The Man Who Died Twice

In Chapter 11, readers are introduced to the character of Martin Lomax. Providing third-person access to his thoughts, the narrative humorously juxtaposes Martin’s desire to show off his garden with the grenades and dead bodies hidden there. This technique highlights the contrast between Martin’s idyllic home and the illegal activities that have funded it. By revealing the depth of Martin’s corruption, the author ensures readers have no empathy for his character. When Martin is later shot at the meeting arranged by Elizabeth, his death is portrayed as acceptable collateral damage.

Similarly, Chapter 18 provides insight into the thoughts and motivations of another criminal, Ryan. After answering “No Comment” during his questioning by Chris and Donna, Ryan arrogantly assumes that he will get away with the crime. Like Martin, Ryan is an unequivocal villain. Self-satisfied, he congratulates himself on the income he makes from various criminal activities, including delivering drugs for Connie. This revelation establishes a connection between Ryan and Connie, again linking the novel’s narrative threads.

The failure of the criminal justice system to punish Ryan contextualizes the thematic exploration of revenge in Chapters 12 and 16. While Ron confidently asserts, “Revenge is what you need” (65), Ibrahim is initially uncertain. He 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). Yet, the allure of revenge is growing stronger for Ibrahim, despite his moral principles.

Chapter 14 is relatively uneventful as Joyce and Elizabeth have tea with Poppy. However, this episode is important in establishing Poppy’s character. As Joyce and Elizabeth get to know her, they learn that she is a sensitive young woman who would rather be a poet than an MI5 agent. In this context, her murder later in the novel is presented as a waste of youth and potential.

Suspense builds in Chapter 15 when an armed intruder breaks into Douglas’s bedroom. As Douglas hides in the wardrobe, sure he will be shot, he reflects, “Of all the things that were to happen to you in life, death was one of the very biggest” (80), touching on the recurring theme of mortality. Foreshadowing future plot developments, he also wonders if Elizabeth will “find his other letter” (82). The chapter ends on a cliffhanger as the intruder prepares to shoot, leading readers to assume Douglas is dead.

In Chapter 17, Joyce arrives at the crime scene to find that Poppy shot the armed intruder, saving Douglas’s life. This revelation subverts readers’ expectations. A great deal happens in this chapter to advance the plot. Joyce’s narrative crucially introduces the character of MI5 agent Sue Reardon, as well as her colleague Lance James. From the start, Sue is presented as capable and authoritative, like a younger version of Elizabeth. Consequently, when she later turns out to be the murderer of Douglas and Poppy, she is not an obvious suspect. At this stage in the novel, Lance appears to be a more likely suspect as he was present when the diamond theft occurred.

Two significant events occur as Sue and Lance take Douglas and Poppy away. Joyce gives Sue and Lance friendship bracelets, effectively widening the range of suspects when one of her bracelets is later captured on CCTV. Shortly afterward, Joyce finds the note in her pocket instructing her to call Poppy’s mother, Siobhan. Although Sue planted the message, Joyce’s assumption that it was Poppy leads Elizabeth to conclude that Poppy faked her death.

Douglas’s departure from Coopers Chase creates a brief fall in action as it seems the Thursday Murder Club’s involvement in the case of the missing diamonds is over. However, the narrative establishes this lull only to build tension again when Douglas and Poppy are later discovered murdered.

In Chapter 19, Ron’s disappointment over missing the dead body creates humor, as does Elizabeth’s explanation for calling Joyce instead: “I was left with a simple choice between a woman with forty years of nursing experience and a man in a football top who would bang on about Michael Foot the moment MI5 arrived” (101). Elizabeth’s justification also highlights Joyce’s character strengths. Although often underestimated by others, she has years of nursing experience and is more capable than most people give her credit for. These strengths emerge in her character arc as she gains increasing agency in the novel.

Chapter 20 creates another link between separate narrative threads when Bogdan decides to approach Connie for the cocaine to frame Ryan. This chapter also includes several examples of exposition where the author recaps events from The Thursday Murder Club. These details enable readers unfamiliar with the first novel to comprehend certain aspects of the story. Bogdan passes the bench where Bernard, a late friend of Joyce’s, once sat. The chapter also reintroduces Elizabeth’s husband, Stephen, whose dementia was explored in the first novel. Bogdan and Stephen’s interaction is an opportunity to inform new readers about the events that formed the foundation of their friendship. Stephen knows that Bogdan murdered Tony Curran (a criminal who killed Bogdan’s friend) but loyally keeps his secret. This reminder of Bogdan’s crime reinforces the novel’s exploration of “righteous” revenge.

The descriptions of Stephen’s cognitive challenges in this chapter contribute to the novel’s exploration of dementia. While he has moments of great clarity, he struggles to remember people’s names and keep track of daily events. He embodies the kind of death hinted at in the novel’s title: the decline of the mind and personality through cognitive deterioration.