The Thursday Murder Club moves on. And into some murky waters, brutal murders and contact with unlikely security agencies. There are few humorous one liners and the denouement feels oddly contrived, but the Murder Club is still there to love!

I did not like The Thursday Murder Club. I thought I would try this and see if Richard Osman's dumbed down style of writing worked for me. It sadly, does not. I am at a loss to understand how someone who portrays themselves as someone of intelligence would come up with books full of lazy stereotypes. Of course, the answer to this is simple. He has gone for the lowest common denominator and is wanting to sell as many books as he can so is aiming them at the holiday readers, the books you grab when you're in a WHSmiths before you rush to the gate which is 50 miles away.

This could have been so much better than it was, it's chock full of lazy and sometimes quite insulting stereotypes and even though I tried to go into it with a clear, unassuming mind..I still didn't like it.

Fans of Osman won't like this, I have three friends who have also read this. One knows him, two do not. Nobody liked it.

1 out of 5

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Having enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club, but perhaps not being quite as blown away as the hype had suggested I would be, I was intrigued to get stuck into Richard's second book. Good news is that all the main characters return, and it was really enjoyable to learn more about Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim. The police team Chris and Donna are also back. The book delves into Elizabeth's past, and that past becomes her present rather suddenly in the early chapters of the book.

Yes the plot gets a bit far-fetched, but it's a really enjoyable read, probably more so than the first book as the characters are already familiar. I particularly liked Donna and Joyce in this one, and again, whilst perhaps hard to believe, the sense of justice being done (whether that's by the book or not) is a theme I warmed to.

No doubt this one will go on to be just as successful and the good news is on the final page there's confirmation there'll be a third novel next year. Great to see Richard has been putting the lockdowns to good use!

Just the tonic...
Witty, fun and absolutely lives up to expectations. I loved the first one, and loved this even more. Revealing more and more hilarious/ touching/ intriguing layers to my favourite characters while chasing the crazy plot around corners, the humour is packed into every sentence. Not just 'cosy crime' as some have said, the witty observations and characterisation are so clever and thought-provoking. I really needed cheering up, and holy cardigans, did this do the trick!!

I enjoyed the second book in the series though not quite as much as the first. The characters were great and there are some amusing moments with the interaction between them. I found the plot a bit far fetched with MI5 agents and Mafia gangs and dead bodies aplenty! The story involves an ex husband of Elizabeth, also an agent in the secret service, and some missing diamonds. It involves all the characters from book one and they are all up to their old tricks. All in all a good read but I preferred the story set more around their retirement home.

Did you enjoy The Thursday Murder Club? Well Richard Osmans next book in the series, The Man Who Died Twice is one to look out for in September! Loved it and this was a fantastic follow up. 🦊

This time, the four septuagenarians are on the hunt for a ruthless killer who may not have a problem knocking off Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim. This story involves stolen diamonds and a violent mobster so can the club find the killer before the killer finds them?😱

I just love all these characters so much. 👏🏻 They are so funny as a collective but I really love how they support each other. The writing is so clever, laugh out loud funny and utterly British. I really want to be part of their club?!! 😂 I can free Thursdays and make a mean chocolate brownie?!!! 💁🏼‍♀️ The plot is engaging and a few red herrings are thrown in to keep readers on their toes. I didn’t really work it out until near the end which was great. It was entertaining and an utter joy to read. I can’t wait for the next in the series. 🎉

I highly recommend this brilliant series so if you fancy a good old ‘whodunnit’ and cosy mystery, then check them out. Definitely requires a cuppa and biscuits whilst reading. 🍪

Once again, we are taken back to Coopers Chase Retirement village where we meet the Murder Mystery Club gang of septuagenarians, Joyce, Elizabeth, Ibrahim and Ron. And, of course, there is another murder in the village!

This story involves an old colleague, well an ex-husband of Elizabeth. He turns up at Coopers Chase bring his troubles with him. He has made a huge mistake and is in need of Elizabeth's help. Somehow, he has got himself involved in a mystery involving stolen diamonds, a well-known mobster or two and his life is most definitely at risk.

With the body count rising, missing diamonds and trying to avoid themselves becoming part of the body count, the gang get together to solve the murder, try and find the diamonds as well as getting some revenge of their own.

This is a brilliantly fun second book in the series and there is some notable improvement in the quality of writing too. I love the gang at Coopers Chase, and I can clearly see Dame Judy Dench playing the role of Elizabeth. This is a fun, cosy murder mystery with lots of brilliant twists and turns, some of which had me questioning myself as I tried to piece the mystery together. I love how you get inside of Joyce’s head as she rambles on, and her rambling is part of who she is. She may come across as a bit scatty but she’s actually more attentive than she lets on. We also get to learn a little bit more about Ibrahim, but only a tiny bit which makes me think and hope that book 3 will reveal more about his past. He does seem to have a few demons in his head.

I was worried that Richard Osman's second novel would not live up to the quality of his first but how wrong I was.
If you enjoyed the Thursday murder club then you will love this book.
The characters are beginning to seem like old friends and I was more than happy to become submerged in their world again.
If anything this story is even better than the first.
Without giving too much away we learn more of certain characters' back story and gradually the pieces fall into place.
As with the first book you are kept guessing right until the last page.
Nothing drastically different from the first book but this is no bad thing.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in the series.

Just Brilliant. Brilliant is every way. Loveable characters that I can't wait to read more and more about. A twisty, turny tale that keeps you turning the page. Honestly Brilliant.

I was so so excited to get my hands on Richard Osman’s follow up to 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙈𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙡𝙪𝙗 and I was not disappointed. In fact I think I loved this one even more!

When Elizabeth receives a mysterious letter from a past colleague, the gang are caught up tracking down some stolen diamonds… and working out who to trust is tough.

I could not put it down. I loved meeting all the characters again for a second time and unraveling their stories all over. They are such a funny and loveable group, each with their own quirks and weaknesses. My particular favourites are Joyce and Bogden.

Full of humour, twists, murders, diamonds, drugs, and even the mafia… this book has it all and I adored it!
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Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this one!

I am really excited to have the opportunity to review The Man Who Died Twice. I really enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club and it was a delight to be back with Joyce, Elizabeth, Ibrahim and Ron, and the police officers, Chris and Donna. Despite being in their twilight years, the members of the Thursday Murder Club are sharp, determined and have a wonderful sense of mischief. These characters are brilliantly observed and I loved the sense of humour that runs alongside the more serious issues in the novel.
As in The Thursday Murder Club, we also see snippets of Joyce's diary. I really enjoyed these sections as I sometimes felt that Joyce was underestimated by the group and its interesting (and often a little amusing) to see what's really going through her mind.

As The Man Who Died Twice is a very character driven novel, it is slightly slower paced than some of the books I would normally read to reflect the characters' ages and personalities. There is still plenty of mystery though and I enjoyed working alongside the Thursday Murder Club to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

The third Thursday Murder Club book is already available for preorder and I cannot wait to see what adventures they find themselves involved in next!

I enjoyed the Thursday Murder Club, but I enjoyed this book more. It is funnier and we learn much more about Elizabeth’s former life as a spy as well as her relationship with her husband.
Joyce is her usual outward quiet and unassuming self until she steps outside of her comfort zone and surprises herself most.
The men take a back seat, although play small but significant parts. Plus the murders keep coming, most of them quite bloody and violent.
As well as the two local detectives we are joined by spies, all of whom are outwitted by the fab four’s ingenious ways.

I always open a sequel to a book I enjoyed with trepidation. This book however, did not disappoint. It is every bit as good as The Thursday Murder club. I enjoyed reading about the antics of Elizabeth, Joyce, Roy, and Ibrahim again. I will be eagerly awaiting the third novel in the series. i highly recommend this to you if you enjoyed the Thursday Murder Ckub.

If you liked the first book in this series then you’ll love this one. Written with the same sense of humour and in the same style, the Mystery elements are played out well on the page and I didn’t see the ending coming. I did think that sometimes some of the characterization didn’t quite hit as realistic to me, but otherwise an enjoyable read.

Having thoroughly enjoyed “The Thursday Murder Club”, I was eager to revisit Joyce, Elizabeth, Ibrahim, Ron and the rest of the gang in this sequel. And I’m happy to report “The Man Who Died Twice” is just as good as its predecessor.

With a plot involving stolen diamonds, international gangsters and Elizabeth’s first husband, “The Man Who Died Twice” retains all the wit, warmth, pathos and humour of Osman’s debut, and left me keen for even more adventures with the cream of Cooper’s Close.

I really enjoyed The Man Who Died Twice. It returns to the same characters from Thursday Night Murder Club, but with new mysteries to solve.

At the beginning we are thrust into the past when Elizabeth, the group’s intrepid leader, is visited by an old flame needing her help. She and others in the group all pull together in their own ways to search for clues, figure out what is going on and confront the baddies. Then, just when you think it is all wrapped up, a new twist happens.

‘‘Twas all very enjoyable and over in two sittings. Hard to put down.

The Thursday Murder Club are back and Elizabeth's past is in the frame in the shape of her ex husband and some stolen diamonds. Once again the club find themselves along for the ride, accompanied by the local police and Bogdan, their friend and all round supporter. Another brilliantly written romp which made me laugh out loud in places and get angry and upset in others. Sometimes the second book in a series is a disappointment. This one, most definitely, is not!

The very important second book. Like so many I absolutely loved Richard Osman’s first book and was eager, if slightly anxious, to read the second. I was worried that it would be hard to capture the magic again, but I need not have worried, this is just as good.
The author is now very confident with his range of characters and their “voices”, this group of elderly people on a retirement complex who like to stick their noses into things. And while they have racked up many decades of life, this is not a group to mess with. The cast all play important roles, but Elizabeth is their unofficial leader, a mysterious past in the Intelligence Service means she is not one to mess with,
And this story has Elizabeth and her past career in the centre. When her ex husband needs help the gang end up involved in murders, missing diamonds, ruthless criminals and the Intelligence Services are poking around too. While that is all going on, one of their friends has been mugged and the guilty party has no idea what he has let himself in for.
It’s lovely writing, clever and witty with a range of brilliant characters. And it’s another winner.

I absolutely love this book and all the members of the Thursday Murder Club. I read the first book and really hoped that a Richard would oblige us with a follow up book detailing the further adventures of my favourite OAPs. If anything, I think this book is even better than the first one with its mixture of pathos and humour. The characters are brilliant and I they are so well written I can clearly imagine how they would look. Can’t recommend this book highly enough - it’s a real treat.

The second book my Richard Osman is every bit as good as the first!
The old gang are back together solving a new mystery this time about twenty million pounds worth of diamonds. We learn more about the character's pasts which gives lovely continuity.
There is a fairly large body count by the end for a group of senior citizens.
Great story, and I really enjoyed it.
Can't wait for the third book!