Richard Osman’s 2020 debut novel The Thursday Murder Club was more than just a publishing success. It redefined the British detective story for a new generation, turning it into what many now call “cosy crime.” With its mix of gentle humor, sharp puzzles and a cast of older sleuths challenging stereotypes, it struck a chord during the pandemic and went on to inspire countless imitators.

Now, the story makes its way to Netflix in a big-screen style adaptation directed by Chris Columbus. The result is a light, likeable and sometimes uneven crime comedy that balances nostalgia with star power.

The film is set at Coopers Chase, a luxurious retirement community that looks fit for aristocrats. It is here that four unlikely detectives meet every week in the jigsaw room. The Thursday Murder Club is led by Elizabeth, a former MI6 chief played by Helen Mirren, alongside Ron the ex-trade union leader (Pierce Brosnan), Ibrahim the retired psychiatrist (Ben Kingsley), and Joyce, a nurse with a love for elaborate baking (Celia Imrie). Together they dive into unsolved crimes passed to them by Elizabeth’s contacts, quickly finding themselves tangled in a new mystery.

Key points of the Netflix adaptation:

• The story unfolds at Coopers Chase, a retirement estate filmed partly at the Englefield Estate in Berkshire.

• Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie headline the cast.

• Elizabeth’s husband Stephen, played by Jonathan Pryce, faces dementia, adding emotional depth.

• The plot kicks off when a ruthless developer (David Tennant) threatens to turn Coopers Chase into luxury flats, sparking a chain of violent and suspicious events.

• Local police officers DCI Chris Hudson (Daniel Mays) and WPC Donna de Freitas (Naomi Ackie) join the case, but it is the Thursday Murder Club that drives the investigation.

What makes the adaptation stand out is its self-awareness. At one point, Mirren’s character is told she looks “just like the Queen,” a cheeky nod to her Oscar-winning role as Queen Elizabeth II. The film also plays with the idea of invisibility, showing how the elderly can move unnoticed, almost like a superpower.

The tone remains playful throughout, but as the story accelerates toward its conclusion, the plot veers into lighter territory, feeling closer to an afternoon TV drama than a crime thriller. Still, its charm lies in precisely that accessibility.

Netflix’s The Thursday Murder Club delivers exactly what Osman’s book promised: a warm, witty escape led by some of the finest actors working today. It may not reinvent the genre, but it offers a comfortable, enjoyable watch for fans of both crime and comedy.