Let's Talk Books: We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

So we've decided to start a new project for our fellow readers: Book Reviews! Because clearly, there aren't enough of those floating around the internet. But these are OUR reviews, so they are new to us and by extension, new to you. So let's dive in with our first book: We Solve Murders by the amazing Richard Osman. 

First of all—love him. The residents of Cooper’s Chase live rent-free in my head, so when I heard Richard Osman was launching a new series, I don’t think I’ve ever hit “Add to TBR” so fast. Granted, I’m a sucker for British wit (obviously). If I could stream the Dave network here in the States 24/7, I would. But let’s talk We Solve Murders.

The book kicks off with the mysterious death of fitness influencer Andrew Fairbanks, whose body is found near a luxury yacht with a bag of money. The media barely notices, but behind the scenes, something much bigger is at play. Rosie D’Antonio, a bestselling novelist, and her bodyguard Amy Wheeler are laying low on Rosie’s private island, avoiding threats from a Russian oligarch. Meanwhile, retired detective Steve Wheeler, Amy’s father-in-law, is running a one-man investigation business in England, mostly to keep himself busy between bouts of insomnia. When a string of influencer murders connects back to Amy’s employer, things spiral fast—assassins, smugglers, and a web of deceit spanning multiple countries. With Steve reluctantly pulled into the chaos, he, Rosie, and Amy form an unlikely investigative team, outmaneuvering hitmen, surviving high-speed chases, and solving a crime that powerful people want buried. Oh, and somewhere in there, they manage to squeeze in a pub quiz.

Once again, Osman has assembled a cast of characters that shouldn’t work together but absolutely do. Rosie is an instant standout—a personality so big she practically steps off the page and starts making demands. Stevie’s pub quiz indignation, from his spaghetti bolognese-related grievances to his growing concern about being replaced by an accountant, had me genuinely laughing. The pacing? Snappy. The suspense? Kept me on my toes. And the comedic timing? How does someone have perfect comedic timing on the physical page? I don’t know, but this book has it. 

"If you have any sort of personality, someone will eventually want to kill you." – We Solve Murders - Richard Osman

While it’s very much in line with Osman’s signature style, it felt lighter in tone compared to The Thursday Murder Club—no heartbreaking Steven and Elizabeth moments here. That said, it still delivers a solid mystery without taking itself too seriously. The character mix is delightfully chaotic, though I’ll admit Amy was my least favorite—not bad, just overshadowed by the louder personalities around her (which, to be fair, seems entirely in character for her).

As for the mystery itself, it was clever and had me second-guessing myself right up until those just subtle enough clues about Mr. Loubet started clicking into place. And now, of course, I need to know what the We Solve Murders team is getting up to next.

Final verdict: If you love mysteries with actual humor (not just “quirky” characters thrown in for comic relief), a plot that keeps you guessing, and dialogue sharper than a freshly honed kitchen knife, this is for you. It’s also a great pick for non-mystery readers—Osman’s storytelling is so entertaining, you could almost forget a murder happened at all. If not, well…you might need a proper British tea and a good long think about your life choices.

Also, if you feel like seeing how amazing Rosie's lines are and "Britishly" entertaining Richard himself can be, check out this Instagram post about Rosie's lines.