We Solve Murders

Richard Osman steps away from Coopers Chase to launch an entirely new series, and the result is a globe-trotting adventure that trades the cosy village setting for something bigger, louder, and more propulsive. Steve Wheeler is a retired police officer who likes his quiet life. Amy Wheeler, his daughter-in-law, is a private security consultant who thrives on danger. When a contract killer comes after Amy, Steve is dragged into a chase that spans continents.

The dynamic between Steve and Amy is the book’s engine. Their relationship is prickly, affectionate, and deeply funny. Steve’s methodical caution clashes beautifully with Amy’s appetite for risk, and Osman mines this contrast for both comedy and genuine tension. They are an unlikely team, but their growing respect for each other is one of the book’s quiet pleasures.

The plot moves at a breakneck pace. From the South of France to the Caribbean to South Carolina, the settings shift with cinematic energy. Osman clearly relished the freedom to move beyond a single location, and his descriptions of each new locale are vivid without ever slowing the momentum. The action sequences are tighter and more frequent than anything in the Thursday Murder Club books.

The mystery at the centre is satisfyingly complex. A bestselling author, a shadowy tech billionaire, and a network of hired killers are all connected in ways that only become clear as the pieces fall into place. Osman plays fair with his clues, and the final reveal is both surprising and inevitable — the hallmark of a well- constructed puzzle.

Steve is a wonderful creation. His love of routine, his devotion to his cat, and his understated competence make him instantly endearing. He is not a superhero — he is a man in his sixties who would rather be home with a cup of tea — and that ordinariness is precisely what makes his bravery so affecting.

Amy is equally compelling. She is tough, resourceful, and emotionally guarded in ways that gradually make sense as her backstory emerges. Her professional skills give the book a credibility that grounds even its most outlandish moments, and her vulnerability when it surfaces is all the more powerful for being rare.

The villain is one of Osman’s best — menacing, intelligent, and possessed of a dark charisma that makes every scene they appear in crackle with danger. The supporting cast is colourful and well-drawn, with several characters who feel like they could carry stories of their own.

Osman proves here that his gifts are not limited to one setting or one cast. The humour is intact, the plotting is sharp, and the emotional core — family, loyalty, the courage to step outside your comfort zone — resonates just as strongly as it did at Coopers Chase. This is a confident, entertaining launch for a new series that promises more adventures to come.