The follow up to the hugely successful The Thursday Murder Club, we return to Cooper's Close and the 4 main characters again: Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron. When Elizabeth receives a letter from a dead man, inviting her to meet him, she's intrigued by this mystery and goes to visit him. What follows is a tale of stolen diamonds, the mafia and death threats. This man asks Elizabeth to help him and due to their long and complicated history, she agrees. However, as dead bodies start to pile up, are the 4 in over their head?

I enjoyed coming back to 4 friends, they're very different but you can tell they all really care for each other despite these differences, something that is really shown in a subplot with Ibrahim. The story is a bit outlandish but I don't mind this, you can suspend believability and just go along for the ride. Especially because Elizabeth is a such a fun, interesting character (anyone else see Helen Mirren playing her in a screen adaptation?!). There's a few twists and turns in the story to keep things interesting. I do think it's a bit crowded at times character wise, with the 4 main characters and then giving us personal stories for Donna and Chris (two local police officers who are friends with the Thursday Murder Club). I find these storylines with Donna and Chris (Donna a lonely almost 30 year old female police officer and Chris, midlife overweight, unmotivated police officer) a bit cliched as well. I'm also not a huge fan of the chapters that are written like Joyce's diary, they change the flow of things. If you were a fan of the first book, then I think you'll like this one as well. A cosy mystery, like a modern day Agatha Christie

Richard Osman is such a clever storyteller. After the incredible success of The Thursday Murder Club when we were introduced to the wonderful elderly residents of Cooper’s Chase retirement village, I wondered how he could follow this up successfully. The Man Who Died Twice has exceeded my expectations and I actually enjoyed it more than it’s predecessor. Having already got to know the delightful characters, I dived straight into the latest adventure of this unlikely group. This book has it all; murder, weapons, blood, stolen diamonds and all manner of ingredients required for a gritty crime thriller. However, particularly when written through the eyes of Joyce, it becomes a heart warming and somewhat naive view of every day life with the most wonderfully witty observations of human nature. It also has love, kindness and most of all friendship which is unwavering in its nature, and among all the blood and gore the enduring feeling is one of pure joy. The plot itself has various levels and complexity but without confusion. It quite brilliantly weaves it way through the many escapades of the intrepid four, along with their trusted friends who once again appear in this book, with a satisfying finale. The back stories of some of the characters enhance the book and I can’t wait for the third in this truly, delightful series.

I absolutely love this book. Having recently read and enjoyed the first in the series, I was dubious as to how this one could feel as fresh as the first, however I needn't have worried as from the first page, I was laughing along.

I felt this time that we saw more of the characters stories being told and we learned more about The Thursday Murder Club, but it wasn't too in your face. This book concentrated much more on the past life of Elizabeth and we had glimpses of Joy's previous life before the nursing home.

Joyce's diary entries were hilarious - my favourite was GreatJoy69! How that particular entry was written had been in fits of giggles - the innocence and the way that it was ended, she went to look at private messages. We as the reader knew what she could expect and it was that that I found funny rather than what was actually written - the book gets your mind filling in some blanks.

All in all I would definitely recommend this book. I absolutely love it.

The ending was just fabulous. I loved how everything had a happy ending. I can't wait for number 3.

Osman does it again! What a brilliant sequel, I absolute love these books, they are so so easy to read!

I've been keen to read this due to all the hype. I hadn't read the first one though, which would have probably been better to read that first. It's lovely and very readable. Thanks for the ARC!

Just as good as The Thursday Murder Club, we are back with the intrepid OAPs on the trail of murder and mayhem. I laughed out loud in parts and enjoyed the relationship between the Fab Four and also Chris and Donna, their tame Police Officers. It’s a twisty tale full of red herrings and diamonds and thoroughly enjoyable.

In this second instalment of The Thursday Murder Club Mysteries, the edges are extended in all directions. There is more danger, there are more suspects, and there is more insight into the internal workings of each character. What we have on offer is a big blend of secret service antics, gangs and mobs, robbery, and a scattering of murder. It’s not long before The Thursday Murder Club are right in the middle of it all, along with DCI Chris Hudson and PC Donna De Freitas. This time they are also joined by members of MI5 and the Special Boat Service, which gives some indication of just how international this book gets.

The people are the stars once again, or more accurately the lines that connect them. The secretive genius of Elizabeth as it bounces off the open-book of Joyce. The quiet reserve of Ibrahim standing in relief against Ron’s blunt no-nonsense loudness.

Things are incredibly touching at times, too. Amongst the antics and humour there are poignant moments such as the description of the sadness experienced by the residents of the Coopers Chase retirement village; “I imagine if you could hear all the morning tears in this place it would sound like birdsong.“

In terms of a story, Osman either has an amazing imagination, or has a spectacular secret past. Either way, the mystery is presented with enough information for you to work things out for yourself, but is also tricky enough that you probably won’t piece it together until the right moment. In this outing, there are some classic detective clues to follow, such as cryptic messages and code breaking. The plot flows out into two main themes that eventually flood together towards the end. There’s also plenty of normal life happening along the way, which keeps the story grounded. The everyday sections of this book make the more fantastic elements more believable.

It isn’t possible to cover all the great moments in this book without giving too much away, but if you are a slightly soft-bodied middle-aged male, DCI Chris Hudson is going to feel a lot like a mirror. Equally, if you are an ex-spy in your 70s who could outwit a master criminal, you will probably see a lot in Elizabeth that’s familiar!

In short, The Man Who Died Twice is a great detective novel that has genuine laugh-out-loud moments.

The Thursday Murder club are back! My favourite retiree, murder solving, adventure seekers. I just loved the first book and this was no different. Clever, funny and gripping.

We already met and fell in love with the main characters Joyce, Elizabeth, Ron and Ibrahim in the first book and when I thought I couldn’t love them any more I was proven wrong. They are so well developed and the writing overall is excellent.

I found this to be laugh out loud funny, endearing and charming, with a great plot twist that kept me guessing and engaged. Some of the plot is so far fetched that it becomes ridiculous, there’s no way the secret service and police would be happy to let a group of elderly friends get so involved in a crime investigation (!!!) but it’s fiction, it doesn’t have to be believable to be great!

Long May the Thursday Murder Club books continue, I’ll pick them up for as long as they do!

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking/Penguin Random House for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
Publisher: Penguin Uk, Viking
Publication Date: 16/9/21

NO SPOILERS

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I did not read the first book by Richard Osman, The Thursday Murder Club, until it came out in paperback. I absolutely adored it. This is even better and I cannot edit until the next one.
The characters feel like old friends, the writing is superb and the plotting is so clever Proper clever. Not poncey clever.

Warm, perceptive and laugh aloud funny. I cannot recommend this enough.

I’d like to thank netgalley, the author and publisher for this advance digital copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

I now know where I want to live when I retire! Especially if the Thursday Murder Club is still going then!
Okay, I know it’s only fiction and it’s also highly unlikely a group of pensioners would be allowed to investigate - and become quite so involved in- murder cases, especially any involving the mafia. Also, I guess the somewhat dodgy shenanigans of the detectives may just be frowned upon and perhaps even disallowed. But still ...
As long as you’re not expecting a serious procedural detective mystery this makes for great entertainment and Osman’s injections of humour and reflections on life and his characters make this addictive.
I hope Osman writes as many as Agatha Christie!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking (Penguin Random House) for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Again this was a really fun read. Really easy to read (and quite hard to stop reading as the chapters are so short...) Love all the characters. The mystery was good again - nice combination of guessable and not guessable bits. Also lots of mini twists all the way through which made for an exciting read. I think this is also a really good balance between light and readable, and also touching on some harder topics with sensitivity. Will definitely be carrying on with this series!

📚 r e v i e w 📚

The Man who Died Twice | The Thursday Murder Club - Richard Osman
Bravo! @misterosman has done it again! The sequel to the Thursday Murder Club is just as delightful, engaging and un-put-downable as its predecessor!

When I tell you that I was excited to be approved for an early copy of this I’m not lying - there were witnesses! I absolutely adored the first book in this cute and quirky series about a group of pensioners who solve crimes.
Much like last time, our group of four amateur detectives have stumbled across a crime and are intent on solving it only this time MI5 are involved as is one of Elizabeth’s ex husbands, a fellow spy who may or may not have stolen millions of pounds worth of diamonds from some very scary gangsters.
👵🏻👴🏿👴🏼👵🏼
Obviously with this being the second book, I don’t want to give too much away - you’ll just have to pick up the first one (it’s delightful, you’ll love it), but this wouldnt be much of a review without a few thoughts now would it?
If you love charming, articulate, well written stories that are both funny and serious at the same time with endearing characters - this is for you.
If you love those quirky, cosy murder mysteries that are on at lunchtime, this is for you and if you love the idea of your grandparents giving criminals what for, then pick up both books. stat.
🔪🔪🔪

Richard Osman has created something truly special with this series - long may it continue. Also 🤞🏻that i meet a bunch of crime junkies when i’m retired so i can live out my miss marple dreams whilst staying sexy and not getting murdered.

The Man Who Died Twice is out in the UK ok 16th September so pre order your copy now!
Many thanks to @netgalley for the early copy and @misterosman for writing it!
@vikingbooksuk @penguinukbooks
💫 swipe for the blurb!💫
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Richard Osman is a fantastic writer! Nit often I chucle when reading but the Thursday Murder Clubs were able to doit more than once during this enjoyable read right to the very last line! Joyce, Elizabeth, Ron and Ibrahim. are great charicors and have plenty of milage inthem still for future adventures. - $20 million worth of stolen diamonds, a really nasty violent gangster abd fear of being murdered What more can be put in the pot to make a good read x I recomend this cozy bed time read

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC.
I definitely enjoyed the sequel more than the first book in the Thursday Murder Club series. This could be because of the familiarity of the characters and that we see their vulnerabilities more in this book but I also think this is faster paced and that the plot is more plausible.
I enjoyed seeing the relationships develop between the Coopers Chase residents as well as the addition of some new characters. There is the same humour throughout with some real laugh out loud moments. I can see there been a 3rd instalment to this series.

A hilarious romp that kept me in stitches for a few hours, The man who died twice is Memento Mori on steroids!
A delightful group of elderly friends, murders, diamonds, international mobsters, cocaine, the British Secret service and lots of laughter are some of the ingredients that the unexpected and lucky reader will encounter in this brilliantly written and cleverly plotted whodunit.
Blessed with a cast of unforgettable misfits and some incredible verbal pyrotechnics this delicious fictional dish is a dizzy trip that I'm not about to forget any time soon. The perfect antidote to get you going after your Summer break that deserves to be enjoyed over and over without any moderation whatsoever! Bravo Richard Osman👏👏👏

Many many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin/Viking for this terrific ARC

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I couldn't wait to dive into the e-arc.
As I expected the sequel to The Thursday Murder Club was as joyful as I thought it would be. From the first page I was back in my happy place with my favourite septegenarian amateur sleuths. Joyce, Ibrahim, Ron & Elizabeth have quickly become my most loved book characters. I knew I was in for a good time from the first page.
The format of the sequel is similar to the first but we learn a lot more about Elizabeth's background with MI5 and her previous relationships to meeting her much loved Husband Stephen. The gang are soon swept along in a mystery involving Elizabeth's ex husband and some missing diamonds.
I could spend hours telling you how much I loved this book, everything about it was pinpoint perfect. I was belly laughing out loud for most of it, it captures the British humour so incredibly well, I could actually hear people I know in real life saying those exact words and it would make me laugh even more. A lot of my delight came from Joyce, who I know if we met in real life would be my BFF. I love her yearning for a new cardigan and her constant FOMO. Her love for her friends and her positive outlook on life endears me no end. She has a way of looking at the world that makes my heart full (and sometimes sad), she is honest without ever being cruel and now that she has joined Instagram there is no stopping her.
There is a scary moment very early on in the book that affects Ibrahim in an awful way and I thought it was handled with incredible sensitivity by Osman and this led us to see our mans man Ron in a totally different light, which warmed my heart so much.
We are given more time to learn about side characters from the first book, mainly Bogdan and Stephen, who I loved. Their friendship in particular, although unusual on the face of it is so deep and meaningful, even if Stephen doesn't always realise it.
Aside from the characters the mystery in this book was winning all the way. Very cleverly crafted and intriguing, I loved the spy element to it and it had me guessing right until the end.
I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of the book once it is released in September, I know a few of you have pre-ordered it already and I can't wait to hear what you think.
I'm off to find a sign up sheet to join The Thursday Murder Club, I desperately want in on this gang.

Thanks to Netgalley for the preview copy. I read Thursday Murder Club with my (grown up) book club and we all enjoyed it although the consensus was that the ending was a bit improbable and confusing.

In case you’ve missed the hype, these books are set in retirement accommodation and feature a group of friends in their ‘twilight’ years who enjoy solving cold crime cases and end up investigating real life murders. Book one is sad, clever and heart-warming and very sarcastic in its humour. The characters are (mostly) believable and fit together in a Famous five type gang.

I actually enjoyed book 2 even more. The premise of this investigation is that Elizabeth (slightly fierce ex MI5 officer, think James Bond’s M) is contacted by someone who theoretically is already dead. Minor spoiler but he turns out to be her ex husband (very quickly) who has stolen 50 million quids worth of diamonds whilst on a special forces raid looking into an international criminal. The book opens with him requesting that he uses the retirement village as a safe house…

Concurrently, Ibrahim (retired psychiatrist and the logical one in the gang) is the victim of a nasty mugging that really knocks his confidence. The rest of the gang are obviously furious – Ron (salt of the earth, ex union rep) wants to ‘knock his block off’ and even Joyce (elements of Miss Marple) vows revenge.

Their friendly police officers meanwhile are somewhat powerless in putting the mugger behind bars and also investigating Connie Francis, local drug baron and employer of said mugger.

Murders start mounting up, we gain interesting insight into Elizabeth’s earlier life and the reader is treated to a treasure hunt cum murder investigation.

I’ll unreservedly recommend this book, I found it less confusing (still quite a twisty plot) and also more likely -at least kind of! Perfect if you want a funny diversion.

Another terrific romp through murder and mayhem for the four septuagenarian members of the Thursday Murder Club. Perhaps with not quite the charm and freshness of the first book, but enjoyable and entertaining nonetheless. My only real problem with this somewhat eccentric murder mystery is that it could be accused of using the drug dealing business as entertainment. This horrible trade wrecks lives and makes some very unpleasant people very rich indeed, and writers of popular fiction probably should be sending that message loud and clear to readers on the basis that every small knock the drugs trade gets can only help in the war of attrition to close it down. I don’t want to give any spoilers here, but the right people do get their comeuppance in the end. I would love to read some writing by Richard Osman not centred around the Thursday Murder Club, because the formula may be getting a little stale, and he is clearly an intelligent and gifted author.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the first book in this series, and I couldn’t put my finger on why. Having now read this, I think it’s just down to the writing style. I love the characters, I love the setting, the plot in this book was, in my opinion, far better than the first but… I still wasn’t a fan.

For me, the writing style feels quite forced and like it’s trying too hard and I struggle to read large chunks in one sitting, meaning that it takes me a while to get through. I know a lot of people love this series so I probably am in the minority but it didn’t quite live up to the hype for me. Will I read the third book? Yes, because I like to finish a series. Will I rush out to buy it? No probably not.

Too much filler from uninteresting cast of protagonists. I honestly couldn’t in good conscious finish this book.
Not sure how this was even published.