Second paragraph of third chapter:

Perhaps a fire, but where no one gets hurt? Just flames and fire engines. We can all stand around watching, with flasks, and Ron can shout advice to the firefighters. Or an affair, that would be fun. Preferably mine, but I’m not greedy, so long as there’s a bit of scandal, like a big age difference, or someone suddenly needing a replacement hip. Perhaps a gay affair? We haven’t had one of those at Coopers Chase yet, and I think everyone would enjoy it. Maybe someone’s grandson could go to prison? Or a flood that doesn’t affect us? You know the sort of thing I mean.

I know Richard Osman of course as a TV quiz show personality; this is the second in a series of murder mysteries solved by a group of retirees in a coastal town in the south of England. The mystery is unrealistically complex, but the character interactions are great fun, and although the tone in general is comedic, there’s also a serious and realistic emotional freight. You can get it here.

This was my top unread non-genre novel, and my top unread book acquired last year. Next on those piles respectively are Winter, by Ali Smith, and A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived, by Adam Rutherford.