The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

After successfully solving a murder in their first outing, the members of the Thursday Murder Club find themselves investigating even more crimes.  The first has to do with an attack on one of their own, while the second has a man from Elizabeth’s past contacting her.  It’s her ex-husband and he is on the run after allegedly stealing twenty million pounds’ worth of diamonds from a broker for some very bad people, all of whom have reason to want him dead.

The Murder Club has their hands full, but as usual they will rise to the occasion.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club and the lively assortment of people in the retirement community, but wondered if the delight of that book could be sustained in a sequel.  I’m very happy to report that this one is just as good, and maybe even better.  The old crew is still together:  Elizabeth the former spy who still has contacts in high places, Ron the rabble rouser union activist, Joyce the seemingly flighty one with a sharp eye and sharper mind, and Ibrahim, the psychiatrist who loves order and lists.  Together they are a formidable team.

What I like most about the book is the writing: practically every page there is something amusing and/or profound.  If I were the type to underline in books, I’d probably go through two pens just to get it all. There are wonderful character sketches that make me think of people I know.  There are insights that make me pause, and lines that make me laugh out loud.  I like the way the story is told from different perspectives—Joyce’s is in first person as she writes in her diary—and lets the reader see the world through someone else’s eyes. I adore the humor in the books, and the author is so good at making me want to read “just one more chapter.”

The characters are very distinctive, with strong personalities. I like all the Murder Club members immensely and would love to join them at their meetings, though they are all made of sterner stuff than I am. The characters are also all aware of their limitations and face mortality with intelligence, grace, and humor.

I am definitely going to read the rest in the series.  There’s to be a filmed version of the first book and from all reports it’s a dream cast:  Helen Mirren as Elizabeth, Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim, Pierce Brosnan as Ron, and Celia Imrie as Joyce.  While I’m sometimes dubious about book to film, I have to say I’m excited about this one. If it’s half as good as the book, I’ll be thrilled.

Highly recommended!

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

The residents of Coopers Chase, a retirement village in England, are distressed to hear that the owner and developer is planning to expand by taking out a graveyard and former nunnery.  They intend to protest the matter, but when the developer’s top lieutenant is found murdered, the police become involved. Motives abound, but the members of the Thursday Murder Club think they may be able to puzzle out the solution.

That sounds pretty fluffy, right? Jessica Fletcher meets the Golden Girls. In one sense, you would be right, but the depth of characterization and the complex plot lifts this story into a different level.  I prefer my fiction to be character driven and this book has vivid characters aplenty.  There’s Elizabeth, with her rather mysterious past—is she a former secret agent?—and her cool, analytical façade but who loves fiercely; Joyce, who seems the most stereotypical of the group, baking and writing in her diary, but who has sharp insights; Red Ron, a former rabble rouser who is still ready to lead a protest even if he has to do it from his walker; Ibrahim, a retired psychologist who stays awake nights re-reading old case files, remembering the ones he couldn’t save. There are too many other important characters to list here, including the police officers, but each one is memorable and distinctive.

As the story progresses, there are more mysteries to be solved; some are not crimes, per se, but interesting all the same. I will admit that near the end there are some “info dumps” in which the author tells us about things all in one go rather than carefully doling out clues.  As a rule, I dislike this tactic a lot but in this book I didn’t mind. The answers are all tied up in character so that when all is revealed, it makes perfect sense.

I also liked that there’s a certain amount of realism in the book. Some struggle with new technology. Some embrace it. They are aware of their limitations but aren’t defined by them. The relationships between characters are complex and layered.  They are all very much individuals, and mostly people I would like to know. Some of the solutions to the mysteries were emotional for me as well, but to say more would get into spoiler territory.

The stories unfold from the viewpoints of several different characters, which I found a little confusing at first but quickly adjusted as I figured out who was who.  I really like that the author believes in showing rather than telling, and soon these characters felt like old friends.

There are two more books in this series so far, and I am very much looking forward to continuing the journey with characters I have grown to love and care about.