Three influencers have been brutally murdered. Clues left at the scene indicate the main suspect is Amy Wheeler, a personal bodyguard to the rich and famous. Amy knows she's innocent so enlists the help of her father-in-law to help her uncover the real murderer.
Richard Osman has made a name for himself in the publishing world with the hugely successful The Thursday Murder Club series. Moving away from a much-loved series must have seemed a big risk to both the author and the publisher. I'm a fan of The Thursday Murder Club series so approached We Solve Murders with a little apprehension. I'm very pleased to say that my worries were completely unfounded, the book was wonderful.
The opening chapter really sets the tone for the rest of the novel. An influencer gets the fame they have been seeking by being murdered, and that fame is only fleeting as news cycles move on so quickly these days. The satirical tone continues throughout the story, with genuine laugh-out-loud moments.
Amy Wheeler is central to the story, a personal bodyguard whose skills are unmatched. When we first meet Amy she has been hired to protect Rosie D'Antonio, the world's second bestselling novelist, who's upset a Russian oligarch. Realising that the murders of three influencers have links to her, Amy knows that she needs to clear her name by uncovering who is really behind the murders. With her boss missing, and possibly dead, Amy turns to one of the few people she trusts, her father-in-law, Steve.
Unable to abandon the job she's on, Amy takes Rosie along with her as the story moves from Florida to St. Lucia, Dublin and Dubai. There are advantages to having Rosie along, her wealth gives them access to her private jet along with unquestioned access to numerous people and places. Rosie also seems to have the knack to talk her way into, or out of, any situation.
There is a lot of heart in these characters. Steve is grieving the accidental death of his wife, Debbie. He's set in his routines, reluctant to disrupt those routines as he feels it will dilute the memories of the wife he loved dearly. Amy is one of the few people Steve trusts but even then he's not willing to be completely open with her. Amy completely understands Steve's reluctance as she has built barriers around herself. We're only given very brief hints about Amy's childhood but these are enough to know it wasn't a happy one.
Light relief is offered primarily by Rosie D'Antonio, an author of indeterminate age with the energy of a teenager and the morals of an alley-cat. I loved the fact that Rosie never suffers from hangovers as she keeps herself permanently topped up.
The thriller part of the story is convoluted, with numerous hit men, hidden identities and a villain that is impossible to identify before the big reveal. Thankfully, the plot really is secondary to the fabulous characters Richard Osman has created.
Author Details
Richard Osman is an author, producer and television presenter. His first four novels, The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice and The Bullet That Missed were multi-million-copy record-breaking bestsellers around the world. We Solve Murders is the first book in a new series featuring a family detective duo. He lives in London with his wife, Ingrid, and their cat Liesl.
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