither can Tom Ellis as Jason – sorry, guys!

However, when Ron gets asked who his favourite James Bond is and he says Pierce Brosnan, I will say I had a good giggle.

Two gripes about the book: I felt a bit let down by the explanation behind the Bitcoin code and what happened to it. It fitted the book but I guess I was looking for something else. And the other was the focus on Joanna but leaving Suzi without a bigger voice. I completely understand it was about Nick and Holly and the fortune in the bunker and it’s a comedy mystery, but when Suzi disappeared because of Danny’s domestic violence and the threat against her, it would have been good to see something from her POV.

But getting to know Kendrick, Suzi’s son, was a blast. What an entertaining nine-year-old! Far too smart for his own good, but a kid with good prospects.

I liked how Osman continued the story with Elizabeth still trying to get over Stephen dying, how Joyce just want to be involved with everything and is keen to be more in Joanna’s life, how Ibrahim is just the solid rock for everyone (and him trying to help Connie mentor someone was so funny), and Ron learning that even he is getting old but can still protect his family but in his own way.

The writing just makes you keep wanting to turn just one more page and it’s like a warm hug when the last page is done. Next book, please!



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