Thursday Murder Club, #2
The Man Who Died Twice
by Richard Osman
Contents
Chapter 75
Overview
Elizabeth realizes her elaborate theories were wrong and confronts Sue Reardon in a coroner’s van, accusing her of murdering Douglas and Poppy. Joyce quietly records as Sue receives a message that the diamonds were hidden in Joyce’s microwave. Sue reroutes the van to Coopers Chase and threatens Joyce at gunpoint, escalating the stakes.
Summary
Riding in a coroner’s van with Joyce and Sue Reardon beside Martin Lomax’s body, Elizabeth reflects that her taste for complexity blinded her. She admits Poppy could never have killed Douglas or faked her own death and resolves that sometimes the simplest answer is true.
Elizabeth turns the conversation, accusing Sue of walking into the safe house, shooting Douglas and Poppy, and then spinning Elizabeth with elaborate distractions to buy time to locate the diamonds. Elizabeth reveals her breakthrough: realizing Sue had slipped Siobhan’s number into Joyce’s pocket.
Joyce quietly records the exchange on her phone while Sue deflects. Sue then receives a message, announcing that Siobhan has found the diamonds in Joyce’s microwave. With that, Sue orders the driver to divert the van to Coopers Chase.
As the driver asks for the postcode, Sue produces a gun and points it at Joyce, demanding the address. The chapter ends with the immediate threat raised and Elizabeth’s suspicions about Sue confirmed.
Who Appears
- ElizabethRealizes simple truth, confronts Sue as Douglas and Poppy’s killer, orchestrates Joyce recording in the van.
- Sue ReardonExposed by Elizabeth as the murderer; receives news about the diamonds; diverts to Coopers Chase and threatens Joyce with a gun.
- JoyceQuietly records the conversation; becomes hostaged when Sue demands Coopers Chase postcode at gunpoint.
- DouglasRevealed victim; Elizabeth asserts Sue shot him during the safe-house attack.
- PoppyRevealed victim; Elizabeth confirms Sue killed her and refutes previous conspiracies.
- Siobhan (Poppy’s mother)Texts Sue that the diamonds were found in Joyce’s microwave, prompting the diversion.
- Martin LomaxCorpse transported in the van, a silent presence underscoring recent violence.
- Frank AndradeHis body is in a separate MI6 van, highlighting parallel clean-up operations.