Genre: Mystery; Humor

Narrator: Lesley Manfield & Fiona Shaw

Listening to The Thursday Murder Club Book 2 - The Man who Died Twice and Book 3 The Bullet that Missed by Richard Osman felt a bit like coming home to me in a very good way. Voiced by Lesley Manfield and Fiona Shaw, the novels continue to show how Joyce, Ron, Ibrahim, and Elizabeth make living in a retirement community look like quite an adventure. In Book 2 - a mysterious man from Elizabeth’s past comes to the community with a tale of stolen diamonds and a mystery that ultimately involves, well murder. In Book 3 the adventures continue with the exploration of a murdered TV star and all kinds of laundered money. And while the four detectives and their friends work through these mysteries, we are lucky enough to briefly be a part of their lives, loves, and losses.

I wrote about the original The Thursday Murder Club - and much of what I like remains the same. And there’s more now…two more books in. I really like all of the characters, but Joyce wins the show for me in these two. I love the form of a diary entry. She is charming; she is clueless…I laughed more than once over her instagram for example. She is a delight. Her care for Ibrahim and the others in her circle, including Allen the dog, is touching again and again. The friendship that develops between her and Elizabeth is just as satisfying as a romance for this reader. Ron, Bogdan, and Donna find their own romances. I am fascinated by how well Osman creates this world where crime bosses, spies, police, counselors, and all manner of people interact as if such is all quite normal. Horrible criminals can seem vulnerable; money launderers lovable. Joyce can be staring down the barrel of the gun and just carrying on a conversation. The whole premise is entertaining, but also - intended or not - I like the idea that people are portrayed as complex and that as we get older we become much more accepting of that complexity. Both mysteries are entertaining - clues and red herrings and suspense abounds.

Perhaps what I enjoyed the most here is the growth Osman creates in nearly all of the characters. They all are dealing with trauma and loss at some level, but they find happiness in a number of ways (some quite dangerous :-) They are building a community and that is a delight to watch. You all - The Man Who Died Twice and The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman - are a great read!