The Man Who Died Twice: A Thursday Murder Club Mystery

Are you ready for round two of the comic crime capers that come courtesy of Coopers Chase retirement village’s most celebrated residents? Well I certainly was when I picked up the sequel to Richard Osman’s bestselling debut The Thursday Murder Club, having declared it one of my favourite reads of 2020. Exploding onto the amateur detective scene with as much vitality and enthusiasm as four old age pensioners can muster (and it’s a lot!) they won the hearts of readers up and down the country so the chance to catch up with the likes of Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim as they wheedle, manipulate, confuse, connive and charm their way through another investigation is an opportunity too good to miss. I’m happy to report that this crime busting quartet led by ex spook Elizabeth are back with a vengeance, hogging the limelight as they engage in some lateral thinking and uproarious antics in order to outsmart the latest round of villains who threaten to darken their doorstep. Even though they are busy with their far from successful surveillance of local drug dealer Connie Johnson, Fairhaven’s finest cops DCI Chris Hudson and his partner PC Donna De Freitas are again on hand to assist our favourite senior citizens especially when Ibrahim becomes the victim of a vicious mugging. Polish builder Bogdan completes the eclectic band of justice seekers determined to solve the mystery behind a letter addressed to Elizabeth that appears to be written from the deceased Marcus Carmichael. A ghost from the past is all it takes to alert our fantastic four to skulduggery within the criminal fraternity in which the recovery of twenty million pounds worth of diamonds is of paramount importance. Move over the A team the OAP team are here to save the day!! First off I have to comment on how wonderful it is to be reunited with all these familiar characters. I’ve missed their camaraderie, their hilarious conversations, their individual foibles and their ability to behave badly without arousing suspicion. It’s all this plus the friendships, the loyalty and support that exist between the gang of four and their growing band of associates that makes this such a delight to read. The dialogue is off the scale humorous so that from the opening discussion in which Joyce is deliberating with her fellow murder club members whether to join Instagram or get a dog for company you know there are going to be laughs aplenty. I don’t think I’ve read a crime novel where I’ve laughed so much. Thanks to these intrepid, smart, inventive, resourceful and energetic lot who prove age is no barrier when it comes to enjoying life to the max I had a permanent grin on my face as I followed their escapades. I could only marvel at the ingenious ways in which they disentangle themselves from sticky situations, somehow never the worse for wear! There’s been a few developments in the lives of these characters since we were last in their company but they are all still game for a laugh and ready to rise to this latest crime solving challenge. Formerly unlucky in love DCI Chris is now on a strict diet thanks to his blossoming relationship with Patrice, who just happens to be Donna’s mum; Joyce appears to have swapped baking cakes for making sequin embellished friendship bracelets; Bogdan is happily keeping Stephen company challenging him to countless chess games whilst Elizabeth is outmanoeuvring criminal masterminds and Donna still hasn’t found a suitable boyfriend. It’s fair to say I don’t think I could ever tire of these characters who for all their lighthearted silly banter are superb friends to one another. Ron’s friendship with Ibrahim, becoming his constant companion whilst this quiet,careful and unadventurous man slowly heals is so heartwarming. So too is the new found friendship between Ron’s grandson Kendrick and the ex psychiatrist who needless to say both prove invaluable in the race to discover the missing diamonds. Combining Elizabeth’s sharp mind,Joyce’s flirting, Ibrahim’s impressive observational skills and Ron’s use of disguise and underhand tactics you can be sure that retrieving the stolen diamonds is on the cards. However Elizabeth and her acolytes have a few obstacles to overcome on the way to success. Expect danger, devious tactics, double crossings and a few dead bodies! Richard Osman skilfully weaves each strand of the plot together, drawing every single character into the main arena so you’re never quite sure what to expect next. Literally anything can and does happen! All in all it’s riotous, rollicking great fun! As for characters it’s pointless trying to pick a favourite when the author spoils you for choice but I’m going to anyway! Elizabeth as the brains behind the operation obviously stands out but once again it’s ex nurse Joyce who through her diary entries had me in stitches. I just love her voice with it’s mixture of naivety, flirtatiousness, kindness and eccentricity. Her heart is pure gold but she isn’t above a bit of gentle persuasion and coercion as Ibrahim knows only too well! The other three members of the murder club couldn’t wish for a better friend. If I’m honest I love them all! I like how underneath all the comic capering Richard Osman isn’t afraid to touch on the type of problems associated with old age such as dementia (Stephen) and how easy it can be to lose one’s confidence following an unexpected turn of events (Ibrahim). Without being in the least bit patronising and keeping the tone lighthearted he manages to address these issues with both wit, compassion and respect so despite the obstacles they face their value as characters is not diminished and they are not overlooked. If you loved The Thursday Murder Club then I think you’ll love the sequel even more. Richard Osman has triumphed once again with a novel that provides fantastic all round entertainment. Quintessentially English, the plot is pacy, the characters are divine and the humour contagious so it’s hardly surprising The Man Who Died Twice has shot to the top (again!) of my list of favourite 2021 reads.Super easy to devour in one sitting this is one of those highly anticipated novels you can’t wait to start yet you don’t want to finish simply because you’re in such splendid company. This is a book that keeps on giving right up until the very last word. Fingers crossed this isn’t the last we’ll hear of the fabulous four. First class and without hesitation a 5 ⭐️read.

Having read the first installment in the Thursday Murder Club series, I thought the storytelling couldn't improve. How wrong could I be! The story picks up a few days after the end of the first book, but if you haven't read the first book you won't miss out. Everything you need to know is explained as this story unfolds. The characters are brilliantly crafted - the more I read about them, the more invested I am in each of their lives. The story is well-paced, with many twists and turns in the plot - enough to keep you guessing and second-guessing who is behind the mystery. Others have commented on the writing style which switches from third-person narrative to first-person story-telling by Joyce - but I like it. You get the story and then details are explained in a way that makes you believe you are reading Joyce's diary. It really is very engaging. Overall, this is a first-rate book. Well written, engaging, and both funny and moving in equal measure. I have already moved on to the next installment in the adventures of the Thursday Murder Club

Rating: 4.0/5 After the phenomenal success of "The Thursday Murder Club" there was never really any doubt that there would be a sequel. Although I thought "The Thursday Murder Club" was good, I didn't think it was great. In this follow-up, Richard Osman has built on the positive elements of the series opener and delivered a very enjoyable read that is more polished and accomplished than its forerunner. The septuagenarian residents of Coopers Chase, who make up the eponymous "Thursday Murder Club", are back again, but with a new mystery to get their dentures into. Although the plot is not directly related to book one, there are occasional references to events that took place in that earlier story. It would certainly be of benefit to any potential readers if they were already familiar with the main cast of characters. Therefore, I would suggest that this would not work particularly well as a standalone read. Richard Osman's style won't appeal to everyone, but it does to me. It is apparent that he is learning from experience and developing as a writer. His style in "The Man Who Died Twice" is noticeably more relaxed and fluent than it was in book one. Whereas I felt that the murder mystery in the first book was essentially just a superficial vehicle to allow Richard Osman to explore the world of these pensioners, the plot this time around is a little more robust and has a perfectly solid mystery adventure at its heart. As you would expect, there is still the clever observational humour along the way and there are even moments that are, by turn, heart-warming or poignant. Not everybody enjoyed Richard Osman's debut novel - in fact, there were reviewers who loathed it. Nonetheless, on the back of the author's popular appeal, it sold in mind-blowingly massive quantities. So many people who rarely (if ever) read novels, went out and bought "The Thursday Murder Club", or loaned it from their local library. Even if you detested it, Richard Osman deserves significant credit for inspiring huge numbers of non-regular readers to put their nose into a book again. Although I believe "The Man Who Died Twice" is a better novel than its predecessor, there will still be those who will hate it with a vengeance - but the many readers that lapped up the first book will, almost certainly, love this one too.

Well, this book could not be better. The Thursday Murder Club, what about a inspired idea. Great plots, great characters and so well written. The books are fabulous, I don't know what happened to the casting of the film when the characters have been fleshed outdo well in the books. but I shall not be watching it. Many more of these books please, they fabulous.

Con humor inglés, entretenido

Serviço impecável da Amazon!

Polecam

Very good read

What a book , what a story.