The Impossible Fortune

Thursday Murder Club, Book 5

By: Richard Osman

Narrated by: Fiona Shaw

Brought to you by Penguin.

*NARRATED BY FIONA SHAW (Harry Potter, Killing Eve, Bad Sisters)*

The unmissable new mystery in the bestselling, record-breaking Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman

Who's got time to think about murder when there's a wedding to plan?

It’s been a quiet year for the Thursday Murder Club. Joyce is busy with table plans and first dances. Elizabeth is grieving. Ron is dealing with family troubles, and Ibrahim is still providing therapy to his favourite criminal.

But when Elizabeth meets a wedding guest who fears for their life, the thrill of the chase is ignited once again. A villain wants access to an uncrackable code, and will stop at nothing to get it. Plunged back into their most explosive investigation yet, can the gang solve the puzzle and a murder in time?

‘Funny, clever, compelling’ HARLAN COBEN

‘Osman just gets better’ SHARI LAPENA

'The thing that shines through in Osman’s writing is that he really likes people and revels in all their foibles and eccentricities . . . a delightful read' OBSERVER

© Richard Osman 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Critic reviews

Full of humour, this is our fave one yet!

This proves to be one of Osman’s more cleverly plotted whodunnits, with bonus brainteasers in the form of cunning codes to crack

A gently humorous read, peopled with characters who feel like old friends

A delight . . . if you really want to find out how families and friends react and interact and talk, then go to Richard Osman (iPAPER)

Osman reaches audiences other authors do not because he truly shares their world

Another Story from Cooper Peace

Lacked the magic I'm afraid story never really built to the Osman level of storytelling felt a little get this out for the publisher which is understandable
Maybe the next will be better or maybe a crossover with We solve murders ! In the words of Joyce " Now wouldn't that be fun "

Great plot, but too little of Joyce and Elizabeth

An enjoyable audiobook. Great plot, but somehow everything felt abrupt because there were too many going on at the same time. I also felt there weren’t enough of Joyce and Elizabeth. Elizabeth did not shine as bright as before. There was also too little of Bogdan, Donna and Chris, and too much of Joanna.

A fun listen

An enjoyable human humorous tale. Sure the case is intriguing but it’s the people that make it so much fun to listen too.

A Delight from first to last

I've enjoyed the Thursday Murder Club series since the beginning and was delighted to hear the further adventures of the most engaging sleuths since Phryne Fisher and her gang. Richard Osman has a delightful sense of humour and his plot is nice and twisty. Thoroughly recommend to fans of mysteries on the cosier side.

Love these characters

Great story with wonderful sense of humour and believable twists .. you feel like you personally know all the characters. T