Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman Narrator: Fiona Shaw
Series: Thursday Murder Club #5
Published by Penguin Audio, Penguin Random House on September 30, 2025
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 368
Length: 10 hours, 29 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
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Who's got time to think about murder when there's a wedding to plan?
It’s been a quiet year for the Thursday Murder Club. Joyce is busy with table plans and first dances. Elizabeth is grieving. Ron is dealing with family troubles, and Ibrahim is still providing therapy to his favourite criminal.
But when Elizabeth meets a wedding guest who’s in trouble, kidnap and death are hot on their heels once more. A villain wants access to an uncrackable code, and will stop at nothing to get it. Plunged back into action once more, can the gang solve the puzzle and a murder in time?
I am always thrilled to continue with more of the Thursday Murder Club series. The main characters are seniors in their 70s in a home in England.  The points of view vary but Joyce is always one of them, writing in her journal. They are fearless which worries me but Elizabeth always seems able to handle whatever happens, as do the others. I appreciated the emotional connections and strength of their relationships here.
Elizabeth has been quiet, processing her grief after Stephen’s death. Joyce has been excited about Joanna’s wedding. Ron has family issues. Ibrahim is counseling his favorite, and now my favorite, criminal, Connie Johnson.
At the wedding, the best man comes to Elizabeth for help as there is a bomb under his car and he feels he is in danger. They plan to meet the next day but he goes missing. Now they are all engaged in trying to find him. They talk to possible suspects, and his business partner.
Connie Johnson is mentoring a new prison release, Tia. They talk about how she got caught stealing and how she might improve her life and her thefts. This is not exactly what Ibrahim had in mind but it is just, perfect.
Ron’s daughter has finally had enough of being beaten by her husband, and throws him out. He goes and plans to kill her brother, Jason, and then her. Jason gets her son Kendrick to Ron but doesn’t tell him why or what’s happening. Until much later. Kendrick is a delight.
They all have their secrets. But in the end, they manage the right things. There are many situations which have me cringing at the danger. The group is often not taken seriously. Also, their great experience in life, seems to keep them calm and competent in the worst situations. I loved this so much and can’t recommend it more highly. I would read them in order just because you don’t want to miss any of them.
Narration:
The narrator was changed after the first two books. Lesley Manville narrated them and Fiona Shaw afterward. A change doesn’t always work for me, but this went well. The characters are so distinct and well performed.  I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:Â Â HERE
About Fiona Shaw
Fiona was born in London in 1964. Her place of birth is now a hospital broom cupboard and her first home was on a street later obliterated beneath a superstore off the Cromwell Rd. However, she passed most of her childhood as the eldest of three girls in a lovely and spacious family home near the Thames.
Fiona studied various literatures at the Universities of York and Sussex, finishing with a PhD on poet Elizabeth Bishop.
Since then, Fiona has written a memoir and four novels and done the habitual round of the novelist’s other jobs to help balance out her stubborn desire to write.
Fiona has worked as a Royal Literary Fund writing fellow at the University of York, 2007-2009, and is now working as RLF writing fellow in Sheffield University, attached to the Animal and Plant Sciences Department.
Living in York with her partner and two daughters, Fiona reads a great deal, cycles everywhere, grows vegetables with variable success and acquires more films than she ever gets around to watching. She is working on her fifth novel.
About Richard Osman
Richard Osman is an author, producer and television presenter. The Thursday Murder Club is his first novel. He is well known for TV shows including Pointless and Richard Osman’s House of Games. As the creative director of Endemol UK, Richard has worked as an executive producer on numerous shows including Deal Or No Deal and 8 Out of 10 Cats. He is also a regular on panel and game shows such as Have I Got News For You, Would I Lie To You and Taskmaster.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-Audio
- 25-COYER
I have a library audio right now, I just have to make time to listen before it expires! Glad it was another hit! Did you watch the TV adaptation? There was one thing that differed from the book and it was disappointing. I won’t say if you haven’t.
yes I enjoyed the tv adaptation too. They really got an incredible cast.
Gotta love a 5-star read. 😀
I loved it!
Starting this series next month in a group read!
I have to believe you will love it.
Definitely a series I’m looking forward to at some point.
It’s so goood! Enjoy.
I’m about halfway through We Solve Murders by this author and really enjoying it. It’s reminded me how much I enjoyed Thursday Murder Club and that I really need to get back to it! This sounds like such a good read/listen!
I really enjoyed that one too! He’s quickly become a favorite author.
I had planned to read this series eventually, but for now, I’m going to watch the Netflix movie, hopefully this weekend while my daughter is home.
I loved it. It’s so good. The series is terrific too.
I love the first four so much. I’m excited to see what this new story will bring and what my favorite septuagenarians are up to.
They are amazing.
Love that it is older characters. 🙂
They are amazingly smart and fun.