What euphoria I felt when I got an email from netgalley saying I'd been approved for an eARC of the second installment of The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice, by Richard Osman!

I devoured the first book back in February and immediately fell in love with everyones four favourite septuagenarian sleuths and it was a delight to join them once again in Coopers Chase. My only critique of the original book was that there seemed to be half a dozen too many characters and plot threads to keep track of. This time around, despite a still massive cast, I felt I had a much better grip of the 'whose who' and the story flowed so much better for it.

The pace is much quicker than before and the plot is original, multilayed and complex but engaging and easy to follow. The gang are still as eccentric and wonderful as ever, you expect them to take you on a wild ride and they don't disappoint. I love that we get to learn about the amazing and mysterious Elizabeth, it makes all the crazy capers from book one seem much more believable. I was glad to once again note the addition of Joyce's diary entries, my favourite part of both books. Joyce is both incredibly perceptive and wonderfully naive (I cannot stop laughing at her foray into the world of social media) at the same time. She is everything I want to be when I reach retirement age!

While the book is hilariously funny, often moving and sometimes even dark, there is also a real poignancy in Osman's writing, it's a thoughtful and intelligent look at old age, life and death. You can tell Osman loved writing these books, clearly pouring his heart and soul into the characters, and they're both so much better because of it.

If you loved The Thursday Murder Club, then The Man Who Died Twice will not disappoint. If you didn't, what is wrong with you?

A humongous thank you to Netgalley and Peguin UK for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review

I was worried that this novel couldn't possibly be as good as The Thursday Murder Club but it is even better. The Man Who Died Twice has a more complex plot and the writing is more polished. In this novel our favourite eccentric pensioners are investigating a crime involving spies, gangsters, drugs and stolen diamonds. Many of the characters from the first novel are back and we find out more about them. I love these characters so much that it is impossible to choose a favourite. One of the Thursday Murder Club is the victim of a crime and it was genuinely upsetting to read about because I have come to care for these characters so much. This novel is also very funny and I did find myself giggling on the bus as I read it on my commute!

Brilliant! I enjoyed this one even more than the first! Likeable, quirky characters, interesting plot and some lovely humour. Highly recommend!

No dreaded ‘sequel curse’ here-this is an excellent follow up to Richard Osman’s stellar Thursday Murder Club. Funny, exciting and moving, with some excellent new characters. A must read.

Having read Richard Osman’s first book, I couldn’t wait to read his second. I know the books have had received mixed opinions, but I loved the first one. The characters were awesome and I just wanted to go and live with them all, loved their quirky ways. So when I was given book 2 as a review copy I was over the moon. Book 2 is, in my opinion, even better than book 1. Same wonderful characters, better, more developed plot. I found it funny, heart warming and a little unbeilable, but I actually don’t think that mattered. Such an entertaining read. Thank you to Netgalley for the pre release copy. I will be recommending this to my reader friends.

A huge welcome to the sequel of the Thursday Murder Club following more exploits with the 4 main characters taking centre stage again.
A funny and smart follow up which kept me guessing to the very end of the book.
I loved this..... Even better than the first book.... Which I didn't think possible.
Fantastic read which I would highly recommend.

They’re back ! The Thursday murder club is once more on the hunt for a murderer. Elizabeth gets a letter from a former colleague who needs her help, only he gets himself killed and suddenly there’s a hunt for diamonds, a murderer, a drug dealer and so much more. All the usual characters are there and some new ones. Suffice to say this is a fabulous read. The story is definitely more intricate than the first novel but is equally enthralling, laugh out loud and deeply enjoyable.
Richard Osman has definitely introduced us to a new crew that we need regular updates on. Looking forward to the next instalment.

I was so, so delighted to be approved for this! Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club kept me going during a bleak year, and this sequel is EVEN BETTER!!! I never want to leave Joyce’s company, really! Sign me up to this retirement village! I love the warmth, the humour, the characters. Cosy crime with a dash of darkness, just like Caimh McDonnell. I am looking forward to the third one already!

Whoa, Richard Osman has certainly moved up a gear in this second instalment of The Thursday Murder Club Series. With twenty-million pounds-worth of diamonds at stake, anything could happen and it does. Messier murders, the security services, international criminals and drug barons, the mafia and any number of suspects and red herrings. As before, Elizabeth is at the heart of solving the mystery but she wouldn’t manage without her three neighbours, each with their own special contributions, even if that’s just seeming to be a harmless old lady while actually being solid steel.

I like the way the exciting events take place alongside quiet, domestic contentment. I could hardly put the book down for the thrills and suspense, yet at its heart is kindness, and the touching importance of love and friendship to a group of retired but certainly not-dead-yet inmates of a retirement village. It’s all highly improbable and very enjoyable. If you liked the first book (I did) you’ll like this one even more. Critics who are sniffy about Osman’s sudden, wild success are just suffering from sour grapes, IMO.

I read this thanks to NetGalley and it will be published on 16th September this year.

Absolutely loved this sequel - Richard Osman has written a better book than the first one. I think the characters really come into their own here, and the mystery is another twisty, un-guessable funride. Very exciting to hear there will be more to come after this!

I really enjoyed the further exploits of this group of retired folks! I felt that this episode flowed better and certainly had me entertained.

An entertaining enjoyable read - I liked the use of several voices and I am growing quite attached to Joyce’s diary entries.

One I will be recommending.

The first book by this author was a sound mystery with characters who made a quirky story.
This sequel takes it to a whole new level. I loved it.
It is a week after the end of the first story and Ibrahim is mugged. At the same time Elizabeth's spy ex husband has managed to become involved in the theft of 20 million pounds worth of diamonds.
With their friends Joyce and Ron on their side as well as the support of Chris, Donna, Patrice, Kendrick and my favourite Bogdan as well as MI5, MI6 and the mafia our heroes manage to avenge Ibrahim and do a lot of good work at the same time.

I did not think it was possible to write a better book than the first but Mr Osman has managed it. This is a cracking read and kept me captivated all the way through.
This book has given the chance to flesh out the characters that we met in the first book and give them real character. This reminds me so much of an old fashioned Ealing Comedy with a character driven plot and the 70's series the Zoo Gang (which probably hardly anyone remembers).
It would be wrong to give much away but I just loved the characters in this book and you end up wanting them all to do well and be okay.
I can not recommend this second book highly enough it is a great read and if you don't buy it straight away give it to someone for Xmas!

I'll be honest I was worried if Book 2 The Man Who Died Twice was going to be any good. I loved the first book The Thursday Murder club when I read it pre-bookstagram. I was not disappointed the characters were well written and just a great ensemble. I felt like I knew each character personally and should be arranging my overdue visit to Coopers Chase. Joyce is my favourite character and please tell me that I am not the only one who checked Instagram. Osman's ability to write the varying characters is astounding and at time laugh out loud funny. My favourite moment was when Joyce asked a criminal if he needed the toilet as the journey was going to be long.

As always more musings over on my blog https://pjsandbooks.wordpress.com/

This is such a fun book it is hard to do it justice in a review. I already liked the first one in this series and the sequel was just the right blend for me. A well plotted and well written detective story with original heroes, written with an incredible sense of humor. Osman does a really great job with his characters and the details of the story make me suspect he must have quite a few elderly friends or relatives, though I doubt that there would be any as outrageous as Elizabeth. It keeps you on your toes till the very end and the ending really restores your belief in humanity, though there are quite a few dead bodies to get through first. A book everyone will enjoy!

This book totally exceeded my very high expectations having loved the Thursday Murder Club so much.
This story delves more into Elizabeth’s past as we meet her ex-husband in need of her help. The characters are so perfectly written that I feel as though I know them personally. All round the book gave me such a warm feeling that I’d love to read it all over again.

This is Osman's second novel in the Thursday Murder Club series and, like the first it is absolutely delightful. I can only describe it as akin to sitting inside near the fire on a winter's afternoon with a nanna rug and a cup of tea. Everything about Osman's writing, setting and characters is endearing, surprising and relatable. With just enough thrill to keep you guessing and a few shady characters thrown in on top. This book is a hands-down must read of 2021.

After the events of the last book, the Thursday Murder Club have got back to business, but when Elizabeth receives a mysterious note from a man who she knows died years ago, the Club get embroiled in another adventure - one that will see them tangle with the Mafia, drugs barons, the security services and a particularly unpleasant youth...

As a fan of the last book, I was very excited to receive this one and it does not disappoint in the slightest - in fact, I would argue that it is better than the first one! Osman seems more comfortable writing for the characters now, and allowing them to get into more scrapes whilst still retaining the humour throughout the book. This is a very easy 5* choice for me!

Absolutely wonderful. As ever, his ability to delicately examine humanity while telling a brilliant story, is impressive. Engaging and fun - and fans of the first book will not be disappointed!

This is possibly the most excited I had ever been to receive an advanced copy - and the excitement didn't leave me from one cover to the other!

We pick up where we left off, in the hands of our trusty Coopers Chase friends, off for another adventure with loads of twists and turns. Here's the thing - I actually thought this one was better than TTMC. It felt like Osman was really getting into the flow of writing, the plot and characters were a bit more fleshed out than the preceding book. And it is truly just as much of a riot as the first one. The characters really are the backbone of these stories, the quintessential Britishness of the whole thing is the entire comedy style and it is absolutely golden.

Thank you, SO MUCH to Viking and the author for the advanced copy!