The Impossible Fortune Review – Richard Osman
Book cover image courtesy of Penguin.co.uk
Title: The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman
Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Mystery
Vibe: Clever, Whimsical, Cozy Murder Mystery
The Gist
The Thursday Murder Club returns for another case at Coopers Chase. One that begins quietly but quickly unravels into something far more complicated. Elizabeth, still grappling with grief and not quite herself, is drawn back into action when a someone brings her a situation that feels off.
Soon the gang is caught in a web involving a mysterious disappearance, a suspicious death, and a high-security underground safe containing a single piece of paper tied to an eye-watering sum of money. The catch? Two people, each knowing part of a secret code, are needed to open it and both are suddenly…unavailable.
As the group follows the trail; juggling old foes, new suspects, family drama, and cryptic clues - Osman blends humour, warmth, and genuine intrigue in a way that only the Thursday Murder Club can deliver.
“What happened is never what defines you in life; What you did next is what defines you.”
The Takeaway
This instalment feels both fun and surprisingly emotional. Osman uses the mystery not just for mischief and twists but to explore grief, loneliness, loyalty, and the fierce love these characters have for their families - biological or chosen.
Elizabeth’s subdued (and at times, dismissive) state, Ibrahim’s quiet longing for connection, and Ron’s determination to protect his own add depth beneath the humour. The mystery is clever and chaotic in all the best ways, but what stays with you is how these friends show up for each other when life gets complicated.
Read It If:
You love cozy mysteries with humour, heart, and clever twists
You enjoy character-driven crime stories that deepen an ongoing ensemble cast
You like mysteries that feel fun, warm, and a little chaotic
Don’t Read It If:
You prefer dark, gritty crime fiction with high-stakes tension
You don’t enjoy multiple plot threads happening at once
You’re looking for a tightly linear, procedural-style mystery
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Loved it. Will recommend it unprompted, possibly inappropriately.
Bec x
🛒 Shop the book
📖 The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman → Buy Here
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I only recommend products I genuinely love and think you'll enjoy too. Read the full disclosure → Click Here
If you enjoy cozy reads, you might also like my other post ; 5 Cozy Books for Adults That Feel Like a Deep Breath or explore more book review on the blog.
SelfCentred Rating System
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Emotionally rearranged me. I will be quoting it to strangers.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Loved it. Will recommend it unprompted, possibly inappropriately.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Glad I read it, won’t read it again, no regrets.
⭐️⭐️ - Didn’t like it, but I’ll complain about it with class.
⭐️ - Couldn’t finish / emotionally allergic.