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We Solve Murders #1
We Solve Murders
Win a free print copy of this book!
7 days and 07:06:22
24 copies available
U.S. only
14 hours
A brand new series. An iconic new detective duo. And a puzzling new murder to solve...
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 favorite 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 lethal enemy?
A brand new series. An iconic new detective duo. And a puzzling new murder to solve...
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 favorite 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 lethal enemy?
Audible Audio
First published September 17, 2024
About the author
Richard Osman
25 books13.7k followersAn English television presenter, producer, director, and novelist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,650 reviews
November 3, 2024
OMG! Osman has brought back the big guns and released a brand-new addictive series that I highly enjoyed. At first, I had slight doubts if I could love it as much as the Thursday Murder Club series, but my prayers were answered, and yes, I absolutely adored this new book and its new characters:
Steve Wheeler: a retired cop, local investigator, pub quiz and puzzle expert, pint lover, stray cat cuddler, and a man still grieving his wife, Debbie, as he talks to her about his day. He also has a unique bond with his daughter-in-law, Amy Wheeler.
Amy Wheeler: works in private security as an experienced bodyguard, protecting highly important people. She is calm, calculating, motivated by adrenaline rushes, and always keeps her emotions at bay. Interestingly, she has a successful marriage with her husband, despite rarely seeing each other, and has a closer relationship with her father-in-law than with his son, talking to him every day.
What if fate brings them together to unite their powers and skills to outsmart a very dangerous man named François Loubet? Disguising himself behind emails written in a British gentleman’s tone, Loubet is a powerful money smuggler who uses micro-influencers for fake advertisement jobs to carry his money across oceans, aided by a smoke screen agent company whose owner is oblivious to the scheme.
Loubet targets influencers protected by Maximum Impact Solutions, where Amy works. Coincidentally, an influencer is found dead each time they unknowingly smuggle money near Amy while she is protecting another client.
Amy’s latest job is protecting the second most popular eccentric thriller author( Lee Child is still number one), Rosie D’Antonio, who might be in her eighties (her age is still unknown, but she has the spirit of a 20-year-old). Rosie included a character in her latest book clearly based on Russian chemical oligarch Vasiliy Karpin, making her a target and forcing her to hide on her private island in South Carolina with Amy and former Navy Seal Kevin, who also serves as their private chef.
When another influencer, Andrew Fairbanks, is found dead on a yacht near their location, Amy realizes it’s no coincidence that each time she is assigned to a client, someone nearby gets killed. Could someone be trying to frame her for the murders and ultimately target her to finish the job? When she gets attacked by an unexpected person, she realizes there’s a target on her back. She must escape, dragging Rosie with her, who is delighted to have a heart-throbbing adventure as hitmen chase after them.
To protect Rosie and herself, Amy needs someone she can fully trust. Her father-in-law, Steve, is the only man who fits the description. Initially, Steve has no intention of leaving his house, missing the pub quiz, or chatting with his friends over a few pints. And who would take care of his cat, Trouble? But when duty calls and his daughter-in-law’s life is at stake, he must push himself out of his comfort zone, finding himself in a whirlwind adventure: traveling on private jets, experiencing gourmet food, getting drunk with the mischievous thriller author, vomiting all over the Dublin countryside before helicoptering, shooting at hitmen, befriending new people, and having the time of his life.
Would Steve’s wits and Amy’s skills outsmart the army of men sent by François Loubet? And will they be able to identify who he really is, as anyone in their close circle could be working for him?
The clock is ticking. The evidence against Amy piles up! They have to find this mysterious man before he beats them in their own game.
Overall: I had an amazing time and laughed so hard! Rosie D’Antonio is a legendary character who stole the chapters and made me guffaw several times. I even fell off the couch, laughing so hard my stomach hurt. I wish there were more books, and I could read them for weeks! It is a true mood healer!
I cannot wait to read more adventures of this team! I am looking forward to catching up on more "We Solve Murders" agency’s adventures!
Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking/Pamela Dorman Books for sharing this amazing cozy mystery’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. And thank you so much to Richard Osman for introducing these amazing characters and writing this fabulous book!
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Steve Wheeler: a retired cop, local investigator, pub quiz and puzzle expert, pint lover, stray cat cuddler, and a man still grieving his wife, Debbie, as he talks to her about his day. He also has a unique bond with his daughter-in-law, Amy Wheeler.
Amy Wheeler: works in private security as an experienced bodyguard, protecting highly important people. She is calm, calculating, motivated by adrenaline rushes, and always keeps her emotions at bay. Interestingly, she has a successful marriage with her husband, despite rarely seeing each other, and has a closer relationship with her father-in-law than with his son, talking to him every day.
What if fate brings them together to unite their powers and skills to outsmart a very dangerous man named François Loubet? Disguising himself behind emails written in a British gentleman’s tone, Loubet is a powerful money smuggler who uses micro-influencers for fake advertisement jobs to carry his money across oceans, aided by a smoke screen agent company whose owner is oblivious to the scheme.
Loubet targets influencers protected by Maximum Impact Solutions, where Amy works. Coincidentally, an influencer is found dead each time they unknowingly smuggle money near Amy while she is protecting another client.
Amy’s latest job is protecting the second most popular eccentric thriller author( Lee Child is still number one), Rosie D’Antonio, who might be in her eighties (her age is still unknown, but she has the spirit of a 20-year-old). Rosie included a character in her latest book clearly based on Russian chemical oligarch Vasiliy Karpin, making her a target and forcing her to hide on her private island in South Carolina with Amy and former Navy Seal Kevin, who also serves as their private chef.
When another influencer, Andrew Fairbanks, is found dead on a yacht near their location, Amy realizes it’s no coincidence that each time she is assigned to a client, someone nearby gets killed. Could someone be trying to frame her for the murders and ultimately target her to finish the job? When she gets attacked by an unexpected person, she realizes there’s a target on her back. She must escape, dragging Rosie with her, who is delighted to have a heart-throbbing adventure as hitmen chase after them.
To protect Rosie and herself, Amy needs someone she can fully trust. Her father-in-law, Steve, is the only man who fits the description. Initially, Steve has no intention of leaving his house, missing the pub quiz, or chatting with his friends over a few pints. And who would take care of his cat, Trouble? But when duty calls and his daughter-in-law’s life is at stake, he must push himself out of his comfort zone, finding himself in a whirlwind adventure: traveling on private jets, experiencing gourmet food, getting drunk with the mischievous thriller author, vomiting all over the Dublin countryside before helicoptering, shooting at hitmen, befriending new people, and having the time of his life.
Would Steve’s wits and Amy’s skills outsmart the army of men sent by François Loubet? And will they be able to identify who he really is, as anyone in their close circle could be working for him?
The clock is ticking. The evidence against Amy piles up! They have to find this mysterious man before he beats them in their own game.
Overall: I had an amazing time and laughed so hard! Rosie D’Antonio is a legendary character who stole the chapters and made me guffaw several times. I even fell off the couch, laughing so hard my stomach hurt. I wish there were more books, and I could read them for weeks! It is a true mood healer!
I cannot wait to read more adventures of this team! I am looking forward to catching up on more "We Solve Murders" agency’s adventures!
Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking/Pamela Dorman Books for sharing this amazing cozy mystery’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. And thank you so much to Richard Osman for introducing these amazing characters and writing this fabulous book!
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September 14, 2024
I don’t even need to read it
Edit: I have since read it and it is in fact a 5 star
Edit: I have since read it and it is in fact a 5 star
November 7, 2024
Who else hit the pre-order button like this?
It opens in South Carolina, I couldn't resist.
Steve and Amy Wheeler make one of the most charming crime-solving duos I've read.
A father-in-law and his daughter-in-law?
That is a bit different.
And while over the course of the novel, you learn a lot about each of them, you can tell that this is just the tip of the personality iceberg with both.
Amy is a badass who loves her work as a bodyguard. Who doesn't want to go to exotic locations and throw grenades out of helicopters?
She's also a very compartmentalized person.
And so is her husband's dad, Steve, a widowed ex-London cop turned village detective.
Steve is owned by a cat named Trouble who has allowed Steve to believe the relationship was his choice.
Amy and Steve have both been through things that have required them to shove their emotions into a tiny little box and suck it up, so they've formed this close bond through daily phone calls where they absolutely do not talk about their feelings. And they will both die on that hill.
But they'll also both die on a hill protecting each other if necessary.
So when Amy is targeted by a (dare I say?) supervillain and set up for a string of murders that she didn't commit, there is only one person in the world she would trust to help her save her life. I mean, she adores her husband, but he's in finance...
I really liked her husband, though. They have their own strange, special relationship with each other. And they’re both so confident in it that instead of being weird, it’s just…adorable.
Another character I loved was Amy's body-to-guard, Rosie, who has been threatened by a Russian mobster that she carelessly lampooned and wrote into one of her books. Oops.
Rosie D’Antonio is a best-selling novelist who is sort of putting off this vibrant faux Jackie Collins vibe that I just loved.
How old is she? Who knows? Anywhere from 65-85, she ain't telling, that's for sure. Age is just a number, and that number is directly related to how much booze you can still drink and whether or not you can crash at your good friend Barb's (that Barb for barbiturates, not Barbara, btw) shamanic therapy resort when things get hot. Full of life, full of energy, and I'm sure full of Botox, she’s still rocking her best life.
Ok, so if you're like me, and already a huge fan of Osman's Thursday Murder Club Series, you'll definitely want to check this out.
HOWEVER.
This isn't exactly another cozy mystery series. But it does sort of come off like a cozy thriller.
Is that a thing? I feel like it should be a thing.
It's fun. <--that's what I'm trying to say.
I think you'll like it. I did.
Highly Recommended.
It opens in South Carolina, I couldn't resist.
Steve and Amy Wheeler make one of the most charming crime-solving duos I've read.
A father-in-law and his daughter-in-law?
That is a bit different.
And while over the course of the novel, you learn a lot about each of them, you can tell that this is just the tip of the personality iceberg with both.
Amy is a badass who loves her work as a bodyguard. Who doesn't want to go to exotic locations and throw grenades out of helicopters?
She's also a very compartmentalized person.
And so is her husband's dad, Steve, a widowed ex-London cop turned village detective.
Steve is owned by a cat named Trouble who has allowed Steve to believe the relationship was his choice.
Amy and Steve have both been through things that have required them to shove their emotions into a tiny little box and suck it up, so they've formed this close bond through daily phone calls where they absolutely do not talk about their feelings. And they will both die on that hill.
But they'll also both die on a hill protecting each other if necessary.
So when Amy is targeted by a (dare I say?) supervillain and set up for a string of murders that she didn't commit, there is only one person in the world she would trust to help her save her life. I mean, she adores her husband, but he's in finance...
I really liked her husband, though. They have their own strange, special relationship with each other. And they’re both so confident in it that instead of being weird, it’s just…adorable.
Another character I loved was Amy's body-to-guard, Rosie, who has been threatened by a Russian mobster that she carelessly lampooned and wrote into one of her books. Oops.
Rosie D’Antonio is a best-selling novelist who is sort of putting off this vibrant faux Jackie Collins vibe that I just loved.
How old is she? Who knows? Anywhere from 65-85, she ain't telling, that's for sure. Age is just a number, and that number is directly related to how much booze you can still drink and whether or not you can crash at your good friend Barb's (that Barb for barbiturates, not Barbara, btw) shamanic therapy resort when things get hot. Full of life, full of energy, and I'm sure full of Botox, she’s still rocking her best life.
Ok, so if you're like me, and already a huge fan of Osman's Thursday Murder Club Series, you'll definitely want to check this out.
HOWEVER.
This isn't exactly another cozy mystery series. But it does sort of come off like a cozy thriller.
Is that a thing? I feel like it should be a thing.
It's fun. <--that's what I'm trying to say.
I think you'll like it. I did.
Highly Recommended.
September 22, 2024
He sends emails in the tone of a British Gentleman using ChatGPT to disguise his real identity…
But WHO is François Loubet?
He is a powerful money smuggler and he is using unsuspecting “Influencers” being protected by Maximum Impact Solutions to move his money.
Amy Wheeler is a private security officer, for Maximum Impact Solutions and she is currently on a remote island keeping world-famous author Rosie D’Antonio alive. (think an older Samantha from Sex in the City or even Blanche from the Golden Girls)
It was supposed to be an EASY job.
But dead bodies and bags of money, keep showing up with Amy’s blood always found nearby. She is being set up.
Amy will have to turn to the ONLY person she feels she can trust for help-a retired cop and “sometimes” local investigator who just happens to be her father-in-law-Steve Wheeler.
Steve has recently lost his beloved wife Debbie, and he talks to her from a bench near his home, finds comfort from a stray cat named Trouble, which he recently adopted, and enjoys pints and Pub quizzes with his neighbors.
He has no desire to travel the World only one step ahead of the several would-be assassins who are tracking both Rosie and (now) Amy.
But, he loves Amy, so he won’t say no.
The result? Another fast paced, mystery filled with a new cast of likable characters and the same trademark HUMOR we have come to expect from the talented Richard Osman.
YES- he has another HIT on his hands!
I have LOVED his Thursday Murder Club series ( and am glad there will be more) but I am now ALSO looking forward to more cases for the “ We Solve Murders” agency. If you enjoyed TMC-I do believe that you will enjoy this series too!
The acknowledgments chapter at the end of the book hints at which characters will be back and I am glad to see that the hilarious and IRRESISTIBLE Rosie D’Antonio will be one of them. Hopefully we will get to know Amy’s husband Adam a bit better in the next installment.
A buddy read with Mary Beth-Did she enjoy her first by Osman?
AVAILABLE NOW!
I paired my reading with the fantastic Audible narrated by Nicola Walker. I wish to thank the Chandler Public Library for the loan of both formats!
But WHO is François Loubet?
He is a powerful money smuggler and he is using unsuspecting “Influencers” being protected by Maximum Impact Solutions to move his money.
Amy Wheeler is a private security officer, for Maximum Impact Solutions and she is currently on a remote island keeping world-famous author Rosie D’Antonio alive. (think an older Samantha from Sex in the City or even Blanche from the Golden Girls)
It was supposed to be an EASY job.
But dead bodies and bags of money, keep showing up with Amy’s blood always found nearby. She is being set up.
Amy will have to turn to the ONLY person she feels she can trust for help-a retired cop and “sometimes” local investigator who just happens to be her father-in-law-Steve Wheeler.
Steve has recently lost his beloved wife Debbie, and he talks to her from a bench near his home, finds comfort from a stray cat named Trouble, which he recently adopted, and enjoys pints and Pub quizzes with his neighbors.
He has no desire to travel the World only one step ahead of the several would-be assassins who are tracking both Rosie and (now) Amy.
But, he loves Amy, so he won’t say no.
The result? Another fast paced, mystery filled with a new cast of likable characters and the same trademark HUMOR we have come to expect from the talented Richard Osman.
YES- he has another HIT on his hands!
I have LOVED his Thursday Murder Club series ( and am glad there will be more) but I am now ALSO looking forward to more cases for the “ We Solve Murders” agency. If you enjoyed TMC-I do believe that you will enjoy this series too!
The acknowledgments chapter at the end of the book hints at which characters will be back and I am glad to see that the hilarious and IRRESISTIBLE Rosie D’Antonio will be one of them. Hopefully we will get to know Amy’s husband Adam a bit better in the next installment.
A buddy read with Mary Beth-Did she enjoy her first by Osman?
AVAILABLE NOW!
I paired my reading with the fantastic Audible narrated by Nicola Walker. I wish to thank the Chandler Public Library for the loan of both formats!
August 30, 2024
Richard Osman introduces fans to a new detective duo in
We Solve Murders,
the first book in a new mystery series. Amy Wheeler works in private security. She’s currently on a private island off the coast of South Carolina guarding bestselling author Rosie D’Antonio. In the nearby waters, a dead body and a bag of money are found on a yacht. Amy calls her father-in-law, Steve Wheeler, for help.
All of the primary and main secondary characters are well-drawn. Amy loves adrenaline and hates relaxing. She’s loyal, good at fighting, strong, and fast, but lacks experience with murder investigations. She’s married to Steve’s son, Adam. They love each other, but spend most of their time apart as they both travel extensively for their jobs. It seems to work for them at this point in their lives. Steve is a retired police officer who is enjoying his familiar routines including the weekly pub quiz, sitting on his favorite bench, and spending time with his cat, Trouble. His relationship with Adam is somewhat strained, but he talks almost daily with Amy. He handles the occasional local investigation. He helps people when he can and is steadfast and resilient. Rosie is an extremely successful author who loves adventure and is brash and funny.
What a whirlwind of a book! Readers are taken on a trip around the world as Amy and Steve, with help from Rosie, work to solve various murders. From South Carolina to England to St. Lucia to Ireland and Dubai, this duo is joined by Rosie and others as they try to unravel the mystery.
Blended with humor, the twisty plot has several puzzles to be resolved before the criminal mastermind can be unveiled. My biggest quibble is that the story switches points of view frequently which adversely affected the pacing of the story for me. These transitions weren’t as smooth as I expected. Despite this, the dialogue, relationships, great characterization, and humor, as well as the mystery, kept me fully engaged in the story. Readers get insight into the lives of several of the criminals in this novel which adds another layer of context and interest. Threads of family, friendship, connections, loss of a loved one, communication, social media influencers, corruption, justice, and criminal organizations add depth to the novel.
Overall, this was an entertaining, fun, and delightful novel with some tense moments that kept me engaged throughout. It’s a good start to a new series. I’m looking forward to seeing where the author takes this dynamic trio on their next adventure.
PENGUIN GROUP Viking – Pamela Dorman Books and Richard Osman provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for September 17, 2024. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.25 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
All of the primary and main secondary characters are well-drawn. Amy loves adrenaline and hates relaxing. She’s loyal, good at fighting, strong, and fast, but lacks experience with murder investigations. She’s married to Steve’s son, Adam. They love each other, but spend most of their time apart as they both travel extensively for their jobs. It seems to work for them at this point in their lives. Steve is a retired police officer who is enjoying his familiar routines including the weekly pub quiz, sitting on his favorite bench, and spending time with his cat, Trouble. His relationship with Adam is somewhat strained, but he talks almost daily with Amy. He handles the occasional local investigation. He helps people when he can and is steadfast and resilient. Rosie is an extremely successful author who loves adventure and is brash and funny.
What a whirlwind of a book! Readers are taken on a trip around the world as Amy and Steve, with help from Rosie, work to solve various murders. From South Carolina to England to St. Lucia to Ireland and Dubai, this duo is joined by Rosie and others as they try to unravel the mystery.
Blended with humor, the twisty plot has several puzzles to be resolved before the criminal mastermind can be unveiled. My biggest quibble is that the story switches points of view frequently which adversely affected the pacing of the story for me. These transitions weren’t as smooth as I expected. Despite this, the dialogue, relationships, great characterization, and humor, as well as the mystery, kept me fully engaged in the story. Readers get insight into the lives of several of the criminals in this novel which adds another layer of context and interest. Threads of family, friendship, connections, loss of a loved one, communication, social media influencers, corruption, justice, and criminal organizations add depth to the novel.
Overall, this was an entertaining, fun, and delightful novel with some tense moments that kept me engaged throughout. It’s a good start to a new series. I’m looking forward to seeing where the author takes this dynamic trio on their next adventure.
PENGUIN GROUP Viking – Pamela Dorman Books and Richard Osman provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for September 17, 2024. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
---------------------------------------
My 4.25 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
July 18, 2024
Damn you, Richard Osman. I was not planning on starting another series seeing as how I'm perpetually behind on the ones I'm already reading, but I suppose I'll add We Solve Murders to my list. Throw some humor into a thriller and it gets me every time.
But, seriously, how have I not read anything by Osman before? I loved this book. It's brilliant. It's action-packed. It's hilarious. I want Rosie D'Antonio to be my new best friend.
It's a little weird at first. I mean, Amy and Steve are very, very close for being in-laws. I've been married for over fifteen years now and I've never once called my father-in-law on the phone just to chat, much less teamed up for … *gesticulates wildly* … all of the shenanigans that Amy and Steve manage to get into in this novel. They're really a fantastic pair, though, and their obvious affection for each other really makes the story. Well, that and Rosie D'Antonio.
Rosie is witty and hilarious and the the type of old woman that I aspire to be someday (complete with private island). And, really, all of the characters are a lot of fun, from mysterious bad guy (and ChatGPT-enthusiast) François Loubet to Eddie, the hitman with a creative side hobby.
The mystery itself is solid. I figured out the identity of “Joe Blow” pretty early on, but otherwise it was all a complete surprise. I really liked how low-key the climax was considering the frenetic pace of the rest of the story. Nothing got blown up, nothing too outrageous happened, it was just “oh, hey, we've figured this out …” and then everyone goes on with their lives.
The last chapter is obviously a set up for the books to follow, and I am totally here for it. And it goes without saying that I need to pick up some more Richard Osman books in the meantime.
My overall rating: 4.7 stars, rounded up. If you like witty thrillers with humor and heart, definitely consider giving this one a read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is September 17, 2024.
But, seriously, how have I not read anything by Osman before? I loved this book. It's brilliant. It's action-packed. It's hilarious. I want Rosie D'Antonio to be my new best friend.
It's a little weird at first. I mean, Amy and Steve are very, very close for being in-laws. I've been married for over fifteen years now and I've never once called my father-in-law on the phone just to chat, much less teamed up for … *gesticulates wildly* … all of the shenanigans that Amy and Steve manage to get into in this novel. They're really a fantastic pair, though, and their obvious affection for each other really makes the story. Well, that and Rosie D'Antonio.
Rosie is witty and hilarious and the the type of old woman that I aspire to be someday (complete with private island). And, really, all of the characters are a lot of fun, from mysterious bad guy (and ChatGPT-enthusiast) François Loubet to Eddie, the hitman with a creative side hobby.
The mystery itself is solid. I figured out the identity of “Joe Blow” pretty early on, but otherwise it was all a complete surprise. I really liked how low-key the climax was considering the frenetic pace of the rest of the story. Nothing got blown up, nothing too outrageous happened, it was just “oh, hey, we've figured this out …” and then everyone goes on with their lives.
The last chapter is obviously a set up for the books to follow, and I am totally here for it. And it goes without saying that I need to pick up some more Richard Osman books in the meantime.
My overall rating: 4.7 stars, rounded up. If you like witty thrillers with humor and heart, definitely consider giving this one a read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is September 17, 2024.
September 29, 2024
If Richard Osman had any reason to take a break from the beloved Thursday Murder Club series that many of us have come to love to start a new one, at least he made it a good one!
Amy Wheeler works in the close protection business for a company called Maximum Impact Solutions. Her latest client is feisty and fun long-time author Rosie D’Antonio, who’s had a hit placed on her by a powerful Russian mogul, Vasiliy Karpin, who didn’t appreciate being outed by her in her latest book. Amy is a force to be reckoned with - don’t let that calm exterior fool you.
Meet Francois Loubet (pronounced loo-bay). Well … that’s the name he uses. In a fascinating plot device that never would’ve occurred to me before this book, whoever this mysterious individual is, he communicates via email AFTER he’s run what he wants to say through the AI program ChatGPT, telling it to rewrite it “in the style of a friendly English gentleman, please.” Brilliant move to conceal his identity, but scary in its real-world applications!
Loubet is a powerful money smuggler who’s using unsuspecting low-level social media influencers protected by Maximum Impact to move large quantities of money. When they start meeting unfortunate ends, Amy’s boss and trusted friend, Jeff Nolan, threatens Loubet, putting a target on both his own and Amy’s backs. Luckily, this chess match is a little more evenly matched since both sides know how to play the game!
Part of Amy’s strategy? Bring in her recently widowed retired-cop/part-time investigator father-in-law Steve to help. He doesn’t really want to. He’s comfortable with his pub trivia nights, his small group of friends and taking care of his cat, Trouble, but Amy needs him and he’d do anything to help her.
So what happens when you combine an adrenaline junkie daughter-in-law, a savvy, but reluctant father-in-law, and a thrill-seeking, fearless author in various life-threatening scenarios? It’s Richard Osman … you get FUN, of course!
True to style, Osman’s strength is his characters. He knows how to write a diverse, richly imagined cast who always embody so much personality that you love them whether they’re friend or foe. There’s not a single character I didn’t like, and his ability to find humor and lightness in the darkest of scenarios is what makes his books a magnet for me. Another big draw? The narrators for his audiobooks are always stellar. In this case, Nicola Walker bats it out of the park.
The only ding to my rating is simply that I wasn’t as enamored of the mystery itself as I was the characters. It’s a large cast, so keeping up with all the names and connections was sometimes challenging, and I don’t love social media influencers as a device in stories, though they played a very small part. That’s a me thing. What I do love is the main three characters - particularly Rosie, who is SO much fun and will be back for the next book. It’s a great start to the series, and thankfully, will coexist with The Thursday Murder Club series, as that gang gets a return visit in Osman’s next book. I can’t wait!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to my library/Libby for the Kindle copy and audio. This book is out now!
Amy Wheeler works in the close protection business for a company called Maximum Impact Solutions. Her latest client is feisty and fun long-time author Rosie D’Antonio, who’s had a hit placed on her by a powerful Russian mogul, Vasiliy Karpin, who didn’t appreciate being outed by her in her latest book. Amy is a force to be reckoned with - don’t let that calm exterior fool you.
Meet Francois Loubet (pronounced loo-bay). Well … that’s the name he uses. In a fascinating plot device that never would’ve occurred to me before this book, whoever this mysterious individual is, he communicates via email AFTER he’s run what he wants to say through the AI program ChatGPT, telling it to rewrite it “in the style of a friendly English gentleman, please.” Brilliant move to conceal his identity, but scary in its real-world applications!
Loubet is a powerful money smuggler who’s using unsuspecting low-level social media influencers protected by Maximum Impact to move large quantities of money. When they start meeting unfortunate ends, Amy’s boss and trusted friend, Jeff Nolan, threatens Loubet, putting a target on both his own and Amy’s backs. Luckily, this chess match is a little more evenly matched since both sides know how to play the game!
Part of Amy’s strategy? Bring in her recently widowed retired-cop/part-time investigator father-in-law Steve to help. He doesn’t really want to. He’s comfortable with his pub trivia nights, his small group of friends and taking care of his cat, Trouble, but Amy needs him and he’d do anything to help her.
So what happens when you combine an adrenaline junkie daughter-in-law, a savvy, but reluctant father-in-law, and a thrill-seeking, fearless author in various life-threatening scenarios? It’s Richard Osman … you get FUN, of course!
True to style, Osman’s strength is his characters. He knows how to write a diverse, richly imagined cast who always embody so much personality that you love them whether they’re friend or foe. There’s not a single character I didn’t like, and his ability to find humor and lightness in the darkest of scenarios is what makes his books a magnet for me. Another big draw? The narrators for his audiobooks are always stellar. In this case, Nicola Walker bats it out of the park.
The only ding to my rating is simply that I wasn’t as enamored of the mystery itself as I was the characters. It’s a large cast, so keeping up with all the names and connections was sometimes challenging, and I don’t love social media influencers as a device in stories, though they played a very small part. That’s a me thing. What I do love is the main three characters - particularly Rosie, who is SO much fun and will be back for the next book. It’s a great start to the series, and thankfully, will coexist with The Thursday Murder Club series, as that gang gets a return visit in Osman’s next book. I can’t wait!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to my library/Libby for the Kindle copy and audio. This book is out now!
October 9, 2024
A new series from this author!
I was easily pulled into the lives of the eccentric characters and the mystery of Francois Loubet! He is the world's biggest money smuggler and works incognito. Amy is a bodyguard working for a private security company. She is currently protecting Rosie D’Antonio, a best-selling author and is always coming up with new titles and characters for her future books. "Can I use that in a book?" was her go to line! She made me LOL many times! She added drama many times.
Steve and his cat, Trouble (a rescued stray) were also favorites.
A fun, engaging and entertaining read for me!
I love the characters this author creates and I'm here for the next in this series. Also, waiting for Joyce, Elizabeth, Ibrahim and Ron to come back in the next Thursday Murder Club #5!
This one published on Sept 17,2024 and I purchased the kindle ebook/and added the audio.
I was easily pulled into the lives of the eccentric characters and the mystery of Francois Loubet! He is the world's biggest money smuggler and works incognito. Amy is a bodyguard working for a private security company. She is currently protecting Rosie D’Antonio, a best-selling author and is always coming up with new titles and characters for her future books. "Can I use that in a book?" was her go to line! She made me LOL many times! She added drama many times.
Steve and his cat, Trouble (a rescued stray) were also favorites.
A fun, engaging and entertaining read for me!
I love the characters this author creates and I'm here for the next in this series. Also, waiting for Joyce, Elizabeth, Ibrahim and Ron to come back in the next Thursday Murder Club #5!
This one published on Sept 17,2024 and I purchased the kindle ebook/and added the audio.
September 18, 2024
A fun read with likeable characters (Rosie was my favorite !).Perhaps a bit too much going on at times, but overall, an engaging and entertaining read! Will definitely be following this series!
Detailed review to follow.
Detailed review to follow.
February 25, 2024
If Richard Osman writes it, I read it 🤝
October 16, 2024
“We Solve Murders. Great name for a book.”
It would be so easy if it was just Amy and Steve Wheeler as characters. Maybe just Rosie, too. But then there is someone named Francois Loubet? And Joe Blow. Who are these people? And why does Francois Loubet insist on wanting to kill Amy and all these other people?
But that isn’t enough. There are so many other characters that I find I am having to make a list. Can I keep track of who is who? And how they relate to whom? Am I getting confused? Yes, I am. But let me try and get on track here.
So, let’s just say we have main characters Steve and Amy. Steve is a retired cop who is a widower who enjoys talking to his late wife Debbie on her memorial bench, while he keeps busy with freelance work. He enjoys the weekly pub quiz and conversing with his daughter-in-law, Amy who works in private security, currently on a job watching Rosie, an author. But Amy is being framed for murders, and this doesn’t sit well for Amy, Rosie or Steve. And, now they need to find out why this is happening. And, this is where all these characters come in. And, a lot of globetrotting, which takes Steve out of his comfort zone.
Rosie is a hoot, and Steve is full of grief, and Amy is fearless. All the other characters are just extended to the list. And, did I say that Amy is married to Adam, Steve’s son, but he barely makes an entrance to the book?
Still, eventually, the plot all comes together, making it a fun, light read, but…
And, yes there is a but…for this to be a good series, a little more time needs to be provided to flesh out our main characters, and a little less time to creating a slew of so many other side characters.
But having said that…speaking of characters… it is nice to have a cat named Trouble. Let’s have more page time for Trouble.
It would be so easy if it was just Amy and Steve Wheeler as characters. Maybe just Rosie, too. But then there is someone named Francois Loubet? And Joe Blow. Who are these people? And why does Francois Loubet insist on wanting to kill Amy and all these other people?
But that isn’t enough. There are so many other characters that I find I am having to make a list. Can I keep track of who is who? And how they relate to whom? Am I getting confused? Yes, I am. But let me try and get on track here.
So, let’s just say we have main characters Steve and Amy. Steve is a retired cop who is a widower who enjoys talking to his late wife Debbie on her memorial bench, while he keeps busy with freelance work. He enjoys the weekly pub quiz and conversing with his daughter-in-law, Amy who works in private security, currently on a job watching Rosie, an author. But Amy is being framed for murders, and this doesn’t sit well for Amy, Rosie or Steve. And, now they need to find out why this is happening. And, this is where all these characters come in. And, a lot of globetrotting, which takes Steve out of his comfort zone.
Rosie is a hoot, and Steve is full of grief, and Amy is fearless. All the other characters are just extended to the list. And, did I say that Amy is married to Adam, Steve’s son, but he barely makes an entrance to the book?
Still, eventually, the plot all comes together, making it a fun, light read, but…
And, yes there is a but…for this to be a good series, a little more time needs to be provided to flesh out our main characters, and a little less time to creating a slew of so many other side characters.
But having said that…speaking of characters… it is nice to have a cat named Trouble. Let’s have more page time for Trouble.
October 16, 2024
I wanted to hate this book. I wanted it to be horrible, bland and nonsensical. Why? Because I love my Thursday Murder Club characters and couldn’t stand the thought of leaving them behind after they brought me so much reading joy 🥹
But I didn’t hate it. In fact I loved it. Same brilliant writing style and loveable characters. Steve, Amy and Rose are phenomenal. The plot is riveting and In the same style of Richard’s other books, they readers will have an unforgettable adventure while solving a tangled mystery (‘tangled mystery’ would be a great name for a book 😂)
In conclusion, if you love the Thursday Murder club then you will adore We Solve Murders ❤️
But I didn’t hate it. In fact I loved it. Same brilliant writing style and loveable characters. Steve, Amy and Rose are phenomenal. The plot is riveting and In the same style of Richard’s other books, they readers will have an unforgettable adventure while solving a tangled mystery (‘tangled mystery’ would be a great name for a book 😂)
In conclusion, if you love the Thursday Murder club then you will adore We Solve Murders ❤️
September 21, 2024
3.5 stars, rounded up. Like many I am a big fan of the "Thursday Murder Club" but I can appreciate an author doing more/different too, so I was happy to try this one. But, I just didn't enjoy iy quite as much. The two main things that didn't work for me are: I really disliked a MC - Amy, who I never felt like I knew or cared about & also just way, way too many secondary characters (Like why did we even need Bonnie??- there was nothing she really added at all). I often had to go back a page or two to get the next character & action, it was just too much at times. I did however, really appreciate all the exotic locals & private planes, etc. - big change from Cooper's Chase! And Rosie was a hoot! Still I enjoyed it overall, and will happily read another if/when published
August 24, 2024
I'm glad we'll be going back to Cooper's Chase next year...
October 6, 2024
I do enjoy witty banter! I have been going in blind to reading some new authors (to me) books recently. I mean I know the broad category but am not familiar with their other works and this is one of them and I LOVED it. The first half of the book the plot is fast paced, and the dialogue remains funny. If I have any quibbles, it is the large cast of characters. I sometimes had to go back and reread pages to remember who they were. Part of my fun in reading mysteries is guessing "who done it". I had a lot of fun with this and changed my mind several times. I recommend this book and plan to read the next one. I am enjoying that some of the best-selling books have a mix of ages for the characters. Let me say Rosie is a wonderfully written character that is my favorite as she has done it all. 4.5* and I plan to read other books by the author and can't wait for book II in this series.
July 28, 2024
bad news is this was not good, good news is that we are getting thursday murder club 5 next year and hopefully peace will be restored
October 14, 2024
EXCERPT: 'There'll be a plane waiting for you at Farnborough,' says Amy. 'Rosie's private jet.'
'Give over,' says Steve. 'Farnborough. Is there parking?'
'A car will come to your house. It'll drive you to the plane.'
'Wait a minute,' says Steve.
'I need you, Steve,' says Amy. 'Get the plane.'
'I'll have to mull it ov-'
'What would Debbie tell you to do?'
Steve knows exactly what Debbie would tell him to do. She's telling him right now. He feels sick.
But then he realizes there's another feeling too. One that he can't quite put his finger on. Surely not excitement? At being wanted? At being needed? At danger? No, he must just be in shock.
'Are there alligators?'
Steve hears Amy put this question to Rosie, who replies, 'God, yes, huge ones.'
If Steve does go to America, he's going to have to rearrange that shelf delivery. That'll be another half an hour on hold to the call centre. And there will be no bolognese.
And, worst of all, four murders. Or, given what he has just seen, maybe five?
'Steve, I need someone I can trust,' says Amy. She is quieter now. She knows that she has him. 'There are murders to be solved, and I can't do it by myself. It's you and me.'
'But we don't solve murders,' says Steve.
He can hear Amy smiling down the phone. 'Then we're going to have to start.'
ABOUT 'WE SOLVE MURDERS': A brand new series. An iconic new detective duo. And a puzzling new murder to solve...
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 favorite 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 lethal enemy?
MY THOUGHTS: I had an absolutely super time reading We Solve Murders. If I wasn't reading it, which I did at every available opportunity, I was thinking about it. Not about solving the case, but about the wonderful characters, Osman's irrepressible sense of humor, and his ability to make the ridiculous feel sublime. I know of no other author who would put a retired, widowed ex-cop, his daughter-in-law who specializes in personal protection, an extremely wealthy best-selling author, and an assortment of criminals, including money launderers and hitmen, together and make it work! There's also a cat called Trouble, a pub quiz, and kale involved.
I didn't think Osman could better his Thursday Murder Club series, but he just may have with We Solve Murders. I am glad we are to get more of Amy, Rosie and Steve. I can't wait!
And if you haven't yet read a book by Richard Osman, do yourself a favor and pick one up.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#WeSolveMurders #WaitomoDistrictLibrary
THE AUTHOR: Richard Osman is an English television presenter, producer, director and novelist.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'Give over,' says Steve. 'Farnborough. Is there parking?'
'A car will come to your house. It'll drive you to the plane.'
'Wait a minute,' says Steve.
'I need you, Steve,' says Amy. 'Get the plane.'
'I'll have to mull it ov-'
'What would Debbie tell you to do?'
Steve knows exactly what Debbie would tell him to do. She's telling him right now. He feels sick.
But then he realizes there's another feeling too. One that he can't quite put his finger on. Surely not excitement? At being wanted? At being needed? At danger? No, he must just be in shock.
'Are there alligators?'
Steve hears Amy put this question to Rosie, who replies, 'God, yes, huge ones.'
If Steve does go to America, he's going to have to rearrange that shelf delivery. That'll be another half an hour on hold to the call centre. And there will be no bolognese.
And, worst of all, four murders. Or, given what he has just seen, maybe five?
'Steve, I need someone I can trust,' says Amy. She is quieter now. She knows that she has him. 'There are murders to be solved, and I can't do it by myself. It's you and me.'
'But we don't solve murders,' says Steve.
He can hear Amy smiling down the phone. 'Then we're going to have to start.'
ABOUT 'WE SOLVE MURDERS': A brand new series. An iconic new detective duo. And a puzzling new murder to solve...
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 favorite 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 lethal enemy?
MY THOUGHTS: I had an absolutely super time reading We Solve Murders. If I wasn't reading it, which I did at every available opportunity, I was thinking about it. Not about solving the case, but about the wonderful characters, Osman's irrepressible sense of humor, and his ability to make the ridiculous feel sublime. I know of no other author who would put a retired, widowed ex-cop, his daughter-in-law who specializes in personal protection, an extremely wealthy best-selling author, and an assortment of criminals, including money launderers and hitmen, together and make it work! There's also a cat called Trouble, a pub quiz, and kale involved.
I didn't think Osman could better his Thursday Murder Club series, but he just may have with We Solve Murders. I am glad we are to get more of Amy, Rosie and Steve. I can't wait!
And if you haven't yet read a book by Richard Osman, do yourself a favor and pick one up.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#WeSolveMurders #WaitomoDistrictLibrary
THE AUTHOR: Richard Osman is an English television presenter, producer, director and novelist.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
October 9, 2024
The author introduces us to the first book in the We Solve Murders series complete with a whole new set of characters to love.
Our new friends are Amy, a private security officer, Steve, her retired father-in-law, and Rosie, a very famous author. An interesting team and a very entertaining one too. For most of the book Amy and Rosie are being pursued by hit men and the ways in which they escape are very imaginative.
Osman draws his characters so well and makes them so likeable that you wish you could be part of their group. His humor is superb and there are some really great moments. My favorite scene is the one in the radio station which had me laughing for ages.
By the end of the book I was very happy that this is the beginning of a series with much more from these characters to look forward to. As long as the author does not forget to give us more from the Thursday Murder Club as well.
Our new friends are Amy, a private security officer, Steve, her retired father-in-law, and Rosie, a very famous author. An interesting team and a very entertaining one too. For most of the book Amy and Rosie are being pursued by hit men and the ways in which they escape are very imaginative.
Osman draws his characters so well and makes them so likeable that you wish you could be part of their group. His humor is superb and there are some really great moments. My favorite scene is the one in the radio station which had me laughing for ages.
By the end of the book I was very happy that this is the beginning of a series with much more from these characters to look forward to. As long as the author does not forget to give us more from the Thursday Murder Club as well.
October 3, 2024
DONE! 😮💨 that was a wild ride…
🌟🌟🌟🌟
First of all, full disclosure: I love Richard Osman and ALL of the previous books he has written. With that being said, let’s get into the review for the first book in this brand new series…
Wow, did this book start off with a BANG 💥 Andrew Fairbanks - found dead; short in the head, tied to a rope and thrown overboard from a yacht into the Atlantic. The questions were mounting…who killed him? Why did they kill him?
A new detective duo were recruited in this shocking series of murders. Across the world, no less. Solving murders was ran in the family and Steve and Amy Wheeler had a thrilling around the world case waiting for them…could they outrun the killer? We were about to find out! Amy was a moving target but how long could she keep moving for before it was game over 😵
Steve’s daughter-in-law Amy is an employee of Maximum Impact Solutions; the world’s biggest close-protection agency. Currently: Rosie D’Antonio, the world’s bestselling novelist, is her client. Hiding out in a private island off the coast of South Carolina - it couldn’t be more different than Steve’s quaint English town.
Steve however was quite happy to fill his days with TV, pub quizzes and a cuddly cat called Trouble - “You can’t have the thrills of life without the pain of life, so Steve has decided to go without the thrills.” - but Amy has other plans and seen as Steve is one of the only people Amy truly trusts, when she needs back up, he is first on the list…
Amy: “There are murders to be solved, and I can’t do it by myself. It’s you and me.”…
Steve: “But we don’t solve murders”…
Amy: “then we’re going to have to start.”
However, Amy couldn’t be more different…she lives for her ‘old friend’ adrenaline…
The characterisation was second to none, particularly that of the new detectives; we very quickly got a real feel for their characters and I loved the Father-Daughter in-law relationship. It added a personal and more grounded feel to this thriller. And speaking of thrillers, this one spared nothing. It really was a thriller in the true sense of the world. Even more so than the Thursday Murder Club. I also love how the characters used such simple, yet effective, techniques of hunting down the killers. Ingenious!
What stopped this from being a 5 star read? Personally, I felt there were too many characters; more than necessary to portray the storyline. I would also have liked to have seen/heard more about Adam - Amy’s husband and Steve’s son. It was over half way through before we really heard much more than a few words about him. Maybe he will play a bigger part in books to come…and finally, while I absolutely loved this book but I do have to say I missed the Thursday Murder Club gang - particularly, Joyce.
I am highly impressed by the complexities that went into creating such a fantastic plot and I am looking forward to reading more from this new detective duo, however, it wouldn’t hurt to throw in a little glimpse of some of the Thursday Murder Club gang 😉
“If I can give you some advice from one prison cell to another, it is this. No regrets. We live our lives forwards, not backwards. So always make the best of once in front of you.”
🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌟🌟🌟🌟
First of all, full disclosure: I love Richard Osman and ALL of the previous books he has written. With that being said, let’s get into the review for the first book in this brand new series…
Wow, did this book start off with a BANG 💥 Andrew Fairbanks - found dead; short in the head, tied to a rope and thrown overboard from a yacht into the Atlantic. The questions were mounting…who killed him? Why did they kill him?
A new detective duo were recruited in this shocking series of murders. Across the world, no less. Solving murders was ran in the family and Steve and Amy Wheeler had a thrilling around the world case waiting for them…could they outrun the killer? We were about to find out! Amy was a moving target but how long could she keep moving for before it was game over 😵
Steve’s daughter-in-law Amy is an employee of Maximum Impact Solutions; the world’s biggest close-protection agency. Currently: Rosie D’Antonio, the world’s bestselling novelist, is her client. Hiding out in a private island off the coast of South Carolina - it couldn’t be more different than Steve’s quaint English town.
Steve however was quite happy to fill his days with TV, pub quizzes and a cuddly cat called Trouble - “You can’t have the thrills of life without the pain of life, so Steve has decided to go without the thrills.” - but Amy has other plans and seen as Steve is one of the only people Amy truly trusts, when she needs back up, he is first on the list…
Amy: “There are murders to be solved, and I can’t do it by myself. It’s you and me.”…
Steve: “But we don’t solve murders”…
Amy: “then we’re going to have to start.”
However, Amy couldn’t be more different…she lives for her ‘old friend’ adrenaline…
The characterisation was second to none, particularly that of the new detectives; we very quickly got a real feel for their characters and I loved the Father-Daughter in-law relationship. It added a personal and more grounded feel to this thriller. And speaking of thrillers, this one spared nothing. It really was a thriller in the true sense of the world. Even more so than the Thursday Murder Club. I also love how the characters used such simple, yet effective, techniques of hunting down the killers. Ingenious!
What stopped this from being a 5 star read? Personally, I felt there were too many characters; more than necessary to portray the storyline. I would also have liked to have seen/heard more about Adam - Amy’s husband and Steve’s son. It was over half way through before we really heard much more than a few words about him. Maybe he will play a bigger part in books to come…and finally, while I absolutely loved this book but I do have to say I missed the Thursday Murder Club gang - particularly, Joyce.
I am highly impressed by the complexities that went into creating such a fantastic plot and I am looking forward to reading more from this new detective duo, however, it wouldn’t hurt to throw in a little glimpse of some of the Thursday Murder Club gang 😉
“If I can give you some advice from one prison cell to another, it is this. No regrets. We live our lives forwards, not backwards. So always make the best of once in front of you.”
🌟🌟🌟🌟
October 30, 2024
Blog | Instagram
Rating: 4 stars
'We Solve Murders' is a great start to another fun and entertaining series by Richard Osman, and I cannot wait for more!
Similar read: Zero Days by Ruth Ware
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟
This cover may be simple, but it neatly captures the genre of the story, and the pops of red make it stand out.
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The simple, casual writing style is laced with subtle humour, which made for an easy and engaging read. I also loved the broad scope provided by the third-person, multiple points of view (POVs). However, some perspectives seemed unnecessary, and it would have been helpful to have some indication of the POV at the start of each chapter.
"You can't have the thrills of life without the pain of life"
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Despite a fairly unexciting start introducing the key characters, I was soon pulled in by the escalating danger and cleverly revealed mystery. Constant twists as the quirky characters raced around the world kept me fully invested in the unfolding investigation and guessing until the end.
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
With their contrasting personalities and heartwarming relationship, Amy and her father-in-law, Steve, make a fantastic duo to unravel the mystery. Amy, the muscles of the pair, seemed like a typical tough bodyguard, but there are hints of a rough backstory that I am curious about. In contrast, Steve, the brains of the duo, brings the savviness needed to crack the mystery. His grief and cravings for familiar habits also gave his character depth and relatability.
"Anytime you feel your unhappiness turning into bitterness, you have to check yourself. You can live with unhappiness, but bitterness will kill."
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The diverse cast each had realistic and distinct traits that made them entertaining and enhanced the story. In particular, Rosie quickly became a favourite of mine due to her funny quirks and pivotal role in the story. Other characters turned out to be completely different from their initial portrayal, making them stand out.
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Nicola Walker used character voices and accents to enhance this audiobook. While there were moments when her delivery felt a bit monotonous, overall, it was natural and filled with nuance, making for an enjoyable listening experience.
Rating: 4 stars
'We Solve Murders' is a great start to another fun and entertaining series by Richard Osman, and I cannot wait for more!
Similar read: Zero Days by Ruth Ware
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟
This cover may be simple, but it neatly captures the genre of the story, and the pops of red make it stand out.
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The simple, casual writing style is laced with subtle humour, which made for an easy and engaging read. I also loved the broad scope provided by the third-person, multiple points of view (POVs). However, some perspectives seemed unnecessary, and it would have been helpful to have some indication of the POV at the start of each chapter.
"You can't have the thrills of life without the pain of life"
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Despite a fairly unexciting start introducing the key characters, I was soon pulled in by the escalating danger and cleverly revealed mystery. Constant twists as the quirky characters raced around the world kept me fully invested in the unfolding investigation and guessing until the end.
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
With their contrasting personalities and heartwarming relationship, Amy and her father-in-law, Steve, make a fantastic duo to unravel the mystery. Amy, the muscles of the pair, seemed like a typical tough bodyguard, but there are hints of a rough backstory that I am curious about. In contrast, Steve, the brains of the duo, brings the savviness needed to crack the mystery. His grief and cravings for familiar habits also gave his character depth and relatability.
"Anytime you feel your unhappiness turning into bitterness, you have to check yourself. You can live with unhappiness, but bitterness will kill."
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The diverse cast each had realistic and distinct traits that made them entertaining and enhanced the story. In particular, Rosie quickly became a favourite of mine due to her funny quirks and pivotal role in the story. Other characters turned out to be completely different from their initial portrayal, making them stand out.
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Nicola Walker used character voices and accents to enhance this audiobook. While there were moments when her delivery felt a bit monotonous, overall, it was natural and filled with nuance, making for an enjoyable listening experience.
September 19, 2024
I know it says 5 🌟 but I’m giving it 4.75 🌟 that’s because I didn’t want it to finish!!!
I LOVED LOVED this book, thankyou Richard, it was funny, exciting and I just fell into this world.
New characters (Amy , Steve and Rosie) and others , Rosie has to be my favourite character she was just great made me smile with every sentence,just waiting to see what she’s going to do or say next.
I’m not going to tell you the story of the book as I so want people to read this and figure out for themselves, so might love some might love that’s books and life.
We think Thursday murder club has finished… but has it!!!
Obviously this is a new branch of Richard Osman to go down, he now has 2 Avenues.
Now it goes to waiting around for the next one… next year?
I hope so. 🤞
WHAT NEXT! ?
I LOVED LOVED this book, thankyou Richard, it was funny, exciting and I just fell into this world.
New characters (Amy , Steve and Rosie) and others , Rosie has to be my favourite character she was just great made me smile with every sentence,just waiting to see what she’s going to do or say next.
I’m not going to tell you the story of the book as I so want people to read this and figure out for themselves, so might love some might love that’s books and life.
We think Thursday murder club has finished… but has it!!!
Obviously this is a new branch of Richard Osman to go down, he now has 2 Avenues.
Now it goes to waiting around for the next one… next year?
I hope so. 🤞
WHAT NEXT! ?
September 21, 2024
I adored Osman's Thursday Murder Club series, though it has recently occurred to me that I can't remember a single crime those four "detectives" solved. All that mattered to me was the camaraderie between the friends and their witty repartee. I was hoping the author could capture the same magic with a different set of characters, and he mostly has, particularly with Steve, a retired detective who just wants to stay home, have conversations with his late wife, and head down to the pub for quiz night. Suddenly, like Bilbo Baggins, he has adventure thrust upon him by his beloved daughter-in-law who needs help discovering just who's trying to kill her . . . and why.
This was pure fun, and proves to be a fine start to a new series. The snappy dialogue, laugh-out-loud moments, and lovable characters that made his first four books so enjoyable are there. Don't worry - Osman promises in the afterward that he'll be returning to his Thursday folk with the next book. It seems the man can do no wrong.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for the read.
This was pure fun, and proves to be a fine start to a new series. The snappy dialogue, laugh-out-loud moments, and lovable characters that made his first four books so enjoyable are there. Don't worry - Osman promises in the afterward that he'll be returning to his Thursday folk with the next book. It seems the man can do no wrong.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for the read.
September 22, 2024
This is a brand new series.
As I enjoyed the previous one (especially book #4, as the author put his heart into it), I had high expectations.
I must confess that I had a hard time feeling motivated to finish it, because I was not captivated by the story or its development.
It’s too cutesy and too shallow for me, and there are too many characters (and I didn’t care for a single one).
It is a fast read and the writing is simple and clear. Despite the number of characters, I did not find confusing. It’s definitely not boring.
I really think I’m not the right audience for this book, so please don’t let my opinion influence you negatively.
ebook (Kobo): 301 pages (default), 93k words (101 chapters).
As I enjoyed the previous one (especially book #4, as the author put his heart into it), I had high expectations.
I must confess that I had a hard time feeling motivated to finish it, because I was not captivated by the story or its development.
It’s too cutesy and too shallow for me, and there are too many characters (and I didn’t care for a single one).
It is a fast read and the writing is simple and clear. Despite the number of characters, I did not find confusing. It’s definitely not boring.
I really think I’m not the right audience for this book, so please don’t let my opinion influence you negatively.
ebook (Kobo): 301 pages (default), 93k words (101 chapters).
September 17, 2024
3.5 stars
'We Solve Murders' turned out to be an entertaining read but, if it had been written by an author I didn't know, I'd have been thinking about setting it aside after the first hour. The start of the book put me off. The situations felt forced, the humour was brittle in a wannabe Carl Haaisen way, the people felt shallow and their world felt plastic. I was not engaged.
Because this was a Richard Osman book and the start of a new series trying something more plot-driven than 'The Thursday Murder Club' novels, I stuck with it.
Things changed, slowly. By the end of the second hour, I'd been pulled into the story by Nicola Walker's narration and I was starting to become interested in Amy, the bodyguard, and Steve, her ex-police detective father-in-law but I was still struggling with a plot that, while clever, had all the charm of a fake Doric portico stuck onto the front of an 'Executive Home'.
In the third hour, I settled into the story, which I'd now understood was a sort of fairytale with slightly subversive humour that reminded me of David Lodge. I began to enjoy the way the heist-movie-slick plot and the glitzy settings were constantly being undercut by a type of English humour that sees bling as essentially childish, and by characters whose curiosity was of the kind that would find the service tunnels in Disneyland more interesting than the rides. The plot was generating an enjoyable 'root for the underdog' vibe but the character development was still patchy.
By the halfway point, I was being swept along by the clever, original, fast-paced plot which kept me entertained until the end.
One of the things that I've enjoyed most about Richard Osman's other books is how relatable and well-observed and real his characters are. I felt this was missing for the first half of the book. Perhaps this is because I don't know any international criminals or people who choose to work in the close personal protection business and becuase many of the settings were a long way from home.
By the end of the book,, I had become engaged with most of the main characters. I thought that Steve, the widowed ex-police officer and Rosie, the top-selling thriller writer were well-drawn and easy to engage with. Amy, the bodyguard was a little different. Her character felt functional rather than engaging, like a knife or a gun or a good piece of code. Still, the three of them together had an attractive dynamic.
The humour lifts the book and often made me smile but it was the small moments of intimacy that I liked most, especially those grounded in Steve's New Forest village.
I'd like to see what Steve, Amy and Rosie do next, so I'll be back for the next 'We Solve Murders' novel.
'We Solve Murders' turned out to be an entertaining read but, if it had been written by an author I didn't know, I'd have been thinking about setting it aside after the first hour. The start of the book put me off. The situations felt forced, the humour was brittle in a wannabe Carl Haaisen way, the people felt shallow and their world felt plastic. I was not engaged.
Because this was a Richard Osman book and the start of a new series trying something more plot-driven than 'The Thursday Murder Club' novels, I stuck with it.
Things changed, slowly. By the end of the second hour, I'd been pulled into the story by Nicola Walker's narration and I was starting to become interested in Amy, the bodyguard, and Steve, her ex-police detective father-in-law but I was still struggling with a plot that, while clever, had all the charm of a fake Doric portico stuck onto the front of an 'Executive Home'.
In the third hour, I settled into the story, which I'd now understood was a sort of fairytale with slightly subversive humour that reminded me of David Lodge. I began to enjoy the way the heist-movie-slick plot and the glitzy settings were constantly being undercut by a type of English humour that sees bling as essentially childish, and by characters whose curiosity was of the kind that would find the service tunnels in Disneyland more interesting than the rides. The plot was generating an enjoyable 'root for the underdog' vibe but the character development was still patchy.
By the halfway point, I was being swept along by the clever, original, fast-paced plot which kept me entertained until the end.
One of the things that I've enjoyed most about Richard Osman's other books is how relatable and well-observed and real his characters are. I felt this was missing for the first half of the book. Perhaps this is because I don't know any international criminals or people who choose to work in the close personal protection business and becuase many of the settings were a long way from home.
By the end of the book,, I had become engaged with most of the main characters. I thought that Steve, the widowed ex-police officer and Rosie, the top-selling thriller writer were well-drawn and easy to engage with. Amy, the bodyguard was a little different. Her character felt functional rather than engaging, like a knife or a gun or a good piece of code. Still, the three of them together had an attractive dynamic.
The humour lifts the book and often made me smile but it was the small moments of intimacy that I liked most, especially those grounded in Steve's New Forest village.
I'd like to see what Steve, Amy and Rosie do next, so I'll be back for the next 'We Solve Murders' novel.
September 21, 2024
So disappointed in this one. I did like the character Steve, but that was about it. The plot was all over the place. 2.5 rounded down.
September 17, 2024
I’m struggling to understand the high rating for this one, just like I am struggling to get through the book itself. The characters are flat, and there are about 84 of them. The plot was everywhere, all over the place. This one only has the worst parts of TMC, spy/mob/hitmen ish. Not my favorite. There were a couple of giggles, but overall fairly boring. Sadness. Thank goodness TMC 5 is out in 2025.
October 9, 2024
We Solve Murders (We Solve Murders #1) by Richard Osman
Synopsis /
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 lethal enemy?
My Thoughts /
3.5 rounded up.
What do a private security officer and a famous novelist have in common?
They are both characters in the brand new crime-fighting team created by author, Richard Osman in his newest novel We Solve Murders.
This reader is a huge fan of Osman’s, Thursday Murder Club series, so I’ll be honest here and say, that it’s the only reason I picked this one up so quickly after release day. I wasn’t altogether delighted to learn that Osman was putting aside my friends from Coopers Chase for an undisclosed period to write a new series. But, “Needs must”, and I was reminded that life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for change. So with that in mind, let us begin.
Amy Wheeler works for a private security company called Maximum Impact Solutions. In effect, she’s a bodyguard for hire; providing protection to some of the world’s wealthiest, successful and powerful clientele. Perfectly suited to this line of work, Amy Wheeler thrives on adrenaline rushes and the high risk working environment of a close-order protection officer.
Former police officer, now retired, Steve Wheeler lives alone in the small, quiet, English village of Axley. Steve lost his wife, Debbie to cancer some time ago and now spends his days ‘keeping his hand in’ investigating low-key crimes for his community (under the handle “Steve Investigates”), lunching at the local pub, partaking in quiz nights, watching television with his cat, Trouble and; talking on the phone every day with his daughter-in-law, Amy.
When the story opens, we are on a private island somewhere off the coast of South Carolina. Amy Wheeler is working her latest assignment - as a protection officer for Rosie D’Antonio. Rosie is a novelist; but not just any novelist, Rosie D’Antonio is a world’s best selling author - her books literally fly off the shelves. So why would an author need a bodyguard??? Well, it turns out that a Russian Oligarch has taken offence at Rosie’s depiction of him in her latest book and has threatened her life - hence the private island and close-quarter bodyguard.
While on the island, Amy receives news that three of her previous clients have been killed - she suspects foul play. It turns out, all three clients were killed while Amy was working other assignments nearby. Her combat senses go on high alert and she realises that she might be in trouble. Is someone targeting her, or the company - Maximum Impact Solutions? And what does that mean for her current charge, Rosie D’Antonio?
My expectations were high, coming off the back of the Thursday Murder Club series, but I don’t think this book reaches that same level. The pacing at the beginning is somewhat slow, although, it does pick up as the story progresses. Connections? Out of all of our main ‘club members’ I didn’t connect with Amy at all - I thought she lacked depth and was portrayed as a stereotypical protection agent - closed-off and (seemingly) emotionless...compartmentalised. If I were asked to describe her I’d say: she’s good at killing people and she likes her father-in-law. As for Steve (aka the father-in-law)? Well, the poor guy’s been wrenched out of his small, safe environmental bubble in an effort to help his daughter-in-law snare a killer and clear her name. His only wish? That he can do all that before the next quiz night at The Brass Monkey pub on Wednesday! Steve had a little bit more polish to his character than Amy - but neither get my literary heart in a flutter. Rosie D’Antonio on the other hand was a breath of fresh air. To say she is wealthy is a complete understatement - Rosie has more money than God; and yet she was neither selfish nor self-centred. She was funny, eccentric, irregular. She lives life without boundaries or filters. She is fabulous, brave and entertaining all in equal measures and she steals every scene she’s in (exactly what I was hoping for).
There’s no doubt that Osman writes a good tale, but for this reader, to reach TTMC levels, a bit more time needs to be spent fleshing out our main characters and a little less time spent on surrounding them with a slew of secondary characters who we may never see again.
I know that I’m edging into outlier land with my review; so please take my sceptical observations with a grain of salt - these are only my thoughts and yours could be well different to mine.
Overall though, this was an entertaining read, which had ‘some’ tense moments with which to keep me engaged. It will be interesting to see what the author has in store for the team in any future adventures.
Synopsis /
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 lethal enemy?
My Thoughts /
3.5 rounded up.
What do a private security officer and a famous novelist have in common?
They are both characters in the brand new crime-fighting team created by author, Richard Osman in his newest novel We Solve Murders.
This reader is a huge fan of Osman’s, Thursday Murder Club series, so I’ll be honest here and say, that it’s the only reason I picked this one up so quickly after release day. I wasn’t altogether delighted to learn that Osman was putting aside my friends from Coopers Chase for an undisclosed period to write a new series. But, “Needs must”, and I was reminded that life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for change. So with that in mind, let us begin.
Amy Wheeler works for a private security company called Maximum Impact Solutions. In effect, she’s a bodyguard for hire; providing protection to some of the world’s wealthiest, successful and powerful clientele. Perfectly suited to this line of work, Amy Wheeler thrives on adrenaline rushes and the high risk working environment of a close-order protection officer.
Former police officer, now retired, Steve Wheeler lives alone in the small, quiet, English village of Axley. Steve lost his wife, Debbie to cancer some time ago and now spends his days ‘keeping his hand in’ investigating low-key crimes for his community (under the handle “Steve Investigates”), lunching at the local pub, partaking in quiz nights, watching television with his cat, Trouble and; talking on the phone every day with his daughter-in-law, Amy.
When the story opens, we are on a private island somewhere off the coast of South Carolina. Amy Wheeler is working her latest assignment - as a protection officer for Rosie D’Antonio. Rosie is a novelist; but not just any novelist, Rosie D’Antonio is a world’s best selling author - her books literally fly off the shelves. So why would an author need a bodyguard??? Well, it turns out that a Russian Oligarch has taken offence at Rosie’s depiction of him in her latest book and has threatened her life - hence the private island and close-quarter bodyguard.
While on the island, Amy receives news that three of her previous clients have been killed - she suspects foul play. It turns out, all three clients were killed while Amy was working other assignments nearby. Her combat senses go on high alert and she realises that she might be in trouble. Is someone targeting her, or the company - Maximum Impact Solutions? And what does that mean for her current charge, Rosie D’Antonio?
My expectations were high, coming off the back of the Thursday Murder Club series, but I don’t think this book reaches that same level. The pacing at the beginning is somewhat slow, although, it does pick up as the story progresses. Connections? Out of all of our main ‘club members’ I didn’t connect with Amy at all - I thought she lacked depth and was portrayed as a stereotypical protection agent - closed-off and (seemingly) emotionless...compartmentalised. If I were asked to describe her I’d say: she’s good at killing people and she likes her father-in-law. As for Steve (aka the father-in-law)? Well, the poor guy’s been wrenched out of his small, safe environmental bubble in an effort to help his daughter-in-law snare a killer and clear her name. His only wish? That he can do all that before the next quiz night at The Brass Monkey pub on Wednesday! Steve had a little bit more polish to his character than Amy - but neither get my literary heart in a flutter. Rosie D’Antonio on the other hand was a breath of fresh air. To say she is wealthy is a complete understatement - Rosie has more money than God; and yet she was neither selfish nor self-centred. She was funny, eccentric, irregular. She lives life without boundaries or filters. She is fabulous, brave and entertaining all in equal measures and she steals every scene she’s in (exactly what I was hoping for).
There’s no doubt that Osman writes a good tale, but for this reader, to reach TTMC levels, a bit more time needs to be spent fleshing out our main characters and a little less time spent on surrounding them with a slew of secondary characters who we may never see again.
I know that I’m edging into outlier land with my review; so please take my sceptical observations with a grain of salt - these are only my thoughts and yours could be well different to mine.
Overall though, this was an entertaining read, which had ‘some’ tense moments with which to keep me engaged. It will be interesting to see what the author has in store for the team in any future adventures.
September 17, 2024
**Happy Publication Day!!**
This was somewhere between 4 and 5 stars for me, but I'll round it up for being such a fun read. Richard Osman is launching a new series he's calling We Solve Murders and here, he introduces us to some great new characters and an interesting scenario involving murder, mayhem and media influencers.
Amy Wheeler works as a bodyguard for a personal security company called Maximum Impact Solutions. She is currently on a private island in South Carolina, guarding a famous mystery author named Rosie D'Antonio whose life has been threatened by a Russian mobster she included in her latest novel. When they are attacked, the two go on the run using Rosie's private jet.
Meanwhile, three clients of Maximum Impact have been killed, always when Amy is somewhere in the vicinity, so it's becoming obvious that Amy is being set up to take the fall. She needs more help figuring this all out, so she calls on her father-in-law, retired cop Steven Wheeler of Axley, Hampshire, England, to work with her and Rosie.
This team is very comical and refreshing. If you have enjoyed the high jinks of the Thursday Murder Club Series, I predict you'll enjoy this one too. Fun characters and murderous situations around the globe make for such entertaining reading.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new mystery. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
This was somewhere between 4 and 5 stars for me, but I'll round it up for being such a fun read. Richard Osman is launching a new series he's calling We Solve Murders and here, he introduces us to some great new characters and an interesting scenario involving murder, mayhem and media influencers.
Amy Wheeler works as a bodyguard for a personal security company called Maximum Impact Solutions. She is currently on a private island in South Carolina, guarding a famous mystery author named Rosie D'Antonio whose life has been threatened by a Russian mobster she included in her latest novel. When they are attacked, the two go on the run using Rosie's private jet.
Meanwhile, three clients of Maximum Impact have been killed, always when Amy is somewhere in the vicinity, so it's becoming obvious that Amy is being set up to take the fall. She needs more help figuring this all out, so she calls on her father-in-law, retired cop Steven Wheeler of Axley, Hampshire, England, to work with her and Rosie.
This team is very comical and refreshing. If you have enjoyed the high jinks of the Thursday Murder Club Series, I predict you'll enjoy this one too. Fun characters and murderous situations around the globe make for such entertaining reading.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new mystery. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
September 23, 2024
"“Steve, I need someone I can trust,” says Amy…”There are murders to be solved, and I can’t do it by myself. It’s you and me.” “But we don’t solve murders,” says Steve. He can hear Amy smiling down the phone. “Then we’re going to have to start.”"
Fans of The Thursday Murder Club will likely scoop this start of a new series like a plate of chocolate biscuits.
Amy, Adam and Steve are a family. Adam is Steve’s son and Amy is Adam’s spouse. But their relationships are a little unconventional. For purposes of illustration, imagine that Steve is the sun; Amy is the Earth: and Adam is the Moon. That is how they orbit each other.
Steve and Amy chat every day. Adam-not so much.
"What do we talk about?” “Dogs. Scotch eggs. Oxygen tents. My failings as a human being?” “You could talk to him about that?” “With Adam? Come on, Ames. Those are our things.”"
Amy works for Jeff’s protection agency and is currently on an island with a famous author whose latest book may have been too descriptive of a Russian who has made it clear that he wants her dead. Someone else might want Amy dead. The plot spreads out from there and misdirection is rampant, as usual.
"“I’m not an assassin,” says Nelson, his tone very reasonable. “I’m just, you know, a regular criminal and politician.”"
Similarly to Carl Hiaasen, Osman is at his best with odd characters and sparkling dialogue. This book won’t disappoint if that’s what you enjoy. There is, of course, send ups of British life and culture.
"“I’m English,” says Amy. “I don’t like anything about myself.” “Yawn,” says Rosie. “I used to be English too, and I got over it..”"
Yet, Osman, has some serious observations about the human condition.
Everyone is vulnerable. “For some people, for Steve, it comes out as fear, avoiding situations where the vulnerability is exposed. For others, for an awful lot of people these days, vulnerability comes out as anger, pushing away anything that feels like it might pierce their shell."
This may be the start of another enjoyable series.
Fans of The Thursday Murder Club will likely scoop this start of a new series like a plate of chocolate biscuits.
Amy, Adam and Steve are a family. Adam is Steve’s son and Amy is Adam’s spouse. But their relationships are a little unconventional. For purposes of illustration, imagine that Steve is the sun; Amy is the Earth: and Adam is the Moon. That is how they orbit each other.
Steve and Amy chat every day. Adam-not so much.
"What do we talk about?” “Dogs. Scotch eggs. Oxygen tents. My failings as a human being?” “You could talk to him about that?” “With Adam? Come on, Ames. Those are our things.”"
Amy works for Jeff’s protection agency and is currently on an island with a famous author whose latest book may have been too descriptive of a Russian who has made it clear that he wants her dead. Someone else might want Amy dead. The plot spreads out from there and misdirection is rampant, as usual.
"“I’m not an assassin,” says Nelson, his tone very reasonable. “I’m just, you know, a regular criminal and politician.”"
Similarly to Carl Hiaasen, Osman is at his best with odd characters and sparkling dialogue. This book won’t disappoint if that’s what you enjoy. There is, of course, send ups of British life and culture.
"“I’m English,” says Amy. “I don’t like anything about myself.” “Yawn,” says Rosie. “I used to be English too, and I got over it..”"
Yet, Osman, has some serious observations about the human condition.
Everyone is vulnerable. “For some people, for Steve, it comes out as fear, avoiding situations where the vulnerability is exposed. For others, for an awful lot of people these days, vulnerability comes out as anger, pushing away anything that feels like it might pierce their shell."
This may be the start of another enjoyable series.
October 13, 2024
Richard Osman just can't miss these days, it seems. I was skeptical at first when I read the premise for this book. A father-in-law and daughter-in-law working together? Solving multiple murders and a complex money laundering scheme? But I should've had more faith that he could pull it off, because he did!
This reads like the best of Dave Barry to me. Madcap, with plenty of memorable wacky characters, you'll be grinning from ear to ear when you finish. Richard, I can't wait to see what you have in store for these characters next!
Definite recommend.
This reads like the best of Dave Barry to me. Madcap, with plenty of memorable wacky characters, you'll be grinning from ear to ear when you finish. Richard, I can't wait to see what you have in store for these characters next!
Definite recommend.
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