Robert Thorogood Next Marlow Murder Club Book – What Is It & When Is It Out?
Last Updated on April 22, 2026
Robert Thorogood is a man with many strings to his bow, and before his most recent success with the Marlow Murder Club series of cozy crime novels, had already created Death in Paradise, and a trilogy of books based on the show.
Thorogood’s writing is characterised by his love of classic detective fiction, drawing inspiration from authors like Agatha Christie.
His work is often praised for its intricate plotting, engaging characters, and ability to blend humour with suspense which is why he is one of the best British writers being published today.
On the back of the success of the Marlow Murder Club and its TV adaptation, which he also wrote, he continued the series with Death Comes to Marlow (2022), The Queen of Poisons (2024) and Murder on the Marlow Belle (2025).
The good news is that there is more to come. Judith Potts, Becks Starling and Suzie Harris will be tackling a brand new murder mystery in 2026.
The Mysterious Affair Of Judith Potts
Scheduled to be released on January 15th, 2026 in hardback (you can pre-order it now), The Mysterious Affair Of Judith Potts will be the fifth novel in the series.
So what can we expect?
Apparently there are a lot of celebrities living in Marlow, and now someone is bumping them off one by one!
When footballer Gary Wise and thriller writer Tony Sexton are found dead, Judith, Suzie, and Becks must untangle a web of scandal and blackmail to find the killer.
One tiny problem – their friend and police contact, DI Malik, is suspended from duty, and with Judith’s own past catching up with her, The Marlow Murder Club find themselves on their own for the first time ever.
With suspects piling up like tabloid headlines, and someone threatening to expose Judith’s secrets, the pressure is on for The Marlow Murder Club in more ways than one…
Can they find the killer and help Judith in time, or will this be the end of The Marlow Murder Club?
I’m totally in because I genuinely don’t know whether or not author Robert thorogood plans to end the series or not.
This really could be the end – oh I hope not, but stranger things have happened and with the TV proving to a worldwide hit, he may be putting all of his effort into that instead.
Time will tell…
What Are The Marlow Books About?
If you haven’t already read them or seen the TV series, here’s a quick rundown of the Marlow Club books to catch you up before the fourth book is released in January 2025.
The plot centres around a trio of amateur sleuths in the picturesque town of Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
The main character is Judith Potts, a 77-year-old crossword puzzle creator who lives alone in a sprawling mansion by the River Thames.
Judith’s quiet life takes an unexpected turn when she witnesses a murder while skinny-dipping in the river.
Joining Judith in her investigations are Becks Starling, the dutiful wife of the local vicar, and Suzie Harris, a free-spirited dog walker. Together, they form the unlikely but formidable Marlow Murder Club.
Despite initial scepticism from the local police, particularly Detective Sergeant Tanika Malik, the trio is remarkably adept at solving complex murder cases.
Each book presents a new murder mystery for the club to solve, often involving multiple deaths and intricate plots taking the women through various aspects of Marlow’s community, from local businesses to historical sites, providing a rich backdrop for the mysteries.
Every book is brilliantly written, packed with whodunnit clues, twists and turns and all with a healthy dose of humour thrown in for good measure.
Other Thorogood Projects
It’s quite a miracle that Robert Thorogood even managed to get this book written given how many projects he has on the go.
Not content with being a Co-Executive Producer and writer on Death in Paradise in 2024, he has also created and written Beyond Paradise, the spin-off starring Kris Marshall.
He also created and wrote the Marlow Murder Club adaptation, which was released in 2024, and is currently working on season 3 of the TV series.
Then there’s Return to Paradise, another spin-off, this time set in Australia which Thorogood executively produced.
The plot goes that Detective Inspector Mackenzie Clarke (Anna Samson) reluctantly returns to her hometown of Dolphin Cove after six years.
With no other job options, and a talent for solving a mystery, a reluctant Mack joins the team at Dolphin Cove Police Station.
That was released in Australia in September 2024 and later in the year on BBC and iPlayer in the UK. A second season of that show has also been confirmed.
