The Man who Died Twice is such a great sequel to The Thursday Murder Club!
Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron are back and at it again. When Elizabeth receives a letter from a ghost of her past the gang find themselves sucked into trying to help her ex-husband whilst also finding £20million worth of stolen diamonds!

Murder, revenge, MI5 and The Mafia, this book has no shortage of drama to keep you hooked! Then when one of their own is attached, they all step in to help in ways which others might not.

I felt as though this book was much more faster paced then the first because we already know the characters and it’s so nice to be able to learn more about their friendships and how their group just gets tighter.

Personally I enjoyed this more then The Thursday Murder Club but I would definitely recommend reading that before this one!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second of Richard Osman's thrillers following the adventures of a quartet of retired people in their seventies who live in a luxury supported living housing development. The first, The Thursday Murder Club, rattled along at a cracking pace but without neglecting empathetic characterisation and a fine plot. In The Man Who Died Twice, the characters are developed further, with an increasing cast of supporting characters. Pleasurable to read, with a fine balance between kindness and poignancy. Recommended.

I bloody love these characters, they're freaking adorable. Smart, funny, strong, I loved getting to know them even better than in book 1. Really nice to see their friendships with each other grow too.

Also shout out to Donna who I want to be ❤ adore her

5 stars

I hadn't read The Thursday Murder Club so was unsure what to expect from the sequel, but it was written so well that the characters all came into their own purpose so I didn't feel as though I was floundering.
I loved the characters relationships with each other, Joyce, being my favourite. A light hearted crime novel. Look forward to reading the next installment. Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

I was curious to read this book having not read the first. I'm not normally a fan of 'celebrity' authors but Richard Osman is clearly a funny, clever man and a writer in his own right.
This is a very light hearted read without the depth I really expected from him. There is a fair amount of humour in it but I found it a little contrived and eventually a bit heavy handed.
That said, it is quite engaging and I finished it so was interested enough to find out what happens.

Once again we are back at Cooper's Chase retirement village- a place that gives me hope for my later years! The Thursday Murder club are in good form but rather missing the excitement of a real life murder. When Elizabeth gets a letter from her past it is not long before she has dragged Joyce & Ron along with her, although Ibrahim is more watching from the side-lines after a nasty mugging. Elizabeth's past life as a spy serves her well as the group become entangled with MI5, The Mafia, stolen diamonds & drug smuggling- to say nothing of seeking justice for Ibrahim's mugging. Needless to say the action is somewhat manic & the action sweeps the reader along. I love these fabulous characters & am eagerly waiting to see what they get up to next. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book

We are back with our favourite band of crime solving octogenarians. In The Man Who Died Twice Elizabeth’s no good, down right dirty but terribly charming in an old fashioned chauvinistic sort of way, ex husband shows up asking for shelter because some criminal types think he stole some diamonds from them, what’s a girls to do?
This second book, I found, was much better than the first, there were slightly fewer strands to follow which made it less episodic and we got to know more about Elizabeth who is the best and who we should all aspire to be. She is of course not perfect as her choice of husbands proves but she learned from her mistakes and got it right the next time.
There is however only one hero in this book and that is Bogdan! BOGDAN! Everyone should have a Bogdan in their life. What can that man not do. He is a chess genius who knows where to buy large quantities of drugs. He is the best and I love him.

Ah, I knew the instalment would deliver more than the first! Glad this one exceeded my expectations adding in much greater fun and a thicker plot. What I can say is, If The Thursday Murder Club was a delicious cake, then this was the even better delectable icing on it.

Thanks to NetGalley & Penguin Books UK, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Synopsis-

The Thursday Murder Club and its septuagenarian members – Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim are now caught up in the midst of a few murders, a mafia gang and a Columbian cartel looking for some diamonds, after Elizabeth receives a letter from an ex-colleague. They are now on the hunt for the killer and diamonds while trying their best to avoid getting themselves killed.

Review -

Oh! the humor, the delightful and loveable bunch of characters and a highly engaging plot held me at their mercy right from the start. How do I not mention the clever and wit behind it all! I just couldn’t help cheering for Elizabeth and Joyce, marvelling at all the tricks up their sleeves, connecting the dots and putting the pieces of the puzzle together.

Joyce steals the show here and definitely deserves special recognition. She was, what can I say, just “pure, unadulterated joy” to witness. Whenever her part came up, I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing out loud at times too. Ron’s magic is well worth an applause as well, the way he pulls off a thing or two!

Given how in the prequel the narrative lacked a good pace, I was happy that it was considerably better in this one. There were too many things going on and they were interconnected so smartly by Osman. I enjoyed the introduction of new characters and the easy way they gelled with the existing ones.

I especially loved Osman’s subtle, delicate way of dealing with human behaviour, about growing old, the fears and insecurities it entails and living with partners who are drifting apart due to dementia.

The clincher for me was definitely how it all comes together in the end and the moment you realize the meaning of the book’s title. That last line most certainly warrants a wide wicked grin.

I highly recommend this series to readers who a love a light-hearted and funny, cozy mystery!

It’s the following Thursday. Elizabeth receives a letter from an old colleague who’s made a huge mistake and needs her help. His story involves stolen diamonds, the mafia and a very real threat to his life. Once again, Elizabeth and her fellow Thursday Murder Club members find themselves in a live case and with the bodies starting to pile up, can they put all the pieces of the puzzle together in time?

Osman is back with his quintessentially-British sequel to the number one bestseller The Thursday Murder Club. All of the characters are back in this book and some of the secondary characters like Bogdan are given more of a spotlight in this story. Osman seems to have found his footing in terms of the characters’ development on the page. I think it is important to read the first book before you read The Man Who Died Twice so that you get a feel for the dynamics between the characters.

I loved The Man Who Died Twice more than the first book just in terms of how the main characters seemed more polished and even though the storyline is still a bit far-fetched, it’s more action-packed and I loved the rapid-fire dialogue that dominates this book.

There are some really poignant moments in this book that pulls at the heart strings, particularly with Ibrahim’s storyline (I won’t give anything away but you just want to envelop Ibrahim with the biggest hug ever and make him feel better!). I think that is one of the things I like about Osman’s writing abilities- he makes you truly feel for the elderly characters in the book. He balances the emotional elements of the story with some particularly funny and witty moments, generally provided by Joyce (she starts an Instagram account which has hilarious results) and Ron, the burly West Ham supporter with a heart of absolute gold (although he likes to present himself as a somewhat surly figure). The inclusion of Joyce’s diary entries is fascinating and really gives you a sense of her character and how genuinely hilarious she is.

Gripping, witty and full of twists and surprises, The Man Who Died Twice is going to be huge!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. The Man Who Died Twice is out now!

I read the first in this series and enjoyed that but this was even better! The four super sleuthers from the Thursday Murder Club are back with plenty of investigating and lots of humour.

The mafia, stolen diamonds, drug dealers, robbery, murder and MI5 all tied in together for a brilliant storyline.

It starts with Elizabeth receiving a letter from a man who appears to be a ghost from the past! Twenty Million pounds worth of stolen diamonds? There was no way Elizabeth wouldn’t be following this up. The Thursday Murder Club will be on this case for sure with Elizabeth at the helm.

Joyce’s diary entries had me laughing out loud yet again. Her Instagram account was hilarious. What a character!

Elizabeth once again proving that she is up there with the best as a detective!

Bogdan had more of a role in this second book, which I really enjoyed as we got to see more of his character.

Chris and Donna are back again as the real detectives!

Not everyone will warm to the way Richard Osman writes but I absolutely love it. I think if you can relate to old people never wanting to admit they are past it and still give the youngsters a run for their money then this is for you. Never take old people for granted and assume they can’t help solve murders!

Many thanks to netgalley, the publishers and the author for an arc. Can’t wait for book 3!

I thought this Book was better than the first. I really wanted to the characters this time and found myself smiling at their behaviour and little quirks. Easy to read with lots of twists along the way. I particular like the parts from Joyce's perspective. Well worth reading.

‘The Thursday Murder Club has concluded its latest meeting.’

Remember the Thursday Murder Club (TMC)? Four elderly sleuths from the Kent retirement community of Coopers Chase: Joyce, a former nurse and intrepid journal writer; Elizabeth, a former intelligence officer; Ibrahim, a psychiatrist; and Ron, a former union man.

And as Joyce seeks advice from the others about getting a dog, Elizabeth’s thoughts are elsewhere. She’s received a letter from an old colleague. He has made a big mistake, and he needs her help. The letter is signed by her old friend Marcus Carmichael, who is seeking a meeting with her tomorrow. Does Elizabeth remember him, the letter asks?

‘What a ridiculous question. She had found Marcus Carmichael’s dead body slumped against a Thames bridge at low tide.’

Buckle up. In addition to Elizabeth’s former colleague needing help over an opportunistic theft of £20 million pounds of diamonds, Ibrahim is mugged and injured. And then the murders start. Will the team be able to solve the crime? Can they get justice for Ibrahim? And what kind of dog will Joyce get?

‘Elizabeth taps her head. ‘My palace has many rooms. Some are dustier than others.’

How delightful it is to join the TMC again, together with their favourite police officers DCI Chris Hudson and PC Donna De Freitas, Elizabeth’s husband Stephen, and the resourceful Bogdan.

Joyce’s journal brings us much of the story, with various asides. Elizabeth works through the facts methodically and is occasionally surprised by Joyce’s insights, and Ron rises magnificently to the occasion as the various strands are pulled together. And Ibrahim? He and Ron’s grandson do some sleuthing of their own. All is not lost, even though Ibrahim’s phone was stolen when he had achieved level 127 (of 200) playing Tetris.

I have really enjoyed both books so far published in this series. The characters are well developed, there are plenty of different threads to untangle, and I though the ending was perfect.

‘‘And there’s the clue!’ The short-sighted lean further forward, and the long-sighted lean further back.’

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

The Man Who Died Twice follows on from Osmans debut The Thursday Murder Club.
The gang are all here Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron & Ibrahim, as well as Bogdan, DCI Chris & DCI Donna.
This is another fun read with great characters and a murder mystery which the gang have managed to get mixed up in.
However, this book has quite a convoluted plot with lots of twists & turns and this takes away from the best bit of the book which is the characters. Joyce hides her smarts under her naive and trusting persona, Ron is a gangster with a heart of gold and Ibrahim is kind and looks after everyone. Elizabeth is the main character and in this book comes across as a bit too smart and condescending.
This book is fun to read and figure out but I think I’m in the minority in preferring the first book in the series.

‘If you ended up living somewhere with llamas then perhaps not all is bad.’ Ron musing on how nice a place Coopers Chase is to live.

Thank you to Penguin Books U.K. /Viking for an advance reading copy via NetGalley of ‘The Man Who Died Twice’ by Richard Osman in return for an honest review. I complemented my reading with its unabridged audiobook, again read by Lesley Manville.

This is Osman’s second cosy mystery set in the Coopers Chase Retirement Village featuring an ensemble cast that includes residents of the Village, two local police officers, PC Donna De Freitas and DCI Chris Hudson, and a few friends and family.

The Thursday Murder Club is made up of four septuagenarians: Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron. They meet weekly to seek solutions to unsolved murder cases. In the first book they solved a current murder case close to home.

A week later and Elizabeth receives a letter from an old colleague, a man with whom she has a long history. He is in serious trouble and needs her help.
Trouble involves 20 million pounds worth of stolen diamonds and a violent mobster.

It’s not long before the bodies are piling up and Elizabeth enlists her fellow Thursday Murder Club members in the hunt for a ruthless murderer. There are also a number of subplots expertly woven into the narrative and even a Schrödinger's cat-like dilemma. The earlier lives of the characters are further explored, especially Elizabeth, who could easily have stepped out of a John le Carre novel.

This was a superb mystery and well done to Richard Osman for creating such a compelling read. I felt that it was even better than the first. This is not a gritty, serious crime novel though its comic elements are well balanced with concerns about ageing, health, and the loss of loved ones.

Given how well the first book has done and the high level of anticipation over this second book, I was very happy to read that Osman has amended his original plan of writing two books to a four-book series.

Again, I loved how well Lesley Manville read the novel. The audiobook also contained a bonus track with she and Richard Osman sitting down and discussing audiobooks.

Very happy to recommend ‘The Man Who Died Twice’, though I have no doubt that it’s already been flying off the shelves.

A brilliantly witty and entertaining book with wonderful characters. I haven't read Richard Osman's first book, The Thursday Murder Club, but certainly will now. The characters are obviously introduced during the first book but it didn't take long to appreciate them and their quirkiness. Just a wonderful read that will keep the reader guessing certain points right up until the end. Utterly delightful and a real tonic of British eccentricity at it's best.

Brilliant book. The characters have developed so much since the first book. Story telling was excellent, really amusing and emotional. We find out much more about all the main group and you begin to feel you know them as people, Keep them coming Richard.

The second book in this cleverly crafted series is an engaging read. The club members vow to seek justice for Ibrahim after a brutal assault and are pitted against organised crime when someone from Elizabeth's past returns.

The main characters are distinctive and easy to like. The well-paced plot has humour and poignancy with a positive view of ageing, which is refreshing and uplifting. The downside of getting older is explored but not seen as defining the characters.

An engaging mystery with entertaining characters makes this story well worth reading.

I received a copy of this book from Penguin UK Books - Viking in return for an honest review.

It is a great joy to be reunited with the Thursday Murder Club. The first in the series was one of the best books I read last year and I think this instalment is a contender for the best book of 2021. I loved getting to know everyone more. I loved how the stories intertwined and was kept guessing all the way through. A top notch British mystery that I'd say is even better than Book 1. This better not be the last we see of Joyce, Elizabeth, Roy, Ibrahim et al.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly I am astonished and so excited to have in my grasp, as proof copy of The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman, but does it live up to his debut - The Thursday Murder Club, which was so fantastic and captured my heart? YES, YES, YES! I am captured all over again by this book and from the first page! He's only written 2 novels and it feels like I've been reading them for ages because of the long lasting effect. I had high expectations. Who wouldn't after all the success of The Thursday Murder Club and my expectations have been met, so I am very excited to tell you about this unputdownable book. It's a phrase used a lot, but it really is and is another Must Read from Richard Osman. 
Put it this way. I read it in a couple of days. It would have been one, but I thought I should give my cat a bit of attention and also sleep, even though I did end up reading into the wee small hours.
Please follow down to the blurb and my full review of the book that takes the Thursday Murder Club to darker places and with many, many murders and a whole lot of intrigue and humour...
Before I do, I thank those behind Team Osman at Viking Books who gifted me a physical proof copy  and for inviting me to the blog tour.

For a second book, this is absolutely sublime and is just as wise and witty and just as excellent as the first book. I already know I would love to read the third book in this terrific series.
Firstly I love that it starts the following Thursday. That's a great place to start if ever I saw one for a sequel. The gang of retirees are still sitting around in their retirement home discussing cold cases in their own formed club - The Thursday Murder Club, that is full of characters that are so easy to invest in and want to know more about, and one in-particular has a very interesting past indeed and quite some connections, which shows a life drawn into the darker corners.

There are many bodies, a life in danger and diamonds, so therefore a case to be solved and The Thursday Murder Club, using all their skills before retirement and all their wiley ways get deeply involved, but rather differently from the first book, now that they are established. It also takes one of them on quite the unexpected adventure on the Channel Tunnel. It's all easy to get hooked into.

The mystery all begins when Elizabeth recieves a letter from an old colleague/friend, who she hasn't seen since 1981. It piques my interest a lot. There within lies a great mystery full of tightly constructed twists and turns. The Thursday Murder Club, after all, have a wish for something exciting to happen again. Anything, it would seem.
They do indeed have the taste for live mysteries to weedle themselves into being involved now, instead of sitting around just discussing them for their amusement.

The conversation is humorous, pretty realistic and brings not only some lightness, but also the desire of wanting to stay up-to-date with tech, but in their own manner. Now she's wondering whether to be on Instagram or have a dog. What a choice to make!
The tone of writing is just sublime and my goodness, all of the dialogue is spot-on, whether its serious, pregamatic or comical to the onlookers. It's so expertly done and well concieved.
The creation of Joyce is still as fabulous as ever! Elizabeth, Ibrahim and Ron are also very welcome to see return.

The story also shows, like the first one, that older people had a life outside a retirement village and they have an interest in the world, when in one. Elizabeth for one is an interesting character with quite an intriguing past, that is delved into more in this book. Readers also get to see a number of Joyce's likes in life, a lot involving the BBC, which adds entertainment and interest as well as a number of people and shows folk would be familiar with. It fits with the characters and in part, is perhaps rather (and nicely) shrood on Richard Osman's part. He is an incredibly clever man after all.

There is a nice nod to independent bookshops and a direct message within this to the public, which I wholeheartedly approve of. It is also enjoyable reading about Ibrahim's visit to one and picks up a book you would perhaps not instantly think he would, until something happens to him...

DCI Chris Hudson and PC Donna Freitas are friends and colleagues and he can't stop waxing lyrical about her mum, perhaps to the point of obsession in a funny way. They are also after Connie, a drug dealer/wholesaler.
When they are with the group that makes up The Thursday Murder Club, they, as ever, have to put up with them wanting everything solved instantly, or even yesterday, especially when it comes to one of their friends.
There are, it turns out there are many ways that The Thursday Murder Club can help, both on the case with the skills and connections they possess and also in their  personal lives, especially Ibrahim, as the book continues its theme of loneliness. It makes a stark and really important point that it can hit people at any age and not just that of retired people. It's weaved into the plot so well.

I think this should be made into a film too as it goes. Hopefully Steven Spielberg is looking at this book too. I also hope Richard Osman writes more of The Thursday Club. I'd be more than happy to keep reading and reviewing them.

EXCERPT: The nights are beginning to draw in a little, and the sun is sinking behind the trees on top of the hill as Elizabeth reaches Ruskin Court and rings the bell for number 14. Here goes nothing. There is a brief wait and she is buzzed up.

There are lifts in all the buildings, but Elizabeth will use the stairs while she still can. Stairs are good for hip and knee flexibility. Also it is very easy to kill someone in a lift when the doors open. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and a ping to announce that you're about to appear. Not that she's worried about being killed, it doesn't feel to her like that's what's happening here, but it's always important to remember best practice. Elizabeth has never killed anyone in a lift. She once saw someone pushed down an empty lift shaft in Essen, but that was different.

She turns left at the top of the stairs, transfers the flowers to her left hand and knocks on the door of number 14. Who will answer the door? What is the story here? Should she be worried?

The door opens, and she sees a very familiar face.

It's not Marcus Carmichael, how could it have been? But it is certainly someone who knew the name Marcus Carmichael. And who knew it would get her attention.

And it turns out that, yes, she should be worried.

ABOUT 'THE MAN WHO DIED TWICE': It's the following Thursday.

Elizabeth has received a letter from an old colleague, a man with whom she has a long history. He's made a big mistake, and he needs her help. His story involves stolen diamonds, a violent mobster, and a very real threat to his life.

As bodies start piling up, Elizabeth enlists Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron in the hunt for a ruthless murderer. And if they find the diamonds too? Well, wouldn't that be a bonus?

But this time they are up against an enemy who wouldn't bat an eyelid at knocking off four septuagenarians. Can The Thursday Murder Club find the killer (and the diamonds) before the killer finds them?

MY THOUGHTS: I just loved The Thursday Murder Club, but approached The Man Who Died Twice (don't you just love that title!) with just a modicum of apprehension. Would the author fall victim to the second book syndrome? He didn't. Osman hasn't put one word wrong.

I love these characters, and the fact that we learn a lot more about them in the course of the book. Am I allowed to admit that as I was reading I was hearing Penelope Keith's voice as Elizabeth?

This disparate club of characters will delight, charm and amuse. There were times I felt afraid for them, times when they amazed me. Never are they predictable.

I am not going to waste any more time talking about this book, other than to say 'Read it!' This is the book we all need.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#TheManWhoDiedTwice #NetGalley

I: @misterosman @penguinrandomhouse

T: @richardosman @PenguinUKBooks

#fivestarread #contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #humour #murdermystery #mystery #thriller

THE AUTHOR: Richard Thomas Osman is an English comedian, producer, television presenter, writer, and the creator and co-presenter of the BBC One television quiz show Pointless.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Penguin General UK via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

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