At a glance
First published2021
Settingcontemporary Kent retirement village, England
Audiobook11h 48m · Lesley Manville
AudienceAdult
LuvemBooks Verdict
Best for: Fans of cozy mysteries and character-driven ensemble fiction who want a warmhearted, witty, and emotionally resonant whodunit centred on sharp-minded retirees — particularly those who enjoy audiobooks, given Lesley Manville's acclaimed narration.
Worth it? Skip it? Read the full verdict →Ask LuvemBooks
Was this helpful?
The Man Who Died Twice is the second Thursday Murder Club mystery by Richard Osman, reuniting the retired amateur sleuths Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim at Coopers Chase as they tackle an escalating, higher-stakes case built around a man who has apparently died twice. Critics including Jeffery Deaver and Joe Hill have praised it as funnier, more suspenseful, and more emotionally resonant than its already-popular predecessor. It is an ideal read for fans of warmhearted cozy mysteries with dry British wit and ensemble character dynamics — readers seeking a darker, grittier procedural will find the village-set tone is a deliberate contrast to that tradition.
- Is it worth reading?
- By multiple critical accounts, The Man Who Died Twice is a standout sequel that surpasses its already-popular predecessor in both ambition and emotional punch. Joe Hill, a #1 New York Times bestselling author, called Osman's novels "absolute gold," describing them as "funny, warm, and big-hearted" and "so much more than just brilliantly engineered mysteries." Jeffery Deaver praised it as "by turns moving, hilarious, and brilliantly suspenseful," noting it "keeps us flipping pages from start to finish." For readers who enjoy cozy mysteries centered on older protagonists, dry wit, and genuine emotional resonance alongside puzzle-solving, this second outing delivers on all those fronts.
- Similar books
- Readers who enjoy The Man Who Died Twice will likely gravitate toward other witty, character-driven British mysteries. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith shares the warmhearted ensemble detective spirit and focus on character over violence. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz offers a more meta take on classic British crime fiction with clever plotting at its core. Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton launched another beloved cozy mystery series with an older, eccentric female protagonist. For those drawn to the humor and heart as much as the mystery, The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion offers similar wit and warmth, albeit in a different genre. For more of Osman's own work, The Thursday Murder Club Series 5-Book Box Set collects the full run of the series.
- Who should read this?
- The Man Who Died Twice is ideally suited to fans of cozy mysteries who appreciate ensemble casts, dry British wit, and emotional warmth alongside well-constructed plotting. Readers who enjoy stories centered on older protagonists — the four sleuths are described as septuagenarians — and who value character depth as much as mystery mechanics will find this series particularly rewarding. It also has genuine crossover appeal for readers who don't typically reach for crime fiction but are drawn in by humor and heart. Those seeking a darker, grittier procedural should look elsewhere, as the warmhearted, retirement-village tone is the deliberate identity of the series.
- About Richard Osman
- Richard Thomas Osman is an English television presenter, producer, and novelist.
- How is the audiobook?
- The Penguin Audio edition of The Man Who Died Twice is narrated by Lesley Manville, a celebrated stage and screen actress whose involvement lends the production a level of performance craft that audio editions of popular fiction don't always receive. The unabridged audiobook runs 11 hours and 49 minutes and is Whispersync for Voice-ready, meaning listeners can switch seamlessly between the audiobook and the Kindle text edition without losing their place. The production ranks among the top titles in the Cozy Mysteries and Amateur Sleuth Mysteries categories on Audible, reflecting broad listener engagement.
- Is this a good book club pick?
- The Man Who Died Twice works well as a book club selection thanks to its four distinct, richly drawn characters — Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim — each of whom brings a different personality and skill set to the investigation, providing multiple points of identification for group readers. The plot's escalating stakes and the novel's balance of humor, suspense, and emotional depth give a group plenty to discuss beyond who-done-it mechanics. Critic Kerridge noted that Osman "manages to keep the novel rooted in truth by focusing on his central characters' everyday concerns," a quality that grounds the more outlandish mystery elements in genuine human drama. Its accessible, warmhearted tone also makes it an easy group consensus recommendation.
- Where does this fit in the series?
- The Man Who Died Twice is the second of five books in Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club series. It follows The Thursday Murder Club and precedes The Bullet That Missed. The novel contains its own self-contained mystery, but character backstory and relationship dynamics from the first book carry over, so reading in order is recommended for the fullest experience. LuvemBooks has reviewed The Thursday Murder Club Series 5-Book Box Set, which collects all five novels.
Summarize this book
Is it worth reading?
Who should read this?
About Richard Osman
How is the audiobook?
Is this a good book club pick?
Where does this fit in the series?
Summarize this book
The Man Who Died Twice is the second novel in Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club series, following retired amateur detectives Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim who meet weekly at Coopers Chase, a retirement village in Kent, to investigate cold cases. In this installment, they are drawn into a new mystery built around a man who has apparently died twice — a conceit that lets Osman construct an interlocking, surprise-laden plot that escalates well beyond the cozy confines of their village into higher-stakes criminality than the first book. People magazine noted that "these septuagenarian sleuths of the Thursday Murder Club don't miss a beat," while Malcolm Forbes in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune called it "the perfect book with which to unwind." The unabridged audiobook, narrated by actress Lesley Manville, runs 11 hours and 49 minutes via Penguin Audio.
Follow up
Who are the four sleuths?
Can I read this without reading book one?
How many books are in the series?
Synthesized from verified book data & published reviews · How we review
Press Enter to ask. Answers come from our editorial Q&A — start typing to see related questions.
Age & Reading Level
Recommended age
Adult
Reading level
Adult
Skip if you're looking for a darker, grittier crime procedural rather than a warmhearted cozy mystery.
Editorial Review
The Man Who Died Twice, the second entry in Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club series, reunites the beloved quartet of amateur sleuths — Elizabeth, Ron, Ibrahim, and Joyce — in another witty, warmhearted murder mystery set in a Kent retirement village. Published by Viking Press (Penguin Random House) in September 2021 and released as an Audible audiobook narrated by Lesley Manville on September 28, 2021, the book has drawn praise from major crime writers and general readers alike for balancing sharp plotting with genuine emotional depth.…
Read the Full Review