Thursday Murder Club, #1
The Thursday Murder Club
by Richard Osman
Contents
Chapter 38
Overview
The Thursday Murder Club conducts a timed drive from Coopers Chase to Tony Curran’s house to test whether Ian Ventham could physically have committed the murder. The result matters because their theory depends on Ian leaving at 3 p.m. and reaching Tony before the Fitbit-recorded death time of 3:32.
The chapter also shows the club functioning as an eccentric but organized investigative team, with Elizabeth driving the strategy and Ibrahim handling the practical logistics.
Summary
At sunrise in Kent, Elizabeth, Ibrahim, Joyce, and Ron drive away from Coopers Chase in Ron’s Daihatsu to test a key point in their theory about Tony Curran’s murder. They know Ian Ventham left Coopers Chase at exactly 3 p.m., and Tony’s Fitbit places Tony’s death at 3:32 p.m., so they need to learn whether Ian could have reached Tony’s house in time to kill him.
The group has argued over who should drive. Joyce has not held a licence for decades, Ron owns the car but has lost confidence on right-hand turns, and Elizabeth claims she still has a valid tank licence. Ibrahim ends up driving because he understands the satnav, though Elizabeth is impatient with his careful speed.
As Ibrahim drives at twenty-nine miles per hour, Joyce offers Mini Cheddars in the back seat and Ron shares them with her. Elizabeth texts on her phone while Ibrahim stays focused on the road, pleased to be driving again and careful to keep both hands on the wheel.
The chapter ends with the club in the middle of its practical experiment. If Ian could not make the journey from Coopers Chase to Tony Curran’s house by 3:32, their suspicion of Ian as Tony’s killer would weaken; if the timing works, Ian remains a viable suspect.
Who Appears
- IbrahimDrives Ron’s car carefully and times the route using the satnav.
- ElizabethOrganizes the timing test and pushes Ibrahim to drive faster.
- JoyceRides in the back seat, offering Mini Cheddars during the investigation.
- RonProvides the car and shares snacks while others handle the driving.
- Ian VenthamMain suspect whose possible travel time is being tested.
- Tony CurranMurder victim whose Fitbit death time frames the club’s experiment.