I baulked when I read somewhere that Pointless presenter Richard Osman’s debut murder mystery novel was part of a two-book deal secured for a reputed seven figure sum.

Surely that couldn’t be right?

Seven figures?

Well, it seems it is right, according to this article in The Guardian. and, what’s more, The Thursday Murder Club, which is being published on 22 September, is going to be made into a film.

Worldwide film rights for the book have been acquired by Amblin Partners, the film and television production company led by Steven Spielberg. Ol Parker (Marmma Mia! Here We Go Again, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) will write and direct, Jennifer Tood (Jason Bourne, Memento) will produce and Osman will serve as executive producer.

Crikey.

No wonder Osman has declared he wants to be writing novels from now on.

He’ll be at Bridport Literary Festival on 5 November talking about this first book in his gripping Thursday Murder Club series, which he wrote in secret for 18 moths before he decided it was ready to see the world.

Osman told David Barrett at The Guardian: ‘I never felt I was in a position where I could do it properly and give it the time it deserved until about 18 months ago.

‘I decided I would start it and once I got going I found that I couldn’t stop. But I decided I wasn’t going to tell anybody because I didn’t want to be that person who goes around saying, “Oh, yeah, I’m writing a book”, but it never happens. When I got to the end I thought, well, there at least I’ve found out that I can do it. But I had no idea what people would make of it.’

Osman is a lifelong reader of crime fiction and the book is set in a fictional ‘luxury retirement village’ off the A21 in Kent and stars four retirees who meet every Thursday to solve cold cases.

But when a local property developer shows up dead, The Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case.

Such intrigue. I can’t wait to hear him in conversation at BridLit with our own Boris Starling.

Keep safe.

Margery.