The Man Who Died Twice

British television personality Osman is back with his sophomore effort, a sequel to The Thursday Murder Club. What do you get when you put together a nurse, a psychiatrist, a union rep, and a spy, all retired septuagenarians? An Agatha Christie–like comedic and suspenseful mystery about the spy’s ex-husband, who has landed himself in quite a pickle. Osman excels at characterization, with understated humor, pathos, and a beautiful dignity for the detectives. The mystery is engrossing, with several deaths whose impacts are quite emotional. Lesley Manville narrates, handling the humor and tension with great ease. She capably gives each character their own intonations so that one always knows who is speaking—capturing Ibrahim’s sorrow, fear, and shame over his new circumstances in a deeply poignant way, and portraying dithery Joyce in such a manner that listeners will realize she has hidden depths.