I highly recommend The Last Devil to Die to those readers who enjoy a Cozy Mystery with a solid group of main characters! The mysteries are complex, the characters vivid, and the whole thing is laced with warm humor and—remarkably, considering the body count—good feeling. Your next must-read mystery series.” Osman concocts a satisfyingly complex whodunit full of neat twists and wrong turns. But unlike most crime novelists, he ensures his book’s strength and momentum stem not from its plot or its thrills but rather its perfectly formed characters. Once again, the quartet of friends makes for delightful company… Heartwarming and enthralling. ‘They carried a kind of magic, the four of them,’ a policeman muses. That magic is still there in abundance.” The pensioners take an immediate interest in the details of Sharma's execution-style murder and initiate an investigation of their own... His next book will feature a father-in-law/daughter-in-law detective duo, and I must admit-that sounds like FUN- I am looking forward to meeting them!

There’s also a subplot about a romance scam. As someone who dealt with a mother taken in by one, I loved how the team dealt with it. I cannot adequately express how desperately I want Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim, the octogenarian wunderkinds and founding members of "The Thursday Murder Club" to be real so that I can hang out with them.

Retailers:

The gang are investigating the death of an old friend of Stephen’s, an antique dealer. He had gotten mixed up in a drug import scheme through no fault of his own. As the story progresses, more folks end up dead. This, the title. As with the previous books, the plot is well thought out and I was caught flat footed trying to figure out who was behind the murders. This is an emotional and heartbreaking read. Osman handles a delicate situation with care. He balances the hardship with love and support. He also weaves in a lot of fun and humor. This is one of the few series that makes me laugh out loud.

Returning in The Last Devil to Die are DCI Chris Hudson, PC Donna De Freitas and the unflappable, Bogdan Jankowski. It was great to see Joyce come into her own, channeling her inner Elizabeth. I also loved the Murder Club's chutzpah as they dropped in to have tea with various criminals and then casually arranged for a luncheon summit including two drug lords and two art forgers. The 4th edition of the Thursday Murder Club series is filled with crimes, philosophy and a short goodbye. The latest adventure of the Thursday Murder Club is also its best…Even if the mysteries weren’t absorbing — which they are —Osman’s books, likeAlexander McCall Smith’s, would work simply because it’s such fun to spend time with these people.What setsDevilapart from its predecessors is the deftness and humor with whichOsmanconfronts a subject that’s completely not funny: dementia…In the end, the murder club books are not really about crime but about friendship and finding ways to stay involved in life.” MY THOUGHTS: I love this group of people and am still awaiting the call that there is an apartment/villa/dog kennel available for me at Coopers Chase.Incredibly clever, with some deeply poignant scenes and laugh-out-loud shenanigans from the elderly friends, this fourth entry in the series is chaotically fun…Osmanweaves numerous plot lines, both tragic and hilarious, into an irresistible novel, perfect for fans of Mrs. Pollifax or Miss Marple.”

EXCERPT: Mervyn is an unconventional guest, but Elizaeth is learning to float on the tides of life these days.That’s the thing about Coopers Chase. You’d imagine it was quiet and sedate, like a village pond on a summer’s day. But in truth it never stops moving, it’s always in motion. And that motion is aging, and death, and love, and grief, and final snatched moments and opportunities grasped. The urgency of old age. There’s nothing that makes you feel more alive than the certainty of death.” The Last Devil to Die is equal parts well-plotted mystery, scintillating repartee and deep reflection on what it means to love and live.”

Delivers the same kind of clever dialogue, colorful characters and corkscrew plotting that made the other books so much fun… As you reach the last chapters of this book, you’ll think you’ve figured out the mystery. You’ll think so several times. ButOsmanand the Thursday Murder Club will keep the surprises coming.” Osman doesn’t disappoint… Everything is here that fans of the series have come to expect: humour, warmth, the confounding of expectations as these pensioners investigate… Along with the laughs, there is grief, and an ending that is handled sensitively (I was weeping)… We all need a regular injection of the Thursday Murder Club to keep our spirits up.” This book was part of my birthday present to myself. Yesterday I decided that it was time to enjoy it. This makes two nights in a row that I have stayed up far too late reading, unusual for a woman who is often in bed before 10 p.m. With Elizabeth preoccupied with Stephen’s care, Joyce takes the lead. Ron is Ron, while the reader finally learns more about Ibrahim’s past. A new friend comes into the fold, and some new residents of Coopers Chase find themselves in scandalous situations. Also, the criminal characters are entertaining, and I especially enjoyed Garth’s character. Donna, Chris, and Bogdan also play significant roles.If you haven't started on your journey with Joyce, Elizabeth, Ron, & Ibrahim, then I'd suggest you get a move on. Seriously. Go!