The Bullet That Missed

Richard Osman

56 pages 1-hour read

Richard Osman

The Bullet That Missed

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Joyce is a 77-year-old widow and retired nurse living in the Coopers Chase retirement community with her dog, Alan. She is the founder of the Thursday Murder Club's current investigation into a missing newscaster. Often talkative and seemingly unassuming, she uses her harmless appearance to ask nosy questions and gather information from unsuspecting targets. She processes her grief and curiosity by keeping a detailed journal and writing detective fiction.

Key Relationships

Best Friend of Elizabeth Best

Friend of Ron Ritchie

Friend of Ibrahim Arif

Mother of Joanna

Admirer of Mike Waghorn

Romantic Interest of Mervyn

Elizabeth is a retired MI5 spy in her late seventies living at Coopers Chase. She maintains a cold, calculating exterior and frequently draws on her espionage background to direct the group's investigations. She struggles to express her emotions outwardly but remains fiercely protective of her husband as his memory declines.

Key Relationships

Wife of Stephen Best

Best Friend of Joyce Meadowcroft

Former Colleague of Viktor Illyich

Friend of Bogdan Jankowski

Friend of Ron Ritchie

Friend of Ibrahim Arif

Ron is a former trade union official and actor who brings a tough, working-class attitude to the Thursday Murder Club. He struggles with arthritic knees but attempts to maintain a stoic, traditionally masculine exterior. He enjoys a good drink and a game of snooker, gradually opening himself up to new experiences and romantic relationships as he ages.

Key Relationships

Romantic Interest of Pauline Jenkins

Friend of Jack Mason

Friend of Elizabeth Best

Friend of Ibrahim Arif

Father of Jason

Ibrahim is a retired psychiatrist and a core member of the Thursday Murder Club. He uses his professional skills to interview subjects and analyze behavioral patterns, taking a particular interest in the psychology of criminals. He enjoys routine, structure, and solving complex language puzzles.

Key Relationships

Therapist of Connie Johnson

Friend of Elizabeth Best

Friend of Ron Ritchie

Acquaintance of Andrew Everton

Supporting Characters

Bogdan is a Polish contractor who assists the Thursday Murder Club with transportation and physical tasks. He is a quiet, imposing man who prefers to speak only when explicitly asked a question. Despite his rough exterior, he is deeply gentle toward his friends, particularly those experiencing cognitive decline.

Key Relationships

Romantic Partner of Donna De Freitas

Friend of Stephen Best

Assistant to Elizabeth Best

Stephen is Elizabeth's intelligent and gentle husband who is living with worsening dementia. Although his memory frequently fails him, he retains a sharp eye for detail, particularly regarding rare books. He relies on his daily routines and the quiet support of his friends to maintain his dignity.

Key Relationships

Husband of Elizabeth Best

Friend of Bogdan Jankowski

Acquaintance of Kuldesh Sharma

Viktor is a retired KGB agent who shares a long, complicated history with Elizabeth from their espionage days. Known for his high intelligence and persuasive conversation skills rather than physical violence, he is easily drawn into the Thursday Murder Club's orbit. He is fiercely opposed to cryptocurrency and values old-fashioned loyalty.

Key Relationships

Former Colleague of Elizabeth Best

Friend of Jack Mason

Housemate of Joyce Meadowcroft

Henrik is a wealthy individual who made a massive fortune in cryptocurrency. Raised by a librarian and a pastry chef, he has a deep appreciation for rare books and maintains an impressive personal library in Staffordshire. He is highly skilled with computers but prefers to maintain a quiet, somewhat isolated lifestyle away from public attention.

Key Relationships

Acquaintance of Stephen Best

Associate of Andrew Everton

Competitor of Viktor Illyich

Jack is an aging, wealthy local criminal who operates out of Ramsgate. Described as a gangster who has survived the demolition of his era, he owns several properties and has historical ties to large-scale financial fraud. Despite his wealth, he feels isolated and values genuine male companionship over ongoing business.

Key Relationships

Friend of Ron Ritchie

Friend of Viktor Illyich

Former Associate of Heather Garbutt

Mike is a 61-year-old local television newscaster for South East Tonight. He enjoys his minor celebrity status, using cosmetic enhancements to maintain his on-air appearance. He carries lasting grief and curiosity regarding the disappearance of his former cohost, who personally helped him come out as gay.

Key Relationships

Former Colleague of Bethany Waites

Friend of Pauline Jenkins

Former Colleague of Fiona Clemence

Bethany is a former newscaster and researcher for South East Tonight who went missing ten years ago and is presumed dead. She was investigating a major financial fraud scheme at the time her car was found abandoned at the bottom of a cliff. Her unresolved case drives the primary investigation of the Thursday Murder Club.

Key Relationships

Friend of Mike Waghorn

Colleague of Pauline Jenkins

Professional Rival of Fiona Clemence

Pauline is the lead makeup artist for South East Tonight. Working in the central hub of station gossip, she knows the personal details of many media personalities. She uses her cosmetic skills to assist her friends and provides alternative remedies, such as cannabis, for those suffering from chronic pain.

Key Relationships

Romantic Partner of Ron Ritchie

Colleague of Mike Waghorn

Former Colleague of Bethany Waites

Fiona is the famous host of the national show Stop the Clock and a former colleague at South East Tonight. Her career skyrocketed after her rival went missing, leading to widespread public speculation about her character. She is highly aware of her public image and actively manages a large following on social media.

Key Relationships

Professional Rival of Bethany Waites

Former Colleague of Mike Waghorn

Acquaintance of Joyce Meadowcroft

Andrew is the chief constable of the local police department who moonlights as an aspiring detective novelist. He frequently seeks out media attention and dreams of having his self-published books adapted for streaming services. He uses his authority to insert himself into local events, literary societies, and active investigations.

Key Relationships

Supervisor of Chris Hudson

Supervisor of Donna De Freitas

Acquaintance of Ibrahim Arif

Donna is a capable police constable who frequently assists the retirees at Coopers Chase with their investigations. She enjoys the thrill of appearing on local television and successfully balancing her demanding police work with her personal life. She is loyal to her partner on the force and her friends in the community.

Key Relationships

Romantic Partner of Bogdan Jankowski

Professional Partner of Chris Hudson

Daughter of Patrice

Subordinate to Andrew Everton

Chris is a Detective Chief Inspector who relies on the unconventional assistance of the Thursday Murder Club, despite the risks to his career. He is eager to impress on camera but often finds himself overshadowed by others. He has grown significantly in his personal life since adopting healthier habits for his new relationship.

Key Relationships

Professional Partner of Donna De Freitas

Romantic Partner of Patrice

Subordinate to Andrew Everton

Connie is an incarcerated drug dealer who maintains VIP status and continues to control her operations from behind bars. She is highly intelligent, manipulative, and holds deep grudges against those who put her in prison. She agrees to therapy sessions as a way to negotiate for outside information and favors.

Key Relationships

Patient of Ibrahim Arif

Fellow Inmate of Heather Garbutt

Enemy of Ron Ritchie

Heather is an inmate serving time for her involvement in a massive financial fraud scheme. She is deeply frightened by external threats and spends her time quietly writing poetry in her cell. She holds crucial information about a decade-old disappearance but refuses to speak openly out of fear.

Key Relationships

Fellow Inmate of Connie Johnson

Former Associate of Jack Mason

Patrice is Donna's mother and Chris's romantic partner. She is highly supportive of her daughter's television appearances and encourages Chris to adopt a healthier, more active lifestyle.

Key Relationships

Romantic Partner of Chris Hudson

Mother of Donna De Freitas

Joanna is Joyce's daughter. She works in finance and occasionally assists the Thursday Murder Club with their technical research, though she often lacks patience for her mother's talkative nature.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Joyce Meadowcroft

Mervyn is a new resident at the Coopers Chase retirement community. He is quiet, helpful, and quickly becomes the object of Joyce's romantic interest, occasionally bringing her newspaper articles he thinks she will enjoy.

Key Relationships

Romantic Interest of Joyce Meadowcroft

Kuldesh is an antique dealer who specializes in rare books and objects. He is a widower who occasionally assists Bogdan and Stephen with identifying specific editions, expressing quiet concern for Stephen's cognitive health.

Key Relationships

Acquaintance of Stephen Best

Acquaintance of Bogdan Jankowski

Carwyn is a television producer for South East Tonight. He is often rude to guests and has a history of poor behavior toward the women who work at the station, creating a toxic environment backstage.

Key Relationships

Colleague of Chris Hudson

Colleague of Bethany Waites