This is the second book in the Thursday Murder Club series and while I didn’t love it quite as much as the first I did still very much enjoy it and I definitely enjoyed catching up with all the characters again. This book begins with Elizabeth receiving a letter from an old colleague who wants to see her because he needs her help. He’s got himself into a situation involving a diamond robbery! Needless to say people start being murdered and the murder club start investigating again. I do love the characters in this novel and finding out more about them was my favourite aspect to the story. This is such a fun series and I will definitely be looking out for a third book!

Upon turning the first page, I immeditely felt as though I was reconnecting with old friends. I enjoyed the book, though unfortunately not quite as much as I did the first in the series. The plot focusses more on Elizabeth''s past and connections than it does for the others in the team, and this feels a bit of a shame. What I loved about the first book was that it really brought the expertise of all of the group in to solving it, but Elizabeth was very much the dominant player in this one. That being said I enjoyed it, finished it quickly, feeling as though I'd suitably caught up with the criminal capers of my good friends over a cuppa.

Took me a while to get into this one, but glad I kept at it as I found it an enjoyable read.in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

TW/CW: Assault, Drugs and Gun Violence, Murder, and Dementia

The story immediately starts off with many different events occurring, from the perspectives of different characters. Osman increases the stakes and, of course, they rise to the challenge brilliantly.

Still carrying on with the journal entries, the underestimated Joyce casually writes of the most dramatic events but becomes more involved in solving the murders – probably learning some tricks from Elizabeth! I loved that we got to see more of Ron and Ibrahim in this story, as well as Elizabeth sharing stories from her past working for the Secret Services. We are introduced to the young grandson of Ron, Kendrick, who ultimately bonds with Ibrahim and proves to be a help to the Thursday Murder Club in their investigations.

This book series is definitely moreish!
Thank you to Penguin Viking and NetGalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I almost didn’t read this one. I enjoyed Osman’s first novel but found it a really slow starter and I could not work out what the hype was about, but I enjoyed it enough to try a second outing.
We are back at the lovely sunny retirement home with our favourite septuagenarian (or even octogenarian?!) sleuths. This time there are missing diamonds, a drug dealer, the Mafia, an ex-husband, an assault on one of the Murder Club members and an ex-husband…oh and Joyce has started knitting friendship bracelets and wants to get a dog! If there is this much fun in an old people’s home I’m booking in now!! I really can’t tell you too much more because..well because I want you to read it! And this time I could actually follow the plot and understand the cunning plan!
Osman has really raised his game. The writing is tighter, the story more compelling and the characters - well I really feel on first name terms now!! The thing I really loved about this one was the sharpness of the humour… I chuckled the whole way through. There’s a running joke about the unlikeliness of this little group of sleuths being caught up in international crime - “I want to organize a meeting with the mafia. In Fairhaven.’ ‘Of course you do,’ says Chris. ‘Any reason? Or was bridge cancelled?” And yet they all show themselves to be uniquely qualified for the role, particularly under the brilliant guidance of Elizabeth who is fast becoming one of my favourite characters.
In the midst of all the humour and sleuthing Osman sneaks in a good bit of poignancy …these sleuths will probably not live out too many sequels given their ages! Elizabeth’s husband, Stephen, is beautifully portrayed, slipping between periods of lucidity which are at once comic and heartbreaking. He still manages to hold off the enigmatic Bogdan at chess. At night Joyce notes that Elizabeth’s light is still on and comments, ‘May your light always be on, Elizabeth.’ I hope the light is on very much longer for this wonderful club…I can honestly say this time I cannot wait for the sequel!
With huge thanks to Netgalley and Penguin General U -Fig Tree, Hamish Hamilton, Viking for a copy of this wonderful book!

I absolutely adore this series., and I think I preferred this book to the previous one! The four protagonists are so fun to read about and I love the way that they interact with each other, their fun and witty conversations and the way that they act as if what they’re doing is the most casual thing in the world. They’re such an unlikely group and I think that’s part of the reason that they’re so fun to read about. I love every single one of them and was glad that we got to see more of Ron and Ibrahim in this story, although I think that Elizabeth will always be my favourite, particularly when she shares stories from her past working for the Secret Services, and I was glad we got to see interactions with her ex-husband who had worked with her.

I adore Osman’s writing style and the way in which he creates such intricate and layered mysteries. They’re such easy reads and I always find myself devouring the stories once I’m fully invested. There are always a number of twists and turns and I never can tell which way the story is going to go, it definitely wasn’t a predictable story and I was shocked multiple times.

The chapters are short, which adds to the easy, fast-paced nature of the story and I loved the way it flips back and forth between a number of different perspectives so we really get to see every element of the story. I particularly love Joyce’s first person chapters. The way she casually writes in a chatty manner about some really dramatic and shocking things. It’s so fun to read and really reminds me of my grandparents (who are not wannabe detectives as far as I’m concerned). This series is just really lovely and I cannot wait for the next book, I will 100% be reading it as soon as it comes out!

Unfortunately I couldn’t finish this as I just couldn’t get into it. Very disappointing since I really loved the first book. This one just didn’t do it for me and I only read the first half.

Charming, emotional, funny, heartwarming .... not words I would normally associate with a murder mystery but there you have it!
Every character was valuable to the story and the humour and humanity within is *chefs kiss*. Joyce had me in stitches when she signed up to Instagram and Ibrahim had me repeatedly choked up throughout. These four just know how to find trouble and have so much fun doing it.
The mystery itself was beautifully paced and plotted. The title itself plays an important role at the end - certainly not in the way I was expecting.

I absolutely loved The Thursday Murder Club and The Man Who Died Twice was one of my most anticipated reads for this year. If it's possible I loved the latter even more than the first - the characters are instantly familiar and its easier to sink straight into the plot (I love that about second in the series books!)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Easy to read crime caper. I enjoyed this more than the first book; the story picks up from the last one and the characters are so well written you can’t wait to find out what happens next.

I think this book would work well as a tv series!

Another book set in Coopers Chase and another outing for The Thursday Murder Club. Although the writing is light hearted the crimes are serious . Elizabeth receives a note from someone she knows to be dead and an invite to call at one of the houses in the village . It turns out it comes from her ex-husband who is being held under police protection , Their police friends Chris and Donna are on the trail of a local drug dealer but break off to help the club find out who has mugged Ibrahim . A missing 20 million pounds worth of diamonds from a money launderer's mansion in a police raid has led to threats to Elizabeth's husband , he is attacked in his safe house and leaves clues to the whereabouts of the diamonds for Elizabeth . A good lighthearted read

The man who died twice

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⚠️ TW/CW: Death, Assault, Drugs, Murder, Dementia, Gun violence

Thoughts:
After absolutely loving The Thursday Murder Club I have been anticipating this book all year and was so excited to get an arc copy thanks to NetGalley! I really enjoyed delving back into these characters lives again in another tale of mystery and adventure. The Thursday Murder Club gang are just amazing and I love every one of them. Sadly This book wasn’t quite a 5 star for me unlike the first instalment but I still thoroughly enjoyed and am very much anticipating the next one! The twists and turns of this book are wonderful and I love being able to see the story from every characters perspective. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a good cozy Murder mystery that’ll keep you guessing!

Recommend? ✅
Reread? ✅

It's hard to imagine yourself grinning and giggling while reading a novel whose central premise is crime and murder, but there's something about a wholesome group of pensioners at their retirement village solving crimes and getting into mischief along the way that really makes me beam.

In the second instalment of the series, the eclectic gang of four, The Thursday Murder Club spring into action when ex-spy Elizabeth is called upon by her ex-husband who has stolen from some dangerous people. Armed with a large pile of diamonds worth £20 million, he confides in Elizabeth for protection as he knows she's trustworthy, after all who would suspect a little old lady at a retirement village to be involved in anything sinister right?

It wouldn't be a Murder Club book without a murder and as bodies pile up due to suspicious circumstances, Elizabeth and her intrepid gang are trying to uncover secrets and details while calamity and mayhem ensues around them. With the aid of friendly police officers DCI Chris Hudson and PC Donna De Freitas, the fast paced plot leads you down many an avenue of enquiry and its brimming with warmth, hilarity and engaging escapades that will have you grinning from the offset.

In moments it is touching, in others it's gripping and exciting, and the never knowing what happens next aspect manages to keep my attention and interest throughout. Osman writes with a wry and cunning wit and the septuagenarians add a certainly unexpected, but not unpleasant, panache to the themes of MI5, a drug cartel and the Mafia. It is simultaneously an intriguing and cosy mystery, with enough action to satisfy any thriller fan.

I particularly liked the deep dive into the themes of trauma and loneliness with Ibrahim's storyline which are provided alongside the crime-centric activities, showing that there's a refreshing sensitivity to a story that would otherwise be inherently bonkers (but in the best way). It's more succinct and coherent than its predecessor, and is a series I find myself wanting more of - can't wait for book 3.

*Thanks to Viking Books for my copy for the book tour!

I truly enjoyed this sequel, maybe even more than book one. The story is extravagant yet believable and the touch of humor makes it a light read that we just want to binge.

I really enjoyed the first book in the series, so super excited to receive an advanced copy of The Man That Died Twice. I have to say I was slightly disappointed and at times I struggled.. As the story started to develop I began to feel hang on is this getting a bit too far fetched. It did.. The four main characters of the Thursday murder club became key members of the police and MI5 investigation team.. Would this happen? So in many ways the story lost credibility which I found affected the flow and my motivation to continue reading. Having said this, Richard has a way with words, developing the characters and weaving much of his his humour into his descriptions and the ongoing relationships of the main characters. So all in all a good book but not as enjoyable as his first.

I had not read the first Thursday Murder Club so it took me a little time to work out the characters, the intrepid Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron. Although I found the writing amusing I couldn’t really find the story believable. I won’t be reading the third book I’m afraid.

The book is a masterclass of twists and turns with the under current of the everyday issues with each persons life that combines in a very enjoyable read which, at times, I couldn't put down as I wanted to find out what happened in the next chapter.

I really enjoyed this read, it kept the slow pace of the original but had the beautiful conversation which defined the style.

There were more sniggering out loud moments and whilst the plot was so far fetched it also felt like it could just happen.

For me I much preferred it to the first book, definitely a winner.

This has to be one of the book I was most excited about for 2021 so I was absolutely thrilled to have the chance to read an early copy and be part of the blog tour for it. I was like so many people a huge fan of The Thursday Murder Club and I couldn’t wait to catch up with them all again. A sequel to a book you love is always a bit of an anxious thing – what if it doesn’t live up the first one? Well I’m very happy to report that Thursday Murder Club fans have nothing to worry about here – The Man Who Died Twice is every bit as excellent as the first – I devoured it in a couple of days.

Osman’s warmth and wit shine though in this book again as we return to the Thursday Murder Club and their next adventure. This time its Elizabeth and her background that we get to know more about as the focus of the story is around an old colleague from her past, which is the central point for another mystery for the club to untangle as they get drawn in to event involving the mob and some very expensive missing diamonds.

Once again the Club have help on hand in the forms of friendly local police officers Donna and Chris who are just as wonderful as they were the first time round – I love they tread a very careful line between letting the club get involved and still being actual police officers – so many private investigator novels let them completely take over from the police that I find this a refreshing change.

On the more illegal side of things the equally lovely Bogdan is still around as well – his friendship with Elizabeth’s dementia stricken husband is absolutely delightful and such a warm thread running through the book.

It was so lovely to spend time with the Club again, that odd group of people, bought together by the place they live who have found in each other the most wonderful of friends. This book was an emotional roller coaster, I laughed, I cried and I gasped in surprise. Superb writing and I can’t wait to catch up with The Thursday Murder Club again.

After reading The Thursday Murder Club, I was looking forward to returning to the interesting and loveable characters created by Richard Osman in this follow up to the original novel.

In The Man Who Died Twice, the club are once again exposed to a murder that's close to home and set about to try and solve the mystery behind it.

With the return of the original characters and a few new additions, Richard Osman has written another easy and entertaining read that I devoured in two days. The humour is subtle and perfect and just as expected from the author.

A huge thank you for the chance to read this ARC!

I liked this book, in some ways reminiscent of a book by P.G. Wodehouse . By that I mean slightly old fashioned and with lots of information, some of which is relevant .The main characters are also old-fashioned which is not suprising given their age. The book involves the Thursday murder club, now on their second case. The plot is interesting, though may be slightly far fetched at times . It is written from the viewpoints of different people, though it is fairly obvious by the writing style who is the narrator at the time.
On the whole the book is entertaining, though I thought it was a little long winded at times, . The information does give you a good impression of the members of the club and and their friends but could also be a little irritating.
Thank you to Net Galley for the read in exchange for an honest review .