Netflix’s The Thursday Murder Club: A Mystery That Misses the Mark, But Has Its Moments

London, UK — Richard Osman’s bestselling mystery series The Thursday Murder Club has become a cultural phenomenon, delighting readers with its charming, witty characters and intricate plots. The book’s success was inevitable—it combined humor with suspense, creating a cast of relatable retirees solving unsolvable cases in their quaint, English retirement village. So when the news broke that The Thursday Murder Club was being adapted into a Netflix film, expectations were understandably high.

However, after nearly two hours of mystery, hijinks, and lighthearted drama, the adaptation doesn’t quite live up to its source material. The film, directed by Peter Hoar, offers a fast-paced, albeit rushed take on the book, sacrificing the charm of the characters and the intricacies of the plot for a streamlined narrative. While the movie does succeed in showcasing some of the sharp humor from Osman’s novels, it ultimately leaves much to be desired in terms of pacing, character development, and plot complexity.

The Plot: A Rushed Mystery

The mystery in The Thursday Murder Club centers on the homicides of two unlikable characters in the small town of Cleves. The story involves the club members—Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron—as they investigate the deaths, uncovering secrets that have been hidden for decades. The central idea is an engaging one, but the execution in the Netflix film feels rushed, lacking the depth and intricacy that made Osman’s novels so captivating.

In the book, the mystery unfolds at a leisurely pace, giving the characters time to develop and allowing their interactions to form the backbone of the story. On screen, however, the plot moves too quickly, leaving little room for the charm and wit of the characters to shine through. What might have worked in a TV series, where there would be more time for slow-building suspense and nuanced character development, feels hurried and compressed in the film format.

The two murders, while intriguing, aren’t as engaging as they could have been. The pacing, rather than building tension, takes away from the sense of mystery, leaving viewers feeling as though they’ve missed out on critical moments. The film opts to gloss over the more intricate details, focusing instead on getting the characters from point A to point B, which, unfortunately, dilutes the potential for a truly thrilling murder mystery.

Dumbing Down the Drollness: A Loss of Wit

One of the most beloved aspects of The Thursday Murder Club series is the dry humor and wit embedded in its characters, particularly Elizabeth. Elizabeth, an enigmatic former spook with a mysterious past, is the glue that holds the club together. In the novels, her backstory is hinted at through allusions—references to her time in Somalia, her mysterious MI6 past, and her uncanny ability to gather intelligence. These allusions, though never fully explained, add layers to her character, making her more intriguing and giving the story a subtle, humorous edge.

In the Netflix adaptation, however, these allusions are replaced with blunt exposition. Elizabeth, who once let her past remain a secret, now outright tells Joyce that she used to work for MI6. This shift robs the character of much of her mystery and charm, and it removes the sharp humor that fans of the books appreciated. What was once an ongoing joke—the secrecy of Elizabeth’s past—becomes an obvious fact, undermining much of the character’s appeal.

It’s also worth noting that several of the books’ funniest moments, which rely on clever wordplay and subtle humor, are lost in translation for the Netflix audience. Presumably, this was done to make the story more accessible to American viewers, but the shift in tone results in a less nuanced, more straightforward adaptation. What made the books so enjoyable was their ability to strike a balance between suspense and comedy, but the film leans too heavily into the latter, turning moments of tension into missed opportunities for humor.

The Characters: More Depth Needed

The film’s treatment of the characters also leaves something to be desired. While the cast—led by a talented ensemble that includes the likes of Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, and Bill Nighy—brings warmth and likability to their roles, they are ultimately underserved by the script. In the books, each of the four club members is well-defined, with their own quirks, flaws, and backstories. The dynamic between them is the heart of the story, with each character bringing something unique to the table.

The film, however, doesn’t give these characters the room they need to breathe. Instead, it rushes through their development, leaving only brief glimpses of their personalities. The comedic timing, which was key to the book’s success, is also lost in the film’s quick pacing. There are moments of lightheartedness, but they feel disconnected from the overall plot, and the charm that made the characters so endearing is left on the cutting room floor.

A TV Series Could Have Been the Answer

It’s clear that The Thursday Murder Club has a lot of potential to be an excellent TV series. With its layered characters, slow-burning mystery, and sharp wit, a longer format would have allowed the story to unfold more naturally, giving viewers the chance to invest in the characters and become more engaged in the mystery. The Netflix film, in comparison, feels cramped—like a great story being crammed into too small a box.

While it’s impossible to expect a direct translation from page to screen, The Thursday Murder Club Netflix film could have benefited from the room to breathe that a TV series would provide. Instead, viewers are left with a rushed mystery that’s only half as compelling as the original book.

Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity

While the film adaptation of The Thursday Murder Club may entertain fans of the book to some degree, it ultimately doesn’t do justice to the depth and charm of Richard Osman’s original work. The rushed plot, the loss of character nuance, and the dumbing down of the wit all contribute to a less satisfying viewing experience. For those looking to truly delve into the mystery and humor of The Thursday Murder Club, the book remains the superior choice. A TV series could have been the answer, but the film version falls short.