Returning to a familiar series, particularly one as entertaining as Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club, provides a peculiar sense of comfort. Having reviewed several mysteries over the years, I’ve discovered that certain novels stay long after you’ve turned the last page, while others disappear into the background. The Last Devil to Die certainly falls under the former group. As the fourth book in this highly popular series, it transports readers back to the cozy, but deceptively complicated world of Coopers Chase, where a trio of senior sleuths solve cases with more flair than many professional detectives.
So, why did I chose this book? To be honest, it seemed like a logical development. After reading the first three volumes, I was excited to see how Osman would continue to develop his characters and solve yet another complex mystery. Furthermore, there’s something irresistibly compelling about a bunch of pensioners who refuse to let old age get in the way of investigating important crimes. It serves as a reminder that adventure and purpose do not have to cease when you retire; rather, they may just begin.
For comparison, I found myself thinking of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marpleseries. Much like Marple, the Thursday Murder Club members bring a breadth of life experience to their investigations. Whereas Christie’s stories are often set in picturesque towns of the past, Osman injects a modern edge into his storylines, merging current social themes with the timeless allure of a good mystery.
The Plot Develops: Boxing Day Blues and an Unexpected Death
The tale begins on Boxing Day, a holiday often associated with leisure and leftover turkey sandwiches. But for the Thursday Murder Club members—Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim—the Christmas season takes a deadly turn when their buddy Kuldesh Sharma, a local antiques dealer, is discovered murdered. His murder is more than simply a devastating loss; it is the first domino in a chain of events that sends the foursome on one of their most perilous investigations ever.
Osman doesn’t spend any time putting up the stakes. A package containing £100,000 in heroin is gone, and the trail of evidence is anything from clear. The story winds through the aristocratic world of antiques, revealing its dark side—a world riddled with forgeries, smuggling, and, of course, murder. The contrast of the ancient and the modern, the respectable and the unlawful, is a trademark of Osman’s work. It’s also what keeps readers guessing, since they never know where the next twist will come from.
Pacing is essential in any good mystery, and Osman does it well. The initial shock of Kuldesh’s death leads to a meticulous inquiry, with each chapter exposing a new piece of the jigsaw. Osman takes care to create tension gradually, enabling the reader to enjoy each revelation before the next is disclosed. It’s a long burn, but it pays off in the end, revealing the full nature of the crime.
Characters: Familiar Faces, New Challenges
Characters are one of the Thursday Murder Club series’ biggest qualities. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim are more than simply archetypes; they are fully developed characters with their own idiosyncrasies, histories, and inner lives. Over the course of four volumes, Osman has allowed them to mature and change in ways that are both natural and genuinely enjoyable.
Elizabeth, the former MI5 agent, remains the group’s cornerstone. Her bright intelligence and no-nonsense demeanor make her an effective leader, but The Last Devil to Die also shows her more vulnerable side. As her husband Stephen’s dementia advances, Elizabeth is forced to face the truth of loss and the limits of her own enormous skills. It’s a moving reminder that even the strongest among us are not indestructible, and that sadness can be a great drive.
Joyce, the retired nurse, is the group’s heart, her warmth and humor providing a contrast to Elizabeth’s steely determination. In this part, however, we see Joyce dealing with loneliness and the dread of being forgotten—a feeling that many readers will identify with. Her quest in The Last Devil to Die is as much about discovering her position in the world as it is about solving the murder, and Osman manages this delicate balancing act with finesse.
Ron, the former union head, is the group’s blunt instrument. His honest attitude toward life and ability to cut through the noise are important additions to the team. However, underneath his harsh appearance, Ron is grappling with his own concerns, notably those about his health and death. In many respects, Ron’s narrative is about accepting his limits while simultaneously acknowledging his value.
Ibrahim, a trained psychologist, is the group’s voice of reason. His analytical intellect and calm temperament make him an excellent problem solver, but he is not immune to the emotional toll of their investigations. Osman utilizes Ibrahim’s persona to explore issues of vulnerability and perseverance, especially in the face of adversity. In this book, Ibrahim’s habitual stoicism is put to the test, exposing unexpected aspects of his character.
The addition of additional characters, such as Mitch Maxwell, gives new dimensions to the plot. Mitch, a drug dealer with a convoluted personal background, is an intriguing enemy. He’s not a one-dimensional villain, but rather a guy trapped in his own web, unable to find a way out. Osman’s ability to humanize even his most despicable characters is part of what makes his writings so appealing.
Themes and Symbols: Aging, Loss, and Redemption
Behind the mystery, The Last Devil to Die is a meditation on age, loss, and the struggle for atonement. These themes have been prevalent throughout the series, but they are brought to the forefront in this volume, providing the book emotional depth that raises it beyond a basic whodunit.
Aging is an unavoidable truth for the Thursday Murder Club members, and Osman does not shy away from portraying its difficulties. Whether it’s Elizabeth coping with her husband’s dementia, Joyce dealing with the loneliness of widowhood, or Ron dealing with his own physical decline, each character is dealing with the passing of time in their own unique manner. Rather of falling to despair, they find strength in one other and their common goal. Osman’s depiction of aging is subtle and courteous, emphasizing both the challenges and the dignity that come with becoming older.
Another significant subject in the work is loss, which is handled not just via Kuldesh Sharma’s death but also through each character’s own losses. For Elizabeth, it is the eventual death of her husband from sickness; for Joyce, it is the loss of her sense of self-worth as she navigates life alone. These losses are more than simply narrative events; they help shape the protagonists’ actions and choices throughout the novel.
The Last Devil to Die also places a strong emphasis on redemption. Mitch Maxwell, despite his flaws, is a guy looking for a path out of the criminal world—a chance to start over. His struggle echoes the internal fights of the Thursday Murder Club members, all of whom are seeking penance for past errors or lost chances. Osman does not provide simple solutions, but he does imply that forgiveness is possible, even under the most unexpected of circumstances.
Setting: Coopers Chase and Beyond
Coopers Chase, the retirement home where the Thursday Murder Club is headquartered, is more than simply a setting; it’s a character in and of itself. Osman has created a scene that is both snug and claustrophobic, where mysteries lurk under the surface of ordinary life. The village’s beautiful facade masks the intricacies of its residents, giving it an ideal location for a series of mysteries.
In The Last Devil to Die, Osman broadens the scope of the plot, moving readers beyond Coopers Chase and into other sections of the English countryside. The world of antiques, with its hidden riches and shady deals, is clearly shown, as is the criminal underworld that overlaps it. Osman’s descriptions are detailed, giving the reader an immersive and evocative feeling of location.
Despite the expanded location, Coopers Chase remains central to the tale. It’s a society where the characters’ relationships are just as crucial as the mysteries they solve. One of the series’ strongest points is Osman’s description of this close-knit society, which provides a soothing counterpoint to the darker portions of the narrative.
The Mystery: Twists, Turns, and a Rewarding Ending
At the heart of The Last Devil to Die is a carefully knit mystery that keeps readers guessing until the conclusion. Osman is a master of deception, setting red herrings and false leads that lead both the characters and the readers astray, only to disclose the truth in a manner that seems both unexpected and unavoidable.
The storyline is full of twists and turns, each meticulously planned to keep the suspense high and the tale moving ahead. From the discovery of Kuldesh’s corpse until the final encounter, Osman keeps the stakes high, so there is never a boring moment. The interaction between the several suspects, each with their own secrets and motives, adds to the mystery’s complexity, creating a conundrum that is both intellectually interesting and amusing.
Osman’s expertise in television is evident in his ability to create sequences that are both visually and emotionally powerful. The novel’s denouement, in particular, stands out, tying together all of the story’s strands in an exciting and immensely rewarding manner.
