The Bullet That Missed

tags: British series, mystery, septuagenarians, Thursday Murder Club #3

⭐⭐⭐

From Goodreads

It is an ordinary Thursday, and things should finally be returning to normal.

Except trouble is never far away where the Thursday Murder Club are concerned. A local news legend is on the hunt for a sensational headline, and soon the gang are hot on the trail of two murders, ten years apart.

To make matters worse, a new nemesis pays Elizabeth a visit, presenting her with a deadly mission: kill or be killed...

While Elizabeth grapples with her conscience (and a gun), the gang and their unlikely new friends (including TV stars, money launderers and ex-KGB colonels) unravel a new mystery. But can they catch the culprit and save Elizabeth before the murderer strikes again?

I was eagerly awaiting the latest addition to the mystery series and was disappointed. I'm in the minority because the novel has a very high rating on Goodreads.

IMHO, the regulars, the two "bad" villains, and the mystery itself are too cartoonish. There are too many additional characters and the original side characters were set aside. Not good but I'm not saying bye bye yet to Mr. Richard Osman.. I will still read the next one.

The Man Who Died Twice

tags: MI5, murder mystery, septuagenarians

⭐⭐⭐⭐

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?

From the first book, 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.

The Man Who Died Twice is the second book of a new mystery series, The Thursday Murder Club. I read it because the first book is not available yet from the library. The story is a stand alone but there are recurring characters aside from the 4 septuagenarians. 

The story-telling is straightforward without flowery language which I like and the story is full of surprises. I figured out who the murderer is about 2/3 into the book. Just a wild guess and I was right. 

Good read. I recommend for murder mystery fans.