This second novel is every bit as charming as the first book by Richard Osman. Although this is a mystery, the delightful characters are back in full force (especially Joyce) and they threaten to completely steal the show from the plot. Mystery lovers need not fear though, as there are multiple murders with an international money launderer and drug dealer thrown in for good measure and to add to the puzzle. Snappy dialogue, brilliant characterization, and a compelling mystery make this a must-read whether one likes mysteries or not. After such a brilliant start with The Thursday Murder Club, one wondered if Mr. Osman could live up to the expectations and the high bar set with that novel. Mystery solved–he definitely did.

Review of the unabridged audiobook

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: 10 religious exclamations; 1 anatomical word.

Violence/Gore: Reference to prior murders; recollection of death in the past; character says/knows that someone has been killed in the past; verbal threats of harm (spoken and unspoken); it is mentioned that someone has killed in the past; mugging of older man resulting in severe injuries/hospitalization; attempted assassination at gunpoint; characters learn after the fact that a character was killed by being shot in the head, body is later seen as it is removed by authorities; come upon scene of 2 dead bodies with description of scene including mention of blood and statement that one person had been shot in the face and was unrecognizable, some description; person has to identify body of a loved one at a morgue; many discussions about murder and murder scenes; scene in which people are shot and die, mention of blood; character is shot, mention of blood; characters held at gunpoint; report of how an individual incapacitated others.

Sex/Nudity: Reference to picture of penis; reference to jugs; reference to a man having sex with a character’s mother; now that a man is seeing a woman and she sees him naked he is exercising; character thinks things are boring and that a good affair–or maybe even a gay affair would be an enjoyable distraction for the community; character implies that another has had affairs; character remembers their past and the affairs that broke up his marriage; character thinks that she has weighed out cocaine on a desk and had sex on it; character remembers getting in trouble for inappropriate joke about a gay co-worker; reference to sexual harassment training; innuendo; joke about being seduced by an Italian; character reports a bad date, with sex, and is teased about it by others; character is on a date and thinking about having sex after dinner (does not).

Mature Subject Matter:

Dementia, theft, murder, drug dealing, aging.

Alcohol/Drug Use:

Stake out of drug dealer; adults drink wine; purchase of cocaine; reference to acid trip; adults smoke; picture of someone smoking a joint; drug dealing.