Cathy Wilson answers “For the most part Richard Ossman uses real...”

David Harley asked this question about The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club, #1):

For the most part Richard Ossman uses real locations in the book which is nice. Tunbridge Wells, Robertsbridge, Bexhill, Newhaven, Folkestone are all name called. EXCEPT that the coastal town 15 miles from Coopers Chase where Chris and Donna ( Kent Police )are situated is fictitious FAIRHAVEN To all intents and purposes its Hastings so why not use it?

Cathy Wilson I found the use of real places completely distracting because they were themselves fictionalised.

Robertsbridge is in East Sussex, and in over 20 year…moreI found the use of real places completely distracting because they were themselves fictionalised.

Robertsbridge is in East Sussex, and in over 20 years of commuting to London I don't recall anyone coming from Kent. If you're in Kent you go to a different station on that line - possibly Etchingham or more likely Wadhurst. There's Judge's bakery in Robertsbridge and the One Stop shop, I don't know of a deli, it's just not that sort of place.

And if you're in Robertsbridge, how do you manage to get a taxi just like that? It'd have to come from Battle if you're lucky, and the taxi ride from the High Street to the station would take no more than 3 minutes, even assuming you waited to get over the bridge by the newsagent. The old ladies could have easily walked.

So what was the point about going on about Coopers Chase being in Kent if all the other settings were E Sussex. Wouldn't it have been better to have used Hawkhurst rather than an unreal Robertsbridge? Or was he imagining the Bruderhof Community in RBR being replaced by a retirement village? It was so muddled. Much better would have been to fictionalise all the places, along with Fairhaven.

I heard the adaptation on R4 and it's annoyed me hugely. I'm not going to bother with the book, it's just too sloppy.(less)

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David Harley really like your reply - thanks for posting - the book was actually quite enjoyable and the main characters were well developed. Agree with you regard ...more
Feb 10, 2021 04:33AM · flag

David Harley wish i could contact Richard Osman and ask him why he fictionalised Fairhaven rather than using Hastings
Feb 10, 2021 04:34AM · flag

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The Thursday Murder Club

by Richard Osman

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