The Thursday Murder Club series is unusual in its focus on elderly protagonists, and Osman has been praised for challenging ageist attitudes through his fiction. In presenting characters living out their final years, The Man Who Died Twice explores the unique challenges of aging. The novel also addresses the universal question of how best to live in the face of mortality.

The portrayal of aging in The Man Who Died Twice is largely positive. The members of the Thursday Murder Club are shown to embrace new experiences, and old age is portrayed as a period of continued growth rather than stagnation. The characters gain greater pleasure from activities as they know their time is limited.

The elderly protagonists are shown to be skilled and resourceful, drawing on their life experiences and professional talents. Readers are reminded that each member had a career, and age has not dimmed their expertise. Elizabeth’s training in espionage means she is constantly alert to danger. Joyce’s nursing background gives her a sympathetic bedside manner and a high tolerance for bloody crime scenes. Meanwhile, Ron’s tough negotiating skills (honed as a former trade union leader) are displayed in his exchange with drug dealer Connie. The group’s diverse range of skills and personal qualities helps them outsmart the younger antagonists of the novel.