The Last Devil to Die; The Thursday Murder Club Mystery

The Last Devil To Die is the fourth book in the Thursday Murder Club series by British TV presenter, producer, director, and novelist, Richard Osman. When Stephen's good friend, antiques dealer Kuldesh Sharma is murdered in a country lane at the end of December in what looks very much like a hit, of course the Thursday Murder Club is going to get involved.

It seems Kuldesh was playing a reluctant part in an import/distribution scheme involving an ugly terracotta box containing 1.2kg of heroin, and when he strayed from the script, he met a quick, efficient end. And despite being politely warned off by Kent Police's finest aka DCI Chris Hudson and PC Donna de Freitas, Elizabeth and Joyce are soon trying to check out the ransacked Kemptown Curios and, with help from Ibrahim and his incarcerated (and only) patient, learning quite a bit more than the police.

Ironically, Chris and Donna are booted off the case by a new SIO, Jill Regan, and her National Crime Agency team, making them more favourable to the idea of sharing information with Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron. Soon enough, the TMC are staking out an import warehouse on the South Coast, chatting to a historical archaeology professor, questioning an antiques forger, and even hosting drug dealers and forgers to a Coopers Chase Sunday lunch.

Closer to home, Joyce has been trying to include a new resident at Cooper's Chase, inviting him to their Boxing Day lunch. When Mervyn Collins unenthusiastically shares a few details about his new Lithuanian girlfriend, it's quickly apparent to those gathered that he has fallen for a romance scam to the tune (so far) of five thousand pounds. Trying to convince him of this is a thankless task

Elizabeth is understandably diverted by Stephen's deterioration into dementia, as his lucid moments decrease precipitously, a sensitive topic Osman handles with the utmost delicacy, but which will still make hearts ache, tears flow and throats get lumpy. That distraction sees Joyce stepping into Elizabeth's usual role with great aplomb. They also enlist the help of another resident with IT skills, who is quickly dubbed Computer Bob.

As always, Osman gives his characters laugh-out-loud dialogue, including the innocuous dinner chat that disguises the more serious topics of murder and drug dealing; other sources of humour are the chatty entries in Joyce's diary, the list of Christmas gifts exchanged, New Year's Resolutions, and even Bogdan's eulogy for Kuldesh.

There's a not inconsiderable body count, meaning that, as another likely suspect meets their fate, the reader has to adjust their thinking about who the killer might be. Before the final reveals, there are twists and red herrings clever enough to keep even the most astute reader guessing. Very entertaining.