We Solve Murders

We Solve Murders (2024) Richard Osman (We Solve Murders #1)

Honestly, there were parts of this I read with one I squinted, kinda not looking directly at the page, just in case something unexpectedlt awful was about to happen.

It didn’t.

Although there is plenty of murder and shooting and such, this is pretty much a cozy, so no characters I’d come to be interested in were killed.

Amy works for a company that provides protection.

Maximum Impact Solutions has many mottos, but “Let them kill the old woman” is not one of them.

Unfortunately, someone has been killing off clients, and has been making sure it was done when Amy was in the area.

And her boss, Jeff, has his own problems to deal with right now.

“I’m guessing you do mind?” says Jeff, inviting Susan to sit. “That sort of thing?”

“That sort of thing? Yes,” says Susan, impassively. “I mind that sort of thing.”

“Would you like me to do something?” Jeff asks.

“Dismantle the patriarchy?” suggests Susan.

“I’ll talk to them,” says Jeff. “They don’t really like black guys interfering, but I’ll do my best.”

So Amy ends up dragging her client, author Rosie D’Antonio, into the mess.

Amy, what do you like about yourself?”

“I’m English,” says Amy. “I don’t like anything about myself.”

“Yawn,” says Rosie. “I used to be English too, and I got over it. Pick something.”

Well, maybe there wasn’t much dragging involved with Felicity, but there is a good deal of coercion with her father-in-law, Steve.

“Your passport will be checked in the Arrivals Suite,” says Brad. “Then Border Protection. They never check bags, though.”

Steve is relieved—he doesn’t need a bored man with a gun questioning why he’s only packed three pairs of underpants.

It was delightful, and despite getting worried a couple of times, there were no untimely deaths of characters I didn’t want to die.

Characters: Amy Wheeler, Steve Wheeler, Adam Wheeler, Debbie Wheeler, Rosie D’Antonio, François Loubet, Jeff Nolan, Henk van Veen, Susan Knox, Andrew Fairbanks, Bella Sanchez, Mark Gooch, Bonnie Gregor, Justin Scroggie, Max Highfield, Kevin, Felicity Woolaston, Gary Gough, Lauren Gough, Jenny Bright, Molly Bright, Rob Kenna, Big Mickey Moody, Tony Taylor, Eddie Flood, Carlos Moss, Barb, Nelson Nunez, Courtney Lewis, Derek Charters, Vasiliy Karpin

Cover by Richard Bravery

Published by Pamela Dorman

Rating: 8.5/10

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