"Two Times Murder" by Adam Oyebanji is a sharp and engaging mystery that expertly balances suspense, wit, and clever storytelling. Oyebanji crafts a complex whodunit filled with intriguing characters, unexpected twists, and a fast-paced plot that keeps readers guessing. The novel explores themes of deception, justice, and the lengths people will go to conceal the truth, all while delivering an entertaining and intelligent take on the classic murder mystery. With its gripping narrative and expertly woven clues, "Two Times Murder" is a must-read for fans of detective fiction and intricately plotted crime thrillers. It’s a compelling and satisfying read that will keep readers hooked until the very last page.

I understand that this is the second in the series, but apart from the backstory, I think that this is a stand alone book. Greg Abimbola is a Russian teacher in Pittsburgh,, with a complicated and secret past. He sounds English, but isn't, and he seems an easy going teacher, but isn't, as he has many hidden talents. He is drawn into solving a murder and then working the local police, whilst hiding many of his talents from his past life. An original take on a fairly standard story and well-written.

While dialogue among his colleagues, esp a fellow whose skin colour gets him problematic 'raises in school hierarchies', and help for a police woman hampered in getting promotions by her gender .. I find the 'witness protection' backdrop background of Russian teacher, Greg (main protagonist, himself a man of colour), who reluctantly offers help to said police woman, in discovering murderer. ..not very credible. And so sometimes I have to trod through passages fleshing out the difficulties this brings into story. But once I wade through those , the pace and complexities ease up in the narrative flow. That helps!

I’m sorry to say this book was not a success for me, hence the three stars. While the plot could have been interesting if more believable and better described, I wasn’t carried along with it nor with the characters. Set in “small city America” it’s very reminiscent of living there, being involved with local schools, and current issues. Our hero Greg isn’t a Jack Reacher by any stretch (which is not a problem as sometimes we don’t want a superhero who cannot be beaten) but wasn’t believable enough. No spoilers here though! Having woven the story, the final denouement was too loose for me. I enjoyed reading the book – and finished it – but will not be avidly following the author in future

Two Times Murder is the second book in the Quiet Teacher Mystery Series, but I will start off by saying that this book works perfectly well as a stand-alone. Yes, there are references to things that took place in the first book but for me not having read book one did not hinder my enjoyment of this one and I never felt that I was missing something that I needed to know so that everything would make sense.
On the surface Greg Abimbola is an average person living in Pittsburgh, teaching Russian to students in his local school. Having previously helped Sergeant Rachel Lev solve a case involving the school caretaker, she turns to him again when an unidentified body is pulled out of the river. Greg doesn’t want to help her, but he feels like he has no choice, especially when it could mean the life that he has managed to make for himself could get blown to pieces and his secrets could be exposed.
Despite Greg’s past he has fought hard to make his new life work and stay under the radar of his previous colleagues in the GRU. Unfortunately for him, that past has well and truly caught up with him and he must work with the Pittsburgh Police and his former commander to find out what has happened without revealing his identity. What isn’t helping is that despite saying she wants his help even Rachel is starting to think he is hiding something.
I liked Greg, he is clearly liked by both colleagues and students but there is no denying that despite him making a go of teaching (something even he admits he plucked out of the air when being given a new identity) he really is good at investigating and is not worried about using whatever tactics he needs to in order to get the information he needs even when it looks like a seemingly separate accidental death is actually linked to the death of the mystery man.
Adam Oyebanji has managed to merge the life of a teacher with the life of a former spy perfectly and having the two elements running side by side enables the reader to connect with Greg, making him seem much more relatable. The fast-paced short chapters mean that it is easy to find yourself racing through the book to connect all the clues and find out just exactly what happened and if Greg will be able to keep his life intact. I am looking forward to seeing what is in store for him and I may just have to go back to book one just to see how it all started.

Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for ARC.
Greg Abimbola is a British Russian teacher in Pittsburgh USA who has some hidden talents, and several reasons to keep them hidden. However as he's recently helped solve a murder in his school's basement and clear an innocent of wrongdoing, when the body of an unidentified man is found in suspicious circumstances Detective Rachel Lev wants him to offer his opinions. What follows is tensely plotted and very engaging as Abimbola tries to help her out, keep his own secrets safe, and avoid a similar fate to the man in the river.

This is the second in a series, and although it begins slowly it warms up very nicely with the relationships, school and police politics and American cultural milieu all well observed and engaging as well as a satisfying plot. I will be looking for the debut in the series.

I could not get into this book. I did not find it interesting, I did not like the writing style. It's not for me.

Small town murders meets Cold War operations

In the second book in a series, Oyebanji’s Greg Abimbola is not at all what he appears. A cleverly constructed protragonist, he is the greatest strength in the novel, but as in all things, also the fatal flaw. He’s capable in every situation he’s thrown into, which deflates the tension.

It’s a truism that a mystery or thriller writer invents the insurmountable situation and then works out exactly how to extract their hero; however, the novel lacked any real sense of menace to the lead, able to free himself, admittedly sometimes with one complication or another, and turn the tables on everybody.

Well-written but missing something: three stars.

This is the second in the series but I did not feel that this was an issue. For those who had read the first book I do not think there was over emphasis on explaining each characters part in the previous book.

The characters were well drawn and I wanted Greg to succeed in solving all his different mysteries. There are a few plot lines which were not tied up by the end of the book but they were background plots giving colour to Greg’s position as a teacher. These suggest a third book will be written.

I personally appreciated the lack of violence and this is much more a whodunnit rather than a thriller but the Russian mafia link made for an interesting read.

Not sure if it was because I didn't read book 1 that I really struggled to get into this book and found myself more skim reading it instead. I just couldn't get the characters nor the storyline so while grateful for the opportunity to read the book, sadly it isn't a hit from me.

Greg Akimbola is trying to keep his head down and stay out of the limelight. He has recently helped to solve a murder but his past life may just be catching up with him. Pressurised to find the murderer of a former GRU operative, Greg is also asked to look into the death of an influential financier. Looking into these murders will involve Greg using his skills but he likes his low-key life in Pittsburgh and doesn't want to have to move again.
I hadn't read the first book in the series which is a pity as I found myself really enjoying this book by the end. Once the character, a mixed race Russian former double agent, had connected with me I began to really engage with the plot. It's a well-written though rather laid-back spy thriller which is novel and also which addresses key plotlines around race, sexuality and class in a subtle way.

This is the second book by Adam Oyebanji with Greg Abimbola as the main character. Initially I struggled to get into the story which I found to be a bit of a slow burner. I'm glad I stuck with it though as it was suspenseful and held my interest. Love Greg's character and his struggle to maintain a normal lifestyle whilst working undercover.

In this second of the series, Greg Abimbola is the "quiet teacher," who reluctantly becomes embroiled in another murder case, a questionable suicide, school politics, and possible corruption in high places. His help is requested by a local detective to solve a murder at the same time his spy boss assigns him to investigate the same situation. This mystery is nicely suspenseful, but its strength is in its complex and interesting characters, from Greg to various spies and police to school personnel such as the custodian and administrators. I had not read the first in the series, but the author provided enough back story without interfering with the pace. I'll look forward to the next adventures of the Quiet Teacher.

I want to thank NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this story.

While it took me some time to get into the story, I did enjoy it. The characters were well-drawn, and storyline was reasonably paced. However, I felt it meandered at times, though it did build to a strong climax, hence my score.

This is the second book by Adam Oyebanji with Greg Abimbola as the main character.

Many people struggle to know who they are but Greg Abimbola has to constantly remember he is not who he appears to be to the outside world - namely a Black, Russian teacher in a Pittsburg school. Greg is a former Russian spy hiding in the USA who keeps people at a distance.

The book touches on issues of class, race, religion, sexuality and the worrying trend in America of retro steps being taken in relation to personal freedoms.

An interesting read and a satisfying conclusion to the two murders Greg comes to be embroiled in, I do feel that I would have enjoyed this more if I had read the first book of the series beforehand. A solid 3.5/5 rounded up to 4/5.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an impartial review.

I find this book intriguing with twists and turns along the way. It kept you guessing as to what had happened and how and more importantly why.

Great thriller

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

I am late reviewing this because it has taken me until this week to get the first instalment from the library. That was very enjoyable and I think it is crucial to read it before moving on to this second instalment, as it makes Greg's relationships with Andrea the school custodian/computer whizz, Rachel the acting police lieutenant, and Marasov (dead when this book begins) both easier to understand and richer.

This one was less focussed on the school where Greg teaches and at times felt a bit scattered as he juggled pressure from his former Russian boss, helping Rachel and worrying about Demitrius' children with trying to investigate an apparent suicide. Things came together at the end fairly suddenly (this would make a good movie), but the more streamlined plot of the first book worked better for me. I continue to enjoy the way Greg plays on his apparent 'Englishness'. I wonder if there will be more in this series...

I received an ARC of tis book via netgalley. I have read the first book in the series. This one is quite a difficult book to follow and at times the narrative feels clunky. The MC is a teacher, A "turned" or "outed" Russian Spy and something of a private detective. At the same time he appears to be a thoroughly nice guy, caring and compassionate but battling against his sexual orientation and his belief that it is against his religious ideals.

I like the short chapters and the diversity of characterization. It is certainly different from the mainstream of crime novels and I wouldn't be put off from reading more in the series.

An ex KGB agent is living anonymously in the US under a witness protection programme. For his own safety he wants to keep his head down and remain out of anyone's radar. Unfortunately, he can't help himself. Friends that he's made since need help, and despite himself, he helps. His training means that he is actually rather good at solving murder cases. An enjoyable romp ensues.

Greg is a black British man who teaches Russian at an exclusive Pittsburgh secondary school. He is a polished man who keeps to himself because he has secrets that connect him to the Russian mob. Greg is assigned to keep tabs on a Russian mob operative who has arrived in Pittsburgh. The novel unfolds with plots involving a body found in a river and the suspicious death of a school board trustee. Greg's partner in his sleuthing is Andrea Velasquez, the smart and sassy assistant school custodian, who has the computer skills Greg does not. Two Times Murder is the second in The Quiet Teacher Series. It can be read as a standalone novel, but it is recommended readers start with the first book, The Quiet Teacher.