“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?”

Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to share my review of The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman. The Man Who Died Twice was published by Penguin Books on 12th May 2022 and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio and digital formats.

I know, I know. I’m all out of order! If you’re a regular visitor to the blog, then you may remember that I recently published my review of The Impossible Fortune, book five in The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman. Today I want to talk to you about the second book, The Man Who Died Twice. Convention? Pah! Who needs convention? Well, me, for one! I actually read this book (and I also listened to the audiobook at the same time, which was a new thing for me!) earlier this year. Richard’s lovely publisher offered me a proof of The Impossible Fortune, but I realised that I would be skipping a few books in the middle. And I can’t have that. So I made it my mission over the summer to read The Man Who Died Twice, The Bullet that Missed and The Last Devil to Die. And I’m so glad I did! What an utterly charming, wonderfully written series this is.

In The Man Who Died Twice, the past comes back to haunt Elizabeth when she receives a letter from a colleague. But this isn’t any old colleague. Intrigued, Elizabeth goes to meet the sender, only to come face to face with her ex-husband, Douglas. Douglas is in a bit of a pickle and needs Elizabeth’s help. But this is the Thursday Murder Club and there’s always a twist in the tale! Before long, people are dying and it’s down to the Thursday Murder Club to discover who is behind the murders. They’ll keep half an eye out for the missing diamonds whilst they’re at it. Can’t hurt. With a plethora of gangsters at their heels, with Ibrahim recovering from a vicious attack and with life continuing as normal at Coopers Chase, the second instalment of The Thursday Murder Club is a crime fiction delight.

I love this series. I have become such a fan of the way Osman tells a story. His characters are divine and wholly believable. Picking up a Thursday Murder Club novel feels like being reunited with old friends. The Man Who Died Twice takes the reader into a world of stolen diamonds, organised crime and MI5 secrets.

The Man Who Died Twice is a superbly written follow-up to The Thursday Murder Club and stands tall with all of the other books in this fine series. It packs an unexpected emotional punch, particularly when something awful happens to another of my favourite characters, Ibrahim. Will Ibrahim ever recover from his ordeal? Well, you’ll have to give the series a read and find out for yourself! There’s betrayal aplenty, with underhand dealings going on left, right and centre. A gripping, captivating and engrossing mystery. Heartwarming, witty and engaging. Impossible to put down and impossible to forget (not that I would want to!). I loved The Man Who Died Twice. Highly recommended.

The Who Died Twice by Richard Osman was published in the UK by Penguin Books on 12th May 2022 and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio and digital formats (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | Waterstones | bookshop.org | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop | damppebbles amazon.co.uk shop | damppebbles amazon.com shop |

Richard Osman is an author, producer and television presenter. The Thursday Murder Club is his first novel. He is well known for TV shows including Pointless and Richard Osman’s House of Games. As the creative director of Endemol UK, Richard has worked as an executive producer on numerous shows including Deal Or No Deal and 8 Out of 10 Cats. He is also a regular on panel and game shows such as Have I Got News For You, Would I Lie To You and Taskmaster.