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Summary and Reviews of We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

We Solve Murders

A Novel

by Richard Osman
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  • First Published:
  • Sep 17, 2024, 400 pages
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About This Book

Book Summary

Solving murders. It's a family business.

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

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

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

Excerpt
We Solve Murders

You must leave as few clues as possible. That's the only rule.

You have to talk to people sometimes; it's inevitable. There are orders to be given, shipments to be arranged, people to be killed, etc., etc.

You cannot exist in a vacuum, for goodness' sake. You need to ring François Loubet? In an absolute emergency? You'll get a phone with a voice-changer built-in. And, by the way, if it's not an absolute emergency, you'll regret ringing very soon.

But most communication is by message or email. High-end criminals are much like millennials in that way.

Everything is encrypted, naturally, but what if the authorities break the code? It happens. A lot of very good criminals are in prison right now because a nerd with a laptop had too much time on their hands. So you must hide as well as you can.

You can hide your IP address — that is very easy. François Loubet's emails go through a world tour of different locations before being sent. Even a nerd with a ...

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Reviews

BookBrowse Review

BookBrowse

The protagonists are richly drawn, to be sure, and Rosie in particular is a hoot as a Jackie Collins clone. I especially enjoyed the fact that the two women are portrayed as largely cool-headed; it's the recently widowed Steve who is the sensitive one of the group and this character's journey through his grief adds depth to the story. Beyond the major characters, the narrative abounds with others that are equally well-rounded. An airport security officer who appears on just a few pages leaves an indelible image, and the same is true of a taxi driver, a flight attendant, a drug dealer, and a self-help guru named Barb the Gray Panther. Although even the minor characters are memorable, there are a lot of them, and from time to time I had to go back to remind myself who was who. The mystery at the heart of the book is overly complex, too, and a few of the plot points are a bit outlandish when all's said and done. I must admit, though, that I honestly didn't care about these flaws. The book was just so much darn fun that it left me smiling in a way few do these days; it was the perfect escape...continued

Full Review Members Only (878 words)

(Reviewed by Kim Kovacs).

Media Reviews

AARP
Expect madcap fun.

Booklist (starred review)
With huge dollops of heart and humor, this will delight Osman fans and attract new readers who will get caught up in the thrill of it all.

Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Osman introduces another lovable group of unwitting investigators...As in Osman's other series, they cross paths with a variety of people—including drug-dealing politicians, customs agents, and social media influencers—who may or may not be inclined to help them, and watching the unlikely threesome charm each other and (almost) everyone they meet is a delight...Osman fans will be glad to hop on that private jet and go along for the ride.

Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Bestseller Osman (the Thursday Murder Club mysteries) launches a promising new series with this sprightly tale ... Osman pulls off the tricky task of making his leads both zany and human, with a sufficiently brain-teasing mystery to boot. This series is sure to garner a loyal following.

Library Journal
Osman's new novel will be in high demand... This humorous caper quickly picks up speed, and readers will root for the trio.

Reader Reviews

Becky H

engaging and intriguing
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 ...   Read More
Bookworm Becky

Twisty with lots of high jinks!
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 ...   Read More

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Beyond the Book



A Brief History of Close Protection Agencies

Photo of members of the Swiss Guard, in blue-and-orange striped uniforms, standing at attention outdoors in Vatican city In Richard Osman's thriller We Solve Murders, a series of murders surrounds Maximum Impact Security, a close-protection agency, or a company that provides bodyguards to paying clients. The concept of employing a select group of individuals to guard an important person isn't a new one by any means. Many believe that this sort of quid pro quo — you protect me, I'll give you [food, tools, money] — has existed as long as there have been humans on the planet.

One early recorded security force is ancient Egypt's Medjai or Medjay. Mentioned in texts from the Old Kingdom (2649-2130 BCE), these were men from Nubia (modern-day Sudan) who were expert archers and horsemen. They developed a reputation for being intensely loyal and...

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Read-Alikes

Read-Alikes Full readalike results are for members only

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