Book Review: The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman (Thursday Murder Club Book #2)

 

Book: The Man Who Died Twice (Thursday Murder Club Book #2)

Author: Richard Osman 

Pages: 422

Read on: Kindle 

Read in: ~4 hours 

Plot Summary: 

It's the following Thursday.

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?

General Thoughts: Last year, deep in the doldrums of the Lockdown, I discovered The Thursday Murder Club and read it without putting it down! The spoiler-free review is here. Do read this post first to know a bit more about the four main characters and the world of the Coopers Chase Retirement Community. 

Things I Liked: 

1. The premise of this book was very interesting. It was not fully set within the Coopers Chase Retirement Community, which was a good thing because the main mystery of the Thursday Murder Club was entirely set within that world and I was a bit concerned if the retirement community had enough fodder for a second murder mystery. So, it made sense that this book, sort of, starts there but then is much more expansive. A man from Elizabeth's past life at MI5 shows up with some stolen diamonds and being tailed by a dangerous fencer (not the sportsman, but the kind that acts as an intermediary between arms dealers/ drug kingpins/ money launderers and their buyers) and the mafia. He asks Elizabeth and her motley crew of crime-solving septuagenarians for protection and then, of course, things go very wrong! Interesting, right? 

2. In this book, we get to learn a lot about Elizabeth's past as a distinguished MI5 agent as well as a lot about her personal life whilst doing this job. All good things. We also get to see the real vulnerability that comes with old age when poor Ibrahim is mugged during a bookshop outing. However, fret not, his three friends and the two local cops- Chris and Donna- along with Bogdan (the mysterious Polish fellow who seems to do and know everything) come up with the best way to get Ibrahim justice. 

3. The murder mystery at the heart of this book is also nicely done. Plenty of suspects and red herrings. The how and why of it is also interesting. It is a mystery whose resolution is also very satisfying! You'd want to get off your couch and clap when the second-last chapter rolls along! 

4. It is always nice to re-visit characters one grows to love in books and to see them flourish and do well! So, this book opens a possibility for something happy for our DC Donna and that made me really happy! 

5. This is a fast-paced and well-written book and there is a lot in this that is heartwarming and fun! A perfect book for the upcoming spooky season and fall weather in the Northern Hemisphere! :) 

Rating: 4.5/5