The Impossible Fortune is the fifth murder mystery book in the Thursday Murder Club series, written by British author and television presenter, Richard Osman. The book and its audiobook edition, read by Fiona Shaw, were published by Viking Press in September 2025.
Characters The main characters are four pensioners who reside at the fictional Coopers Chase retirement village in Kent, England:
Elizabeth Best, an ex-spy Ron Ritchie, a former trade union leader Ibrahim Arif, a psychiatrist Joyce Meadowcroft, a retired nurse
Familiar supporting characters include:
Donna De Freitas, police constable Chris Hudson, detective chief inspector Bogdan Jankowski, handyman and Donna's partner Jason Ritchie, Ron's son Kendrick, Ron's grandson Joanna, Joyce's daughter Connie Johnson, drug dealer Alan, Joyce's pet dog
Plot When the best man approaches Elizabeth for help during Joyce’s daughter’s wedding, the Thursday Murder Club becomes involved in a case involving a disappearance, a murder, and codes related to an extremely valuable bitcoin holding. Alongside the main investigation, Ron deals with family problems and Ibrahim continues his work with recent parolee Connie Johnson.
Reception The book debuted at No. 1 on The Sunday Times Bestseller list and reached No. 1 on The New York Times Best Seller list for combined print and e-book fiction. Critics praised the storytelling as well as the relationships between the characters. In her Library Journal review, Liz French wrote, "The crime, though ingeniously plotted, with many red herrings, is not the main attraction. It’s the growing love and respect among the Thursdays and their kith and kin, including a few criminals and cops, that is the biggest draw."
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