Book review: Murder on the Marlow Belle (The Marlow Murder Club #4) by Robert Thorogood

The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood is one of the book series I recommend the most to friends and family (in fact: I chose it for my secret Santa last year!). They are fantastic murder mysteries and the main group of characters are also super hilarious; a winning combination. And, in the latest instalment, Thorogood adds a theatrical group into the mix. Needless to say, lots of drama ensues and not just on stage...

About Murder on the Marlow Belle

When the larger-than-life Oliver Beresford, founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society (MADS) goes missing after a party on a boat on the Thames, his wife knows there is only one person who can help: Judith Potts. 

As an amateur sleuth (and professional puzzle setter), Judith has already solved a slew of mysteries in Marlow in recent years with her friends, dog walker Suzie and vicar wife Becks. They are an unlikely trio, but with Judith's keen deducting skills and Suzie and Beck's insider knowledge on the residents of the town, they haven't been defeated yet.

But they soon discover that Oliver wasn't a very popular member of MADS. And as the question becomes not "who may have wanted to cause him harm" but, rather, "who didn't want Oliver out of their lives", they wonder whether they may be out of their depths this time...

My review

What a delight it was to be reunited with Judith, Becks, and Suzie! Each novel author Robert Thorogood lifts the curtain just a little bit more on the lives of our favourite Marlow residents and after turning the final page on Murder on the Marlow Belle (and THAT ending) I'm already desperate for more. This time it was an especially delighted reunion as the television adaptation of the first book hit our small screens since the last novel (The Queen of Poisons) was published, so the characters were even more vivid in my mind when reading than before. 

In addition to our core trio, and the wonderful DS Tanika Malik who once again is simultaneously exasperated and impressed by Judith & co, the world of The Marlow Murder Club expands with each new book. This time around we meet the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society and its eclectic members. If there's one place that's rife with secrets, divas, backstabbing and egos, its that of the theatre so needless to say this made for a brilliant environment for a good old-fashioned whodunnit. Additionally, Judith joining MADS to investigate them from the inside was a particularly brilliant decision by Thorogood. She was taken out of her normal comfort zone, and it was wonderful to see her character develop and get to experience another side to her. 

While she was rehearsing with MADS there was little time for her normal wild swimming escapades and because of that there weren't nearly enough altercations with swans for my liking though... but, aside from that, I relished every scene with our incredibly clever pensioner. She's a dark horse and undoubtedly will have a lot more unexpected skills and secrets up her sleeves in future instalments than we can possibly imagine. I cannot wait!

While we have been inundated with murder mystery novels in recent years, the Marlow Murder Club series is a really one of the best and a must to check out if you're even remotely interested in whodunnits. They're the perfect balance of rather absurd and over-the-top situations and characters, as well as a proper clever mystery that feeds readers just enough clues and crumbs to make them a part of the investigation, but not enough to reveal all before the end. The mysteries are always much more intricate than you expect and this latest one especially so. 

Murder on the Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood is just wonderful. Forget the lavish and exotic setting of Death on the Nile, clearly a water-based mystery needs to take place on the Thames so readers have the opportunity to relish the gossip and misdirections only a small-town community can provide. And you don't have to read all the books before this one to follow along with the plot, although I do recommend starting at the beginning. These novels are such fun that once you dive into one you simply have to read them all.

Murder on the Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood is published by HQ today and you can now buy your copy from your favourite local book shop!


Disclaimer: This book was gifted to me, but this has not impacted this honest review.