Medium – Audiobook
About the book – Judith Potts is a 77-year-old eccentric living in the English market town of Marlow in Buckinghamshire. She works part-time as a crossword writer for a paper and lives in a rambling, dilapidated mansion which she inherited from an aunt. One day, she is swimming in the river at the end of her garden when she hears the voice of her next door neighbour and a gunshot. She investigates, and along the way meets Becks, the local vicar’s wife and Susie, a dog-walker. The deaths start to pile up and the police don’t seem to know which way to turn as their leads turn to nothing. But Judith, Becks and Susie have ideas and courage in spades-full and they are determined to hunt down the killer.
My Rating – 3.5/5
My Thoughts – This book was written by Richard Thorogood, who is the writer behind the popular and long-running Death in Paradise series. The Marlow Murder Club has a similar mix of comedy and seriousness, together with a setting which is the epitome of cozy crime. The murders themselves are well thought out and imaginative – there are different facets to them, together with a slightly creepy serial killer calling card which points to more deaths on the way. The actual ending is satisfactory, but I have to say, having watched other murder mystery-type programmes, I had already guessed how it was done. The actual way that the murderer was revealed was quite exciting though.
The characters are good. I like Judith the best, I think. She is the archetypal eccentric single, rich lady – goes around in a cape, doesn’t have guests, swims in the Thames in the nude, thinks nothing of throwing herself into a murder. She is brave and has a nice back story which makes her an interesting character to get to know. Having attended CofE churches for a good number of years now, I kind of recognise facets of the Becks character – a kind, middle class, well-meaning lady who has everything together and is devoted to her husband and children. Susie is a joy as well – more rough and ready and a complete dog-lover. All in all, I would recommend this book as a nice, summer holiday read. It doesn’t set the world on fire, but I am, nevertheless, looking forward to the next installment!
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