Book 14/30.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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?
I loved The Thursday Murder Club, so the second book in this Richard Osman series was much anticipated. The pull of this series is its characters as they are its heart and soul, and this book is another superb display of that. Their affection for one another, their enthusiasm for anything remotely exciting, and their good humour all exemplify the best of humanity, not just for old people, but for people of all ages.
The mystery in The Man Who Died Twice is compelling and an improvement over the first book. It may have taken its time getting started, but once we get there it’s off to the races and from that point on, the book was really engrossing. I also really enjoyed the dual points of view in this series, which alternate between third person omniscient and first person in the form of Joyce’s journal. I find Joyce’s voice to be particularly delightful and her colorful commentary of the events a real highlight.
** A guide to ratings **
1 star – did not like it
2 stars – it was okay
3 stars – liked it
4 stars – really liked it
5 stars – it was amazing
Lwile the Leo 