Richard Osman

[Judith Crabb]

In the Weekend Australian Review on Saturday 23rd Sept I read that the success of this author 'is down to a combination of masterful storytelling, good-natured humour and comforting characters - the UK Sunday Times recently dubbed it 'The Famous Five with older people'...'.
Now that is a recommendation. Will his first crime novel "The Thursday Murder Club' possibly live up to such an accolade? I am about to find out as I have just reserved a copy at the local library. It is available as an audio book too.
Osman is about to embark on an Australian tour to promote his latest book, The Last 'Devil' to Die'. I wonder if I shall get to hear him.

[Anita Bensoussane]

Let us know how you get on, Judith. I've never tried any of Richard Osman's books but I always liked him as a presenter on Pointless. He came across as erudite and full of fun.

[Julie2owlsdene]

When I heard about Richard's first novel, I bought it, as, I like a murder/mystery.

But I have to say, I was a bit disappointed when I came to the end of the book. For me, it didn't flow, like many other authors I have read. Cut to the chase the culprit was obvious, but it was put in a round about way, which I think was a bit of a disappointment for me.

Others may like his style of writing, but sadly it was hard going for me. Not a book that kept me enthralled from the first page to the last. Others I have spoken to have almost said the same, so it's all a matter of taste. Needless to say I wasn't inspired the buy the rest in this series.

[Daisy]

I have read two books of his and I do agree with Julie. I found them a bit hard going in places, although the idea of where the scenes are set was a bit different and quite original, I thought!

I miss him from Pointless but the recent repeats brought him back for a while!

[Bertie]

I haven't read any of Richard's books but, like others have said, I'm a big fan of him as a (co) presenter on Pointless and House of Games - as well as a guest on comedy panel shows where his quick wit holds up very well against all the comedians.

To be honest, when I saw a new thread started about him, I'm just so relieved it's about his books. In the modern climate, any time I see a male celebrity that I like is in the news, my initial worry is either: he's died, or he's been accused of doing / saying something inappropriate.

I'm so glad it was just (negative) reviews of his books.

[Moonraker]

I am with Daisy and Julie. They were quite readable, but didn't grab me. A bit like school homework. I also dislike books written in the present tense - which seems to be becoming more evident now - we were told at school never to do this - but that was a century ago!

To be honest, when I saw a new thread started about him, I'm just so relieved it's about his books. In the modern climate, any time I see a male celebrity that I like is in the news, my initial worry is either: he's died, or he's been accused of doing / saying something inappropriate.

I thought exactly the same, Bertie.

[Boatbuilder]

I was just looking for something else on Amazon and I happened to notice the first book referred to above in a listing along the bottom of the page. I opened the page for it and noted that it has a 4.4 Star rating out of approx. 137,000 readers and was wondering how those of you on here who have read it, would rate it out of 5-stars? I haven't read it and probably won't.

[Julie2owlsdene]

For me, he isn't a good writer. So I would only rate the book about 2 for the story.
I like a book to grab me, and the writer to take me into the book in the first chapter, and also I love a book you just can't put down. You can easily put this one down for a few days.

[Fiona1986]

I found the first one didn't grab me until the [SPOILER ALERT?] second murder occured. After that I was hooked and have read the second and third. Currently I'm waiting for the fourth one to become available at the library. As usual it was ordered well in advance of its publishing date, but will probably be ready for collection some months after that.

[Judith Crabb]

I never need more than one invitation to give my opinion about a book, Anita, so here it is. To be honest, about half a book. I borrowed it a couple of weeks ago so the fact that I'm only half way through is relevant. I want my thrillers to be page turners. Incidentally over the same two weeks I have just re-read 'The Long Goodbye' by Raymond Chandler and 'The River of Adventure', perhaps neither written when the respective authors were at the top of their games, but still both far above the league of Richard Osman whose mild social comedy has an air of unreality about it. To have a bunch of septuagenarians hot on the trail of brutal murderer is certainly different. For me the problem is that the concept is so far removed from reality that I can't suspend my disbelief. Yes, I know, Enid Blyton presents a similar problem - all those kids taking on the underbelly of society and coming out unscathed, but not for one minute do I consider this while reading, so engrossed am I in the sheer momentum of her narrative.
So, Julie2owlsdene, I think your comments are spot on, though judging from the book's covers, loaded with blurbs of fulsome support from such fellow practitioners of the novel as Ian Rankin, Kate Atkinson, Val McDermid, Marian Keyes, Harlan Coben etc etc I do wonder if I'm reading the same book that they read.
However, Fiona, I note your comment about after the second murder, so I will plough on, and perhaps next post I shall have a quite different opinion to express.

[Barnard]

Just because someone co presents a tv game or quiz show doesn’t automatically make him a great author.

[Daisy]

Just because someone co presents a tv game or quiz show doesn’t automatically make him a great author.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that - just that we 'know' him from seeing him on TV.

[Barnard]

I meant that Richard, himself, probably, thought it did.