The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman 

Published by Viking 2023. Due for publication in paperback May 2024

The fourth in the Thursday Murder Club series, set in Coopers Close retirement village. Although featuring his four affectionately drawn crime fighters, Elizabeth, Ron, Joyce and Ibrahim, this is much darker than the previous three books in the series. 

People wishing to succeed as writers are often told to “write about what [they] know”. Whilst I don’t imagine Richard Osman carries a gun or  that he knows numerous drug dealers, smugglers or murderers, nevertheless the storyline surrounding Stephen and Elizabeth comes across as hauntingly true to life and the credits seem to support that theory. 

As before, this well written and multi-stranded story moves from tragedy to humour and from the complex planning of major crimes to domestic details with side orders of romance (and cake). 

It is described as a murder mystery (my favourite genre) but above all it’s a story encompassing all life’s emotions and characteristics: right and wrong, reward and retribution, love and loss. 

Beautifully written. 

Caution: might be distressing to those affected by Alzheimer’s or dementia.