Thursday Murder Club, #1
The Thursday Murder Club
by Richard Osman
Contents
Chapter 94
Overview
Chris interviews Demir Gunduz in a Cypriot prison and learns that Johnny Gunduz’s disappearance after returning to Cyprus in 2000 was likely enabled by his father’s criminal network. Joe Kyprianou explains the Gunduz family’s reach in Northern Cyprus, making it plausible that Johnny could have acquired a false identity and moved internationally unseen.
The chapter strengthens Johnny as a serious suspect in Tony Curran’s murder while adding a new investigative problem: if Johnny returned to Britain, someone in the UK may have helped him. Demir’s refusal to cooperate leaves Chris with suspicion rather than proof.
Summary
Chris Hudson travels to the Central Prison of Nicosia in Cyprus to interview Demir Gunduz, the imprisoned father of Johnny Gunduz. Chris is assisted by Cypriot detective Joe Kyprianou and asks when Demir last saw Johnny, who landed at Larnaca airport on 17 May 2000 and then disappeared from official records.
Demir is evasive, admitting only that Johnny would have come to see him if he had returned. When Demir tries to end the interview, Joe explains Demir’s criminal history: Demir and his brother Alper began by stealing motorcycles and cars, then used the political division of Cyprus after 1974 to build a powerful drug operation in Northern Cyprus.
Joe tells Chris that the Gunduz family became effectively untouchable, with enough influence to hide Johnny after his arrival. Joe suggests Demir could have arranged for Johnny’s passport to be destroyed, new identity papers to be issued, and Johnny to vanish into Northern Cyprus or beyond.
Chris realizes this means Johnny could potentially have flown to the UK under another name, killed Tony Curran, and returned without being detected. Joe adds that Johnny would probably have needed help in the UK, especially from Cypriot contacts who feared Demir’s influence, giving Chris a new angle to consider.
Demir refuses to help and laughs at Chris’s business card, confirming that Chris has no leverage. As Chris leaves, he asks why Demir is in prison; Demir says he was initially sentenced for failing to pay duty on a Harley-Davidson, then received life after killing a prison guard.
Who Appears
- Chris HudsonDetective interviewing Demir in Cyprus to trace Johnny Gunduz’s disappearance.
- Demir GunduzJohnny’s imprisoned father; powerful crime boss who refuses to help Chris.
- Joe KyprianouCypriot detective who explains Demir’s criminal influence and Johnny’s likely escape route.
- Johnny GunduzAbsent suspect whose 2000 disappearance may have been enabled by Demir’s network.
- Tony CurranMurder victim whose death Chris considers Johnny may have returned to commit.