If you like your murder mysteries on the less gruesome side, you’re not alone. Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series, about a group of talented, crime-solving residents in a sleepy retirement village, has proved hugely popular, with a film adaptation due for release sometime in 2025.
The series follows the adventures of Osman’s gang of elderly sleuths, Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron as they solve murders – witty, quaint and gore-free – these stories are part of what’s known as ‘cosy crime’.
If you enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club, here’s 10 more cosy crime novels you might want to try! Click the links to reserve today. Need help logging into the apps to access ebooks and audiobooks for free? Click here for our handy how-to guides.
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1. The Dog Sitter Detective – Antony Johnston (Book)
Retired actress Guinevere 'Gwinny' Tuffel is finding life hard after inheriting her late father's run-down house and discovering she's broke. But Gwinny is delighted to be at Hayburn Stead for her best friend Tina's wedding to a handsome Italian business magnate.
However, before they get the chance to declare 'till death do us part', the husband-to-be is found dead in the library and Tina is accused of his murder. Convinced of her friend's innocence, Gwinny must uncover the real killer from a pool of larger-than-life suspects, while also suddenly finding herself looking after Tina's expensive and demanding saluki dogs.
2. Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (#1 in the Vera Wong series) – Jesse Sutanto (eBook on BorrowBox)
Tea-shop owner. Matchmaker. Detective? Sixty-year-old self-proclaimed tea expert Vera Wong enjoys nothing more than sipping a good cup of Wulong and doing some healthy 'detective' work on the internet (AKA checking up on her son to see if he's dating anybody yet).
But when Vera wakes up one morning to find a dead man in the middle of her tea shop, it's going to take more than a strong Longjing to fix things. Knowing she'll do a better job than the police possibly could; because nobody sniffs out a wrongdoing quite like a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands; Vera decides it's down to her to catch the killer.
3. Magpie Murders (#1 in the Magpie Murders series) – Anthony Horowitz (Book, CD audiobook)
When editor Susan Ryeland is given the tattered manuscript of Alan Conway's latest novel, she has little idea it will change her life. She's worked with the revered crime writer for years and his detective, Atticus Pund, is renowned for solving crimes in the sleepy English villages of the 1950s. As Susan knows only too well, vintage crime sells handsomely. It's just a shame that it means dealing with an author like Alan Conway...
But Conway's latest tale of murder at Pye Hall is not quite what it seems. Yes, there are dead bodies and a host of intriguing suspects, but hidden in the pages of the manuscript there lies another story: a tale written between the very words on the page, telling of real-life jealousy, greed, ruthless ambition and murder.
4. Death in the Arctic – Tom Hindle (Book)
When aspiring travel writer Chloé Campbell is invited aboard a luxury airship flying to the North Pole, she thinks she's bagged the opportunity of a lifetime.
But she hasn't had long to admire the dazzling icy views before a fellow passenger is found dead in their cabin. Trapped at the top of the world, the group agrees a tragic accident has occurred. But as the hours tick by, fear turns to doubt. It seems everyone's a suspect. And it isn't long before the passengers begin to turn on each other.
5. The Examiner – Janice Hallett (Book, eBook on BorrowBox)
The mature students of Royal Hastings University's new art course have been trouble from day one. From acclaimed artist Alyson who seems oddly overqualified, to hapless Patrick who can barely operate design software, and city boy Cameron who blusters his way through assignments. Not to mention Jem, who's a gifted young sculptor - but cross her at your peril.
The year-long course is blighted by students setting fire to one another's artwork, a rumoured extra-marital affair and a disastrous road trip. But finally they are given their last assignment: to build an art installation for a local manufacturer. With six students who have nothing in common except their clashing personal agendas, what could possibly go wrong? The answer is: murder.
6. Death & Croissants (#1 in Follet Valley Mystery series) – Ian Moore (Book)
Richard is a middle-aged Englishman who runs a B&B in the fictional Val de Follet in the Loire Valley. Nothing ever happens to Richard, and really that's the way he likes it.
One day, however, one of his older guests disappears, leaving behind a bloody handprint on the wallpaper. Another guest, the exotic Valerie, persuades a reluctant Richard to join her in investigating the disappearance. Richard remains a dazed passenger in the case until things become really serious and someone murders Ava Gardner, one of his beloved hens... and you don't mess with a fellow's hens!
7. The Maid – Nita Prose (Book)
Molly the Maid is all alone in the world. A nobody. She's used to being invisible in her job at the Regency Grand Hotel, plumping pillows and wiping away the grime, dust and secrets of the guests who pass through. She's just a maid - why should anyone take notice?
But Molly is thrown into the spotlight when she discovers an infamous guest, Mr Black, very dead in his bed. This isn't a mess that can be easily cleaned up. And so Molly becomes embroiled in a hunt for the truth, learning who to trust as she navigates the secret underbelly of the Regency Grand Hotel.
8. Miss Beeton's Murder Agency - Josie Lloyd (Book)
Alice Beeton never meant to wind up single and childless on the wrong side of fifty. Like her distant relative Mrs Beeton, she had hoped to have her own spic-and-span household by now. In reality, she lives in an immaculate basement flat in a shabby block in Kensington with Agatha, her fiercely intelligent corgi-Jack Russell cross.
Now Alice runs the Good Household Management Agency, providing discreet domestic staff to extravagant townhouses and sprawling country piles. So when Camille Messant calls in urgent need of a new housekeeper, Miss Beeton sends out new hire Enya. But in the early hours of New Year's Day, Alice is rudely awakened with the news that Enya has been found dead. As the intriguing Detective Rigby struggles to drum up an adequate investigation and the wealthy family and their party guests close rank, Miss Beeton takes it upon herself to solve the crime.
9. The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp (#1 in the Miss Sharp Investigates series) – Leonie Swann (Book)
Sunset Hall is a house share for the old and unruly, led by Agnes Sharp. It's an eventful day when this group of idiosyncratic seniors gets a visit from the police to inform them of some shocking news. A body has been discovered next door. Everyone puts on a long face, but they are secretly relieved the body in question is not the one they're currently hiding in the shed (sorry, Lillith).
It seems the answer to their little problem with Lillith may have fallen right into their lap. All they have to do is find out who murdered their neighbour, so they can pin Lillith's death on them, thus killing two old birds with one stone. To investigate, the group (not forgetting Hettie the tortoise) will venture into the not-so-idyllic village of Duck End and tangle with sinister bakers, broken stair lifts, inept criminals and their own dark secrets.
10. Murder Before Evensong (#1 in the Canon Clement series) – Reverend Richard Coles (Book)
Daniel Clement is Rector of Champton, where he lives alongside his widowed mother - opinionated, fearless, ever-so-slightly annoying Audrey - and his two dachshunds, Cosmo and Hilda. When Daniel announces a plan to install a lavatory in the church, the parish is suddenly (and unexpectedly) divided: as lines are drawn, long-buried secrets come dangerously close to destroying the apparent calm of the village.
And then Anthony Bowness - cousin to Bernard de Floures, patron of Champton - is found dead at the back of the church. As the police moves in and the bodies start piling up, Daniel is the only one who can try and keep his community together.. and catch a killer.
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