Thursday Murder Club, #1
The Thursday Murder Club
by Richard Osman
Contents
Chapter 39
Overview
Chris Hudson’s squad formally turns its attention toward Ian Ventham after the Thursday Murder Club’s evidence suggests that Tony Curran’s death made Ian vastly richer. The investigation now hinges on timing Ian’s movements, tracing a burner phone that called Tony, and finding the elusive Bobby Tanner.
Donna’s quiet text exchange with Elizabeth shows that the amateur investigators are still closely shadowing the official case, and possibly staying one step ahead. The chapter shifts Ian from suspect in theory to the police team’s active focus.
Summary
Early in the morning, DCI Chris Hudson gathers the murder squad and shares what he has learned from the Thursday Murder Club and from Donna, who came to his flat late the previous night with information about the file. Chris lays out the new theory: Ian Ventham told Tony Curran he was cutting Tony out of the Coopers Chase expansion, Tony lost a fortune, and Ian gained more than twelve million after Tony died.
Chris frames Ian as the squad’s main target and asks whether Tony threatened Ian after their argument, prompting Ian either to kill Tony or send someone else to do it. Because Tony’s Fitbit fixes the murder at 3:32 p.m., Chris focuses the team on proving when Ian left Coopers Chase and whether Ian could have reached Tony’s house in time.
The officers report on parallel leads. DI Terry Hallet is still searching traffic-camera footage using Ian’s registration number. Another officer reports that Bobby Tanner fled to Amsterdam, worked for Scousers, vanished after trouble there, and has left no obvious records, though the team continues to look for him under possible new identities.
DS Granger reports that Tony received three unanswered calls on the morning of the murder, all from the same untraceable mobile number, likely a burner phone. Chris tells DS Granger to get the details from the phone company and assigns officers to pursue both the calls and Bobby Tanner.
Throughout the briefing, Donna receives friendly texts from Elizabeth, who wishes her luck, asks whether Donna has anything to pass on because the Thursday Murder Club is taking a road trip, and teasingly reveals that Elizabeth’s sources saw Chris buying doughnuts. Chris ends the meeting by directing the squad’s energy toward building a case against Ian Ventham.
Who Appears
- Chris HudsonLeads the murder briefing and directs the squad toward building a case against Ian Ventham.
- Donna De FreitasReceives Elizabeth’s texts during the briefing after sharing the file with Chris overnight.
- Ian VenthamPrimary suspect discussed; gained financially from Tony’s death after cutting Tony out.
- Tony CurranMurder victim whose final calls, argument, and time of death drive the investigation.
- ElizabethTexts Donna encouragement and hints that the Thursday Murder Club is taking a road trip.
- Terry HalletDetective inspector assigned to search traffic-camera footage for Ian Ventham’s car.
- DS GrangerReports three unanswered calls to Tony from an untraceable likely burner phone.
- Bobby TannerMissing figure from the photograph; police trace his disappearance after trouble in Amsterdam.
- KateDetective inspector who reports on Bobby Tanner and is assigned to the phone-call lead.
- JoyceSends greetings through Elizabeth’s text while accompanying the club’s road trip.