The Thursday Murder Club review: A cute whodunnit adaptation with touches of pathos

This story, with its captivating characters, could easily find a home among the weekly lineup, sharing a resemblance with the intriguing and cozy crime dramas set in places like Agatha Christie’s St. Mary Mead or Midsomer.

For example, Joyce’s style leans heavily towards floral patterns, reminiscent of Dolores Umbridge’s interior design from Harry Potter, with soft pink rooms. On the other hand, Ron (played by Pierce Brosnan) is like the friendliest labor advocate who’s ever tended a fire in a brazier among the club members.

His closest friend is psychiatrist Ibrahim, played by Ben Kingsley, a man who embodies his bowtie and tweed so completely that they seem to be one with him. The primary detective in this story is the formidable Elizabeth, a former spy as polished and fashionable as Jackson Lamb is messy and untidy.

The key investigators examining the sudden demise of a real estate developer are remarkably competent, with the exception that Brosnan’s accent sometimes shifts faster than any elderly person living in a retirement community.

In terms of its filmmaking approach, Chris Columbus directs The Thursday Murder Club in a methodical manner, not so much cinematically, which gives off an impression that the narrative would be more suitably adapted into multiple episodes for a series instead of being contained within one movie, as Joyce implies.

It’s not helping that many characters in the supporting cast are reprising roles they’ve played before on TV. For instance, David Tennant takes on a version of his character from Rivals, Jonathan Pryce is similar to his dementia-stricken former spy from Slow Horses, and Daniel Mays portrays a character reminiscent of his harassed cop from Magpie Murders.

However, unlike other genres, cosy crime stories don’t usually involve risk for the audience. Instead, they provide a sense of security, coupled with charming landscapes and occasional plausible plot twists that keep viewers engaged.

In this adaptation, certain intricate aspects from the original book have been simplified or eliminated. This adjustment advantages characters like Naomi Ackie’s Detective Donna De Freitas, yet it may not fully satisfy performances like Henry Lloyd-Hughes’ Polish worker Bogdan.

Yet, the sprawling Coopers Chase, home to the entire group, nearly rivals Downton Abbey’s size (one might wonder how they manage the costs?), and its idyllic countryside view is undoubtedly coveted by the US market for export.

Or more informally:

But the huge Coopers Chase, where everyone lives, feels like it could be as big as Downton Abbey (it’s a mystery how they pay for it), and its beautiful landscape is guaranteed to make the US green with envy when we export it.

Although it’s not a world completely detached from reality, there are elements that tug at your heartstrings in this movie, even if they may not be as powerful as their literary counterparts. These emotional moments help bridge the gap between pure imagination and real life.

These instances might seem brief, but they subtly introduce themes of belonging and mortality, which give a moving depth to an otherwise expansive interpretation of the original work.

Despite the limited time spent together, the camaraderie among the main four is always palpable. With a library overflowing with untold stories on standby, it seems certain that we haven’t witnessed the final chapter of our spirited foursome.

Starting this week, The Thursday Murder Club can be seen in certain UK theaters. Beginning August 28th, 2025, it will also be available on Netflix. Unravel tales of suspense and intrigue with Sky Essential TV for only £15 per month.

Catch The Thursday Murder Club in select UK theaters from now on, or find it streaming on Netflix starting August 28th, 2025.Join the adventure of crime and mystery with Sky Essential TV for a monthly fee of £15.