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This week I was shamed by Goodreads when they joyfully informed me that I had exceeded my target of reading 50 books in 2023. Due to a million other things happening I had probably only reviewed about a fifth of them. Slapped wrist and must try harder in 2024! One of the ways that I’ve increased my book tally is by listening to an audio book while I am on the daily dog walk. Some books don’t really lend themselves to this but I’ve quite enjoyed listening to some cosy crime while battling the weather outside. I did read The Thursday Murder Club which was Osman’s first book in this series. I have to confess that it did take me several attempts to actually complete it though and I put that down to the huge chunks of that book that were dedicated to character building and exposition. Once you are familiar with the core group of Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim the second book flows much more cleanly and is a joy to listen to.

In The Man who Died Twice we get much more of an insight into Elizabeth’s past and her hush hush career in the secret service. When she receives a letter from an old colleague the group are drawn into a world of diamond heists, mafia hitmen and the inevitable murders that occur as a result. There is also a more poignant note running through this book when Ibrahim is mugged while on a shopping trip in their sleepy little nearby town and is seriously injured as a result. His subsequent loss of confidence is so true to life and very moving.

Although this book is focussed on Elizabeth and her past we still see as much of the rest of the Thursday Murder gang as usual and there is a lot more exposition of the characters of Chris and Donna, members of the local police force who were coerced into helping the gang in the first book but now see them as fast friends and are happy to work with them on both solving Ibrahim’s assault and the mafia infused mayhem that occurs at Coopers Chase. Thankfully Bogdan also returns and becomes an integral part of the quirky investigative team.

UK Publication Date: Sep 16 2021. 422 pages. I listened to the audio book narrated by the wonderful Lesley Manville.

You can get your copy of the book here: https://amzn.to/3S7ZQrw