Wow this was such a brilliant follow on from the utterly brilliant The Thursday Murder Club. The characters are genius and the story has laughter and seriousness also. Fantastic read#TheManWhoDiedTwice #NetGalley

Richard Osman has done it again! This is another brilliantly funny insight into the goings on at Cooper’s Chase. I really enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club but this was even better, and the character development was so good.

The book starts out at a very quick pace and keeps it going throughout, as Joyce, Ron, Ibrahim and the brilliant Elizabeth work to uncover clues in their quest to solve crimes and expose criminals. And this time we also learn more about the vulnerabilities and insecurities of the characters which really brings them to life.

With huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The gang are all back together!

Elizabeth, Ibrahim, Ron and Joyce, our septuagenarian heroes of The Thursday Murder Club are back in Coopers Chase and still causing as much trouble as they resolve. Donna and Chris are still struggling to keep up.

Osman feels a little more comfortable with this novel than the first, now that the pressure of having to introduce the characters has been dispensed with in this sequel and launches straight into the plot – or plots. Firstly, Elizabeth receives a mysterious letter purporting to be from a man who never truly existed from her days working in the Secret Services, and which turns out to be her ex-husband and fellow spy, Douglas and his handler, Poppy. Secondly, Donna and Chris are staking out a local drug dealer, Connie Johnson. Finally, Ibrahim is seen enjoying his newly discovered sense of confidence from the first book and taking a drive – and discovering the joy of parking apps – until he is mugged by a local thug, Ryan Baird

Douglas has been accused of stealing £20 million pounds worth of diamonds from Martin Lomax, a man who acts as “a bank for major crime gangs… a trusted middleman” who receives and protects deposits from criminal gangs in their investments. One of those deposits was the missing diamonds and both Lomax and the mafia to whom they belong are searching for them. Elizabeth, whom we learn is actually Dame Elizabeth, and the others are charged informally with protecting Douglas, and take it on themselves to find the missing diamonds too.

Bodies, of course, mount up.

These books are simultaneously charming and absurd and require a huge amount of willing suspension of disbelief, which their charm makes you willing to do. Let’s take Douglas, for example. A professional experienced spy who – minor spoilers – did in fact steal and secret away the diamonds he is alleged to have stolen whilst on a surveillance operation. It makes no sense that Douglas would, whilst still on site, whilst in possession of these stolen diamonds, would take off his mask because “I was hot, it was itchy, you know me, Elizabeth, and the balaclavas are synthetic these days”. But this is the sort of book where, frankly, you don’t care about that!

The charm comes from the dialogue whether it be between the Murder Club members or the delicately worded death threats from the mafia

“I was talking to a woman in Ruskin Court and she said she’s on a diet,” says Joyce, finishing her glass of wine. “She’s eighty-two!”

“Zimmer frames make you look fat,” says Ron. “It’s the thin legs.”

“Why diet at eighty-two?” says Joyce. “What’s a sausage roll going to do to you? Kill you? Well, Join the queue.”

But there is also a surprisingly deep pathos here. Ibrahim is floored by his assault, and anxiety and agoraphobia threaten him as he becomes fearful to leave his house let alone Coopers’ Chase Retirement Village. Ron’s gruff attentiveness to him, staying in hospital with him was sweet, but I loved Kendrick, Ron’s grandson, who is drafted in to help review CCTV at one point and having chewed over their favourite Romans (Brutus or Seneca the Younger) and dinosaur (a stegosaurus) Kendrick asks

“Does it hurt where they kicked you?” asks Kendrick, his eyes still clearly glued to the CCTV.

“I tell the others it doesn’t,” says Ibrahim. “But it does, very much.”

“They probably know,” says Kendrick.

“They probably do,” says Ibrahim. “But you’re the only person I’m telling for sure.”

Let’s be honest, Osman’s writing isn’t going to be in any prize lists any time soon and the way the three plots intersected (which they did) was really very forced. But, despite the violence – and there was a fair amount more violence in this novel than the first, at least as far as I can recall – these novels are as charming and avuncular and cosy as is his teatime quiz show persona and there is definitely space on the shelves for that!

What I Liked
- Of course, the ensemble cast of characters, each of whom are given their point of view within the novel. They are charming individually and wonderful together! As Sue says, Joyce and Elizabeth’s double act is formidable!
Joyce as she bumbles around solving word searches, baking cakes, creating an unintentionally suggestive Instagram username (and refusing to change it), and wielding a kitchen knife in an expert overhand grip when necessary.
- Chris and Patrice: their relationship was a delight, much to Donna’s embarrassment and Patrice seems able to hold her own against Elizabeth
Ibrahim and Ron: their’s is a lovely friendship, and am I the only one seeing some unexplored romantic tension between them?
- The improbability of some of the situations that these characters end up in is wry and wonderful: a garden party hosted by an international money launderer for various criminal enterprises, wondering whether he can make a few pounds from his chocolate brownies as he mulls over death threats and the theft of £20 million pounds worth of diamonds.
- Poppy, a sweet young girl who fell into being employed as a spy almost accidentally and who wants to be a poet even if she was a useless waitress.

What Could Have Been Different
- Some aspects of the novel felt a little unconnected: neither Donna’s uncertainties and worries, nor the sub-plot revolving around Ibrahim felt terribly connected to either the main plot or the characterisation.
- The more technical and shady aspects of MI5 operations and international organised crime felt a little superficial? Great fun but superficial – although that is perhaps the joy of the book: it does not try to hard and dark. But to imagine an experienced spy removing his mask in an area likely to be covered by cameras, having just purloined a bag of diamonds…?

Overall:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.

Characters:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.

Plot / Pace:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.

Worldbuilding:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.

Structure:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.

Language:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.

Page Count: 432 pages

Publisher: Viking (Penguin)

Date: 16th September 2021

Available: Amazon, Viking

Excellent, I think the second one was better than the first. Sharper writing and better editing, it’s great to reunite with this group of characters!

Loved the first instalment of the Thursday Murder Club and was really looking forward to the next. I was not disappointed! Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim are back and involved in a drugs, murder and diamond mystery, and each of the main characters are as charming and likeable as before! The fun and gentle story keeps you engaged and guessing right until the end. Loved it!

Fun mystery story, light and interesting.

The Thursday Murder Club, all 4 of them, become involved in a tale about stolen diamonds, drug dealing, murder and other shady business. There’s plenty of action, wit and controversy. The characters are interesting and developed further as well as new ones that are introduced. It’s a light easy read which will certainly entertain just about everyone. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Viking for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have not read <i>The Thursday Murder Club</i> and did not realize this was the second book in that series. A few names were mentioned that I'm assuming were characters from the first book, and I think I would have appreciated the existing relationships more had I read it, but I did not feel lost. Also, I do not think anything from the first book was spoiled or given away.

This was a very pleasant read. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron are elderly pensioners who find themselves mixed up with MI5, a cocaine magnate, and diamonds worth £20 million. Not to mention they are really angry with some local youths after they brutally assaulted Ibrahim for his mobile, and are determined to find justice for their friend.

Joyce is a bit of a ditz, and I was initially quite annoyed with her, but she did grow on me a bit as the story went on. She is certainly not stupid, but still irritating in a <i>get to the @#$%* point, Joyce!</i> kind of way. I found myself doubting how genuine Elizabeth's friendship with her is, as I could not see Elizabeth being emotionally invested in Joyce, but rather using her for her own gains. Their relationship seems very one-sided.

Some suspended disbelief is required to think MI5 agents and police officers would ever go along with the plans hatched by these civilians (or not arresting them for everything they withhold), but it's a fun romp.

Looking forward to reading the first book, and any subsequent ones.

I enjoyed the first book so was looking forward to this one and wasn't disappointed.
It's got the same lovely charm, frequent wit and cosy familiarity from the first story and characters and builds on all of it to give what I thought was a better overall book.
It was great to fill in more of the back-story of the characters and enjoy their easy yet intelligent interaction.
I hope when I get to a retirement village it's as exciting as theirs!
Many thanks for the advanced review copy. Loved it.

Oh, what a glorious return to Cooper's Chase and my favourite amateur sleuths, in 'The Man Who Died Twice ' by Richard Osman.
I have been eagerly waiting for the follow up to last year's runaway success, 'The Thursday Murder Club' and could barely wait to get my hands on this copy. And thankfully, the story once again lines upto my expectations. This time around, our heroes have recovered from previous events and are looking forward to having further adventures. Elizabeth receives a letter from an old friend, in fact, a former husband and wastes no time, in telling the club members about Douglas and as a group, they decide to leap into action. Meanwhile, Ibrahim has been assaulted by some local teenagers and the club decide to avenge their friend, along with some assistance from DCI Chris Hudson and PC Donna De Freitas.
This story is much more than a cozy mystery,  there is a brain-twisting mystery at the heart of the story and there are plenty of red herrings and exciting moments to keep your attention. An excellent, 5 star, fun and intelligent read.

The Man Who Died Twice, is the second book in the popular Thursday murder club by Richard Osman. This book is just as good as the first one.

It's funny and entertaining with Elizabeth and her 'gang' taking you on another great investigation.

I'm sure this will become a best seller.

Now it's official: life starts at seventy!

The second book in the Thursday Murder Club series is just as witty, funny and British as the first one. The plot is clever (again), and we can learn more about the characters we met in the previous book, especially Elizabeth. The Coopers Chase pensioners have plenty of potential left in them, and now I could kill for the third book. Well, almost.

Thankful for NetGalley and Penguin UK for an Advance Reading Copy.

Excellent - picks off where the previous book ended, and has all the right amounts of intrigue, friendship, humour, empathy and excellent writing.

A great read, the second book in this series.

Elizabeth finds herself at the centre of the story as her ex husband appears in her life. Elizabeth and her friends set out to solve the latest mystery, with the help of locals they manage to talk in to helping them.

A murder mystery that keeps you guessing. Told from a variety of point of view, but easy to keep up with the story.

Reacquainting myself with Richard Osman's characters felt like meeting up with old friends. I liked the way the story is told from different viewpoints, as it gives greater insight into the minds of the people we meet in this book. Osman takes time to show their foibles and frailties, making them very relatable. A satisfying mystery with a deft touch of humour. More, please!

The Thursday murder club are here again in a wonderful new book. Elizabeth has received a letter from an old friend- however she remembers collecting his body and taking it to the morgue as part of her job many,many moons ago. Ibrahim whilst out is mugged for his phone and badly injured- the group are determined that the culprits will not get away with it or just a rap on the knuckles. Then there is the small matter of £20 million pounds worth of diamonds. Elizabeth has contacts because where she used to work was rather hush hush, say no more. Bogdan can get hold of anything as again he has contacts. When Elizabeth meets Douglas again there is more at stake than friendship. Can the group get back the diamonds without too many people getting killed in the process and give the mugger what he deserves?
This is a wonderful read- it’s crazy, it’s fun, brilliant and well researched. The little things such as how old people talk across each other with completely different conversations yet some know exactly what's going on. “ Have you ever dealt with the Mafia?” “ I tried to cancel Sky sports once- that's the closest I've got” Of past careers and talents not lost but not quite as honed as they were and that walling frames make you look fatter as the legs are so thin! You get the gist- it's a cozy crime with lots of smiles and very well written.
A highly entertaining read I’d love to see as a film
(rest of links on publication)

I thoroughly enjoyed #thethursdaymurderclub so was really excited to be approved for book 2 in the series from Richard Osman. This is another Cromer caper with the gang and I was so here for it. I bloomin’ loved it! There really isn’t much to say - except it’s a delightful read retaining much of the charm of the first novel but with a whole new story. Joyce’s diary entries were my favourite part of the book (and in fact Joyce is my favourite character). I can’t wait for book 3 now. I predict another runaway success for Richard Osman with this book!

I fear I was in the minority by not really enjoying the first book, I think that was because I purchased it on Audible and found the narrator annoying, very annoying… so thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book instead of listen (I wouldn’t have) I found that I was immersed in this book from the start and although the characters were familiar it was a pleasure to once again go on a magical mystery tour with these people, this is a book to read for pure pleasure not to sit down and critique every single paragraph so just read and enjoy

The Man Who Died Twice is the follow up to the wildly successful Thursday Murder Club and Richard Osman has truly found his stride.

We return to our wily bunch of pensioners at Coopers Chase. This time out they are chasing down murderers, searching for hidden diamonds and generally on a frolic. This is the Scooby Doo gang for grown-ups and it is an absolute riot.

The dialogue is sharp and crammed full of laugh out loud moments but what shines through is the warmth and friendship among the quartet and some of the returning characters.

Written as a follow up, this would work equally well as a stand alone. It’s a joy of a read.

Thanks to Viking, Penguin and Netgalley for the ARC.

And so we have the return of the Thursday Murder Club, Joyce, Elizabeth, Ibrahim and Ron. This time there's spies involved and diamonds - 20 million pounds worth. The mafia also shows its face and there's lots of death. I enjoyed the first in this series though am a bit baffled why it was such a success. This one I liked better. The character of Joyce in particular shines through though she is perhaps rather too insouciant. The plot is absurd - of course it is - this is cosy crime after all, but it's a pleasant enough read and I predict it will be equally as successful as its predecessor. If you're looking for an undemanding read this is the book for you. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Wonderful! The return of the Thursday murder club is like a warm hug, even better because we are invested in these characters from the first book. Here, the story is every bit as good, humorous and empathetic in equal measure. The characterisation is so vivid this is crying out for dramatisation - Sunday night comfort TV maybe?

Hope this series goes on and on.

Thank you to NetGalley and PenguinUK for the ARC