Date: 24 August 2025
Location: Jay & Gina
We had a nice turnout to discuss Richard Osman’s latest novel, We Solve Murders. This is the fourth novel by Osman that the Bookers have read, the previous three were from his Thursday Murder Club series.
Basically, we selected this book because folks were looking for a light, summertime read.
Most Bookers read the book and rather enjoyed it, but the general consensus seemed to be that it was not Osman’s best work.
The book did have several interesting characters: Amy, the main protagonist and a very capable security agent; Rosie, a highly successful author being threatened by an angered Russian oligarch; and Steve, Amy’s father-in-law and retired police officer who gets unwillingly dragged into the plot. Of course, the plot itself was pretty far-fetched and rather convoluted, but it did have its light, humorous moments. And, in fact, that led to the discussion of whether it qualified as a ‘cozy mystery’.
One description of a ‘cozy mystery’ is given as:
A cozy mystery is a sub-genre of crime fiction characterized by its gentle tone, focus on the puzzle rather than graphic violence, an amateur detective who solves the crime, and a small, intimate community setting where the events occur. Key elements include the absence of graphic content (sex, violence, and cursing), the crime happening “off-stage,” and the detective using intellect and community knowledge rather than official police methods. These novels often feature a likeable protagonist in a series and provide a comfortable, escapist experience for readers.
It seems to me that We Solve Murders does essentially qualify as ‘cozy’, but it is not a perfect fit as, say, some of Agathe Christie’s novels. One thing about the book that seems clear from its ending is that Osman plans to produce a sequel.
— Bob