So, I was really excited (and a little nervous) when I saw the upcoming release of The Thursday Murder Club. I adore the book, and let me tell you, the movie did not disappoint—unlike most film adaptations.
The movie starts with an introduction to the Thursday Murder Club: a group of retirees (Elizabeth, Ron, and Ibrahim) who live in a retirement community called Coopers Chase and solve cold cases. The opening shot is a flashback to a cold case they’re solving, a murder from 1973, narrated by Elizabeth.
Next, we meet Joyce, a brand new resident of Coopers Chase. Elizabeth figures out she used to be a nurse and invites her to become a temporary member. The movie follows the (now four-member) Thursday Murder Club as they take on their first live murder investigation.
They dive deep into the case with the help of PC Donna De Freitas. The Club are crucial to solving the case as they navigate its twists and turns, weeding out suspects and red herrings.
When it comes to book accuracy, this adaptation was pretty spot-on, so that’s a win for book lovers everywhere. They obviously had to change a few things for pacing purposes, but most differences didn’t affect the plot—like how Joyce met the Thursday Murder Club or the type of housing they live in. The only big change was leaving out Father Mackie’s whole backstory, but in the book, he was just another red herring and his story was mostly nonsensical. Honestly, it was a beneficial change.
In short, I highly recommend this movie if you’ve read the book. It’s a genuinely good adaptation. Even if you haven’t, I still recommend The Thursday Murder Club if you enjoy mysteries. It’s a well-done movie (but really, you should read the book, too).
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