This book is just cute. That's really the best word for it. If you've ever wished there was more D&D woven into your romance reads, this one delivers on that front and it's a good time..

That said, I do tend to prefer slow burn or at least a little enemies-to-lovers tension, and this is very much not that. The romance moves fast and the couple doesn't really hit any walls along the way. There aren't a lot of hard moments or obstacles that test them.

But here's the thing: not every romance needs to put its characters through the wringer, and if you're in the mood for something light and drama-free, this is a really solid pick. It's the kind of story where you just get to enjoy two people falling for each other without any of the heartache. Sometimes that's exactly what you need.

Also I just want D&D in more books in general. Romance, fantasy, whatever. More of it everywhere, please.

I really enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club. The four main characters were the highlight for me. They each had distinct voices, clear personalities, and enough complexity to feel like real people rather than cozy mystery archetypes.

I also found Richard Osman's female characters refreshingly well-written. He's one of the first male authors I've read where I didn't feel like the women were being written as caricatures with a higher-pitched voice. They were genuinely smart, layered, funny, stubborn, and capable, and the men were given that same care, too.

My only real struggle was keeping track of some of the suspects and side characters, especially while listening on audio. A few stood out clearly, like Bogdan, whose accent helped me place him immediately, though I spent the entire audiobook thinking his name was "Bob Dan," which is honestly on-brand for me and my auditory processing struggles but what can you do haha. I could also mostly keep track of the priest, but some of the other male characters blurred together a bit.

Osman also does a nice job addressing heavier topics, but still in a way that doesn't take away from the cozier vibes of the story. The interiority of the aging main characters, their fears around death and longing for connection, their uncertainty surrounding the reality of what life looks like now that they are older... It helped elevate the story-telling. My one critique for many "cozy" stories is that can feel flat. This one didn't. It made me tear up several times, just in how honestly it was written.

That said, it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment. This was a warm, clever cozy mystery with a likable cast and strong characters. Overall carried enough charm to make me open to continuing the series.