Thursday Murder Club, #2
The Man Who Died Twice
by Richard Osman
Contents
Chapter 65
Overview
Late at night, Elizabeth, Stephen, and Bogdan consolidate what they know: Ryan has vanished, and Poppy likely faked her death, shot Hastings, and is still seeking Douglas’s diamonds. Concluding Poppy will shadow Elizabeth, they decide to set a trap using the diamonds as bait.
The discussion reframes their strategy from searching clues to drawing Poppy out, sharpening the hunt’s stakes.
Summary
After returning from Antwerp, Elizabeth sits with Stephen and Bogdan past midnight. Bogdan updates her: Ryan Baird has disappeared, and they should keep it from Ibrahim for now. The group turns to Poppy, re-examining what signs they may have missed about her and the diamonds.
Elizabeth weighs who can steal versus who can kill, recalling Poppy’s apparent shooting of Andrew Hastings and questioning whether Poppy’s shock was genuine. A fleeting suspicion that Poppy and Douglas might have been lovers is dismissed by Elizabeth as unlikely, despite Douglas’s history of dangerous pursuits.
Bogdan sketches a scenario: Poppy confronting Douglas for the real location of the diamonds and possibly killing him anyway. Stephen and Elizabeth agree Douglas would never reveal the truth under threat, implying Poppy is still searching and angry.
They then shift to strategy. Bogdan asserts that Poppy will watch Elizabeth, assuming Elizabeth will eventually find the diamonds. Stephen urges Elizabeth to revisit clues, but Elizabeth believes the answer isn’t in Douglas’s letter. Recognizing a stalemate, they agree they need a trap.
By the end of the conversation, the trio resolves to use the diamonds as bait to flush Poppy out, accepting that Elizabeth herself will likely be the focus of Poppy’s surveillance.
Who Appears
- ElizabethLeads the late-night strategy talk; doubts Poppy’s innocence; agrees to bait Poppy with the diamonds.
- BogdanReports Ryan’s disappearance; theorizes Poppy confronted Douglas; proposes trapping Poppy, who will watch Elizabeth.
- StephenSupports Elizabeth, prompts re-reading clues, and backs the diamonds-as-bait plan.
- PoppyOffstage focus; suspected to have faked death, shot Hastings, and to be hunting the diamonds.
- DouglasOffstage; believed to have lied about the diamonds’ location and potentially been killed by Poppy.