Thursday Murder Club–Inspired Afternoon Delights Residents

Murder at Hambleton Grange: A Thursday Murder Club–Inspired Afternoon Delights Residents and Families

Residents, families, colleagues and visitors at HC-One’s Hambleton Grange Care Home in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, were treated to a spectacular afternoon of mystery and entertainment as the home hosted its latest Detective Book Club Murder Mystery event, an experience proudly influenced by Richard Osman’s bestselling Thursday Murder Club series, which celebrates community, curiosity and crime-solving in later life.

Suddenly as residents, guests and colleagues were chatting, Lifestyle Manager Elaine Snowden announced a shocking twist: a body had been found in the clinic, Senior Care Assistant, Lisa Knight had been murdered. The room erupted with excitement as the mystery officially began.

“Hambleton Holmes,” played by Lifestyle Manager, Elaine Snowden, the home’s very own Crime Scene Investigator, stepped forward to lead the investigation. Six vivid suspects, each with elaborate backstories drawn from the home’s immersive fictional world, were lined up for questioning. Residents and guests were given evidence packs, character notes and a facsimile of the metal-bound murder weapon to help them crack the case.

Much like the sleuths of The Thursday Murder Club, participants worked together to unpick motives, challenge alibis and study forensic details, including information about the crime scene and the carefully crafted injuries described in the post-mortem briefing.

After debating their theories, the assembled detectives submitted their “J’accuse” verdicts, which ultimately matched the confession extracted by Hambleton Holmes naming Home Manager, Sandra Anderson as the murderer and extracting a full confession from her.

Lifestyle Manager Elaine Snowden, who wrote the story and built anticipation through Facebook posts in the lead-up to the event, said: “I loved writing it and keeping the story going online. A very satisfying event, enjoyed by all, and it’s not every day I get to send my Home Manager to prison for murder!”

Relative, Fiona Lovell, added: “It was a great afternoon, and everyone enjoyed it.”

Other participants praised the creativity and organisation: Beth Stuart: “It was a good day, very well organised.”

Relatives David and Mary Ashbridge, who arrived dressed as Miss Marple and Jackson Lamb from the TV programme Slow Horses, said it was “lots of fun” and admired the care taken to make the event enjoyable for all.

Marta Kowalewska, Senior Carer said: “I loved it, I was following it at home on Facebook.”

Drawing on the warm, witty spirit of The Thursday Murder Club, the team at Hambleton Grange created an afternoon full of community connection, humour, detective work and imaginative storytelling, leaving residents already eager for the next case to crack.

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