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.

This is a re-read for me. This time I found Ibrahim’s story quite touching as his fear of the outside world is something I could relate to. I also enjoyed Chris’s storyline.

I did like that Joyce was sometimes smarter than Elizabeth and it was

good foreshadowing for the ending

. However, the ending did feel a bit too neat. I would’ve liked Elizabeth to show some vulnerability and seen her realise that she was wrong. Instead

she lets Joyce know she worked it out earlier while listening to Jeremy Vine

and takes great pride in revealing the mystery. It would have been more impactful if we had seen the penny drop and watch the pieces put together.

Dragged ever so slightly compared to the first one, but honestly still incredible. I just want to spend all my time with this lot.

I had a great time with this one! even better than the original, i found it funnier, more developed and a more gripping and complex mystery than the first, but both have their merits and incredible ones at that. i can’t wait to keep reading this series. the characters are so heartwarming and funny and just completely leap off the page, well the main ones at least. i again found it difficult to really feel properly introduced to the side cast until later on, but maybe that’s my fault

Wow, somehow this was better than the first one, which I very much enjoyed too! Onto the next in the series! The character development is uniquely strong for any book I've read whilst still keeping a very strong plot and the multiple threads in the book actually tie together very well!