The Man Who Died Twice: A Thursday Murder Club Mystery

I'm only on chapter 14 of the book, but I wanted to let other readers know how happy I am I bought it. It's even better than the first one. The writing is tighter, it's brisk-paced, clever, funny and well-researched. Osman has an increasingly confident light touch as an author - concealing real depth of thought and feeling. Think Kate Atkinson meets Joanna Cannon, with belly laughs - but also something that is distinctly his own. It's wonderful to welcome back the familiar old characters. I feel like I've returned to a safe place - but full of surprises and little shocking revelations to keep you on your toes. I laughed out loud on page 53 and again on page 56. 56 is a real corker. Probably the first time I've really laughed in the last two years. I know it's going to be good and I'm already rationing my reading so I don't finish it too quickly - I'm dreading that feeling when you finish a good book and go into mourning for a week as the whole world feels bleak and empty. Without getting even more dramatic, can I just thank the author for making the effort to really entertain the reader without repelling or depressing them - oh so rare. And thank you for not making me feel left out. Older women, particularly those without children, can feel like exiles these days. THANK YOU RICHARD!!

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.

Rating: 4.0/5After 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.

Loved it! After reading the first book, which I liked at best, and dived into the second book and I fell in love. I feel I’ve gotten to know the characters a lot better this time and the mystery was so much more interesting.What I love about this so that every single plot element, no matter how small, has a major pay-off and it’s so satisfying to see it unfold. Richard Osmans writing is impeccable; he does a terrific job in balancing out humour with the more darker moments of the story.It’s safe to say I am officially hooked with the series, and I am very much looking forward to catching up with Elisabeth and the gang in The Bullet That Missed!

I just love the people, the place, the fact they are so unassuming. This book has been sad and made me cry but made me smile and laugh out loud more. Can't wait to read the next one.

Seriously good books. There are many great reviews for these Richard Osman books however I was nearly put off by quite a negative one along with a comment by a well read aquaintance who thought the first book a bit boring - BUT thankfully I went ahead and ordered the first (very good), then the second (excellent) and third (excellent again). Having now read three books from 'The Thursday Murder Club' series I can say ignore any negative reviews. These are brilliantly written books. Read two this weekend, I couldn't put them down. I had been finding lately that I felt dissatisfied after reading many crime/mystery fiction books that there were always plot holes that niggled at the end. It seemed that the reader was just meant to forget about them as the books went on, but I can think of no plot holes in these. They are extremely well written with great characters you care about and the complexities of the plots do not overwhelm as everything is eventually explained satisfactorily and wrapped up neatly. They are extremely satisfying. Can't wait to get my hands on the fourth in this series and I hope this elderly club of slueths live many more years to entertain us. Richard Osman, if you read Amazon reviews: I have never watched you on TV and was unsure I would like these books but you have found your calling. Exceptional, Fantastic, Love Them.

This is the second novel in The Thursday Murder Club collection. I finished the first one year ago to the day and I loved it!It is set in a retirement village in southern England, where, every Thursday afternoon, some of the residents meet to try and solve ‘cold case’ murders. I did wonder whether the second book would live up to the first. But, I needn’t have.This story revolves around a robbery of twenty million pounds worth of diamonds. In trying to track them down, several murders are committed and our old friends have to pool their resources and skills to solve the mystery of who killed the victims. As the story develops, we get to learn much more about each of the characters who survived from book one, which is very much appreciated.So, The Man Who Died Twice is exactly what I expected - it is a quintessential British Murder mystery that is well written and observed. The characters are beautifully revealed as the story progresses and the dialogue between them is realistic.The story has some interesting plot lines and ‘twists’ - very few of which I was able to predict along the way. The ‘big reveal’ however did keep me guessing and the ending was very satisfying.All in all, The Man Who Died Twice is an enjoyable read that held my interest throughout and kept me turning the pages. I’m still hoping that I end up in a place like Coopers Chase in my “twilight days’ and that Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim are all still there to welcome me. I’m putting my name down now and blocking out every Thursday afternoon in my schedule!

An entertaining read. Light and amusing. Better than first book in series. At times plot verged towards unbelievable, but stayed on the right side of credible

Con humor inglés, entretenido

Serviço impecável da Amazon!

Polecam

‘Exceeds expectations.’ That’s a phrase that I am now confident applies to Richard Osman’s work on his Thursday Murder Club series. Exceedingly fun; gently creative, whilst coloring (mostly) within the lines of how these sorts of things are expected to be done. A panoply of interesting characters, with so few disappointments, and those few so minor, that one happily ignores the small flaws here and there. The best works all have a maker’s mark that perfection would never allow, don’t they?Osman’s books are smart, clever (no, those are decidedly NOT the same thing), fun, and oddly uplifting. Don’t believe this last? Read this book, and then ask yourself if you don’t have a greater fondness for men named Ibrahim and Bogdan than you did before. And women named Joyce. I won’t mention Elizabeth, because she doesn’t need the help.It’s an injustice to Osman to say that his series fits well within the Agatha Christie thriller/mystery genre, for it suggests that Christie outranks him. And that’s only true to the extent that she wrote more than Osman has (so far), and did it first. But with regard to quality of output, Osman more than holds his own. If I were trapped by a blizzard in a remote cabin, with only two books there to read, one by la grande dame herself, the other by Osman, I’d pick up Osman first.Osman is not a producer of Great Literature, a la Tolstoy, Steinbeck, Pamuk, Helprin, or Stendahl. He produces lighter fare, but doesn’t do so carelessly, and to say Osman’s not part of the Pantheon is really just to say that damned good work doesn’t necessarily qualify as stuff for the Hall of Fame. His work is well crafted, nicely paced; the characters clearly drawn, distinct, memorable; the plot tight, parts well-joined. Meant to be stimulating, pleasant, and humorous without ever being too much to bear. Very highly recommended.

What a book , what a story.