After reading The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, I wanted to read more in the series of the same name. The Man Who Died Twice is the second of five that follow the crime solving escapades of Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim, septuagenarian residents of an upscale retirement complex in rural England.
The format is the same as the introductory novel. Chapters alternate between those written in third person voice and those told from Joyce’s perspective. Joyce is the character with heart, who sees the good in people. She’s a good foil to the hardened Elizabeth, a former M15 spy. There are also two plot lines.
One involves nabbing the young thug who mugged Ibrahim; the second is more complex because it brings Elizabeth’s past into the limelight. He ex-husband, also a spy, is accused of stealing diamonds from a man with connections to various worldwide crime organizations.
There’s plenty of humor, intrigue and even a little romance. Osman’s characters are intelligent and caring. This includes the two local police officers they befriended, and often irritated, in the first book. The writing is sharp and engaging as the author provides more insight into the characters’ histories. After all, who knew Elizabeth had an ex?! That isn’t all that’s revealed about their pasts.
Of course, there’s a murder to solve, perhaps even two. This, and efforts to bring Ibrahim’s perpetrator to justice, keep the foursome busy, the police wondering and some of the bad guys unaware of what awaits them.
The Man Who Died Twice
Four Bookmarks
Pamela Dorman Books, 2021
368 pages
The Blue Page Special 