The Mysterious Affair Of Judith Potts by Robert Thorogood

 

The quaint village of Marlow is anxious when one of the residents, a famous footballer, is murdered. The trio of amateur sleuths would normally be at the centre of the investigation; however, Judith has other things on her mind when her past returns to haunt her.

The Mysterious Affair Of Judith Potts by Robert Thorogood is the fifth book in the Marlow Murder Club series. You don't need to have read any of the previous books to enjoy this, as it works well as a standalone. The only real downside of not having read the previous books in the series is that you won't experience Judith at her best. For fans of the series, this book will be a bit disconcerting as we know Judith to be a powerhouse who bows to no one.

Judith is a widow, having lost her husband Philippos years ago in a sailing accident in Greece. The arrival of a woman claiming to be the illegitimate daughter of Philippos, and having evidence that he was murdered, throws Judith into a tailspin.

Combining a current-day murder mystery with one from the past gives the story a brisk pace. Judith isn't at her best because of the distraction; however, Suzie and Becks more than make up for the lack of insight Judith normally offers. The team is further hampered by DI Tanika Malik, an ally in the police force, being suspended. Her replacement is someone who vehemently objects to the trio getting involved in investigations.

It was interesting learning more about Judith's past, giving us a greater understanding of her character. Judith is one of those women with a spine made of steel, but she wasn't always that way. We see how her experience has forged her. Despite not being at her best, Judith does have a part to play in the modern-day investigation. As you would expect, there are plenty of red herrings, dead ends, and incorrect accusations along the way, all leading to a thrilling conclusion that is impossible to guess at.

The Myterious Affair Of Judith Potts by Robert Thorogood will be published on 15th January 2026 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and Rachel Quin for a review copy.

Author Details

Robert Thorogood is the author of THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB books, set in his hometown of Marlow in Buckinghamshire.

The first two books in the series have been made into a TV show and can be watched in the UK on the Freeview channel U&Drama and in the USA on PBS/Masterpiece. A third TV series is coming out in 2026 and is based on The Queen Of Poisons.

Before all of this, Robert Thorogood created DEATH IN PARADISE for the BBC and has also written four standalone Richard Poole murder mystery novels.