What readers think of We Solve Murders, plus links to write your own review.

WE SOLVE MURDERS by Richard Osman

Osman has written another intelligent murder mystery peopled with fully drawn characters, an intricate plot, and a sense of humor. He does spend a fair amount of time establishing his characters, but the intelligence of the resulting plot and writing makes the time spent worthwhile. This time his series is peopled by a private detective (Amy Wheeler) protecting a world famous author (Rosie) who happens to be a scheming curmudgeon, and Amy’s father-in-law, Steve, a blissfully retired police detective.
When bodies (several) and money (lots of money) show up, the question becomes who is Francois Loubert and why does he want Amy dead? Hijinks abound along with murder, mysterious characters, round the world plane rides, and danger in plenty as our intrepid PI and her erstwhile protectee, now her companion is sleuthing, and her reluctant father-in-law attempt to answer those questions and, more importantly, stay alive.

After Osman’s successful run with the Thursday Murder Club books, he entertains us with a new set of engaging characters and engrossing story lines. I’m looking forward to further adventures with Amy, Rosie and Steve. This series is lots of fun and lots of intrigue. Enjoy!

5 stars and well worth your time.

4.5 stars
We Solve Murders is the first book in the We Solve Murders series by British TV presenter, producer, director, and novelist, Richard Osman. By the time the third client of Maximum Impact Solutions has been murdered and left on display, Amy Wheeler and her boss, Jeff Nolan are concerned: Jeff because it’s losing him his remaining clients; Amy because she was in the vicinity when each murder occurred. There’s the distinct possibility someone is trying to frame her.

Amy is currently on duty guarding renowned fiction author, Rosie D’Antonio, whose last novel made her a target for a Russian chemicals oligarch. They’re on a yacht off the coast of South Carolina, with an ex-Navy SEAL who is doubling as chef, as their back-up. Relaxing, but it’s hard not to get bored. Amy misses the adrenaline, but she makes sure not to miss her daily calls to her recently-widowed father-in-law, Steve, back in the village of Axley, near the New Forest. She worries about him, he worries about her, they try to reassure each other everything’s OK.

After twenty-five years with the Met, Steve has taken to retirement a lot better than he expected to, not missing the excitement, working locally as a PI, enjoying pub quiz evenings, chatting to the regulars, and watching TV with his cat, Trouble, on his lap, although he can’t turn off his habit of noting down anything, even the smallest detail, out of the ordinary. His Dictaphone also serves to share his day with now-sadly-absent Debbie.

The murder of that Instagram influencer on the yacht, the one shot, then tied to a rope and thrown in for the sharks, leaving behind a million dollars in cash, that has piqued his interest a little, mostly because it’s near where Amy is looking after that author, but not his affair, so, well, “You don’t have to play with every ball of string that rolls your way.” As long as Amy is safe…

But then it turns out she isn’t. she and Rosie are on the run from a murderer; there’s a lot of blood in Jeff’s car, so he might be dead; and Amy needs someone she can trust to help out. Steve very reluctantly agrees to fly over, as long as he’ll be back for pub quiz on Wednesday.

It turns out that Steve hasn’t lot his touch and manages to learn something useful. Rosie’s private plane comes in handy for flights to St Lucia and Cork, and she’s got some hidden talents for thwarting assassins. But still, learning the identity of the mastermind, the money smuggler behind it all, is proving a challenge, although the astute reader will have the culprit in their sights from first appearance.

While some plot points are a little sloppily executed, and the scene with the cable ties requires the reader to don their disbelief suspenders, the bulk of the novel is such fun that these are almost forgiven. The dialogue is delightful, often laugh-out-loud funny, and readers will recognise many of the characters as people who populate their own village or town. More of this cast is definitely welcome. Very entertaining!

Richard Osman’s new series introduces us to a whole new group of characters. And I enjoyed them just as much as the Thursday Night Murder crew. While the blurb would have you believe there are only two detectives, I beg to differ. Yes, there’s Steve, happy to maintain a low profile and Amy, who is an adrenaline junkie, both of whom are in the PI/private security business. But Rosie, the famous author, starts as a customer but ends up being just as big a part of the team. If anything, she was my favorite of all the characters.

It’s a convoluted, fast paced plot, with dead influencers being tied to Amy. The story takes the crew to multiple places around the world. There’s nary a bit of down time as everyone seems bent on knocking them off. There’s the same wonderful dry and sly sense of humor. Listen carefully, or you just might miss some of it, it’s often just that subtle.

And I will admit to not having a clue who was behind all the murders.
I listened to this and Nicola Walker was an inspired pick as narrator. I just love her voice!

4.4

Adrenaline, Dictaphone, no regrets…

Raise the curtain for Richard Osman’s latest production! We Solve Murders stars Steve Wheeler, father-in-law / retired policeman with 25 years of service and daughter-in-law Amy Wheeler, who works as a private security officer.

Three murder victims, all clients of Maximum Impact Solutions (Amy’s employer) have been found. Evidence found at each crime scene ties Amy to the crimes.

Steve and Amy will team together to solve the puzzle and to learn the identity of Francois Loubet. Nothing will stop them in their quest!

Well, ALMOST nothing!


THAT LAST LINE!!! (Don’t peek!)

Osman has a unique way of writing. Count me in as a recent fan!

A frenzy of a story! Funny, twisty, and refreshing characters! Lots of high jinks! Rosie is a hoot!

I started reading Osman and Stevenson at the same time. I did not expect to like the books by either author. (Cozy mysteries are NOT my usual genre). I have now read 5 books by Osman. I am waiting for the next Thursday Murder Club book and now look forward to the next book about the Wheelers!