Richard Osman

my favourite reads of February 2026

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie (1942)

When the body of a young woman is found in their library, Dolly Bantry immediately calls her old friend Jane Marple to help save her husband’s reputation.

I’m not sure how many times I’ve read this one over the years, but Charlotte gave me a vintage paperback version for Christmas so obviously I was going to read it yet again. So good.

Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell (1851)

The ups and downs of daily life in a quiet village dominated by elderly spinsters.

A teensy bit slow at times, but good characterisation and regular dashes of humour made it an enjoyable read. The tv adaptation starring Judi Dench isn’t entirely faithful to the source, but close enough. And the casting was perfection.

The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman (2025)

At Joyce’s daughter’s wedding reception, the best man tells Elizabeth that he is in danger, and then disappears, thus kicking off another investigation by the Thursday Murder Club.

Good pacing, plotting, characterisation, suspense. Richard Osman is really good at this.

A Jane Austen Year (2025)

A nice scrapbook of Jane Austen’s letters, photos of places she lived, excerpts from her novels, and descriptions of items she owned and activities she pursued.

This was a nice, quiet read, produced as a fundraiser for the museum Jane Austen’s House.

Shroud for a Nightingale by PD James (1971)

A student nurse dies during a medical demonstration in front of her fellow students and, much as they all want to believe otherwise, she was clearly murdered. Unleash Dalgleish.

A bit too long, but quite good. Interesting setting and crime with believable characters.

Other titles I read that didn’t make the list:

Hag’s Nook by John Dickson Carr (a mystery-thriller that started off well, but then lost me)

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe (DNF when I realised I didn’t care what happened next)

The Return of Mr Campion: Uncollected Stories by Margery Allingham (I love you, Margery, but these just didn’t do it for me)

my favourite reads of April 2025

April was such a crazy busy month around here that my reading routine really took a hit. I got bogged down in a few books that I should have given up on – when I ask myself if I should keep reading to see if it gets better, the answer should almost always be NO – but I did read a few worth mentioning:

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams (2025)

A memoir of her time as Director of Public Policy at Facebook and wow, does it sound absolutely miserable. Eventually fired for complaining about the unrelenting sexual overtures and innuendo from her male boss, Wynn-Williams decided to go public about the toxic people and attitudes at FB HQ and I don’t blame her. 

Interesting, appalling, and infuriating.

Enter a Murderer by Ngaio Marsh (1935)

An actor is killed on stage during a performance, but the amusing and appealing Chief Detective Inspector Alleyn just so happens to be in the audience and solves the crime.

Good fun. I liked it a lot

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Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz (2014)

Shortly after Sherlock Holmes and super-villain Professor James Moriarty have apparently battled to the death at Reichenbach Falls, a Pinkerton’s agent and Scotland Yard detective team up to hunt down an American super-villain quickly taking over where Moriarty’s evil-doing left off.

It took me a while to get into it, but that’s probably because I was rushed and distracted. It grew on me, though, and I enjoyed it.

The Twat Files by Dawn French (2023)

A memoir of stupid, insensitive, reckless, silly, selfish, hurtful, short-sighted things she has done – the kinds of things you lie awake at night torturing yourself over.

Funny, relatable and perfectly human.

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman (2024)

Elite bodyguard Amy is being framed for a series of murders and enlists her father-in-law Steve and current client Rosie to help her figure out who is trying to destroy her and why.

Fun, quick-paced, humorous. I seem to enjoy everything Osman writes.

my favourite reads of October 2023

This was the most dismal reading month I’ve had in ages. I started, but could not be bothered finishing about a dozen books. Maybe I chose poorly, maybe I wasn’t in the mood, who knows. The following two were the only highlights.

A Glorious Freedom by Lisa Congdon (2017)

Short interviews with a wide variety of women over 40 about life changes they made, things they tried, their philosophies on aging and advice to others. I liked it a lot more than I’d expected.

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman (2023)

The fourth installment of the Thursday Murder Club series and just as enjoyable as the first three. Good pacing, fun characters, a clever mystery. I would never have believed my cynical little self would look forward to reading a charming series of books about four pensioners solving major crimes, but it’s true.