We Solve Murders by Richard Osman #WeSolveMurders @richardosman @VikingBooksUK @MeadOlivia @RosieSafaty #BookReview

 

A brand new series.

An iconic new detective duo.

And a thrilling new murder to solve . . .

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Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar habits and routines: the pub quiz, his favourite bench, his cat waiting for him when he comes home. His days of adventure are over: adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy’s business now.

Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. As a private security officer, she doesn’t stay still long enough for habits or routines. She’s currently on a remote island keeping world-famous author Rosie D’Antonio alive. Which was meant to be an easy job . . .

Then a dead body, a bag of money and a killer with their sights on Amy have her sending an SOS to the only person she trusts. A breakneck race around the world begins, but can Amy and Steve stay one step ahead of a deadly enemy?

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman is published in hardback on 12 September 2024 by Viking. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review 

Holding up my hands here to admit that I am one of the very few people that hasn't read the Thursday Murder Club books .... I know!  There are just so many books aren't there? However, I was very intrigued by the premise for We Solve Murders and have spent a couple of days being totally entertained by this story of killers on the loose all over the world. 

I absolutely love Osman's chatty style of writing, I really felt as though the reader was so involved with the plot, he almost talks directly to us. 

This story is bang up to date, featuring a faux French man who likes to use ChatGBT to ensure that his emails appear to be from a 'friendly English gentleman'. We have a bunch of influencers who are so concerned about their followers and likes that they put themselves in incredible danger .... they don't appear to have a lot of common sense.

Our lead characters are Amy Wheeler who works in private security, her ex policeman father-in-law Steve and the world's best selling author (after Lee Child) Rosie D'Antonia. What a fabulous bunch they are too, so well created, wholesome and realistic, they are so funny at times, yet each of them have their own strengths, creating a team who really can solve murders. 

It's complex plot with a lot of characters and you really do need to keep your wits about you when reading, but it's so fast paced and such a lot of fun that everything seems to just drop into place quite magically. 

We meet Amy and Rosie on a private island. Rosie has had death threats from a Russian and it's Amy's job to protect her. Steve, meanwhile, is living his quiet life back home. Going to the quiz, having a pub lunch, feeding Trouble, his cat and recording chats to his dead wife on his Dictaphone. Steve is an unassuming guy, he likes a quiet life. He's happy to look for a missing dog, but he doesn't really want to have to drive anywhere. Steve and Amy are close, they chat often, but Steve would love nothing more than for Amy to open up about her earlier life, he knows it was traumatic, but she's staying silent about it. 

Despite Steve's aversion to change and to travel, he finds himself on Amy's team. Travelling the world in private jets and getting involved in some increasingly tricky situations. Steve's observations on life, people and places are priceless. He is unaware just how hilarious he is at times. He's also incredibly sharp, bright and more than able to pick up clues. 

I loved this story. I loved the characters, and not just the leads, there is an amazing supporting cast of colourful, varied people who are just a delight to discover. The multi layered plot is woven together very well, and the reader gradually peels each layer away to discover just who is responsible for the many deaths being investigated. 

Great fun, utterly entertaining and I'm hoping these characters will return very soon. 

Richard Osman is an author, producer and television presenter. 

His first four novels, The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice and The Bullet That Missed were multi-million-copy record-breaking bestsellers around the world. 

We Solve Murders is the first book in a new series featuring a family detective duo. 

He lives in London with his wife, Ingrid, and their cat Liesl.

X @richardosman

Instagram @mrosman