The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 5 days

Pages - 422

Publisher - Viking

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Shocking news reaches the Thursday Murder Club.

An old friend in the antiques business has been killed, and a dangerous package he was protecting has gone missing.

As the gang springs into action they encounter art forgers, online fraudsters and drug dealers, as well as heartache close to home.

With the body count rising, the package still missing and trouble firmly on their tail, has their luck finally run out? And who will be the last devil to die?



My Review

This is book four in the series and I would say you will get more out of it by reading the previous books and getting the backstory(s) of the characters. The books are centred around older characters who have a Thursday Murder Club and they set out investigating crimes/murder(s) and they are actually pretty good at it.

One of the things I love about these books is how quirky the characters are and whilst that is present in some of this one there is a sadder/dark streak in this book I wasn't expecting. I get that the characters growth/arcs need to go a in certain directions but sometimes when you are caught off guard it can impact in your enjoyment of a story. That being said I also know that it might be more of a me thing than the story/author thing.

On the lighter side there is more of a couples theme in this one and Ron puts his foot in stuff as he does, set in his ways stubborn but still. Skulduggery, drugs, murder and investigating, the opening chapter kicks us into the thick of it straight off.

Friendship is quite often at the heart of these stories and it is strong in this one. We obviously have the police investigation, the gang doing their thing, criminals old and new and everyone is looking for the same thing just for different reasons. It is a good story, engaging just not my fave of the series and has some dark/sad themes involved so for me 3/5 this time. Will I read more of the series? Absolutely, I love the characters and their antics just found this one had a bit more sadness than I was expecting.

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The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman

The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out over a week

Pages - 413

Publisher - Viking

Source - Bought


Blurb from Goodreads

One Thursday afternoon in the seniors' center, a decade-old cold case --their favorite kind-- leads the Thursday Murder Club to a local news legend and a murder with no body and no answers. A new foe they call "Viking", wants Elizabeth to kill former KGB chief Viktor, or he will kill her sweet best friend Joyce. Activist marked for death Ron and psychiatrist Ibrahim chase clues for Viking's identity, and investigate mob-queen prisoner from last book.

This third adventure ranges from a prison cell with espresso machine to a luxury penthouse with swimming pool high in the sky.


My Review

Book three in the Thursday murder club series, if you haven't read the other two you can read this as a standalone. The gang have a new mystery to investigate, the disappearance and suspected murder of a news reporter who stumbled upon something big. They interview her colleagues, get themselves into all manners of mischief and like a dog with a bone refuse to drop anything until they get their answers. As well as that we have one of the group being threatened, blackmail and set up to commit a muuuuuuurduuuuuur.

We have the usual antics, humour, nonsense and digging to get their answers, we also see a more serious side as one of the partners of our group has dementia and we see a bit more to that side. We always get embroiled in the case they are checking out but this book also gives us a bit more of the personal side of our much loved characters.

We see some bit characters that may or may not feature in future novels. I think Osman has created a perfect mix here, characters we care about, like, loathe, laugh at and or with and new fresh adventures to keep us intrigued and enjoying, 4/5.

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The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out over a few weeks (as able)

Pages -

Publisher - Viking

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

It's the following Thursday.

Elizabeth has received a letter from an old colleague, a man with whom she has a long history. He's made a big mistake, and he needs her help. His story involves stolen diamonds, a violent mobster, and a very real threat to his life.

As bodies start piling up, Elizabeth enlists Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron in the hunt for a ruthless murderer. And if they find the diamonds too? Well, wouldn't that be a bonus?

But this time they are up against an enemy who wouldn't bat an eyelid at knocking off four septuagenarians. Can The Thursday Murder Club find the killer (and the diamonds) before the killer finds them?


My Review

This is the second in the series by Osman, you don't have to have read the first to read this and I actually prefer this of the two. I think Osman has found his feet and certainly more comfortable with his craft in this one. Back with our favourites in the retirement village, The Thursday Murder Club, elderly resident who pull together and their resources to solve mysteries/murders. DCI Hudson and PC Donna Freitas are back too investigating and also us getting to know them and each other more personally.

When a letter comes to Elizabeth from an old flame we head into a mystery of stolen diamonds, Elizabeth's past and how she has so many connections. Local dodgy dealers, drug runners, thugs and allmanners of skulduggery.

I think I liked this one better because we already know our characters strengths and weaknesses orflaws. This time we get a bit more depth and insight into Elizabeth and the team work together to solve her mystery and the assault of one of their nearest and dearest.

The book is super busy but not in a distraction type of way, we are offered page turning intrigue, interest, murder, investigation, shade or past reveal. We also have Joyce's diary style entries so along with the case we get those insights too.

The characters are older but anything but dull. Loyal, nosey, fierce, interesting and very human. They have ailments, fears, vulnerabilities, snipes, moods and humour, more than a few chuckles had throughout this one. I hope he has more than a few of these still to pen as I think they will just become better and better as the series goes on, 4/5 for me.

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The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 336

Publisher - Penguin

Source - Review copy & bought the hardback

Blurb from Goodreads

Four septuagenarians with a few tricks up their sleeves
A female cop with her first big case
A brutal murder
Welcome to…
THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB

In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss unsolved crimes; together they call themselves The Thursday Murder Club. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves.

When a local developer is found dead with a mysterious photograph left next to the body, the Thursday Murder Club suddenly find themselves in the middle of their first live case. As the bodies begin to pile up, can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer, before it’s too late?


My Review

In a wee but fabulous retirement village a quartet of friends meet everything Thursday for "The Thursday Murder Club". They look at old unsolved crimes, go through them, debate, speculate and investigate. When a murder happens right on their doorstep - its practically fate for the club, isn't it? A new copper PC Donna De Freitas goes to give a chat to the elderly folks and ends up getting more than she bargained for. Involving themselves in the investigation and making pals with the cops the unlikely gang set to pulling their resources and manipulating the police to get the answers they need to try and discover "who done it?"

We get introduced to the characters, their personalities, their quirks/stereotypes/opinions and who they are and how they gel together despite their differences. The retirement village sounds a lovely wee place to end up in, especially with amateur sleuths and how sharp they are with their insights.

A murder, secrets, lies, friendship - this is an absolute wee cozy crime reads. It also has some humour laced throughout and if you like a wee crime story but not too heavy and with bigger focus on relationships and group/personality dynamics you will love this. Book one in a series, I liked this, few wee surprises and wee flashes of emotives in it, I look forward to the next one, 3.5/5 for me!

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