The Marlow Murder Club

Judith Potts, the 77-year-old protagonist of this witty series launch from British author Thorogood (A Meditation on Murder), enjoys the occasional nude swim in the Thames, which runs past her mansion on the outskirts of the town of Marlow. One evening while out for a dip, Judith hears a gunshot coming from the vicinity of her neighbor Stefan Dunwoody’s garden. She calls the police, who do a cursory check and conclude there’s no cause for alarm. Incensed at their lackadaisical approach, she decides to investigate and finds Stefan with a bullet hole in his forehead. Other murders with the same m.o. that follow suggest a serial killer is on the loose. Judith is joined in her detecting pursuits by no-nonsense dog walker Suzie Harris; Becks Starling, the vicar’s efficient if insecure wife; and Det. Sgt. Tanika Malik, who, due to budget cuts, leads the police investigation rather than a more experienced officer. How these women of a certain age unite to solve the crime is as entertaining and intriguing as the fair play mystery itself. The way the characters evolve as their relationships grow sets this light mystery above the pack. Agent: Ginger Clark, Ginger Clark Literary. (May)