Did you catch all the twists in Netflix’s ‘The Thursday Murder Club’? Those senior sleuths from Coopers Chase certainly had their work cut out for them! We’re breaking down every shocking reveal, from the true killer’s identity to the unexpected turns. You won’t believe how deep this mystery goes. Were you surprised by the ending?
The tranquil facade of Coopers Chase retirement community belies a thrilling world of amateur sleuthing, where four unlikely friends gather weekly to unravel cold cases in Netflix’s captivating adaptation of “The Thursday Murder Club.” Based on Richard Osman’s acclaimed novels, this cozy mystery plunges viewers into a complex narrative of decades-old crimes and a freshly discovered body, challenging the astute minds of Elizabeth, Ron, Ibrahim, and new member Joyce.
The film opens with the club meticulously investigating a 1973 murder, a perplexing case involving a masked burglar and Angela Hughes’s fatal fall from a window. However, their meticulous plans are abruptly derailed by a far more immediate tragedy: the suspicious death of Tony Curran, one of Coopers Chase’s co-owners. This unexpected turn swiftly shifts their focus from historical enigmas to a pressing present-day murder, drawing them into a dangerous web of modern deceit.
As Joyce overhears news of Tony’s demise, linked to a bitter dispute over the Coopers property’s sale with co-owner Ian Ventham, the club understands the gravity of their task. Their initial suspicions land on Bobby Tanner, the mysterious third owner with a checkered past. Yet, Elizabeth’s keen instincts lead her down a different path, uncovering a darker truth involving illegal labor and coerced passports, revealing the hidden vulnerabilities within their community and a surprising connection to an innocent worker, Bogdan.
The investigation deepens as Elizabeth connects Bogdan to the illegal activities and realizes his unwitting involvement in Tony’s death. In a chilling confession, Bogdan admits to the crime during a seemingly innocent chess game with Elizabeth’s husband, Stephen. Unbeknownst to Bogdan, Stephen, despite his struggle with dementia, has been secretly taping his chess matches, inadvertently providing the crucial evidence the Thursday Murder Club needs to expose the truth.
While Tony’s killer is identified, the echoes of Angela Hughes’s 1973 murder persist. The police had long accepted Peter Mercer’s account of a burglar, but former officer Penny, dismissed because of her gender, always harbored doubts. A shocking discovery by Bogdan—Mercer’s hidden bones—allows Elizabeth to piece together the final, devastating truth: Mercer was Hughes’ true killer, and Penny, in a desperate act of justice, had killed him and, with her husband John, concealed his body within the cemetery adjacent to Coopers Chase.
The conspiracy further unravels with the death of Ian Ventham. After ordering Bogdan to excavate the cemetery for development, Ian uncovers Mercer’s remains. To prevent Ian from exposing Penny’s long-kept secret, her loyal husband, John, uses his veterinary knowledge to administer a lethal dose of fentanyl, adding another layer of tragedy and protective love to the unfolding drama within “The Thursday Murder Club” narrative.
In the film’s poignant climax, Elizabeth confronts John, who, while reading to an unconscious Penny in hospice, confesses to his desperate acts of love and protection. Rather than face arrest, John chooses a final, heartbreaking act of devotion, dosing both himself and Penny with fentanyl. The narrative concludes with the remaining members of the Thursday Murder Club attending the couple’s funeral, a somber testament to the profound sacrifices made in the name of love and justice, leaving audiences to ponder the true cost of secrets and loyalty.
