Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this book as an A.R.C.


I really enjoyed the Thursday Murder club, so was pretty certain I would enjoy this the second instalment.

The characters are their same loveable selves and we are rushed into a brand new adventure. This one is quicker to get going than the first- no need to get to know our heroes and heroines this time, but in a way I found it a little too rushed…

I think there could still be many more interesting stories to reveal about the past lives of these septuagenarian sleuths and I also felt it lacked the references to their fellow residents and life at Coopers Chase which I enjoyed so much in the first book.

The plot was very holey and even more far fetched than the first so impossible to be taken at all seriously.

The group are breaking the law left right and centre and getting their police friends to do the same. They don’t take any particular care not to be caught out- one member of our group seems to want to blow apart the case they have set up against a violent young criminal by hanging around colluding with the police outside the courthouse exactly when the criminal in question, who will recognise them, should be there…Details like this could be easily ironed out without ruining the story and would just make it feel somehow less sloppy.

I personally would have enjoyed the plot more if it had been a bit (just a teeny bit) more believable. Very much personal choice though I guess.

I would give this 3 1/2 stars if I could, but as I can’t, and I do hope that there are more books to follow, I have rounded it up.

The Thursday Murder Club are back and Elizabeth has received a letter from an old colleague that immediately piques her interest. Forced to revisit an earlier part of her life, she finds herself involved in a dangerous case involving diamond thieves, mobsters and murder. With her friends, and fellow club members, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron ready to assist, will they be able to crack the case before too many people die?

The Thursday Murder Club was one of last year’s hit novels, ideal for anyone who likes their crime a little less gruesome! The follow up, The Man Who Died Twice, is more of the same, albeit with a slightly harder edge at times. This is one of those books where you have to suspend reality for a while and just enjoy it for what it is – a humorous crime story with great characters and an engaging plot that gives the older generation top billing.

The humour mainly comes from Joyce, a charming character who is attempting to move with the times by setting up her own Instagram account. I was pleased to see that a real account has been set up and I hope that the author develops this further, giving us an insight into the lives of the Thursday Murder Club.

There is one incredibly moving part of the plot involving Ibrahim which I thought was sensitively written and true-to-life. This really brought home the problems faced by the elderly and, although it was dealt with in true Thursday Murder Club fashion, I had so much sympathy for Ibrahim and I hope he returns to his old self in the next book.

I really enjoyed The Man Who Died Twice, even more than the previous book in the series. If you are looking for an easy crime read and can suspend reality for a while, then I can highly recommend it.

I was late to the party with Richard Osman's first novel but, in a way, I am so glad about that as it meant the moment I was done with it, I could move straight on to the second instalment chronicling the adventures of the Thursday Murder Club.

All of the gang are back and are as fully formed and charming as ever. A blast from Elizabeth's past arrives and, as one would expect, carnage ensures. There a murders, spies, drug dealers, mafia members and so much more as the gang team up with Chris and Donna, ready to right the wrongs that seem to becoming more and more frequent at Coopers Chase.

Honestly, this book was like a warm blanket. Witty, charming and full of twists that are almost impossible to keep up with. It deals with real world issues but still delivers laughs and tears. What a triumph this sequel is - cannot wait to see what Osman will have our favourite geriatric detectives do next!

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s so great the have the Thursday Night Murder Club back together again. This book didn’t disappoint and I can’t wait to see what the gang get up to next

I thoroughly enjoyed Richard Osman's first outing and while this sequel offers little of any novelty, it was a comforting return to the familar which is enhanced if the author has already created lovable and eccentric characters, as he did in The Thursday Murder Club. Anyone who liked that will not be disappointed. I look forward to the inevitable TV adaptation!

I think I said multiply times in my write-up of The Thursday Murder Club, this isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea as this series is very much a cosy crime/murder mystery, and I know many of you like your crime with a bit of darker edge. Same with the book's humour and observations. And yet, here we are. The second Thursday Murder Club book! And yes, I did preorder the audiobook!

Days after the events of the first book, Elizabeth receives a letter. A letter from a man she knows is officially dead. But when she meets the man, she is surprised to see it's not the dead man, but someone from her past. A man she wants no involvement in, but finds herself helping out after he tells her his story. A story containing stolen diamonds, a violent mobster, his life in real danger and MI5.

Of course, this is a case for the Thursday Murder Club - aka four seventy year olds known as herself, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim - and friends of the club (Bogdan, Donna and Chris). But when one of their members is violently assaulted and the attacker looks like they're going to get away with it, the club go to lengths to make sure that doesn't happen...

I am going to say it: I enjoyed this one so much more than the first and I have no idea why. I just clicked with this more. I wonder if it was because the first had so many characters and scenes thrown at the reader and yet, in here, this was much more gentler and more character driven, somehow. More comforting, in a way I wasn't expecting.

I, also, feel that this book fleshed the characters and the situation out more with our main leads. They didn't feel flat or had one trait that overrode everything. Elizabeth is ruthless, but we see her softer, kinder side with her husband who's suffering with dementia but her friends, Joyce who falls in love at a drop of a hat but deeply cares for her friends, Ron who is loud and hugely outspoken but is hugely protective and will go to lengths to protect the people he cares and Ibrahim who is the smartest man in the room but can be hugely vulnerable.

The attack on one member of the Thursday Murder Club really shocked me and it took me a while to forgive the author as it happened to one of my fave characters, but I see that this attack triggered so many events within the book so, while important, came so out of the blue.

I keep coming back to the word "comforting". This felt comforting. I listened to the audiobook to and from work (40-odd minute round trip) and the short chapters with their mini cliffhangers made great listening, though I kept going "Maybe one more chapter..." (not great near the end of the book seeing as the UK entered a petrol crisis but ha-ho!)

This book feels like the book where the author has figured it out with his characters and his plot. Even the narrator of the audiobook found her stride in her reading as it felt effortless to listen to.

I do like the hints of where the series is going to go with certain characters (is that a possible romance, I sense?) and I did have a moment while listening where I went "Oh crap, I'm in this for the long haul, aren't I?".

However - yes, there is a however - I do worry over one or two elements in this series. In the first book, I did worry about how the issue of Elizabeth's husband and his dementia was going to be address. I still have that worry as there were times that it came across as a bit of comedic relief. However, while some scenes with Elizabeth and her husband, Steven, were funny, we also saw some heartbreaking moments where we see Elizabeth fear of losing Steven and the struggle she has in talking to her friends about it. It's a fine line here to write funny and tragic, and dementia is a horrible disease. I don't want to read future instalment where the author lose sight of that.

But, I'm in. I am totally in with this series as this was comforting, fun and easy. Too soon to preorder the next instalment on Audible?

The Thursday Murder Club is back. Set in the following Thursday we are joined by Elizabeth and friends as they solve a new murder mystery.
Elizabeth receives a letter from an old colleague that sends the group on an adventure involving drug dealers, MI5, even the Mafia, friendship bracelets and of course, lots of murder!

Oh my goodness I love these characters! I feel this second book has really revealed more about the group of friends and the different qualities and skills each one brings. We also hear more about Stephen and Bogdan which is great fun, and learn more about the private lives of Chris and Donna.

I was nervous to start this as I loved the first book so much, but I wasn't disappointed. It has all the charm of the original. It gets a bit ridiculous in places which I absolutely loved. It just adds to the crazy adventure. I can't wait for the third installment to see what mischief they get up to next.

If you haven’t yet read the first book, don’t worry about picking this one up as I don’t think it matters all that much. Osman effectively introduces the main four seventy-somethings, who are every bit as likeable as when I first met them. We swing straight into the story – Osman has really found his feet with this one and it shows.

The pacing, plot twists and overall structure are spot on. And while there were a few amusing moments in the first book, I found myself laughing out loud with this one on a regular basis throughout. There is a Dickensian, slightly larger-than-life feel about all the characters that never lurches into caricature – and I like Osman’s evident respect for his protagonists. Now I’m of a certain age, I get fed up with TV programmes and books that poke fun at older characters. Once again Elizabeth drives the story – someone with a busy, somewhat dark past, who is still able to run rings around everyone else. And yet, she also has her vulnerabilities.

I read a fair number of murder mysteries and it’s a tricky balance not to get blasé about the murder victims, particularly when there are humorous moments in the mix. Osman never falls into that trap. Without getting too dark and intense, he always makes it clear that someone dying before their time is a very big deal. In fact, there is a strong sense of right and wrong throughout the story that I really appreciated. The plot is delightfully twisty and the ending is masterfully handled – that last line is superb. You may have gathered that I loved this one – and you’d be right. If you’re looking for an outstanding contemporary murder mystery with plenty of humour and packed full of memorable characters, this one comes very highly recommended. While I obtained an arc of The Man Who Died Twice from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
10/10

Incredible! I read this book immediately after reading the first one. I thought the first section could potentially have a lot of exposition for people who haven't read the first, but it's actually done very well, a couple of nods but nothing heavy handed. That follows through the rest of the book, all the conversations and little asides feel very natural, the twists feel believable but also a complete surprise. Fantastic!

Thanks to the publisher for providing me a free ARC in exchange for an honest review, and also to Tesco for having a massive display of this book right by the entrance so I couldn’t resist buying it as I walked in (and now I have a copy to carry to book club on Tuesday).

Joyce, Elizabeth, Ron, and Ibrahim are back with another case to crack! A mysterious letter has been delivered to Elizabeth and of course she’ll waste no time in getting stuck in- taking the rest of the Thursday Murder Club along for the ride.

This book is just as good as its predecessor and I simply couldn’t put it down- I have read it cover to cover this afternoon, stopping only to eat my dinner and answer two phonecalls from my work. As before, the story here is twisty and fascinating- I’m rubbish at guessing who’s behind a crime at all but these books really keep me guessing and I love discovering the truth alongside these wonderful characters. I was also so glad to see all my favourite supporting characters from the first book return- it wouldn’t have been the same without Chris & Donna, and of course Bogdan the Polish builder, man of many useful talents.

I again can’t wait for the next one, even if just to have an excuse to reread this!

The Man Who Died Twice is another triumph from Richard Osman, and I would go as far to say that it is better than the first novel - The Thursday Murder Club.
Another twisty storyline plays a close second to the cast of fantastic, hilariously original characters which gives the readers a rare opportunity to feel part of an exclusive group of OAP sleuths. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim return to solve another mystery and seek revenge for the mugging of one of their group.
I felt this novel was more focused on the storyline development which was lost slightly to the detailed idiosyncrasies of each character in the first novel. It has you worried, guessing and giggling and I loved ever minute of it.

A fantastic follow up to The Thursday Murder Club. The same charismatic characters and a great mystery.

Another cosy, murder/mystery from this author. I actually enjoyed this one more than his first; perhaps because there was more going on. The characters are now established and although this can be read as a standalone, I'd recommend reading the first book so you know who is who.

It's a bit of a romp and there's lots of sub plotting; so, be prepared to concentrate! If you just want an easy, cosy, murder mystery; then this is for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.

I was looking forward to this and it came at exactly the right time because I needed a bit of a giggle and something familiar which I knew I would find with the Thursday Murder Club. Surprisingly I think I actually enjoyed this instalment more than the first book, which doesn’t usually happen, but I think just knowing the characters a little better and knowing there would be a lot of fun whilst solving a murder kind of tipped the scales.

The story has a lot to keep your interest and a good mystery for the Thursday Murder Club to sink their teeth into, this time it’s a little more personal which made it a very compelling read, especially if like me you have a lot of love for these characters. I like how Richard Osman pieces the plot together, everything becomes relevant in one way or another but is always introduced so casually that I can never see it coming and I love the humour that is injected throughout the story, even when something is a little grim I know I’ll be smiling again in a couple of pages.

I think it goes without saying that I loved getting reacquainted with Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron. Joyce’s diary entries get funnier every time, Elizabeth is still working every situation to her own advantage and playing outside the rules, and I liked getting to see the relationship between Ron and Ibrahim develop because it’s always lovely to see a side of their personality that you haven’t before.

I also really enjoyed getting to know some of the other characters a little better this time, I’m glad Donna and Chris were still able to get involved, even though it wasn’t entirely a police matter; spies galore in this one; and it was nice to get to see Stephen and Elizabeth’s relationship, even though it has its difficulties seeing the spark that brought them together was lovely. Also special mention for Bogdan who is just as mysterious and helpful as ever but I’m hoping that maybe in the next outing that we may get to know him even more.

The Man Who Died Twice is a witty, entertaining book that is full of heart, has a clever mystery and very loveable characters and I would highly recommend you read it.

This is the second book in the series "Thursday Murder Club" about a group of older residents who help solve crimes. The plot is better in this book with various twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. The witty lines were largely missing from this book, however, and there was not really an introduction to the characters. I think the book would have been better with some introductions to the characters before diving in, and this would be beneficial to those who didn't read the first book (or needed to be re-acquainted with the characters). Overall, I think it will do great, and the cover is instantly recognisable.

The Thursday Murder Club are back - set just an hour after the ;last book finished - in a crime caper involving diamonds, gangsters, MI5 and steady stream of humour throughout. If these books don't get made into a TV series soon the world will be a poorer place!

Richard Osman really gets into his characters and gives them plenty of backstory, with Joyce and Bogdan being my particular favourite characters.

Roll on book three as he really has hit a rich seam of entertaining and enjoyable storytelling.

I had not read the first book so it took me a little while to become familiar with the main characters and their position in the Thursday murder club but once I did I was trapped.
The twists and turns had me riveted and as the bodies piled up I just could not put it down.
Great to have characters who are not frivolous young things but mature people who in their later lives have much to offer.

It was a pleasure to spend some time in Cooper's Chase with these adorable characters again. I really enjoyed the first book and this one did not disappoint. It was engaging and funny and overall a nice light read.

I think I'm in the minority here but I really didn't enjoy this book. It's an odd mash-up of a gritty murder/spy/gangster story solved by detective pensioners from a residential village for the elderly, which in itself I quite liked the idea of, except that periodically the characters come out with "comedy" lines that are completely at odds with both their personality and the overall tone of the scene. I didn't mind the comedy, it was occasionally pretty funny, but it sounded like the voice of a narrator rather than a character voice, and it felt jarring and ruined the flow. There were some quite moving parts to the story, the relationships between the pensioners for a start, and the more serious elements of the plot - but on the whole I feel the book fell short for me because it was so determined to be quirky and amusing that it became irritating to read.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

It's difficult to know how to review this book. As it crosses so many genres, it could appeal to so many people but at the same time it might not quite cut the mustard with any of them. It walks a comedy-crime tightrope, yet - despite a wobble or two - gets comfortably across the ravine.

The premise is much like Osman's first foray; a bunch of senior citizens get together to solve a crime. This time it's a little darker and tougher as the Mafia and MI5 turn up on the doorstep, but that makes it a little too unbelievable at times, even when you suspend your belief right at the start knowing it's a comedy caper. Generally speaking, I like my crime grittier, so for me this is like watching an episode of Colombo as light relief after a full series of Des or The Killing.

Overall, The Man Who Died Twice is very entertaining with genuine wit and warmth lacing the story, but it left me wondering whether Osman would actually be capable of creating a really cracking novel away from cosy crime. There is real skill here behind the soft and comfortable setting and sweet old pensioners and perhaps it could be employed more satisfyingly in another direction?

In summary, a lovely read - which isn't quite as gentle as The Thursday Murder Club - and won't frighten grandma. The perfect Christmas present for someone who enjoys an undemanding yarn.