THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE

THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE by Richard Osman

Book Four in Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club Series, The Last Devil to Die, is a read that has some very lighthearted times and some very heavy times, but unfortunately, it is not without some hiccups.

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim are back at it again. These four active senior citizens have had another murder fall into their laps, and this one is decently close to home. When a friend, who owns a pawn shop, gets caught up in an unplanned heroin exchange and ends up dead, the four friends can't let it go unsolved. What exactly happened that caused their friend to even become involved in the first place? Once the door is cracked up, the four friends step into a world of antique dealers, art forgers, and drug dealers. It's an intricate, deadly world with no room for mistakes.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth's precious husband, Stephen, is slipping further and further away due to his battle with dementia. It is time for some very serious decisions to be made, and these decisions are life changing. Even with all of this going on, Stephen will have one more brilliant surprise for them all.

I really like the overall idea that Osman has created with four senior citizens. We all long to be active and productive even in our older years, and these four are doing exactly that. However, I have to say this series is pushing me to the end of my limits.

HEADS UP- Within this book you will deal with a smattering of language that includes "Jesus." There are some sexual relations going on although there are no intimate details. Also one of the characters shares about a gay relationship in his past. He tells the story of how they met and moved in together. He also shares about his partner's unexpected death. Again, no intimate details.

SPOILER ALERT

One of the hardest parts to read is the decision of Elizabeth and Stephen to follow through with his plan of patient assisted suicide. The book chronicles their last few minutes together and tracks her grief to the end. Osman does allow the reader both sides of the issue as Elizabeth's friend writes her thoughts in her journal when she finds out.