It's been about half a year since I've read the first volume of the series and opening this volume felt like coming home. These characters have grown so close to my heart and although the plot is quite unrealistic again, it is easy to forgive because everyone is having so much fun getting to the bottom of the mysteries. Despite all the good humour, the author is not afraid to tread a few serious lines. 
Often in passing, such as Joyce's difficult relationship with her daughter or Ron's daughter's marital problems.
Sometimes more intense, such as Elisabeth's anxious witnessing of her husband's increasing mental decline, dealing with loneliness or moving on after a traumatic experience.
Death and our own mortality are constant companions, but this is rarely a cause for regret rather an incentive to make the best of the time we have left.
In the end, the humorous moments prevail and I simply enjoy watching everyone's shenanigans. And if the four of them weren't so likeable, one might resent the fact that they handle their affairs in a rather unconventional and highly illegal manner.

What I particularly like about the books is the way in which the author seems to distribute trivialities along the way, occasionally picking them up and dropping them in the course of the story only to finally weave them into the relevant plot. 

For example, at first you wonder what Joyce's stupid friendship bracelets are all about, dismissing it as "oh, that's so typical Joyce" only for it to click a few chapters later.

Personally, I'm already looking forward to returning to Coopers Chase. Be it with the next volume or the announced film with a cast list I already sense it might be a lot of fun.

Favorit quotes:

"I love hospitals, they're like airports"
Just a strange thing to love.
"They moved slowly, but their time ran fast."
Perfect subtitle for an old people action movie.
"More women are murdering people these days [...] If you ignore the context, it is a real sign of progress"
That's my kind of feminism.
"And if one is never lost in life, then clearly one has never travelled anywhere interesting "
Not sure if I find this really deep or if it's something to post on your Facebook timeline but I like this thought.

Love these characters, love the story/mystery. So well written. I’m a slow reader, but zipped through the first and now the second in the series. I’ve already checked out the third.

I actually really liked this book! Very similar vibe to the first one. It's been a while since I read the first one and I was afraid I'd forget things that may have been important. But the characters came right back. There were some references back to the first one, but they were fairly light and didn't have any big bearings onto the plot. I really love just seeing the friendship the 4 main characters have forged, especially Joyce and Elizabth's friendship.
Plot summary:

The Thursday Murder Club have been going on about their business and things seem to be "slow" at the community with no exciting murders happening. Until someone from Elizabeth's spy past comes back (turns out it's her ex-husband). He's stolen some diamonds from a surveillance job and is in hiding and wants Elizabeth's help to protect him so he moves into the community. Someone comes after him but is killed, so he has to be relocated. All-in-all he ends up being killed by the spy agency (MI5) because the lead investigator was his new lover but he had pressed his continued love for Elizabeth. Elizabeth finds the diamonds and lures a confession out of her as to everything she did. Ibrahim was attacked while out in the main town, so now he refuses to leave the community. That part made me incredibly sad. He knows he needs to be brave but he's just too scared to overcome that trauma. Joyce gets him out of that shell in her own way at the end which I loved! Chris (the local police boss) is dating Donna's (his partner) mom and he professes his love for her at the end- it was so cute! And during the last moments you find out Bogdan, who was a huge part of book #1 and this book, has a secret crush on Donna - I'm excited to see where that goes!! Anyways, Elizabeth finds the diamonds of course and you're made to believe they keep them and split the money 4 ways. But the very last page shows they donated the money to the Living with Alzheimers charity, likely as an oder to Elizabeth's old friend and partner Penny, as well as her current husband Stephen. It was also an ode to the title of the book - with Alzheimers/dementia, you die twice. Once for your mental self/soul, a second time for your physical body. Actually quite a sad book title when you think about it.

This one was a little more all over the place than the last one in terms of the mystery but still excellently crafted. Much like TV crime dramas, I’m in it for the characters more than anything.