"Judith Potts is seventy-seven years old and blissfully happy. She lives on her own in a faded mansion just outside Marlow, there's no man in her life to tell her what to do or how much whisky to drink, and to keep herself busy she sets crosswords for The Times newspaper. One evening, while out swimming in the Thames, Judith witnesses a brutal murder. The local police don't believe her story, so she decides to investigate for herself, and is soon joined in her quest by Suzie, a salt-of-the-earth dog-walker, and Becks, the prim and proper wife of the local vicar. Together, they are the Marlow Murder Club. When another body turns up, they realize they have a real-life serial killer on their hands. And the puzzle they set out to solve has become a trap fromwhich they might never escape... "I love Robert Thorogood's writing." -Peter James, international bestselling author"-- - (Baker & Taylor)

After witnessing a murder while out for a swim in the Thames river, 77-year-old Judith Potts, when the police don’t believe her story, investigates for herself with the help of a salt-of-the-earth dog walker and the prim and proper wife of the local vicar, forming the Marlow Murder Club. - (Baker & Taylor)

2023 EDGAR AWARD NOMINEE, LILIAN JACKSON BRAUN AWARD

"An absolute joy to read. Funny, entertaining, and beautifully written." —B. A. Paris, New York Times bestselling author

A delightfully clever new mystery from creator of BBC One's hilarious murder mystery series Death in Paradise

Meet Judith: a seventy-seven-year-old whiskey drinking, crossword puzzle author living her best life in a dilapidated mansion on the outskirts of Marlow.

Nothing ever happens in Marlow. That is, until Judith hears her neighbor shot while skinny-dipping in the Thames. The local police don't believe her story. It's an open and shut case, of course. Ha! Stefan can't be left for dead like that.

Judith investigates and picks up a crew of sidekicks: Suzie the dogwalker and Becks the vicar's wife. Together, they are the Marlow Murder Club.

When another body turns up, they realize they have a real-life serial killer on their hands. And the puzzle they set out to solve has become a trap from which they might never escape…

Robert Thorogood, has turned the Christie-mystery on its head with this ever-so-sly cozy perfect for readers who love Richard Osmond's Thursday Murder Club and An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good.

"Lightweight but no-nonsense and genuinely brainy"—Kirkus Reviews

"Damn right funny and heartwarming…great fun"—Crime Time

"I love Robert Thorogood's writing."—Peter James, international bestselling author

Library Journal Reviews

At 77, Mrs. Judith Potts is totally satisfied with her life. She lives in a mansion in Marlow, England, and she skinny-dips at night in the Thames. In fact, she's swimming when she hears her neighbor Stefan Dunwoody cry out in protest, and then a gunshot. Detective Sergeant Tanika Malik and her team call Stefan's death a suicide, but with no weapon in sight Judith is convinced it must have been murder. She recruits two other women to her team of amateur sleuths: Becks, the local vicar's wife, who seems unhappy with her life, and could use an outlet; and dog walker Suzie. While the police fail to find any clues to Stefan's death, the women of the Marlow Murder Club search for suspects. However, Judith's plan to identify Stefan's killer to the police doesn't work out as expected. VERDICT Fans of Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club will like the amateur sleuths introduced in this puzzle from Thorogood (author of the "Death in Paradise" mysteries, which have been turned into a BBC TV series). While avid mystery readers might recognize the twist, the finale and its grand solution are worthy of Agatha Christie.—Lesa Holstine

Publishers Weekly Reviews

Judith Potts, the 77-year-old protagonist of this witty series launch from British author Thorogood (A Meditation on Murder), enjoys the occasional nude swim in the Thames, which runs past her mansion on the outskirts of the town of Marlow. One evening while out for a dip, Judith hears a gunshot coming from the vicinity of her neighbor Stefan Dunwoody's garden. She calls the police, who do a cursory check and conclude there's no cause for alarm. Incensed at their lackadaisical approach, she decides to investigate and finds Stefan with a bullet hole in his forehead. Other murders with the same m.o. that follow suggest a serial killer is on the loose. Judith is joined in her detecting pursuits by no-nonsense dog walker Suzie Harris; Becks Starling, the vicar's efficient if insecure wife; and Det. Sgt. Tanika Malik, who, due to budget cuts, leads the police investigation rather than a more experienced officer. How these women of a certain age unite to solve the crime is as entertaining and intriguing as the fair play mystery itself. The way the characters evolve as their relationships grow sets this light mystery above the pack. Agent: Ginger Clark, Ginger Clark Literary. (May)