The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

THE MAN WHO DIED TWICE by Richard Osman is the second Thursday Murder Club Mystery involving several pensioners who have become friends and solve crimes.  This time, it is Elizabeth’s ex-husband who turns up looking for safety after being accused of stealing 20 million English pounds worth of diamonds. Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim work with Elizabeth (formerly with MI5 or MI6) to solve the heist and some subsequent murders.  Also involved are Chris and Donna (local police), the central intelligence authorities (Sue and Lance), and various criminals involved with the mafia, drug sales, and muggings.  It’s a twisty, complicated plot with several interweaving pieces. One of the best aspects is the rather “snarky” attitude and witty comments from many of the characters: “‘When are your hunches ever wrong?’ says Ron. ‘Actually, quite often,’ says Joyce. She just says them with confidence. She’s like a consultant.’” Kirkus gave THE MAN WHO DIED TWICE a starred review: “A clever, funny mystery peopled with captivating characters that enhance the story at every quirky turn.” Also selected for the September LibraryReads list, it’s a humorous, puzzling mystery that readers will enjoy, especially if they have already sampled Osman’s earlier work simply titled The Thursday Murder Club.