THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB. Netflix Serves Up a Crime Feast

On the last Thursday of the summer holidays, a film for crime mystery enthusiasts debuted on Netflix. The Thursday Murder Club is an adaptation of Richard Osman’s book, part of a novel series whose fifth installment is scheduled for release at the end of September. Behind the camera is Chris Columbus (Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire), while in front of it we see world-class actors distinguished with noble titles: Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Ben Kingsley, and Sir Jonathan Pryce. The cast also includes other recognizable faces: Pierce Brosnan (the James Bond of the 1990s), Daniel Mays (The Bank Job), Paul Freeman (Raiders of the Lost Ark), and Celia Imrie (Bridget Jones’s Diary). This stellar company, combined with the elegant scenery of the English countryside and a carefully constructed plot, results in a crime story that refreshes the best traditions of the genre and evokes the frequently adapted prose of Agatha Christie.

A new resident arrives at the luxurious retirement village of Cooper’s Chase – former nurse Joyce Meadowcroft (Celia Imrie). Seniors have plenty of activities at their disposal – archery, sudoku, puzzles, painting, or even looking after llamas.

But on Thursdays, the puzzle room transforms into the TMC (Thursday Murder Club), where criminal mysteries deemed too difficult for the authorities are investigated. Currently on the table is “the case of the woman in white” from 50 years ago. Joyce’s medical knowledge earns her a spot in the elite group of detectives, which includes former union leader Ron Ritchie (Pierce Brosnan), psychiatrist Ibrahim Arif (Ben Kingsley), and diplomat with a murky past Elizabeth Best (Helen Mirren).

The intrigue thickens when murders begin happening in their own surroundings. The Thursday Murder Club then gets the chance to solve a fresh case and, in doing so, help the police improve their investigation success rate. A likely motive behind the crimes is the Cooper’s Chase estate itself, contested between a developer planning a new investment on the grounds and local opponents who see the retirement home as the heart of their community, one that deserves peace and preservation. Netflix serves viewers a feast of several intertwined mysteries and a gallery of ambiguous supporting characters, making the discovery of the culprits’ identities a real challenge (unless one has read the original novel).

Polish viewers may be particularly interested in a significant subplot involving Polish immigrants, which brings a few lines in Polish into the film. They are spoken by English actors with a distinct foreign accent – Helen Mirren and Henry Lloyd-Hughes, who plays Polish construction worker Bogdan Jankowski. This thread highlights the important role Poles have played in the UK, forming a substantial part of the labor market for many years, especially in construction.

An extra treat for Polish audiences is the presence of Maciej Gudowski’s voice in the Polish Netflix dubbing. It’s a pleasure to hear that this legendary voice actor, active since the VHS era, is still in top form at 70 years old – his voice and narration style seem unchanged after more than 30 years.

Additional dynamism and humor come from the police subplot, in which cocky inspector Chris Hudson (Daniel Mays) initially dismisses newcomer Donna de Freitas (Naomi Ackie), spitefully questioning her competence. But as the investigation progresses, he begins to appreciate her intellect and sharp eye. While the pattern is familiar and holds no surprises, it works well here and aligns perfectly with the main theme. Both the amateur detectives’ efforts and the young police officer’s journey suggest that intuition and fresh perspectives can be more effective than professional routine.

The Thursday Murder Club definitely ranks among the more successful Netflix productions. It contains everything that makes the whodunit genre so enjoyable, although at times it slips into certain simplifications and inconsistencies – particularly in the storyline of Jonathan Pryce’s character, whose dementia is portrayed inconsistently.

The resolution of one murder may also feel disappointing, as it doesn’t follow logically from the events but rather seems accidental. Among crime fiction enthusiasts, stories like this are often classified as cozies or cozy mysteries – crime tales that avoid graphic violence in favor of lightness and humor. In them, amateur sleuths take the lead, making it easier for the audience to relate. Instead of a dark thriller about crime, we get the perfect story to enjoy under a blanket with a cup of afternoon tea.