Thursday Murder Club, #2
The Man Who Died Twice
by Richard Osman
Contents
Chapter 23
Overview
Elizabeth and Joyce travel to Douglas’s new Hove safe house, running late after Joyce’s coffee stop. Sensing a secret, Elizabeth deduces Joyce called Poppy’s mother and invited her to visit. Their conversation also foreshadows Ibrahim’s recovery plan with a rescue dog. Ron discreetly departs for a mysterious “plumbing job,” hinting at side action.
Summary
Elizabeth and Joyce walk through Hove toward Douglas’s new safe house at 38 St Albans Avenue, running twenty minutes late because Joyce insisted on a coffee stop. Elizabeth notes Douglas requested to see her and reflects he was nearly killed on her watch.
Reading Joyce’s over-jolly mood, Elizabeth stops outside a Nando’s and presses for the truth. Joyce deflects with small talk about shops and dogs, but Elizabeth methodically narrows the secret to Poppy. Step by step, Elizabeth concludes Poppy gave Joyce her mother’s phone number.
Joyce admits she called Poppy’s mum and has invited her to visit. Elizabeth isn’t angry, reasoning that contacting a parent after a first kill is understandable. They also discuss getting Ibrahim a rescue dog—Joyce wants to rename “Alan” to “Rusty,” though Elizabeth notes shelters dislike name changes and suggests letting Ibrahim decide.
Arm in arm, they resume toward St Albans Avenue, enjoying the sea air. Joyce mentions seeing Ron drive off; Elizabeth says he has a “plumbing job,” implying a separate, possibly covert errand as the pair heads to meet Douglas and Poppy.
Who Appears
- ElizabethLeads Joyce to the Hove safe house; deftly deduces Joyce contacted Poppy’s mother; remains calm and pragmatic.
- JoyceOver-jolly to hide a secret; admits she called and invited Poppy’s mum; considers adopting a rescue dog for Ibrahim.
- PoppyOff-page; had given Joyce her mother’s number after the shooting; central to Joyce’s secret.
- DouglasOff-page; requested to see Elizabeth at the new Hove safe house after his near-death incident.
- IbrahimOff-page; friends plan a rescue dog to aid his recovery after the mugging.
- RonLeaves on a so-called “plumbing job,” suggesting a covert task tied to the group’s plans.
- SiobhanPoppy’s mother; contacted by Joyce and invited to visit following Poppy’s involvement in a killing.