We Solve Murders

Starred review from August 1, 2024
The Thursday Murder Club takes a break while British TV personality--and bestselling author--Osman introduces another lovable group of unwitting investigators. Amy Wheeler and her father-in-law, Steve, have a special relationship. They talk on the phone every day but in a particularly British way, communicating important things while chatting about the weather. Steve is a former London cop who's retired to the small town of Axley, and since his wife died he's retreated into a routine of playing with his cat, Trouble, and attending Quiz Night at the local pub. Amy works as a bodyguard for Maximum Impact Solutions, a private security company, traveling the world and having adventures. Her husband, Adam--Steve's son--works in finance and also spends most of his time traveling; they view their relationship as a long-term bet and don't mind not seeing much of each other for now. Things begin to go sideways, though, while Amy is on a private island off the coast of South Carolina guarding Rosie D'Antonio, a Jackie Collins-esque novelist who's being threatened by a Russian oligarch who took offense at one of her books. The problem is that three other clients of Amy's firm have been killed in three separate incidents, each murder occurring when Amy was nearby. Is someone sending her a message? Then the only other person on Rosie's island, an ex-Navy SEAL hired by Amy's boss to back her up, tries to kill Amy, and the race for answers is on. Amy begins by reaching out to the only person she can trust--Steve. Rosie isn't going to be left out of the excitement, so, aided by her private jet, the three set off on a journey around the globe as they try to figure out what's going on while keeping Amy (and Rosie) alive. 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. The mystery isn't all that mysterious, but Osman fans will be glad to hop on that private jet and go along for the ride.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from August 12, 2024
Bestseller Osman (the Thursday Murder Club mysteries) launches a promising new series with this sprightly tale of a father- and daughter-in-law who join forces to take down a shadowy killer. At the outset, bodyguard Amy Wheeler is on an island off the coast of South Carolina shielding bestselling novelist Rosie D’Antonio from a Russian oligarch who threatened to kill her after she used his real name in her latest book. While Amy and Rosie discuss the recent deaths of two popular influencers, someone takes a shot at them, and they narrowly escape. Meanwhile, private detective Steve Wheeler—father to Amy’s husband, Adam—is in the Hampshire village of Axley searching for a client’s lost dog when Amy calls to ask for his backup. He agrees, and as he helps Amy try to determine who tried to kill her (and why), more influencer bodies start piling up, the crime scenes strewn with evidence framing Amy for the murders. Steve and Amy then embark on a globetrotting quest to pin down their adversary that takes them from Ireland to Dubai. 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. Agent: Jenny Bent, Bent Agency.

Starred review from September 1, 2024
Osman, British TV personality and author of the best-selling Thursday Murder Club series, set in a retirement complex, offers something different this time out. Here, too, there's a senior citizen detective, but a reluctant one, who is forced to give up his staid life when his beloved daughter-in-law, Amy, is both a potential murder victim and a suspect. Since the death of his wife, retired policeman Steve Wheeler likes sticking to his village home and his unbreakable routine. Amy works for a high-end private security company, with danger around every corner. At the moment, she's protecting Rosie, a best-selling, high-living author. But when a string of money-laundering scams that can be tied back to her boss result in people shooting at her, Amy calls on Steve, one of the few people she trusts, to come help. This is a screwball comedy writ large, in which plot points get lost at times as a merry band of sleuths and criminals chase each other around the world. But who cares when there's glamour, exotic settings, and crackerjack detective work? 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.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2024

Steve Wheeler is happy in retirement, pleased to leave his adrenaline-pumping work to his daughter-in-law Amy. She is working on an isolated island, guarding a famous author. It should be an easy job--but suddenly it is not--and she sends an SOS to Steve. Blockbuster Osman ("Thursday Murder Club") launches a new series. Prepub Alert.

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