Full Book Review of The Bullet That Missed By Richard Osman
Check out my full review of The Bullet that Missed, the third book in The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman. The third installment is another wonderful murder mystery that blends humor and suspense.
Here’s a short synopsis of the book:
“It is an ordinary Thursday, and things should finally be returning to normal. Except trouble is never far away where the Thursday Murder Club are concerned. A decade-old cold case—their favorite kind–leads them to a local news legend and a murder with no body and no answers.
Then a new foe pays Elizabeth a visit. Her mission? Kill or be killed. Suddenly the cold case has become red hot.
While Elizabeth wrestles with her conscience (and a gun), Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim chase down the clues with help from old friends and new. But can the gang solve the mystery and save Elizabeth before the murderer strikes again?
From an upmarket spa to a prison cell complete with espresso machine to a luxury penthouse high in the sky, this third adventure of the Thursday Murder Club is full of the cleverness, intrigue, and irresistible charm that readers have come to expect from Richard Osman’s bestselling series.”
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Full Book Review Without Spoilers
The Thursday murder club members are back with a new nemesis and a few unlikely new friends. The main characters are not only caught up in a murder, they accidentally get tangled up with money launderers, an old KGB colonel, and a large amount of missing money. This is another great cozy murder mystery that you should definitely read!
If you liked the first two books in The Thursday Murder Club series, you’re going to want to keep reading this third book as well. A new mystery leads the members of the murder club on a deadly mission that brings out even more from Elizabeth’s past. As these wonderful characters try to solve the case, we meet some great secondary characters that make this book such a fun read.
The writing style and the short chapters in this book make it hard to put down, and it never feels too slow. There is truly laugh-out-loud humor throughout the entire book while the mystery part also keeps you at the edge of your seat. It’s the perfect balance of enjoyable characters with suspense making it a wonderful read.
If you’re looking for a very intense, thrilling murder mystery, this may not be the book for you. But, if you’re a fan of cozy murder mystery, this is a must read.
If you need a reminder of what happened in the first or second book, check them out here:
The Thursday Murder Club: Book Summary and Review
The Man Who Died Twice: Book Summary and Review
Characters
Richard Osman has an exceptional way of writing characters that are interesting, are fun to read about, and are unique, even when it’s the villain or morally grey characters. There’s not a character in the books that I don’t enjoy as part of the story. You never know who you’re going to meet in these stories, but it never disappoints.
All the major characters that we’ve met before only get deeper and more complex in this book. We get to hear even more into the background of their past, and we get to see them grow in their relationships with one another. I really liked the new characters, Viktor Illyich and the Viking, that shows up in this book.
Plot
With each successive book, the plot gets a little more intense and serious. This is still a cozy murder mystery, but the mystery part of the plot really picks up as the characters get involved in more serious crime. They’re also now put in danger themselves which helps the plot move at an even faster pace which makes you not want to put down the book.
Writing
Osman is one of the best at writing cozy murder mysteries that also keep your attention throughout the whole book. Not only are you laughing out loud, you don’t want to put the book down because of the mystery part. The short chapters and quirky characters just make for such an enjoyable read that you want more when you put it down.
Full Book Review With Possible Spoilers
You’ve been warned that from here on out there will be spoilers.
This book starts in a few of the loose ends from the last book that come back to haunt the main characters. If you haven’t read the previous book or don’t remember, go back to my summary to get a refresher.
This is a such a unique series in the way that Osman blends humor with murder and retirees. It’s not a combination you would expect to work so well, but it does to the point that you could read the book in one or two sittings. Right up til the end, the storyline keeps your attention, and there’s always a good twist at the end.
My favorite part of all the books is the characters, but I liked that this book had a lot of the lovable Bogdan, one of my favorite characters. You get to learn even more about the characters in this one, and also see how they handle being put in real danger. There were more dramatic scenarios in this one compared to the first book, but the level of humor was still great.
One of the best parts about the ending of the books was that you’re following a few plot lines that end up converging in such a satisfying way. Once again, Elizabeth is ahead of everyone else (including the reader) in thinking up a plan. And the sharp writing and short chapters make you want to not put it down in order to figure out the ending.
Pros of the Book
As with the other two books before this one, the biggest pro of the book is the characters. Even the secondary characters are well written, but especially the main characters who you almost feel like are friends at this point. I want to keep reading about them, and continue to see their character development.
Another pro of this book is the fun new characters that are introduced. I really enjoyed the Viking in this book, first as a villain, but mostly as the one to unexpectedly help with the case. Even the former spy Viktor was a welcome addition to the Thursday murder club story.
Cons of the Book
I really had no major complaints with this book. The writing, characters, and plot of the book were just as good as the first, and the funny prose was still top notch. I didn’t follow all the tiny details of the legality and crime in the massive VAT fraud plotline, but you could still follow the story.
Conclusion
Overall, if you’re a fan of cozy murder mysteries, you should read this book. If you liked any of the other books in the series, you should read this book. Or if you’re just looking for a fun, enjoyable read with great characters, you should definitely read this book.
You can find the book here.
I have a full summary of the book here if you need a refresher on any of the main points.
Rating-4.25 out of 5 stars
I just really enjoy these books. I enjoy the writing, the characters, the mystery, and the pace of the book without any real complaints. Overall, just a really solid read.
Here’s how I rate all my books: My Rating System
Who Would Enjoy Reading?
If you enjoy the funny murder mysteries, this is the book for you. But if you’re looking for a dark crime novel or more on the thriller side of the genre, this is not it. The crime and mystery part is not super intense or crazy.
What to Read Next
If you’re looking for something else to read after this book, here’s a few recommendations. You can continue on with the series, or try one of these other fun mystery books.
The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman
The best option for your next read if you liked this book is with the next book in the series. I’m currently reading this one right now and already liking it. You can find the book here.
Update: I finished and have a summary and review of The Last Devil to Die.
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Here’s a fun murder mystery that’s actually two books in one. You’ll have to read it to see what I mean. You can check it out here.
The Blackout Murders by Anna Elliot and Charles Veley
If you want a book with exactly the same vibes, check out The Blackout Murders. Another great cozy murder mystery series to dive into. You can get it here.
