IN A NUTSHELL
In ‘The Impossible Fortune‘, Richard Osman has managed to combine a complicated, intriguing plot with wonderful moments of humour and pathos in the lives of the members of The Thursday Murder Club and their loved ones. I think this was the strongest book in the series so far.

This is a book where my entire review should be: READ THIS: IT’S WONDERFUL:

I enjoyed every minute of this audiobook. It has all the strengths of the first book in the series: humour, compassion, an understanding of what it is to be old but still curious and energetic, close observation of the small details that shape our lives and our perception of ourselves and strongly drawn, engaging characters. In addition, it has a clever, credible, and up-to-the-minute plot involving organised crime, money laundering, bitcoin speculation, a high-value heist, abuse, distrust, betrayal, hitmen, fraudsters, and old-style gangsters. I loved that while the plot was engaging and propulsive, it was the people who were the focus of the novel.

The book starts with Joyce’s daughter’s wedding, where I caught up with four members of The Thursday Murder Club and got to know Joyce’s (formidable) daughter, Joanna and Joyce’s newly-minted son-in-law. Their best man provided the link to the mystery that drives most of the plot by confiding in Elizabeth that someone had left a bomb under his car that morning.

I liked that all four of The Thursday Murder Club members had a significant role to play in solving the mystery. The car bomb mystery helps Elizabeth to begin to surface from the grief she’s been submerged in. Joyce is energised by the wedding and the mystery and, in her inimitable style, is quietly taking a leadership role. Ibrahim’s association with drug dealer Connie Johnson widens the circle of people investigating the mystery and introduces him to Connie’s resourceful protege. Meanwhile, Ron has business of his own to take care of, protecting his family from the wrath of his murderous criminal son-in-law.

I was as engaged in the dynamics of the relationship between Joyce and her daughter as I was with solving the mystery. While Joyce’s journal entries remained my favourite part of the book-

I was also impressed by how well the interactions between the main players were described nd how realistic the dialogue was. 

My only criticis of the book was That I felt the end ran a little long. Perhaps not every thread of the story needed to be neatly tied up at the end.

Even so, this was a book that was a delight to read because of the people involved and a satisfying thriller that kept me turning the pages.

I recommend the audiobook. Fiona Shaw’s narration increased my enjoyment of the novel. Click on the YouTube link below to hear a sample.