A fun story, the sequel to The Thursday Murder Club - which I haven't read yet. My Dad read the first and said it was lots of fun, and I managed to read the sequel with no concerns, following along, but I think it would be nice to have read the first one first. I definitely recommend these books!

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Thursday Murder Club is a brilliant light-hearted romp and yet intricately and endlessly surprising.

All the favourite characters, both main and supporting are back in The Man Who Died Twice and up to their usual mischief, and their relationships developedin heartwarming and bittersweet ways. I want so badly to retire to Coopers Chase.

It’s not every day that one receives an invitation from a dead man. When a blast from her mysterious past turns up asking for help, she has to hear him out. After twenty million pounds-worth of uncut diamonds went missing during an operation involving the middleman for various international crime syndicates, he’s being hunted, and needs Elizabeth to help keep him safe. But Elizabeth comes as a package now, and this will be a new level of dangerous for the keen but amateur septuagenarian detectives of Cooper’s Chase. As the body count rises, and one of their own is attacked, can the Thursday Murder Club find the killer before the killer finds them?

First things first – if you haven’t already, you need to read The Thursday Murder Club before reading this. The Man Who Died Twice begins about a week after the conclusion of The Thursday Murder Club, and there’s a lot of continuation from that, but especially important is the connection you make with the characters, especially Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron. Yes, I know they’re fictional, but they are so well written that I feel like I know them personally, and I can’t imagine having read this book without that sense of a bond.

At the end of The Thursday Murder Club, I had two main wishes – I wanted (needed) a sequel, and I wanted that sequel to explore Elizabeth’s secretive past. Happily, both my wishes were granted. Not only do we find out what Elizabeth did and who she worked for, we get to meet Douglas, a charming and dangerous old flame.

The main crime this time is the murders, diamond theft and Douglas’s attempts to evade the criminals, and this is dealt with as expertly as you’d expect. For me, though, the real core of the novel is the assault on one of the Club, and the sheer number of emotions brought up by it. It’s hard to talk about without spoilers (and I’m desperately trying not to use spoilers), but I spent half the novel just wanting to cwtch (a special Welsh cuddle) the victim, and shed more than a few tears. Joyce, with her attempts to join the world of Instagram, and Donna, whose boss and mother have got together in the most toe-curlingly way, provide some gentle comic relief.

The Man Who Died Twice is less of a ‘cosy’ mystery than The Thursday Murder Club was, which I suppose isn’t surprising given that this time we’re dealing with ‘proper’ criminals, but the warmth and sincerity is still there. For the next book – which has been confirmed – I have two more wishes. I want more Bogdan and Donna, please, but what I really want is a time machine, so I don’t have to wait as long this time.

I received an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In the second Thursday Murder club story, Elisabeth and her companions return to solve another mystery.

Elisabeth receives an invitation to drinks with a new resident who is an old colleague.  There is only one problem, that person is dead.

The four sleuths are soon embroiled in another story involving MI5, the police and DCI Hudson's new girlfriend, Patrick.

Another great tale from Richard Osman

I think I can keep my review of this one fairly short: if you enjoyed the first #thursdaymurderclub book, you will adore this one! It has everything the first one had, and in a way, even more, as you have the added benefit of being familiar with the characters. Richard Osman’s writing style reminds me personally of Matt Haig, as for me, it has a very distinctive ‘voice’, as well as being able to tackle a serious subject matter in the same sentence as comedy. There is such a big heart at the core of this book, and with a third book having been announced, I am sure I speak for a few when I say I don’t want this series to end.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book

I loved this one just as much as the first book in the series. Great, likeable characters!

The Thursday Murder Club return in even more sparkling form

Richard Osman’s quartet of retirement home resident sleuths, plus their various oddball friends, continue to enchant. And as I finished reading this second outing, my sigh of satisfaction with a successful reading journey tinged with sorrow at having finished the book, was lifted out from that somewhat sad end of party moment by a realisation that there is a third written…………..

What a very feel-good, but unsaccharine series this is. Our present quartet of residents in a remarkably pleasant private retirement home continue to enchant. Melancholy Ibrahim, retired psychotherapist, ever optimistic retired nurse Joyce, ex-spook Elizabeth and continued socialist firebrand and former trade union leader Ron deepen their bonds of friendship with each other and with Chris and Donna, now their firm friends in the police force. At the back of their adventures, and the nasty people brought to justice, is the never quite forgotten end of all journeys.

Gather ye Rose-buds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles today,
Tomorrow will be dying.

The setting, and the age of our doughty band, means that in with the pleasure of the charming, quirky solvers of murders horrid, in their activities and their friendships, the awareness of old time gives edge to what might otherwise just be enjoyable ‘fluff’

I was delighted to be offered this as an advance copy from the publishers, via NetGalley

Wow this was such a brilliant follow on from the utterly brilliant The Thursday Murder Club. The characters are genius and the story has laughter and seriousness also. Fantastic read#TheManWhoDiedTwice #NetGalley

Richard Osman has done it again! This is another brilliantly funny insight into the goings on at Cooper’s Chase. I really enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club but this was even better, and the character development was so good.

The book starts out at a very quick pace and keeps it going throughout, as Joyce, Ron, Ibrahim and the brilliant Elizabeth work to uncover clues in their quest to solve crimes and expose criminals. And this time we also learn more about the vulnerabilities and insecurities of the characters which really brings them to life.

With huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The gang are all back together!

Elizabeth, Ibrahim, Ron and Joyce, our septuagenarian heroes of The Thursday Murder Club are back in Coopers Chase and still causing as much trouble as they resolve. Donna and Chris are still struggling to keep up.

Osman feels a little more comfortable with this novel than the first, now that the pressure of having to introduce the characters has been dispensed with in this sequel and launches straight into the plot – or plots. Firstly, Elizabeth receives a mysterious letter purporting to be from a man who never truly existed from her days working in the Secret Services, and which turns out to be her ex-husband and fellow spy, Douglas and his handler, Poppy. Secondly, Donna and Chris are staking out a local drug dealer, Connie Johnson. Finally, Ibrahim is seen enjoying his newly discovered sense of confidence from the first book and taking a drive – and discovering the joy of parking apps – until he is mugged by a local thug, Ryan Baird

Douglas has been accused of stealing £20 million pounds worth of diamonds from Martin Lomax, a man who acts as “a bank for major crime gangs… a trusted middleman” who receives and protects deposits from criminal gangs in their investments. One of those deposits was the missing diamonds and both Lomax and the mafia to whom they belong are searching for them. Elizabeth, whom we learn is actually Dame Elizabeth, and the others are charged informally with protecting Douglas, and take it on themselves to find the missing diamonds too.

Bodies, of course, mount up.

These books are simultaneously charming and absurd and require a huge amount of willing suspension of disbelief, which their charm makes you willing to do. Let’s take Douglas, for example. A professional experienced spy who – minor spoilers – did in fact steal and secret away the diamonds he is alleged to have stolen whilst on a surveillance operation. It makes no sense that Douglas would, whilst still on site, whilst in possession of these stolen diamonds, would take off his mask because “I was hot, it was itchy, you know me, Elizabeth, and the balaclavas are synthetic these days”. But this is the sort of book where, frankly, you don’t care about that!

The charm comes from the dialogue whether it be between the Murder Club members or the delicately worded death threats from the mafia

“I was talking to a woman in Ruskin Court and she said she’s on a diet,” says Joyce, finishing her glass of wine. “She’s eighty-two!”

“Zimmer frames make you look fat,” says Ron. “It’s the thin legs.”

“Why diet at eighty-two?” says Joyce. “What’s a sausage roll going to do to you? Kill you? Well, Join the queue.”

But there is also a surprisingly deep pathos here. Ibrahim is floored by his assault, and anxiety and agoraphobia threaten him as he becomes fearful to leave his house let alone Coopers’ Chase Retirement Village. Ron’s gruff attentiveness to him, staying in hospital with him was sweet, but I loved Kendrick, Ron’s grandson, who is drafted in to help review CCTV at one point and having chewed over their favourite Romans (Brutus or Seneca the Younger) and dinosaur (a stegosaurus) Kendrick asks

“Does it hurt where they kicked you?” asks Kendrick, his eyes still clearly glued to the CCTV.

“I tell the others it doesn’t,” says Ibrahim. “But it does, very much.”

“They probably know,” says Kendrick.

“They probably do,” says Ibrahim. “But you’re the only person I’m telling for sure.”

Let’s be honest, Osman’s writing isn’t going to be in any prize lists any time soon and the way the three plots intersected (which they did) was really very forced. But, despite the violence – and there was a fair amount more violence in this novel than the first, at least as far as I can recall – these novels are as charming and avuncular and cosy as is his teatime quiz show persona and there is definitely space on the shelves for that!

What I Liked
- Of course, the ensemble cast of characters, each of whom are given their point of view within the novel. They are charming individually and wonderful together! As Sue says, Joyce and Elizabeth’s double act is formidable!
Joyce as she bumbles around solving word searches, baking cakes, creating an unintentionally suggestive Instagram username (and refusing to change it), and wielding a kitchen knife in an expert overhand grip when necessary.
- Chris and Patrice: their relationship was a delight, much to Donna’s embarrassment and Patrice seems able to hold her own against Elizabeth
Ibrahim and Ron: their’s is a lovely friendship, and am I the only one seeing some unexplored romantic tension between them?
- The improbability of some of the situations that these characters end up in is wry and wonderful: a garden party hosted by an international money launderer for various criminal enterprises, wondering whether he can make a few pounds from his chocolate brownies as he mulls over death threats and the theft of £20 million pounds worth of diamonds.
- Poppy, a sweet young girl who fell into being employed as a spy almost accidentally and who wants to be a poet even if she was a useless waitress.

What Could Have Been Different
- Some aspects of the novel felt a little unconnected: neither Donna’s uncertainties and worries, nor the sub-plot revolving around Ibrahim felt terribly connected to either the main plot or the characterisation.
- The more technical and shady aspects of MI5 operations and international organised crime felt a little superficial? Great fun but superficial – although that is perhaps the joy of the book: it does not try to hard and dark. But to imagine an experienced spy removing his mask in an area likely to be covered by cameras, having just purloined a bag of diamonds…?

Overall:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.

Characters:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.

Plot / Pace:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.

Worldbuilding:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.

Structure:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.

Language:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.

Page Count: 432 pages

Publisher: Viking (Penguin)

Date: 16th September 2021

Available: Amazon, Viking

Excellent, I think the second one was better than the first. Sharper writing and better editing, it’s great to reunite with this group of characters!

Loved the first instalment of the Thursday Murder Club and was really looking forward to the next. I was not disappointed! Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim are back and involved in a drugs, murder and diamond mystery, and each of the main characters are as charming and likeable as before! The fun and gentle story keeps you engaged and guessing right until the end. Loved it!

Fun mystery story, light and interesting.

The Thursday Murder Club, all 4 of them, become involved in a tale about stolen diamonds, drug dealing, murder and other shady business. There’s plenty of action, wit and controversy. The characters are interesting and developed further as well as new ones that are introduced. It’s a light easy read which will certainly entertain just about everyone. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Viking for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have not read <i>The Thursday Murder Club</i> and did not realize this was the second book in that series. A few names were mentioned that I'm assuming were characters from the first book, and I think I would have appreciated the existing relationships more had I read it, but I did not feel lost. Also, I do not think anything from the first book was spoiled or given away.

This was a very pleasant read. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron are elderly pensioners who find themselves mixed up with MI5, a cocaine magnate, and diamonds worth £20 million. Not to mention they are really angry with some local youths after they brutally assaulted Ibrahim for his mobile, and are determined to find justice for their friend.

Joyce is a bit of a ditz, and I was initially quite annoyed with her, but she did grow on me a bit as the story went on. She is certainly not stupid, but still irritating in a <i>get to the @#$%* point, Joyce!</i> kind of way. I found myself doubting how genuine Elizabeth's friendship with her is, as I could not see Elizabeth being emotionally invested in Joyce, but rather using her for her own gains. Their relationship seems very one-sided.

Some suspended disbelief is required to think MI5 agents and police officers would ever go along with the plans hatched by these civilians (or not arresting them for everything they withhold), but it's a fun romp.

Looking forward to reading the first book, and any subsequent ones.

I enjoyed the first book so was looking forward to this one and wasn't disappointed.
It's got the same lovely charm, frequent wit and cosy familiarity from the first story and characters and builds on all of it to give what I thought was a better overall book.
It was great to fill in more of the back-story of the characters and enjoy their easy yet intelligent interaction.
I hope when I get to a retirement village it's as exciting as theirs!
Many thanks for the advanced review copy. Loved it.

Oh, what a glorious return to Cooper's Chase and my favourite amateur sleuths, in 'The Man Who Died Twice ' by Richard Osman.
I have been eagerly waiting for the follow up to last year's runaway success, 'The Thursday Murder Club' and could barely wait to get my hands on this copy. And thankfully, the story once again lines upto my expectations. This time around, our heroes have recovered from previous events and are looking forward to having further adventures. Elizabeth receives a letter from an old friend, in fact, a former husband and wastes no time, in telling the club members about Douglas and as a group, they decide to leap into action. Meanwhile, Ibrahim has been assaulted by some local teenagers and the club decide to avenge their friend, along with some assistance from DCI Chris Hudson and PC Donna De Freitas.
This story is much more than a cozy mystery,  there is a brain-twisting mystery at the heart of the story and there are plenty of red herrings and exciting moments to keep your attention. An excellent, 5 star, fun and intelligent read.

The Man Who Died Twice, is the second book in the popular Thursday murder club by Richard Osman. This book is just as good as the first one.

It's funny and entertaining with Elizabeth and her 'gang' taking you on another great investigation.

I'm sure this will become a best seller.

Now it's official: life starts at seventy!

The second book in the Thursday Murder Club series is just as witty, funny and British as the first one. The plot is clever (again), and we can learn more about the characters we met in the previous book, especially Elizabeth. The Coopers Chase pensioners have plenty of potential left in them, and now I could kill for the third book. Well, almost.

Thankful for NetGalley and Penguin UK for an Advance Reading Copy.

Excellent - picks off where the previous book ended, and has all the right amounts of intrigue, friendship, humour, empathy and excellent writing.

A great read, the second book in this series.

Elizabeth finds herself at the centre of the story as her ex husband appears in her life. Elizabeth and her friends set out to solve the latest mystery, with the help of locals they manage to talk in to helping them.

A murder mystery that keeps you guessing. Told from a variety of point of view, but easy to keep up with the story.