The Man Who Died Twice (Thursday Murder Club, #2)

by Richard Osman

‘You must die before your children, of course, because you have taught them to live without you. But not your dog. You teach your dog only to live with you.’

An invitation from a dead man? On reflection, she will be accepting.

You silly old man, he thinks, as he turns the key in the ignition, you made the biggest mistake of them all. You forgot to live, you just hid away, safe and sound.

The twinkle you soon realize is actually the beam of a lighthouse, warning you off the rocks.

Perhaps Ryan Baird has had a difficult upbringing? Perhaps his dad left or his mum left, or they both left, or he’s hooked on drugs, or he was bullied, or he didn’t fit in. Perhaps all of these things are true, and perhaps there are places Ryan Baird might find a sympathetic hearing. But he won’t find one with me, he won’t find one with Ron and he won’t find one with Elizabeth. Ryan is out of whatever luck he may ever have had.

Revenge is not a straight line, it’s a circle. It’s a grenade that goes off while you’re still in the room, and you can’t help but be caught in the blast.

They say a man who desires revenge should dig two graves, and this is surely right.

feels like his own grave has already been dug, so would there really be much harm in digging another

They will die, but so will we all. We are all gone in the blink of an eye, and there is nothing to do but live while you’re waiting.

People love to sleep, and yet they are so frightened of death.

‘Some people in life, Sue, are weather forecasters, whereas other people are the weather itself.’

‘Perhaps we should start with loneliness?’ suggests Ibrahim. Through Donna’s closed eyes, tears begin to escape. ‘Does it hurt?’ asks Ibrahim. ‘Only when I breathe,’ says Donna.

And if one is never lost in life, then clearly one has never travelled anywhere interesting.’

‘I’m a little sad, yes,’ agrees Ibrahim. ‘I’m frightened, and I can’t see a way through it.’ ‘Up the next mountain would be my advice,’ says Donna.

There are certain steps you take in life that you can’t easily turn back from. So take them with care. You don’t want to make a fool of yourself.

It is a terrific plan, you are a very good and clever friend. But, and I need you to really listen to this, it’s not going to happen. I am too scared. There are times when a wise man admits defeat, and I hope you agree I am a wise man.

this is a problem you cannot fix.’

Our direction of travel is always towards it. Our behaviour is either because we fear it, or because we choose to deny it.

Gone to dementia, then gone for ever. The man who died twice. Courage, Sylvia, Dennis is with you.