The Man Who Died Twice

Describe the distinctive features of Joyce’s first-person diary entries. What characteristics of her narrative style make her sympathetic or unsympathetic to the reader?

Elizabeth states, “Some people in life […] are weather forecasters, whereas other people are the weather itself” (198). What does she mean by this metaphor? How does it apply to the members of the Thursday Murder Club and their relationships?

Discuss the role of the diamonds in the novel. What do they symbolize to the various characters? Does their significance change in different contexts?

How does The Man Who Died Twice portray the criminal justice system? Do you agree with the negative assessment of the legal system as it functions in the novel? Does this justify the Thursday Murder Club’s decision to appoint itself an arbiter of justice?

Friendship is portrayed as a healing force in The Man Who Died Twice. Describe one of the friendships from the novel and discuss its impact on the characters involved.

After his attack, Ibrahim reflects, “Revenge is not a straight line, it’s a circle. It’s a grenade that goes off while you’re still in the room, and you can’t help but be caught in the blast” (85). What does he mean by this? How far do the events of the novel bear this theory out?

Elizabeth undergoes a notable character arc during the novel. How does her character develop, and what causes this change in her perspective?

The Man Who Died Twice is an example of a mystery novel. How does the text meet readers’ expectations of mystery fiction in terms of character, plot, and use of literary techniques? In what ways does Osman subvert these expectations?