Amy works for a well-known private security firm, known to specialize in wealthy clients. When she and her current client, a bestselling author, discover a body and a bag of money, Amy knows she needs help, but doesn’t know who she can trust, so she reaches out to her father-in-law, Steve. Steve is a retired detective who prefers the sedate life of retirement to the hectic days on the police force, but Amy convinces him that he is the only one who can help her.

I love this author’s Thursday Murder Club series and can’t wait to read the next book in that series. While I’m waiting, though, I was curious about how a book without Elizabeth and the rest might be. The answer is a heartfelt ‘great!’ Although it took a bit to get into the story here, once I did, I didn’t want to put the book down.

At first, I didn’t care much for Amy, although she was obviously good at her job, but her character grew on me as the book progressed. I liked Steve almost from the start, perhaps because he and I feel the same about comfortable routines and how disconcerting it is to change those routines.

There was a lot going on in this book, and it was obvious that everything was connected somehow. Trying to figure out how, and who was behind it all, was harder than it sounds. There were several layers of bad guys, so every time I thought I’d worked it out, I realized there was someone even higher up the chain who was calling the shots. I started to put it all together just about the time Amy and Steve did, so the reveal wasn’t a total surprise, although the motive was.

It’s clear from how this book ended – and the author’s note afterwards – that this is the first book of a new series. While I’m still waiting for the next Thursday Murder Club book, this will be a fun series to continue, especially if some of the characters from this book return in future stories.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of We Solve Murders. I absolutely LOVE Osman’s Thursday Murder Club and couldn’t wait to check out his new series. There’s definite potential here but I didn’t love it, unfortunately.

Things that worked:
-Main characters- Steve (adore), Rosie (hilarious), Amy (eh, she’s fine)
-Lots of travel
-Full of humor, funny hijinks, and action
-set (partly) in a small, British town, which I always love

Things that didn’t:
-Too many characters with alternating POV- WHO ARE YOU AGAIN?!? - made the story feel choppy at times
-So many possible suspects- Can that many people really want you dead? Think about your life choices, Amy.
-Wrapped up a bit too neatly

Fine for a whodunnit, but again, all the alternating POVs just made this a bit too choppy for me, especially with the number of characters.

Looking for a story about quiet daily life, where walks along rambling hills merge into cozy fireside evenings? Reader, this is not that book.

Step into author Richard Osman's new novel 'We Solve Murders' for a rollicking good time. Here, bullets fly, private jets rule the skies, and new aliases are tossed around more quickly than you change your socks. When private bodyguard Amy Wheeler begins to suspect that she will be framed for a series of suspicious looking deaths, she turns to the person she trusts most - her father-in-law Steve. Recently widowed and retired from the police, Steve joins Amy and her client Rosie, a bestselling novelist, as they race around the world to uncover the truth.

While this unlikely trio have some unusual methods, they are a team that I found myself rooting for and I hope to see them in print again sometime soon.

Recommended to readers who enjoyed novels such as 'Alias Emma' by Ava Glass and 'The Thursday Murder Club.'

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

Osman’s Thursday Murder Club has some of the highest approval ratings of any series I have recommended to people, it is beloved by some of my bigger book snob friends as well as my in-laws. Osman feels like a British Carl Hiaassen , with his comic crime thrillers being set in the rainy small towns of England instead of the muggy Florida Keys. This is a start of a new series, with retired detective Steve Wheeler mourning his wife and being ensconced in his small town life until he is pulled out by his daughter-in-law Amy who works in private security and gets mixed up in something. The mix of humor and melancholy which makes the Thursday Murder Club so satisfying are suffused through this, and with no installment of that series coming this year (although a movie is coming soon with an Ocean’s Eleven level cast of old British people, Helen Mirren! Ben Kingsley! Pierce Brosnan! Johnathan Pryce!) , We Solve Murders scratches the Osman itch, and I am as eager to read more from these characters as I am for more Murder Club.

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 . . . They begin a race around the world as bodies continue to accumulate. Can they outsmart a killer

I was introduced to this author when I read The Thursday Murder Club. Then I read all the others in the series and loved them. When I saw that he had a new book out, I immediately went to NetGalley to see if it was available, and it was. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request. This book has some interesting characters just like the other series I read. I really liked the love between Steve and Amy and that they would do anything for each other, even get out of their routine, especially Steve. However, I also loved Rosie and how she contributed to the story. I think this is the beginning of a new series, at least I hope so. Also, he hinted in the end matter that we can expect a new book next year in the Thursday Murder Club series, so I will be anxiously looking for that, too. I highly recommend this book.

This brand new cast of characters will not disappoint fans of the Thursday Murder Club! This one has a more multigenerational cast, but they are all just as appealing, particularly Rosie D’Antonia. I hope she makes it into the next installment. The plot is fast paced and I enjoyed every minute of it, even if I did lose a few threads of it here and there!

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.

Ricard Osman has done it again! Just as he did with his Thursday Murder Club series, Osman has crafted a funny, cozy murder mystery, but this time with a daughter/father-in-law duo.

I loved the dynamic between the two characters! Talk about the perfect in-law! I have such high hopes for this next series that Osman has started, and you should too if you are a fan of his previous books, Only Murders in the Building, or cozy mysteries in general. Everyone is going to be wanting to read this book, I promise you.

Richard Osman is already a must-read author for me, thanks to his Thursday Murder Club books. He has further cemented this status with the first in what I hope is a long new series, We Solve Murders. This series feels so much bigger than TMC, in part because We Solve Murders is set across the globe. The possibilities are endless. I can't wait to see where things go.
This one is fun, funny, and kept me guessing and engrossed til the very end!

The style of this book is very similar to Thursday Murder Club, but I liked TMC a lot so I can't really complain. That being said, there wasn't much to surprise me in this title. I predicted several of the twists, and found I could even predict what some of the characters were going to say next. I'll keep reading Osman's work but I do wish he would mix it up a bit.

Osman does not disappoint with this new cast of Characters - and definitely piqued my interest for more information on most of them.

Before his debut novel The Thursday Murder Club came out a few years ago, Richard Osman was widely recognized mostly as a British TV presenter. That debut was a huge success, leading to three sequels and establishing Osman as a prominent crime fiction author. Now, he returns with a new novel, introducing a fresh set of characters, aiming to launch another successful series. We Solve Murders, generously provided to me by Osman's US publisher, showcases his trademark wit in a murder mystery that promises to be another impressive addition to his growing body of works.

Steve Wheeler has settled comfortably into retirement in a quiet English village, content with the slower pace of life. Once a cop handling high-profile cases, he's now a widower who spends his days on small local investigations like insurance claims and lost pets. His life may be quieter now, but Steve finds solace in routine—attending weekly quiz nights at the pub, caring for his cat Trouble, and leaving messages for his late wife on his dictaphone, a ritual that helps him cope with her absence.

Amy Wheeler, Steve’s daughter-in-law, shares a close bond with him, perhaps even closer than the one she shares with her husband, Adam. While Adam and Steve don’t communicate much beyond pleasantries, Amy tries to stay connected. Working as a personal bodyguard for a private security firm, Amy can relate to Steve's background, and they find common ground in their shared experiences. Amy’s current assignment is protecting Rosie D'Antonio, a top thriller author who has retreated to her private island off the coast of South Carolina after possibly angering a Russian oligarch with her latest book.

What was supposed to be a straightforward assignment takes a dangerous turn when a series of crimes—including the murders of influencers, money laundering, and a mysterious figure using ChatGPT to hide their identity—put Amy in the crosshairs. Framed for the crimes, Amy turns to Steve, the only person she trusts, to help her untangle the web of deception. Together, they embark on a globe-trotting adventure, determined to outsmart the criminal masterminds and stay one step ahead in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

I must admit, I approached We Solve Murders skeptically, unsure if Richard Osman could capture my attention as effectively as he did with his previous series. At first, my concerns seemed justified—I struggled to keep track of the new characters as Osman rapidly introduced them, bouncing from one to the next. The setup felt like a complex web of cast and plot, and I worried it might not all come together. But I should never have doubted him. Osman has once again delivered a stellar mystery filled with sharp social commentary, exhilarating twists, and his signature British wit. The story had the potential to veer into the outlandish, but Osman keeps it grounded through his protagonist, Steve. Steve serves as the everyman, guiding us through the proceedings with relatable bewilderment and providing the story with a solid emotional anchor. As I kept reading, I became increasingly captivated by Osman's writing, eager to solve the mystery and frequently laughing at his clever observations. We Solve Murders is a promising start to a new series, reaffirming Osman's talent for crafting compelling mysteries with charming characters and a delightful dose of humor.

Amy Wheeler has protected others for her entire adult life, but now, Amy needs protection. While serving as writer Rosie D'Antonio's private security, Amy is attacked by another employee of Maximum Impact Solutions. Soon, Amy and Rosie realize that someone is after Amy and trying to kill her, or at least frame her for the recent murders of influencers represented by Vivid Viral. Now, Amy must figure out who is after her and why, but she cannot do it alone. With the help of her father-in-law, Steve, a retired detective and man of few words and set schedules, and Rosie, the trio set out to figure out who is trying to kill Amy and why, while also connecting the dots between Maximum Impact Solutions, Vivid Viral, and Francois Loubet, the infamous money launderer.

We Solve Murders is an entertaining mystery. I did not connect the dots to the real Francois Loubet and honestly did not see why he went after Amy. I thought Francois Loubet was a different character throughout the entire novel, and I liked my reasoning for it better than who actually is Francois Loubet. I also found it difficult to follow the story at times because each chapter focuses on a different character, and I found the novel to have too many characters to track; I was confused several times about the connections between characters and who some of the characters are.

Overall, the characters of Amy, Steve, and Rosie are fantastic! I truly enjoyed each character individually and collectively. I look forward to more mysteries involving these three.

Really enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club series and Richard Osman has done it again.,We Solve Murders was a wonderful read great characters and storyline.#netgalley #viking

Amy Wheeler works for a bodyguard agency, and must team up with her ex-cop father-in-law to clear her name when she finds herself in the middle of a series of murders.

Richard Osman's new series is full of loveable characters and twisty mysteries. I really enjoyed getting to read a new story from a familiar voice. The book was full of Osman's typical humor and interwoven narratives while still feeling fresh and exciting. While they weren't instant favorites for me, Steve, Amy, and Rosie could over time become just as beloved as Joyce, Elizabeth, Ron, and Ibrahim. We Solve Murders is another great cozy mystery, and I can't wait to see what they get up to next.

4.5/5 stars

Different characters but the same writing style I came to love in Thursday Murder Club.

We meet Amy Wheeler is a private security officer who travels around the world protecting rich and famous people. Her father-in-law Steve is a retired police officer with a small private detective firm, specializing in very small cases like finding a missing dog. But when Amy becomes the subject of some murders, they work together to clear her name. Along with them is Amy's most recent protectee, a famous writer, Rosie D’Antonio. Rosie has the money to access to private planes and people around the world to help them.

I love the way Richard Osman brings his characters to life, they are people you want to go to a pub with and have a pint! Steve is a widower who doesn't get out of the house much except to the pub to eat and his weekly trivia contest. Rosie is a people person, she's just a magnet yet lives on a secluded island off the South Carolina coast. Amy is all business except for her sweet spot for her father-in-law, not even seeing her husband very much. Maybe he'll show up in later books.

The mystery was good, I did kind of guess early on who was responsible in their office, but not who the main culprit was until the end. But to me, it was the characters I loved the most, looking forward to the return of the murder solving group.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Dare I say that I enjoyed this more than The Thursday Murder Club?!? What a wild ride that Osman takes the reader on in this first book in his new series! I would consider this a cozy thriller with a dose of mystery. The action is non-stop as travel from the US to the Caribbean to Europe with an eccentric cast of characters. Amy and Steve, the in-laws, are the main characters we follow as Amy tries to figure out who is trying to kill her and outwit them every step of the way. The story took many twists and turns as the characters are trying to find who is the man behind the curtain. I loved the ending and it just felt like a warm hug every time I read. While I enjoy the Thursday Murder Club, I will definitely read the next in this series for a long time!

I have, for whatever reason, avoided the Thursday Murder Club books, so this novel was my first glimpse into Richard Osman's hilariously twisted mind. I now have his other books queued up on Libby. What happens when you combine high end "protection" services, a retired police detective, a larger than life novelist, a bunch of influencers, hitmen, and a cat named Trouble? A whole lot of mysterious shenanigans and even more fun. Recommended for Osman fans, semi-willing converts, and fans of the tongue-in-cheek crime drama.

TLDR: cozy murder mystery fans rejoice: y’all have a fantastic fall whodunit to add to your #tbr, and having finished the book over the weekend, I’m here to tell you that if you’re a fan of the THURSDAY series, you’re gonna love this book. It’s twisty and funny and full of delightful characters, including the trio at the center: hard-boiled private security employee Amy Wheeler, her retired small-town police offer father-in-law Steve, and her latest client, a hilarious brash romance author. The mystery at the center is not that exciting (I found it a bit convoluted), but I would read many more mysteries centered around this cast of characters.

This was such a great book! Already a big fan of the Thursday Murder Club series, this novel has all the elements I love best about the author: deadpan humor and a plot that is a little difficult to believe in, but with a whole new group of characters embarking on exciting new adventures.

This story centers on Steve Wheeler, a retired and widower former investigator, and his daughter-in-law Amy, a private security specialist who protects the rich and famous. They are joined by Rosie, a romance author who is more adventurous and charming than any other character she has written.

I could not put it down and ended myself turning the pages as fast as I could to find out what will happen next. The way that the characters came together in various ways was wonderful, as always, and the relationship between Steve and Amy was so masterfully written. The backstories of the characters really catch my interest, and I look forward to reading more about them and their adventures in the next novels in this series.

Fans of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club will undoubtedly enjoy his newest series. This is a great book to curl up with on a weekend or in the evening that will have you eager for more.