One of the best genre trends in recent years has been the return of the ensemble whodunit. From Knives Out to Kenneth Branagh’s Agatha Christie pieces, there’s something so appealing about an eclectic detective piecing together a murder. As the wait for the third Knives Out nears its end, Netflix has produced the perfect thing to tide us over: The Thursday Murder Club.

Based on Richard Osman’s hit novel of the same name, the new film introduces a quartet of amateur investigators, played by some of the most iconic British actors of all time. The basic premise alone is good fun — four unexpected friends at a retirement community get embroiled in a murder investigation — and director Chris Columbus has brought the story to life with an irresistible charm.

Columbus and screenwriters Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote have made some notable changes to the source material. The reader in me objected to some of the alterations, particularly when it comes to the ending, but there’s still a fair amount to enjoy here.

Book Changes Abound In The Thursday Murder Club, But It’s Still An Interesting Mystery

The eponymous club features bright-eyed newcomer Joyce (Celia Imrie), former union man Ron (Pierce Brosnan), prim psychiatrist Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley), and the mysteriously clever Elizabeth (Helen Mirren). The four meet to discuss cold cases, fascinated with the intricacies of murder mysteries.

They’re absolutely delighted to have an actual murder fall right into their laps, turning their retirement community, Coopers Chase, into a location of interest. Though local investigators DCI Hudson (Daniel Mays) and PC Donna De Freitas (Naomi Ackie) insist they shouldn’t get involved, the Thursday Murder Club swiftly proves they are more than up for the task.

Osman’s novel unfolds through a variety of perspectives and takes a more leisurely pace through the investigation. In an attempt to make things more cinematic, the Netflix movie cuts out some stray characters and subplots, throwing in a couple of suspenseful, heightened moments. The attempt to push some action into the story doesn’t mesh with the initial tone, but it makes sense.

There’s rarely an adaptation that is so faithful to the book that it wouldn’t change anything, though I lament the way the film leeches some of the book’s heart out of the final reveals. Suffice to say, the movie takes a more conventional path than Osman did.

Still, the journey to that point is full of intrigue. Even those who read the book will be surprised by the twists at play, many of which cast some familiar characters in a new light. Brand and Heathcote also smartly include some additional interactions with the victim at the beginning of the film, upping the stakes.

Even with all the changes, Columbus and the entire creative team have a lot of affection for the source material. From the details woven into the story to the lines of dialogue seemingly taken straight from the novel, Osman’s world is vibrantly rendered.

Come For The Mystery, Stay For The Brilliant Cast

With a quartet like this, any complaints may prove pointless. Everyone is perfectly cast — even Brosnan. The former James Bond is capable of bringing Ron’s more down-to-earth, rebellious charm to life. He and Kingsley play off each other brilliantly, with Ron and Ibrahim’s opposites-attract friendship supplying plenty of laughs.

Kingsley steps seamlessly into his role, and Imrie nails Joyce’s earnest enthusiasm, particularly in a moment when she reacts with joy over the discovery of the murder while her friends look on in dismay. As Elizabeth, Mirren essentially becomes the de facto lead.

Elizabeth is the book’s most mysterious character, and The Thursday Murder Club plays that up and emphasizes her brilliant mind. Mirren seems to be having a ball, and she has excellent moments with Jonathan Pryce, who plays Elizabeth’s husband Stephen, and Imrie. Elizabeth and Joyce’s friendship doesn’t get quite as much attention here — and Joyce in general fades a bit from the story — but their early interactions are delightful.

Much of the attention is on the core four, but the entire supporting cast is strong. Ackie continues her rather impressive year after putting in great performances in Sorry, Baby and Mickey 17, and David Tennant elicits laughs as greedy Coopers Chase owner Ian Ventham. In general, the movie is very funny.

Columbus is the filmmaker who oversaw the creation of Hogwarts in the early Harry Potter films, and he brought a comparable magic to the community of Coopers Chase, which is practically a character all on its own. Production designer James Merifield tailored the characters’ apartments to match their personalities perfectly, giving the whole movie a cozy, grounded feel.

The Thursday Murder Club largely closes out with a heartwarming conclusion that will likely delight fans of the book and these actors. This could prove to be a reliable franchise for Netflix; I would love to spend more time with this ensemble. While the story deviations can prove a bit frustrating, the movie is its own thing, and I suspect it’ll be a crowd-pleaser.