We Solve Murders: A Novel

Written by Richard Osman

Narrated by Nicola Walker

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

“Madcap fun, with an entertaining new cast of characters and Osman’s trademark wit. Delightful!” —Shari Lapena

From the #1 bestselling author of The Thursday Murder Club Series

A brand new mystery. An iconic new detective duo. And a thrilling new murder to solve . . .

Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He still does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar routines: the pub quiz, his favorite bench, his cat waiting for him at home. His days of adventure are over. Adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy’s job now.

Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. Working in private security, every day is dangerous. She’s currently on a remote island protecting mega-bestselling author Rosie D’Antonio, until a dead body and a bag of money mean trouble in paradise. So she sends an SOS to the only person she trusts . . .

As a thrilling race around the world begins, can Amy and Steve outrun and outsmart a killer?

Solving murders. It’s a family business.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Audio
• Release date: Sep 17, 2024
• ISBN: 9780593912126

Reviews for We Solve Murders

[harhar2012 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

First off let me say that this was my first Osman. As I read new authors it always takes me some customizations to get used to their style of writing.
I will say the characters are intriguing. I thoroughly enjoyed Rosie and her class sprinkled in there.
But this book was hard to keep up with. I found myself having to reread some things to just keep allllll of the characters straight. The chapters are short so I jotted down things to keep the characters aligned.
This is still a fast paced read with quality characters. Just take your time to really enjoys them.

[nancybonaccorso · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Took me a while to get into it because I was expecting a different kind of story. Once I realize it wasn’t going to be a cozy, I got into the thriller and really enjoyed it.

[insteadofthelaundry · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The characters are a delight per usual with this author’s previous works! I hope the sequel is already on the works and we don’t have to wait too long to see where this team goes next!!

[susankrzywicki · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I was sure I would like this, since I've enjoyed other books by Osman. But it was too much like the work of Carl Hiaasen, which was full of every form of silly corruption and ugly character made to look "charming" and "funny."

The jet-setting seemed gratuitous. The idea that everything is corrupt was depressing. And inconsistent. For example, if everyone could be bribed, why could they not bribe an FAA employee to get a bad guy's flight plan info when needed?

And the silliness at the end was a let-down.

[seasidereader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Tedious. Way too long & too many characters, twists.

[anaraguard · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Osman's trademark witty approach, with plenty of snappy dialogue. Quite a few characters to keep track of and not as engaging as the Thursday Murder Club but still several laugh-out-loud moments and a quick read.

[ladyofthelodge · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Having read other novels by this author, this one was different and my least favorite. I found the beginning to be very confusing as the novel continued to switch between different characters.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

[siok-76276 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Terrible ending. Where did that Mickey guy come from and how did he end up being the villain? Why does he want to kill Amy? What a hasty end to the book. It's a pity as I had enjoyed reading the book up till the denouement and savouring characters like Rosie and Steve.

[renfield1969 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A fun romp with interesting characters, solving the murders takes a backseat to one of the characters trying to wriggle out from being framed for them.

[cay250 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I like the first 50% of the book; but I didn't like the rest. It's haphazard will no clear buildup to the conclusion. I like the characters with the exception of the son, who was barely mentioned. I'll read the next in the series to see if it gets better.

[wvlibrarydude · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

New characters. A good combination of entertainment and enough hooks to keep you going. Osman knows all the tricks to write a fun, entertaining read.
I heard an interview with the author, and how he described meeting Rosie for the first time while writing this book. He realized quickly that he needed to keep this character going. I can see why.

[rmarcin-630843 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed the Thursday Murder Club series, so I thought I would try Osman's latest book. In this one, a group of people who manage celebrities and protect them are finding that some of their clients have been killed. Amy Wheeler is working with a famous author when her own life is endangered. She asks her father-in-law, Steve, to help her discover who may want her and her clients dead.
I believe this is the start of a new series. I will likely read the next book, but this one wasn't as engaging as the Thursday Murder Club.

[ccayne_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fun, quirky, crazy romp.

[mikedowd_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good, light fun page turner. Sometimes the characters are adjusted a bit to fit the plot. Good banter between the characters, and a fast moving plot

[mercef_9 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Excellent narration of the audio version by Nicola Walker. However, I lost track of all the characters so I’d suggest reading the novel for this one.

[smik_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I wasn't prepared for the complexity of this plot. There is a lot to get your head around, and a lot of new characters to become familiar with. There are glimmerings of humour but not too many outright belly laughs, although some develop by the end. The quirkiness that was a feature of the previous series is there - scenarios that you feel could only come from Richard Osman's brain.

[kalliegrace · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

so fun to follow these delightful new characters on an exciting caper to track a killer. Looking forward to this series continuing.

[dianekeenoy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love his Thursday Murder Club books so I was a little nervous about reading his new book with different characters. I loved it! Great new characters and so much fun considering there are murders! Definitely recommended!

[wdwilson3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A light, breezy crime novel, “We Solve Murders” presents a lot of interesting characters, a puzzling series of crimes, and a rather weak ending. I enjoyed the pace, the international settings, the characters, but I'm afraid I sussed the evil doers pretty quickly. The last tenth of the book was a blatant lead-in to future episodes of the series, which turned me off. A fun, quick read, but don't expect too much. The audiobook features Nicola Walker, who is marvelous, as usual.

[majkia · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

You know, I really don't much care about the plots (although they are pretty good) in his books, I'm too busy enjoying the characters who are always quirky, complex and funny in one way or another.

Looking forward to book 2!

[romonko · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First in a new Richard Osman series! Yay! This is a totally different crime novel than The Thursday Murder Club and intoduces three compelling characters that I can’t wait to see more of. I enjoy mysteries with unforgettable characters and with wry humour sprinkled throughout, and this book has this in spades. There’s lots of action and travel all around the world as our three sleuths try to track down a rich and ruthless money launderer. The lives of our three sleuths are in danger throughout and they must stay one step ahead of various assassins who they can’t see coming. Can’t help but think what a good television series this would be. I’m hooked and will read the next one as soon as it comes out.

[drapple_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book has an awesome group of characters trying to prevent or commit murders.

[terran_9 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

i was not impressed with this first entry of a new series by Osman. There were too many characters introduced, with not much development of any of them.

[foggidawn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Three social media influencers are dead, and someone is trying to pin those deaths on Amy Wheeler. Also, someone is trying to kill her. Is it the same person? All she knows is that she needs help: Steve, her father-in-law. Steve's a retired cop, now solving very low-stakes cases in his small village and, with his friends from the pub, absolutely dominating Quiz Night. (Well, sometimes, at least.) He hates to travel, but for Amy? He'd do anything. So, off they go, on a globe-trotting adventure to clear Amy's name, keep her (and her client -- oh, yeah, she's a bodyguard, currently guarding a feisty elderly author) safe from harm, and, hopefully, solve some murders.

Compared to Osman's other books, I found this a bit disjointed. I had a hard time caring about the main characters until about halfway through, and we were introduced to so many crooks/hitmen/conmen etc. that I had a hard time keeping them straight, much less solving the mystery. I did eventually get into the story, mostly because it's a wild ride when they're jetting all over the place, but it's not going to be a new favorite.

[boundtogetherforgood · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I pre-ordered this book as soon as I heard it was going to be available. Somehow though I missed "#1 New York Times Bestselling Author of The Thursday Murder Club" and thought it was a 4th book in the Thursday Murder Club series. That meant that until I was about 50% through the book I was still waiting for the appearance of our crew. ;)

Once I realized, I settled into the story and really enjoyed it. I hope this will become its own series.

[quondame · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lots of events and characters, twisty but... I didn't feel at all surprised except by one element. It felt overly elaborated for the amount of actual content, but not to the point of painfully dragging. And there were a couple of LOL moments.

[booklover1801 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In “We Solve Murders,” Richard Osman satirizes sinister criminal masterminds; the hitmen who do their dirty work; action-adventure clichés; and soppy romantic relationships. Amy Wheeler is a bodyguard assigned to protect Rosie D’Anotonio, a bestselling author and free spirit who lives on a private island off the coast of South Carolina. A Russian oligarch whom Rosie offended has resolved to execute her. However, Amy vows that no one will harm Rosie on her watch.

Meanwhile, an unidentified perpetrator is targeting Amy. After an attempt on her life, Amy, accompanied by Rosie, embarks on a journey to identify the individual responsible. She even coaxes her widowed father-in-law, Steve Wheeler— a genial ex-police officer turned private investigator—to leave the comfort of his home in England to assist with their investigation. Their travels take them to St. Lucia, Ireland, and Dubai.

Osman amuses us with his cast of zany characters, off-the-wall dialogue, and silly but engaging plot. Amy demonstrates her toughness and courage under fire, and Rosie also proves to be a valuable asset. Meanwhile, Steve, who longs to get back to his familiar routine, is surprised to find himself enjoying the opportunity to visit foreign locales and do a bit of sleuthing. Fans of the talented Richard Osman will get a kick out of this tongue-in-cheek, quirky, and poignant novel.

[bookappeal · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Like other readers, I doubted Osman could create another series as beloved as The Thursday Murder Club. We Solve Murders is not only just as good but it's also considerably different in characters and atmosphere. The first book in what I assume will be a series features a complex plot and a large cast of characters but still manages to be a page-turner that I was reluctant to put down. Another winner for Osman!

[lauralkeet · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

We Solve Murders capitalizes on the success of the Thursday Murder Club series, introducing readers to a new English crime-solving duo: Amy Wheeler and her father-in-law, Steve. Amy travels the globe in her work as a bodyguard for celebrities and other notables; Steve is a retired police officer and widower whose world has become increasingly focused on his cat and the weekly pub quiz night. While Amy is on assignment looking after best-selling author Rosie D’Antonio, she becomes embroiled in a murder investigation and enlists Steve’s help.

What follows is best described as a madcap around-the-world caper. It’s preposterous, convoluted, and filled with unusual characters, criminal and otherwise. It’s also a lot of fun, thanks to Richard Osman’s comedic gifts. It took me a while to adapt to this very different setting, even though I found myself laughing repeatedly. But then I started to care about Steve and Amy and their past, present and future, in much the same way as the Thursday Murder Club protagonists. Sure, I’ll read the next book. Why not?

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amy works in private security, and is currently protecting Rosie, a well-known client, from being killed. It’s a fun time with the famous author at an isolated location, until Amy discovers that she, too, is a target for a yet unknown assassin. And the chase is on! Amy gets much needed help from her beloved father-in-law Steve, a retired cop, as well as Rosie. And this intriguing complex murder plot takes them all over the world. It would take a book like this to make me (temporarily) forget about Joyce, Elizabeth, Ibrahim, and Ron and not even miss them. The devil is in the details and this book is full of devils. Extremely well written, gripping and compelling, the short chapters will entice you to read just one more chapter. Steve is definitely the most entertaining character, but Rosie and Amy are close seconds. I’d like to see more of Adam, Steve’s son and Amy’s husband, in future books. Richard Osman has another hit series on his hands, and a delightful cast of characters to send on new adventures. Highly recommended for everyone who enjoys thrillers with just a touch of humor.