Richard Osman Books in Order – Complete Thursday Murder Club Guide

Richard Osman has become one of Britain’s most successful contemporary authors, captivating readers with his unique blend of cozy mystery and sharp humor. His Thursday Murder Club series, launched in 2020, has grown into a beloved franchise spanning five books, spawning a Netflix adaptation and establishing Osman as a major force in the mystery genre.

For readers looking to dive into his work or follow the series from the beginning, understanding the publication order and book details is essential. This comprehensive guide covers every Richard Osman book currently available, from the inaugural Thursday Murder Club to the latest release, along with buying options and reader feedback.

Richard Osman Books in Order

Richard Osman’s literary output centers primarily on the Thursday Murder Club series, which has become a defining achievement in modern mystery fiction. As of 2025, the collection comprises five main entries, with each book continuing the adventures of four unlikely investigators in a quiet retirement community.

Thursday Murder Club Series Overview

Key Takeaways

• Publication sequence matters: Each Thursday Murder Club novel builds on character development and ongoing plot threads, making chronological reading essential for full enjoyment
• Series continuity: The four core protagonists—Elizabeth, Ron, Ibrahim, and Joyce—evolve across all five books, with their relationships deepening in each installment
• Reader entry points: New readers can start with the first book or opt for an omnibus edition that bundles multiple titles together
• Format flexibility: All books are available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audio formats
• Critical acclaim: The series achieved #1 New York Times bestseller status and has received consistently strong reader ratings

Quick Reference Facts

Thursday Murder Club Books in Order

The Thursday Murder Club series follows four retirees living in Cooper Chase—a peaceful retirement village that proves anything but quiet when it comes to crime. Elizabeth, Ron, Ibrahim, and Joyce form an unlikely investigative team, meeting weekly to examine cold cases until genuine murder lands on their doorstep.

The Thursday Murder Club (2020)

The series debut introduces readers to the four protagonists as they investigate unsolved murders in their retirement community. Their amateur sleuthing catches the attention of local police when a real killing occurs, forcing the club to work alongside—or occasionally against—professional investigators.

The Man Who Died Twice (2021)

The second installment raises the stakes considerably. Elizabeth receives a mysterious visitor with a dangerous secret, drawing the entire club into a higher-stakes conspiracy that tests their abilities and their friendships.

The Bullet That Missed (2022)

This third entry sends the club investigating a journalist’s decade-old disappearance. The case is complicated by unexpected plot twists that reveal connections none of them anticipated, pushing their deductive skills to new limits.

The Last Devil to Die (2023)

When a friend is murdered, the Thursday Murder Club finds themselves drawn into the worlds of drug dealing and antiques fraud. This darker entry demonstrates how the series can tackle more serious subject matter while maintaining its characteristic warmth.

The Impossible Fortune (2025)

The most recent entry reunites the club for a wedding celebration that quickly becomes complicated by death threats, a mysterious disappearance, and an uncrackable code linked to the groom’s best man. According to Penguin Random House, this installment pushes the series in ambitious new directions while honoring the character dynamics readers have come to expect.

How Many Richard Osman Books Are There?

Richard Osman’s main body of work consists of five Thursday Murder Club novels published between 2020 and 2025. Beyond the main series, he has also authored the We Solve Murders series, which operates as a separate franchise with its own cast of characters.

Thursday Murder Club Breakdown

• Five main series books (2020–2025)
• Three omnibus editions collecting the first four titles
• One complete five-book collection set
• All titles available across multiple formats

Other Series Work

According to Dead Good Books, Osman has also written the We Solve Murders series, though it remains distinct from the Thursday Murder Club universe and features different characters entirely.

Latest Richard Osman Books in Order

Staying current with Osman’s releases ensures readers experience the series as intended, with full context for ongoing plot developments and character arcs that span multiple installments.

The Impossible Fortune (2025)

The fifth Thursday Murder Club novel represents the most recent addition to Osman’s catalog. The plot centers on a wedding celebration that becomes entangled with death threats, a disappearance, and cryptographic puzzles. The narrative weaves together the personal milestone of a club member with the investigative challenges that have defined the series.

Reading Timeline Recommendations

For first-time readers, beginning with The Thursday Murder Club (2020) provides the foundation for understanding the character dynamics and recurring elements that develop throughout subsequent books. While each novel contains satisfying self-contained mysteries, the ongoing character development rewards sequential reading.

Richard Osman Books Reviews

Reader feedback provides valuable context for those deciding whether to invest time in the Thursday Murder Club series. Aggregated review data offers insight into reception patterns across the books.

Goodreads Ratings Summary

Based on Goodreads data, the Thursday Murder Club series maintains consistently strong ratings:

Reception Patterns

The rating trajectory suggests improving reader satisfaction as the series progresses, with later entries receiving notably higher scores than the debut. The 5-book set rating of 4.33/5 reflects strong overall endorsement from readers who have followed the entire series.

Publication Timeline

Understanding when each book entered the market helps contextualize the series’ growth and Osman’s development as a novelist.

1. 2020 — The Thursday Murder Club launches the series
2. 2021 — The Man Who Died Twice raises the stakes
3. 2021 — First omnibus edition released
4. 2022 — The Bullet That Missed arrives
5. 2022 — Second omnibus edition published
6. 2023 — The Last Devil to Die deepens the mythology
7. 2023 — Third omnibus edition released
8. 2025 — The Impossible Fortune completes the current arc

What Is Confirmed and What Remains Uncertain

Thursday Murder Club Series Context

The Thursday Murder Club series arrived at an opportune moment in publishing, combining several elements that resonated strongly with readers. The cozy mystery genre—which typically features amateur investigators, small community settings, and lower-intensity violence—experienced significant growth in the 2010s and early 2020s.

Osman’s approach distinguished itself through character-driven storytelling. Rather than relying solely on puzzle elements, the series invests heavily in developing its four protagonists, each of whom brings distinct perspectives and skills to the investigative table. This character focus, combined with Osman’s comedic sensibility developed through his television career, created a tonal signature that set the series apart.

The Netflix adaptation announced in 2023 further expanded the series’ reach, introducing the characters to audiences who might not have encountered the books. According to Wikipedia, this adaptation represents one of several high-profile projects connecting Osman’s literary work to broader media platforms.

Sources and Industry Recognition

The Thursday Murder Club series has attracted attention from major industry sources and reviewers, establishing Osman as a significant voice in contemporary crime fiction.

The series has achieved #1 New York Times bestseller status, with all five books appearing on major bestseller lists and maintaining strong positions in reader recommendation rankings.

Industry resources including Fantastic Fiction, Book Series in Order, and Penguin Random House maintain comprehensive records of the series’ publication history, confirming the five-book structure and 2020–2025 timeline established through multiple independent sources.

Summary

Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series represents a landmark achievement in contemporary mystery fiction. With five books spanning from 2020 to 2025, the series follows Elizabeth, Ron, Ibrahim, and Joyce as they unravel murders and conspiracies in their retirement community. All titles are available in multiple formats, with omnibus editions and complete collection sets offering flexible purchasing options.

For readers exploring other mystery series or related content, our guide to Alfred Hitchcock Movies and TV Shows – Complete Chronological Guide offers additional viewing recommendations in the mystery and thriller space.

Frequently Asked Questions