We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

WE SOLVE MURDERS is the latest mystery offering from Richard Osman, author of the acclaimed Thursday Murder Club series. In this new series opener, Amy Wheeler, employed by “security” firm Maximum Impact, is working as a bodyguard for Rosie, a free-spirited author who is threatened by a Russian oligarch. It turns out that several deaths of online influencers have occurred and are linked in some fashion to Amy, making her a suspect and putting her in danger. Initially, I found this particular Osman mystery to be quite confusing and difficult to follow as some characters were introduced with little context. Eventually, though, Amy requests the help of her father-in-law, Steve, who is an ex-cop and a widower set in his ways. That’s when the travel (from Ibiza to Santa Lucia to Dublin to Dubai) and adventures really begin for Amy, Steve and Rosie! Named a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for September 2024, WE SOLVE MURDERS also received starred reviews from Booklist (“a screwball comedy writ large, in which plot points get lost at times”), Kirkus (“another lovable group of unwitting investigators”), and Publishers Weekly (“Osman pulls off the tricky task of making his leads both zany and human”). If you like your mysteries seasoned with a large dash of humor, this is for you.

The Bullet that Missed by Richard Osman

A LibraryReads selection for September 2022, THE BULLET THAT MISSED by Richard Osman is the third book in the Thursday Murder Club series (Steven Spielberg already has movie rights for the first title). In the latest, Osman seems to expect readers to vividly remember all of the characters; however, less recap from the author means it takes a while to recall the distinct personalities and that makes for a slower start. Once again, Osman offers a couple of mysteries and several twists going at once, plus some definite references to the age and capabilities of his sleuths (former MI6 agent Elizabeth, rather eccentric Joyce, psychiatrist Ibrahim, and plodding Ron, plus local police and gentle giant Bogdan).  This time they are working with a former KGB colonel and are trying to evade a killer while also working to solve the cold case death of a young woman broadcaster. THE BULLET THAT MISSED offers an amusing and suspenseful tale; it received a starred review from Kirkus (“Your next must-read mystery series.”). And, be sure to also look at Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn if you are seeking a mystery with geriatric detectives.

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman

THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE by Richard Osman is a terrific offering in The Thursday Murder Club series featuring pensioners Elizabeth (former agent), Ibrahim (part-time psychiatrist), well-meaning scatter-brained retired nurse Joyce, and Ron (former union organizer). They are joined once again by some local, amusingly tolerant cops and a few well-connected criminals. Mixed together, that brings plenty of laughable moments and numerous witty observations as they try to solve the death of an antiques dealer and locate a missing shipment of heroin worth 100,000 pounds. There is a bittersweet element in this entry, too, as Elizabeth reflects on her life with husband Stephen, “the real secret was that when they looked at each other, they each thought they had the better deal.” THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE received a well-deserved starred review from Library Journal. Osman entertains and will make readers both laugh and cry. Humor (“‘people rarely pay in cash these days. It's a nightmare,’ says [drug dealer] Connie. ‘Even I have to take Apple Pay now.’”) is interspersed with more serious and poignant plot points about older people grappling with computer fraud or dementia: “our memories are no less real than whatever moment in which we happen to be living.” 

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

THE MAN WHO DIED TWICE by Richard Osman is the second Thursday Murder Club Mystery involving several pensioners who have become friends and solve crimes.  This time, it is Elizabeth’s ex-husband who turns up looking for safety after being accused of stealing 20 million English pounds worth of diamonds. Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim work with Elizabeth (formerly with MI5 or MI6) to solve the heist and some subsequent murders.  Also involved are Chris and Donna (local police), the central intelligence authorities (Sue and Lance), and various criminals involved with the mafia, drug sales, and muggings.  It’s a twisty, complicated plot with several interweaving pieces. One of the best aspects is the rather “snarky” attitude and witty comments from many of the characters: “‘When are your hunches ever wrong?’ says Ron. ‘Actually, quite often,’ says Joyce. She just says them with confidence. She’s like a consultant.’” Kirkus gave THE MAN WHO DIED TWICE a starred review: “A clever, funny mystery peopled with captivating characters that enhance the story at every quirky turn.” Also selected for the September LibraryReads list, it’s a humorous, puzzling mystery that readers will enjoy, especially if they have already sampled Osman’s earlier work simply titled The Thursday Murder Club.

Dangerous Women by Mark de Castrique

DANGEROUS WOMEN by Mark de Castrique is the latest from a prolific author whose work I have been recommending for years. This mystery is the second in the Secret Lives series and features a retired and extremely well-connected former FBI agent named Ethel Fiona Crestwater. She, along with her much younger cousin, Jesse Cooper, become emmeshed in a botched robbery that leads to two deaths and may be evidence of an attack on the Supreme Court’s integrity and confidentiality. De Castrique cleverly ties in a number of prominent suspects, including a couple of US Senators as well as a lobbyist, and employees of the Department of Defense and the Supreme Court. In his author’s note de Castrique writes, “the existential threat of our time is climate change. In response, the effort to convert vehicles from fossil fuels to batteries has become a national priority.” His characters recognize that rare earth elements like lithium are becoming the new oil with attendant national security concerns. DANGEROUS WOMEN offers a timely, complicated puzzle and received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal (“Ethel's adventures will appeal to fans of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club series and Deanna Raybourn's Killers of a Certain Age”). We also listened to the audiobook and Patrick Lawlor’s narration was excellent. He has a variety of audiobooks (including other mysteries, stories about the military, and even the Darwin Awards Chronicles) to his credit. Enjoy!

LibraryReads Hall of Fame

Both of these titles were included in the LibraryReads Hall of Fame and received some positive reviews. Sadly, I was not excited by either one. Read one or both and decide for yourself:

MURDER TAKES A VACATION by Laura Lippman, a best-selling author, was a disappointing surprise to me. I had high expectations for a fun read after noting that this new title had received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal (“a warm and cozy romp”) and appeared in the LibraryReads Hall of Fame for June. While I agree that business class travel can be disorienting if one is not used to it, why would an older woman traveling alone trust a seatmate enough to go with him to a hotel, upending her own travel plans on the advice of someone she has just met? That is exactly what the widowed Mrs. Blossom does in the opening chapters of this mystery story. Eventually, she reunites with her tour group and heads to Paris and the cruise on the Seine, but her decision-making is still poor when she does not correct another, much younger, man she just met as he tells the police he is her son. I can understand why the subtle humor and slightly awkward character might appeal to fans of Richard Osman or Nita Prose, but I missed something here -- there are so many other excellent mysteries to enjoy instead. 

WORTH FIGHTING FOR by Jesse Q. Sutanto was also a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for June. Part of a five book series (Meant to Be) about Disney heroines by different authors, it is a rather obvious retelling of Disney’s Mulan set in the present-day financial world. I had an extremely hard time accepting that the main character, Mulan, would be both a well-respected member at her firm and willing to let her cousin/assistant style her hair and choose her clothes when meeting with potential clients. That was a big disconnect although it clearly added some humor and pushed the story along. This title could work as a very light beach read if one is willing to overlook the repetitive nature of Mulan’s musings about her various roles, combatting toxic masculinity, and raging hormones. My suggestion is to look for Vera Wong mysteries by this author instead. I also saw a preview of a 20 page Book Club Kit for WORTH FIGHTING FOR which included an author interview, printable bookmarks, and discussion questions. Apparently designed for adults (the “Bites & Sips” section references a cocktail made with bourbon and banana liqueur), I am surprised that an adult book group would choose a title like this, especially when they could read a classic like The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston or Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See or even immigrant stories like Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan or Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok (or maybe, if the book club wanted an adventure with a more young adult feel, Spin the Dawn or Flame in the Mist or Divine Rivals) instead.  

The Three Dahlias by Katy Watson

THE THREE DAHLIAS, a debut murder mystery by Katy Watson, has a beautiful cover and a complex plot set in the present day at Aldermere, a manor house in the English countryside. That is the family home of Lettice Davenport, a famous mystery writer during the 1930s Golden Age of crime. Her many novels, featuring detective Dahlia Lively and her sidekick Detective Inspector Johnny Swain, have been turned into films and a television series and a brand new film is in the works. Three stars have held the Dahlia role: Rosalind King, Caro Hooper, and Posy Starling – all of whom are on site for a special promotional weekend with VIP guests, the new director, his assistant, the script writer, and the Davenports, Hugh, his wife Isobel, and her granddaughter, Juliette. A formal dinner culminates in a murder with roughly a dozen suspects, but more mayhem is on the way as the three Dahlias (Rosalind, Caro, and Posy) learn to overcome their insecurities and differences in order to find a killer. Closed room and cozy mystery fans (think authors like Sulari Gentill, Richard Osman, and Ashley Weaver) will enjoy this light and entertaining who-dun-it eventually solved by several female sleuths who are simultaneously uncovering secrets and learning to value themselves. Truly, THE THREE DAHLIAS could easily be a movie with a beautiful setting like Gosford Park; wouldn’t that be fun?