Another very enjoyable tale in the Thursday Murder Club series, well written and entertaining but ultimately undemanding. The writing is excellent and the characters are beautifully portrayed but the plot stretches credulity somewhat. It will no doubt sell by the million and I will continue to follow the series but it does not leave the reader feeling engrossed as the best crime fiction does.

he second detective novel by TV’s Richard Osman, is a light-hearted caper as the the intrepid quartet of elderly detectives attack their second dastardly crime.

Those looking for a hard-hitting, uber-realistic examination of contemporary criminality may be disappointed. Anyone looking for a witty, understanding, and affectionate tale of how a group of gutsy retirees make a difference, support and challenge each other, have fun, drink wine AND get to grips with murder, sign up here.

This novel doesn't pretend to be art. It is simply a rollicking plot, sympathetic characters and a warm hug in a book. I think that readers need to celebrate the story for what it is. I really enjoyed it even more than the first in the series.

I really enjoyed the Thursday Murder Club and Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahims antics with the help of Bogdan. This book followed very much the same style and was very easy to get into with little twists and turns along the way. I must admit I did have the odd chuckle to myself with the various comments that the author added in. I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as the first book as I found myself predicting what would happen like you do with other authors that adopt their own writing style. Saying that I would probably would still partake in reading the next one if one was written. Their relationship with the police is refreshing and it makes you wonder if there is a Donna and Chris out there who have similar relationships with self confessed crime solvers.

‘The Following Thursday…’
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Yet again I’m blown out the water by the sheer charm and enjoyment of Richard Osman’s writing. These clever, witty mysteries are just the book equivalent of a warm hug, and don’t even get me started on Joyce… I don’t think I could love a character more if I tried!!
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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?
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The first in this series was a strong contender for my favourite book of 2020 if not my favourite, and this one has taken that spot in 2021. I flew through the pages with a smile on my face the whole way, whilst trying to figure out the mystery that lay before our 4 unlikely protagonists. Sometimes when reading a book you can feel the authors pure enjoyment and love for the story and characters and I feel this really shows through this series. Sometimes second books can be slightly weaker and not hold the same magic, that is not the case here, I would even go as far as saying I enjoyed this one even more than the first and can’t wait to see where a third book will takes these utterly heartwarming characters
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Thank you so much to Viking UK & Netgalley for the review copy! My heart is very warm right now, and I can’t wait for this books release so everyone can feel the same!

I read The Thursday Murder Club and enjoyed it as a fun, easy read with generally likeable main characters. When I saw that the sequel was coming I was keen to see how the series would hold up. I preferred this second book to the first. The author has developed the characters of his four main protagonists really well and I felt I got to know them better. He has also given more central parts to a couple of other characters, who were worthy of a bigger role, Bogdan and Stephen. The story was (almost) believable and not too predictable. There is a lot of fun in the book but I also found it poignant and sad at times. I would recommend this book, even to those who weren’t so sure about the first one.

The Thursday Murder Club are back, and what a return it was. I immensely enjoyed this book, maybe more than the first. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way and it keeps you guessing throughout. All in all I would say this is a 5 star read.

One of the best Mysteries I have ever read. I throughly enjoyed this for multiple reasons and am still disappointed I finished it. I will definitely be picking up the next in the series as each book improves on the perfection of the previous.

In the sequel to The Thursday Murder Club the gang are back to solving another crime but with far higher stakes. Elizabeth is contacted by an old friend who has got himself in a bit of bother. The kind MI5 and multi-international mafia organisations are interested in. With the body count racking up by the day it's a race against time to find twenty million pounds in missing diamonds and make sure that a victimless theft doesn't cause more deaths.

Even though books involving the elderly Thursday Murder Club are marketed as quaint cozy mysteries in both books the body count is high. This one even more so than the first with at least five deaths occurring within the books time frame. This keeps the pace fast and would certainly entertain any Thriller reader. You're hitting double figures when considering how many people get shot!

Joyce is by far my favourite character due to her unexpected nature. She comes across as the most 'normal' of the Thursday Murder Club however her reactions and descriptions of events being not only surprising but comedy gold. Reading her passages I was physically laughing out loud at points. The things Joyce comes out with are just as hilarious and relateable as those by any other elderly relative.

That's not to say the book is one big joke. The author manages to hit the perfect balance of serious sombre moments with hints of humour to keep the tone light yet meaningful. Reading becomes bittersweet when amongst all the action and humour the vulnerability and finality of ageing is touched on.

The plot is tightly spun and very cleverly thought out. Plenty of red herrings are thrown out so that you think you've solved it or at least are following the right thought process only to be proven wrong in the coming pages. This isn't annoying as you feel as deceived as the protagonists and in on finding the resolution.

I especially liked the side plot involving Ibrahim. More time was given to him than the first novel and none of it wasted. As well as being the perfect reminder of fragility throughout the book he was also the guiding light of themes such as friendship and hope. This was much the same as Stephen, Elizabeth's husband, who was more frequently featured than previous.

I would recommend this without hesitation and have already got my mum to read it just so I have someone to gush about it with.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review *

Elisabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim are back and their adventures are even better the second time!

The Man Who Died Twice gets straight into the action, and what action! Spies, mafia and stolen diamonds invade the quiet and peaceful Cooper Chase Retirement Village. I found the story a lot pacier than The Thursday Murder Club while retaining everything that made the first book so endearing and fun.

As a character, Joyce just keeps getting better, and I am very much looking forward to the next instalment of the series.

I loved Richard Osman’s first book and feared this one wouldn’t be as good. But, I opened the first chapter and there they all were- my old friends. These characters are fab! It was so good to be back in their company. What was even better however, was the additional layers to these characters that Osman created in this sequel, revealing more secrets and depths we didn’t know in The Thursday Murder Club, which elevated them to a whole new level. The mystery was great and his writing style makes the book easy to devour. Osman’s humour is as evident as ever, and I did find myself laughing out loud in parts. Just pure reading escapism - bring on the next one please!

A fantastic sequel to The Thursday Murder club. I just love these characters! Another really good story with many twists and turns and plenty of humour. Can't wait for the third book in the series.

Thank you for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club when I read it, so I was excited to start this one! I'd found the easy reading and charm of the first such a pleasure to read, although the plot was a little chaotic for my liking. However, the characters were so endearing that I was still keen to get my hands on the sequel!

I have to say, The Man Who Died Twice was even better than the first. It has the same lovely characters, the same charm, and it was incredibly funny. I had so many laugh-out-loud moments reading it. I also found the plot to be far more cohesive; it had lots going on but it all felt very natural, and I had no trouble following it.

I went into this book expecting big things, but even then I was not disappointed. The story was fun and fast-paced, and I found it was even better than The Thursday Murder Club. Yet the really special part of this book was the way the characters shone. As we already know a little bit about them, The Man Who Died Twice really built depth into their personalities, and I fund it a real page-turner.

This book is such a great mix of jam-packed action and light humour that I can't imagine anyone not enjoying it. It will be an amazing read for anyone who loved the first, or for those who love charming, cosy mysteries.

A fantastic sequel to the Thursday Murder Club! We’re found yet again in Coopers Chase following Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, Ibrahim and the rest of the gang in solving another incredible mystery. Full of witty twists and turns I loved the latest addition in this series.

I was really excited to read this as I absolutely adored the Thursday Murder Club - and it does not disappoint!

I loved returning to the Joyce and the gang to solve another mystery with even more twists and turns. Some of which really surprised me this time round. I don't want to go into much detail and risk spoilers but, needless to say, the Thursday murder club use their unique skills to discover deeper secrets than ever.

These characters are really something special and I felt that this second book showed even more of their quirks and humour, as well as learning more about their families and backgrounds which I really enjoyed. Similarly to the first book, it took a few chapters for me to get into the swing of reading. However, I definitely recommend this as a must read and, if you haven't already, go and read the Thursday Murder Club in preparation! You won't regret getting to know these wholesome, hilarious characters.

As this series continues, it continues to get better and considering this is only the second book and I hope for there to be more, then I am probably hooked to these books for life.

This incredible collection of characters continue to deliver sombre moments, hilarious moments and I know there is a film or show coming of these books, but the characters are so well developed that I already sees this book in film in my head as these characters are built so incredibly well and each characters enables this plot to unfold to perfection.

Did I think sometimes too much was going on at the same time? Sometimes, however Osman really does bring all the ties together in this book brilliantly and even when you think oh, I know what's going on, nope, you do not know what's going on - the curveballs this book delivers are something Babe Ruth would be proud of.

Packed with sentiment and care, but also fantastic plot and thrilling moments, this is a very cosy read that will keep you on the edge of your armchair and I love it for it.

5*

What a scrumptious follow up to the Thursday Murder Club, the prose, characterisation and pace all finely nuanced and this was a book I couldn't put down!
This novel starts with a letter to Elizabeth from a man in her past and the story moves swiftly on from there with Coopers Close seeing a new resident who brings trouble on his heels. Joyce, Ron and Ibrahaim are there to support, aide and abet Elizabeths schemes which remain sceretive and need to know as ever. There are several strands to the novel all expertly weaved together, Chris and Donna trying to arrest a local drug dealer, Ibrahiam seriously injured after a mugging in Fairhaven, an ex-husband, diamonds, spies, mafia, love, justice and a fair few dead bodies.
Bogodan is back and still playing chess with Stephen, who sadly for Elizabeth remains in the grip of dementia. In this story Bogodan shines as the silent, capable and unflappable fixer for the group with the tease that he may yet have found love. In this Bogodan is not alone as Chris's romance with Donnas mum Patrice develops and this provides a backdrop of hope against the mayhem that swirls around the group, with as ever Elizabeth the still eye at the heart of the storm.
It was wonderful to be reacquainted with these complex characters and to discover more of their past. Life is for living whatever your age! A perfect Autumn read which I would thoroughly recommend. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC.

Our favourite septuagenarian detectives are back with a new case to solve.

While I did enjoy The Thursday Murder Club, I actually found I enjoyed The Man Who Died Twice even more.

We already know the characters so there’s no time wasted introducing them all. In the Thursday Murder Club there were that many characters introduced it was a little confusing remembering who everyone was. This wasn’t the case with this sequel and the characterisation was brilliant. I warmed to them all even more than the first story.

The tender moments between characters was done so well, in a lovely unstated way. The unlikely friendships between the four friends made me smile. I love learning more about Elizabeth’s past and seeing her put her skills to good use.

I really enjoyed the subtle humour throughout the book. There are (thankfully!) no slapstick moments as it's the dialogue that provides the majority of the comedic moments. I definitely laughed more during this book than the first.

The murder plot was cleverly done and I enjoyed how they worked through any clues they came across. I did have to suspend belief at times but when the plot is as fun as this one, I can overlook that. There are twists and turns throughout which kept me guessing to the end. However it's the characters that make this book as good as it is.

It's an unapologetically British which is another plus, and I love that the independent bookshop Richard Osman mentions in the book is a real one. "Use it or lose it" is so right. 

To sum up, it's a brilliant sequel, that I personally found to better than the original.

The Thursday Murder Club quickly became one of my favourite reads of all time, and I've gone back to it many times since. Now the original gang of Joyce, Elizabeth, Ibrahim and Ron are back in the sequel, along with their police chums and assorted family and friends.

It would have been easy for Richard Osman to churn out an identikit story, and it probably would have been amazing. But in The Man Who Died Twice the narrative goes on a different path. Yes there are murders, but there's also some spy action thrown in for good measure. As a reader we get closer to answering the big question from the first book - what exactly is Elizabeth's background? There are some great clues but not the full answer.

We also get to experience another of the great draws from the first book - the reminder that the characters are real, and living through some of the downsides of getting older. This gives both books a real grounding, and you can empathise with the characters; they could be your mum, your grandma, your next door neighbour.

The Man Who Died Twice is an excellent addition to The Thursday Murder Club series, let's have more quickly please!

A really good story with many, many twists and turns, culminating in a really funny reckoning for nearly all the bad guys in one fell swoop. The Thursday Murder Club triumph again! They are disparate group of ‘crime investigators’ you wouldn’t think it would work. There is their revered leader Elizabeth, who worked as a senior operative in MI5 and has friends, and influence in both high and low places! Joyce is a chatterbox who seems a bit dotty and eccentric, but is a dependable sidekick for Elizabeth. She worked as a nurse so is not phased by any gruesome discoveries. Ibrahim is a very quiet man, excellent at logistics. He is a psychiatrist from Egypt. He suffers an awful mishap at the start of the book which is the cause of some of the club’s ‘adventure’ but Ibrahim is mostly an onlooker of the events. Then there is Ron, a very left wing, retired Union man. They have a friend who is almost an honorary member of the group - Bogdan. He regularly plays chess with Elizabeth’s husband Stephen, who has Alzheimer’s, and is slowly in decline. Bogdan is Polish and works on the building site that is extending the Kent retirement village where they all live. Bogdan will carry out any task they ask of him, at any time of the day or night, I rather think he is a bit of a mystery that they will find out about at some point in the series.

There is another honorary member of the group in this story, Ron’s young grandson Kendrick comes to stay, and discovers a vital clue the rest of the gang totally missed, when he helps Uncle Ibrahim check through several days of CCTV footage. Plus two local police detectives, Chris and Donna, who will always do what they can to help.

This story has it all, MI5 chasing rogue colleagues, master criminals, and young thugs who deserve everything that is coming to them, and the way our intrepid heroes gather them together is nothing short of masterful, and extremely funny! There is then only one small matter to clear up, almost as an afterthought, but Elizabeth probably knew about it long before the reader caught up!

A story very much worth reading. It has a lot of dry and whimsical humour, and is very well thought through with all its twists and turns.

Enjoyable and funny although I did find the number of people involved and the numerous plots a bit confusing - probably age related

The follow up to The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice is more Godfather 2 than Exorcist 2 I’m glad to report.

Again we have our 4 protagonists in their retirement home along with some new and very interesting characters. It’s a story of murder, diamonds, double crossing, love, reflection, friendship, all wrapped up in a dark comedy style thriller.

Osman here has really improved on the first book(which I did enjoy). This one is perfectly structured, every little thing that happens, happens for a reason. He has many plates spinning at once here but he manages not to get bogged down and makes even the most complicated storylines easy to follow.

There are some very dark elements to the book but the humour is sprinkled in abundance throughout.

Told from different perspectives, including Joyce’s hilarious diary entries , you will find yourself smiling throughout the book. The characters are just so likeable.

There’s also a really good story and mystery here, which is wrapped up really well at the end and if anything helped make this one feel more cohesive than the first in the series.

A third book is on the cards and I hope it can live up to this joyous read. Mr Osman really has penned the perfect novel here. It knows what it is and it reads with its chest out, confident in what it is trying to do and delivering in spades.

Get your hands on a copy if you can. You won’t regret it.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.