New Detectives from Richard Osman

 

Photo of the private pool in a luxury room at Jade Mountain, Saint Lucia, 2010.

In Richard Osman’s latest book, We Solve Murders, the main characters at one point check into a resort on the island of Saint Lucia in the Caribbean. I recognized this location immediately when their driver took them over a hair-raising rough road that the resort refuses to pave because they want to keep out the rabble. Here’s the description of an impressive suite — like one that we toured. We stayed down the hill in the less expensive part of the resort. Osman’s description:

“There is a swimming pool actually inside his room, brilliant sapphire blue, marbled with dancing veins of sunlight in gold and silver. Tiny birds are cheeping and chirruping on the wide, high terrace, and three bottles of beer sit sweating with frost in an ice bucket. In the far distance twin volcanoes jut out into the sea, two perfect triangles dipping their toes into the Caribbean.” (p. 182)

Having read all four of the Thursday Murder Club mysteries, I was eager to see what author Richard Osman would write next. Again, the book is suspenseful in the extreme, with very likable detectives: one is a professional body guard who’s accustomed to extreme violence; another is a best-selling author; and the third detective is a retired policeman who is reluctantly drawn into the action. They start out trying to solve a series of three or maybe four murders, but the plot becomes more and more elaborate.

The action is located all over the place. An English village with a weekly pub trivia contest and a typical menu from which Steve, the retired policeman, orders for himself and friends: “Two shepherd’s pies, a beer-battered fish and chips, and a lamb shank. Same as always.”

Other places where the action takes place: a private estate on an island in South Carolina. The resort in Saint Lucia. A prison in Dubai. And so on. Everyone is constantly crossing oceans and continents on private jets, with a wide selection of beer and onboard gourmet meals presented by well-trained servants — but the retired policeman prefers crisps or a scotch egg to gourmet food. Here’s the conversation on the plane between former-policeman Steve and Brad, the steward on one of the private jets:

When Steve returns to his seat—a sofa, of all things—Brad offers him sushi on a silver tray. Steve takes a look. “Do you have anything else?” he asks. “A sausage roll? Some crisps?” 

“I think we have some Parmesan croutons?” says Brad. “I’ll ask the chef.” 

“Or a Scotch egg?” says Steve. “Whatever you’ve got. I was supposed to be having bolognese tonight, so if there’s any bolognese?” 

“Of course,” says Brad. “And can I get you a drink? We have eighteen types of vodka.” 

“Do you have beer?” asks Steve. 

“We have twelve types of beer,” says Brad. 

“Do you have an ale? Something with a bit of oomph?” 

“I couldn’t say,” says Brad. “Why don’t I bring out all twelve, and we’ll have a tasting?”

When the detectives-in-spite of themselves aren’t flying on some rich person’s jet, there’s a lot of excitement. Gunshots are fired over and over. A few dead bodies result. No time for sympathy. Sometimes there’s too much going on and it’s hard to keep all the characters and crimes straight. But it’s fun!

Besides the many characters who are unwittingly drawn into the search for the murderers, we learn about the perpetrators of an immensely complex and multi-layer set of mainly financial crimes. All very intriguing! The final reveal is a bit of a surprise, including disclosure of lots of multiple identities and aliases.

Read it!

Review © 2024 mae sander. Photos © 2010.