Having had the pleasure of being introduced to the Thursday Murder Club in Richard Osman's first novel, I was keen to make their reacquaintance during their next adventure. This second story didn't disappoint.

The clever quartet of senior citizens once again find themselves embroiled in a mystery featuring diamonds, murder, MI5, and ex-husbands, whilst trying to outwit spies, drug dealers and the occasional mafia don.

It's a great story once again full of charming and funny characters - and I don't just mean the members of the TMC. The support crew are back too - the two local coppers with their gentle camaraderie, labourer Bogdan - enriching the story with their warmth and fondness for the long in the tooth sleuthing crew.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Viking for an advanced digital copy.

Absolutely fantastic. I LOVED the first book in this series The Thursday Murder Club so I couldn't wait for this. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC copy.

Our favourite gang of old timer sleuths are back together solving crimes and being down right sneaky. This time a figure from Elizabeth's past arrives and as the bodies start piling up and secrets start being revealed Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim must join forces with MI5 as well as the lovely local cops Chris and Donna and good friend Bogdan. Twists galore as lots of different tails come to a climax at the end. As per the last book this is full of humour and feel good moments along with some good old trickery and police work.

Brilliant. Huge 5 stars and highly recommended.

I was thrilled when I got the email from Penguin inviting me to review The Man Who Died Twice as I thoroughly enjoyed the first in the series (The Thursday Murder Club).
It is such a joy to be back with these characters, it is like meeting up with old friends. As in the first book there is such wonderful dialogue, and I especially enjoy Joyce’s diary entries.
I love the way Richard casually slips major crime into the same conversation as the ordinary everyday mundane, for example Joyce wondering if she should leave the teabag in a cup of herbal tea when they are discussing what to do about the dead man in the next room.

There is everything here, a mysterious man from Elizabeth’s past, petty thieves, drug dealers, MI6, missing diamonds, the Mafia and llamas.
I loved the mention of Michael Portillo’s Great British Railway Journeys and I laughed out loud when Joyce asked a Mafia boss if he needed the toilet before a trip in a car! But don’t make the mistake of thinking it is too cosy, the death toll is quite impressive.
If you haven’t already read the first book I would start there before you read this one as Richard hits the ground running straight away with no reference to who is who, especially with Bogdan, (I wish I had a Bogdan in my life, he is such a useful man!).
I long to live in Cooper’s Chase and am already looking forward to the next instalment.
Thankyou Penguin and Netgalley but most of all good stuff, Richard. 5 Stars without hesitation.

Join the gang the following Thursday for more mystery, charm and a salubrious dash of murder!

I thoroughly enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club and knew I had to dive straight into The Man Who Died Twice as soon as I got my hands on a copy. As expected, it did not disappoint. In fact, it far surpassed my already astronomically high expectations! I’m going to call it, but I think that this may just be better than the original novel... Osman has a truly original style and it is completely effortless to read his books. The narrative, the dialogue, the mystery: all flow so beautifully. Everything is plotted to perfection and I was entirely engaged in the mystery and mayhem the gang faced. This is a multifaceted plot, with multiple threads and subplots running through it and Osman effortlessly weaves them together. Tension and anticipation are built, but always with an underlying sense of humour. This is another novel full of wit and charm, with a rollicking good mystery to solve at it’s heart.

However, as much as this is a story about murder and missing diamonds, it’s really all about the wonderful characters Osman has created. They are all so engaging and entertaining, as well as feeling genuinely authentic. I honestly feel like I could visit a retirement home and meet a Ron or Joyce in real life (in fact, I bet Joyce would find that a thrill!). As with the first novel, Joyce’s diary entry chapters are some of the most enjoyable sections to read. Full of zany, seemingly unrelated anecdotes and a joyous humour, these chapters are interspersed throughout the narrative and often caused me to chuckle out loud. I particularly enjoy her rosy take on all things macabre, laced with her determination to keep up with modern life and her ‘gung-ho’ attitude to all the gang’s escapades.

For all the humour and thrills, this novel is not without its tenderness either. It’s things like Elizabeth’s love for and devotion to Stephen, the wider gang’s passion for Ibrahim after a terrible ordeal and Chris and Patrice’s new relationship that give this novel it’s heart...and keeps readers turning the pages. I lost myself in Osman’s world of septuagenarian amateur detectives, friendly police folk and dastardly villains. Suddenly the prospect of getting older doesn’t seem so terrifying!

This is a throughly enjoyable mystery that you can’t help but fall in love with. If you like your crime cozy, with plenty of topical humour, this isn’t to be missed!

When I read Richard Osman's first book I was quite cross at how good it was. I mean, is the man not successful enough for heaven's sake? But I absolutely loved it. Surely, however, he couldn't do that twice?
Turns out I was wrong again. If anything I think this is even better than the Thursday Murder Club. Development of the wonderful characters he set up in the first, great absurd-but-I'm-happy-to-suspend-disbelief plot, and potential - I hope - for still more. Honestly, I absolutely loved it and had that annoying thing where you simultaneously can't put a book (or Kindle) down and yet are also really disappointed when it's over and you have no more to read.

Richard Osman's debut, The Thursday Murder Club, was one of my favourite reads of 2020.
Which is why I was so excited to catch up with the characters and see where the story would take them next.
And let me just say, this follow up certainly doesn't disappoint!
We're thrown straight into the action and it's not just a typical murder mystery. There are spies, stolen diamonds, the mafia, gangs and so much more.
Richard Osman's writing is just so warm, engaging and at many times, funny, yet heartwarming.
I particularly enjoy Joyce's diary entries and she had some great one liners in this.
It possibly wasn't as strong as the first book, with a few parts feeling slightly hard to believe. But I loved it all the same. And it was still a 5 star read for me.
We get to learn more about the characters and delve a lot deeper into what makes them tick.
It was incredibly well paced and you find yourself rooting for our main characters.
It's also the kind of book and story that you don't want to end.
I can't wait to see what Richard Osman does next with the series and characters and I'm already counting down the days until the next book.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Richard Osman has done it again. Such a fun book to read and so many twists and turns. Charming and gently exciting. Moving and funny. It was lovely to catch up with all my favourite characters. I say characters, but I should say people, because they really are believable as real people. While acknowledging that getting old has some drawbacks, Richard champions the older generation. Ignore the elderly at your peril! Realise that all generations have their qualities and if you haven't got friends in generations above your own realise you are missing out - big time. And Ibrahim is the best psychotherapist I have ever had - I'm heading for my next mountain!
From a personal point of view I love that Richard has once again mentioned Godalming, the town where I grew up - and most definitely NOT 'part of Guildford' as I once heard on a train. Richard, my personal plea is that you continue to mention Godalming in every one of your wonderful books. After all its other main claim to fame is that it was the first town in the country to have electric street lighting, so it is due a renaissance.
Now I have avidly consumed this new story I wait with bated breath for the next instalment.

I so enjoyed the first Thursday Murder Club that I was delighted to receive an ARC for the next book. I loved that it went straight into the next adventure, no preamble to explain details as we remember it so well! If readers start here, it’s easy to catch up (but do read Th Thursday Murder Club, it’s fabulous!)
The original four members are present and correct and their characters grow throughout the roller coaster ride. This time the story is more high powered involving the Mafia, MI5 and missing diamonds, but is amusing and warm at the same time. I was hooked as the twists kept coming until the end which was pitched perfectly. I’m already looking forward to the next one!
Thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest opinion.

Having read the Thursday murder club and loved it, I have been looking forward to the follow up book and checking regularly on amazon for when it was being published, so imagine my huge delight when I received an invitation to read an advance of copy of The man who died twice. It made my day, my week, month and even my year as I had loved the first book so much. This warm, funny, very clever and always quirky cast of characters doesn't disappoint. This is a really well written and very readable book, a murder mystery that is also a very insightful exploration of human relationships and of the characters as very real and tangible human beings, who we feel for, we laugh and cry with. I really love the clever and quirky humour that runs throughout the book and I particularly love the character and the observations of Joyce who is an absolute delight. Just a note to anyone who hasn't read the Thursday murder club. These books need to be read in order to get the most enjoyment from them, so if you've not read it then give yourself a real treat and go buy both.

The second in the Thursday Murder Club series sees Elizabeth, Ron, Joyce and Ibrahim return, with a new mystery on their hands: an intriguing letter from a dead man kicks things off but soon it’s Elizabeth’s former life as a spy which is coming back to make trouble. Another humorous and charming murder mystery, with the whole gang from the first book, including local police officers Donna and Chris. For me, not quite as strong as the first book, but maybe that’s just because the first one was a lovely surprise and I knew what to expect this time around. My favourite character this time was Chris, his struggles felt really real and endearing, and as a result I loved reading from his point of view. Joyce is still also hilarious, much like the first novel she writes in rather short-attention-span diary entries, and she’s a lot of fun. For crime fiction these are really amusing.

My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher, Penguin, for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is out in September in the UK.

#bookstagram #bookreviews #booklove #TheManWhoDiedTwice #RichardOsman #Crimefiction #TheThursdayMurderClub #mysteryfiction

My thanks to NetGalley and Viking for an advance publication copy of “ The Man Who Died Twice”.

I was so impressed by Richard Osman’s first book , it was my favourite book of last year and I’ve recommended it to so many people.
I was worried that this second in the series would be a disappointment but i needn’t have worried , it was probably even better than the first. I had to ration my reading so I wouldn’t finish it too quickly.
Wonderfully entertaining, it combines a whodunnit with wry humour.
All the characters are so well developed. ,and I shall be interested to see if the actors chosen to play them in the film, match up to how I’ve envisaged them.
The only negative for me is that I’ve got to wait even longer now for the next outing of “ The Thursday Murder Club”
Hopefully Mr . Osman has plenty of ideas for a long series of books I cannot recommend them highly enough

Richard Osman does it again!
This wonderful book continues the story of The Thursday Murder Club, with another tale of murder and secrets for the team of Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim work to unravel.
It begins with Elizabeth receiving a letter from someone in her past and the adventure begins. It involves tales of spies, drug barons and mysteries long outstanding.
This is such a lovely English murder mystery with a delightful team of characters that it is a breath of fresh air.
The plot keeps you hooked and you smile along with the characters and their shenanigans.
Sometimes, there can be disappointment with the second instalment of a book that you loved, but not with this series.
An absolute gem of a book and series and this is one of my best books of 2021.
Long may the team carry on their murder mystery solving and keep us entertained for years to come.
Pure delight to read.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley in inviting me to read this in return for a review.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review book 2 - I loved being back with The Thursday Murder Club team.

I must admit that I was concerned that the sequel wouldn't be as good as the first, but I'm happy to say I enjoyed it immensely. Great characters, funny stories, gruesome murders and clever old people.

Very British, some very subtle jokes, and I'm already looking forward to Book 3 - no pressure Richard Osman!

I read – and loved – the first book, The Thursday Murder Club, and, in my review, I said that I’d enjoyed it so much I hoped it would be the first in a series. My wish came true and I eagerly grabbed the chance to read The Man Who Died Twice.

Another cracking mystery from Richard Osman, and we return to The Thursday Murder Club; four residents of an upmarket retirement village who became friends and formed a club to investigate cold cases. There are also some really good secondary characters in the story.

Elizabeth is contacted by someone from her past and counts on Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron to help her solve a real-time murder case. Guns, bodies, MI5, and diamonds feature this time around, and it was a brilliant story with just the right amounts of reality and cosiness.

I was gripped right to the very end, where readers will find a lovely little twist.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Books UK and Viking for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

I got this book as an advanced readers copy in exchange for a review

this was the second book by Richard Osman in the Thursday Murder Club series and I loved it. I think I even preferred it to the first book.

I felt the characters really grew in this book. We explored more of Elizabeth's past, Joyce got some chances to show off how brilliant she is as well as how funny she is. Ron got right into the action too. I totally fell in love with Bogdan even more

I felt like this book was funnier, the plot was more interesting and the characters were deeper and that is saying a lot because I adored the first book

Looks like I know what I'm buying everyone in my family for Christmas again

When I received the e-mail inviting me to read Richard Osman’s follow up to The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice, I actually made a small squeaking sound. My husband did give me a questioning look at that point. I have been desperate to read this book for the last year, and am so very grateful to have early access to it.
Our story starts the following week, after the previous book’s conclusion, on Thursday, naturally, but not The Following Thursday (see the acknowledgements). It is so lovely to be back in Cooper’s Chase, with our four favourite eclectic retirees.

This second book sees our wonderful pensioners getting involved with a new crime to solve. Elizabeth, with her connections, leading the way, with Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim helping, with their own individual skill sets; ably assisted and supported by their new friends at Fairhaven CID, Chris and Donna.

There are so many little pleasures in the book, just as there were in The Thursday Murder Club. These small, extra details that are written, have no bearing on the story, but are there just to bring a smile. I love these little gems. Joyce’s foray into Instagram; Poppy’s interview accompanied by her union rep; and Ron’s disgust at missing out on the action, while he was watching “Portillo on a train” had me chuckling out loud. Along with so many other moments.

I think I shouldn’t choose a favourite character, just like you shouldn’t have a favourite child, but Joyce is just wonderful. I adore the way her diary entries are written, you get such a sense of her. It is a stream of all her tangented thoughts, in a stream of consciousness. She writes as she speaks, blending the mundane with the eyebrow raising. “Goodness me, that was a long sentence to write”.

As with the previous book, there were some touching moments, within the merriment and mirth at Coopers Chase. I found Donna’s visit to Ibrahim to watch CCTV such a lovely scene, the tenderness, intuition and kindness shown by Ibrahim was heart warming. The true meaning of The Man Who Died Twice, the sentiment behind that thought was beautiful, those few lines were so poignant.

Something dawned on me as I finished reading this charming 5* book. I believe Richard has planned four books in the series, if this is the case, I’m at the half way point. I have only two more books with our septuagenarian sleuths, which makes me a little sad.
I can’t recommend The Man Who Died Twice highly enough, and if you are one of the few people who hasn’t read The Thursday Murder Club yet, make sure you read it first.
This has been such a pleasure to read, and I have so enjoyed getting to know the aging Scooby Gang in more depth.

Alternatively known as 'The man who wrote an entertaining cosy crime novel: twice'.

In The Man Who Died Twice, Elizabeth receives a message from an old colleague of hers, who then turns out to be her ex-husband. He's got into a bit of a mess, accidentally-on-purpose liberating some diamonds from a local financial crime-lord. Okay, the accident was in being too obvious about it. So now there's people hunting him down, and they'll kill to get what they want.

Enter The Thursday Murder Club, a group of glorious oldies with time on their hands and a no-nonsense approach to crime-solving and justice.

First, they want to help her ex, then they want to find the diamonds. Bodies pile up, and one of their own is attacked along the way.

This isn't a taut, glossy crime thriller. But it is intriguing, warm and often funny. I enjoyed returning to these characters (I recommend starting with the first book if possible - it's not essential but the additional context will add to the enjoyment) and felt I could 'see' them all as real people. I will gladly come back again when there's a third entry in the series.

I’ve been eagerly awaiting the second book in Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series, so I was delighted to receive an early review copy. I loved it even more than the first one. It was like coming home to old friends, as we joined Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron for another mystery and some fantastic adventures. When Elizabeth receives a letter from an old work colleague the Murder Club members become embroiled in a dangerous hunt for stolen diamonds, involving mobsters and the real possibility that the bodies will start piling up again.

It was everything I hoped for and more. It was perfectly plotted, utilising the various talents of the group. Each and every character mattered in this story, because that’s how it’s solved. Not with one person, but with the combined strengths of each of them. Foolish is the person who underestimates these septuagenarians.

It made me smile and made me shed a little tear. We can only hope to have friends like Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron when we move to our own retirement villages.

And even if I have only a fraction of the excitement they have, I’ll be happy.

I was given this ARC to review.

One of those books you just can't stop reading.

I was delighted to be reunited with Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim once more as we followed them on an even more audacious rollercoaster ride to catch a killer.

This time it's personal as Elizabeth's ex-husband arrives at the retirement village, bringing with him a whole heap of trouble. As ever, the gang work hard, not only to catch a murderer but also to clear up crime in their community.

We also come face to face with other familiar characters including Donna the detective, a very welcome return.

I won't say any more as I don't want to share any spoilers, but needless to say the geriatric crime fighters once again had me on the edge of my seat and I devoured it in 2 sittings! Just needed one of Joyce's cakes to keep me company and it would have been perfect...

I would definitely recommend this. Fans of Richard's previous book, 'The Thursday Murder Club' will really enjoy it. I just can't wait to read whatever he has in mind next time for the crime fighting crew!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is the next in series about The Thursday Murder Club, taking place at Coopers Chase, the retirement complex where the 4 main characters live - Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron. They are retired but not brain dead and crotchety, determinedly getting on with their lives in their own way, even if it does mean there may be more bodies ahead.

Having fallen for the quartet in the first book, it’s lovely to come back to them shortly after their previous outing. This time it’s a mysterious note for ex-spy Elizabeth, who still has connections with her old employers, MI5. But there are also other storylines here, another one that of Ibrahim being mugged, which not only takes him to hospital but almost breaks his spirit, making him afraid to leave his home. You laugh and cry with the characters, who feel more and more like people you’d like to meet. The book takes off at a good pace, it’s well written, with a lovely, warm sense of humour. I especially like Bogdan, he becomes more enigmatic but also more lovable. Like the author, I want to live at this retirement complex when my time comes. A very satisfying read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.