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Nataliya's Reviews > We Solve Murders
We Solve Murders (We Solve Murders, #1)
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This was so much unabashed over-the-top humorous and optimistically sweet fun! Zipping around the world, avoiding multiple murder attempts while solving murders tied to a money-smuggling scheme, we have an unlikely team of a (mostly) retired ex-cop Steve, his badass bodyguard daughter-in-law Amy and a famous writer used to high life, private jets and drunk sex Rosie, with snappy banter and frenetic pace in lightning-fast short chapters, with a few colorful side characters (including one aspiring paint influencer and an action movie actor who seems to have issues allocating enough of his few brain cells to juggle walking and breathing at the same time) � all that pretty much guarantees a few hours of a good time without too much brain effort. And that works after long and stressful work days, trust me.
It’s a very light read full of love and friendship and all kinds of feel-good while avoiding any sappiness with the help of humor and snark. It’s a bit ridiculous and exaggerated, and it’s where it gets its charm. And I’m quite happy to pick up a few more of Osman’s books so that my world can get a bit of silly happiness.
It’s nothing life-changing or deep or profound, but it’s simply delightful, and that’s enough.
3.5 stars.
—ĔĔĔĔ�
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“It’s not every daughter-in-law who will high-five you when you’ve shot a drug dealer in a Coldplay T-shirt, is it?�
This was so much unabashed over-the-top humorous and optimistically sweet fun! Zipping around the world, avoiding multiple murder attempts while solving murders tied to a money-smuggling scheme, we have an unlikely team of a (mostly) retired ex-cop Steve, his badass bodyguard daughter-in-law Amy and a famous writer used to high life, private jets and drunk sex Rosie, with snappy banter and frenetic pace in lightning-fast short chapters, with a few colorful side characters (including one aspiring paint influencer and an action movie actor who seems to have issues allocating enough of his few brain cells to juggle walking and breathing at the same time) � all that pretty much guarantees a few hours of a good time without too much brain effort. And that works after long and stressful work days, trust me.
‘There are murders to be solved, and I can’t do it by myself. It’s you and me.�
‘But we don’t solve murders,� says Steve.
He can hear Amy smiling down the phone. ‘Then we’re going to have to start.�
It’s a very light read full of love and friendship and all kinds of feel-good while avoiding any sappiness with the help of humor and snark. It’s a bit ridiculous and exaggerated, and it’s where it gets its charm. And I’m quite happy to pick up a few more of Osman’s books so that my world can get a bit of silly happiness.
“Have you ever shot anyone before?� Rosie asks Steve, while snapping through Amy’s cable ties.
‘No,� says Steve. ‘But the Coldplay T-shirt made it easier.�
It’s nothing life-changing or deep or profound, but it’s simply delightful, and that’s enough.
3.5 stars.
—ĔĔĔĔ�
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We Solve Murders.
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Reading Progress
September 21, 2024
– Shelved
January 3, 2025
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Started Reading
January 9, 2025
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99.0%
January 9, 2025
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Finished Reading
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Amina
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Jan 11, 2025 05:16PM
A delightful review, Nataliya, truly we could all use a bit of silly happiness in our lives, once in a while. 🥰
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Amina wrote: "A delightful review, Nataliya, truly we could all use a bit of silly happiness in our lives, once in a while. 🥰"Thank you, Amina! It certainly helped lighten up the gloomy mood I felt after reading a book about the Holocaust in parallel with this one. Silly happiness sure has its uses :)
I tried reading his first book and it didn't grab me at all. This one sounds a lot more fun.
True, sometimes you just need a popcorn novel. Sometimes they help me manage my anxiety better than anything else. But modern mysteries lack a certain je ne sais quoi compared to the airport paperbacks of the 80s that feel like TV shows
Mwana, this might actually be in the mood of an 80s airport paperback. Kind of, or at least it worked out like that for me. It helps there is a very glamorous (I kept seeing her as Joan Collins/Jackie Collins) older author who seems to have become famous writing that kind of bestseller. It felt really modern in plot and what it makes fun off (influencers) but with a kind of old fashioned fun energy
"Simply delightful" sounds good to me. I am glad you liked it, Nataliya :)
Left Coast Justin wrote: "I tried reading his first book and it didn't grab me at all. This one sounds a lot more fun."Is that the Thursday murder club one? I actually want to try it because silly easy books are great for work commute listens. This one probably would have gone down worse if I read it rather than listening to it, but on audio it’s easy fun.
Mwanamali wrote: "True, sometimes you just need a popcorn novel. Sometimes they help me manage my anxiety better than anything else. But modern mysteries lack a certain je ne sais quoi compared to the airport paperb..."This is a cozy fireplace story compared to those I read as a kid. Or maybe I got older and think those things are cute 🤷♀�
Out of modern mysteries I’m probably an expert just on Tana French, but those are less of mysteries rather than psychological dramas.
Hirondelle (not getting notifications) wrote: "Mwana, this might actually be in the mood of an 80s airport paperback. Kind of, or at least it worked out like that for me. It helps there is a very glamorous (I kept seeing her as Joan Collins/Jac..."Oh dear, I also saw her as Joan Collins, straight out of Dynasty TV show! Since now there are two of us making that connection, I wonder if there’s something to it. Lemme put on my detective hat and think about it 😆
Alexandra wrote: ""Simply delightful" sounds good to me. I am glad you liked it, Nataliya :)"I liked it enough to put a library hold on one of his other books. If it’s just as much fun, I’m guaranteed a few less annoying commute hours :)
I loved The Thursday Murder Club more than this one, but I'll read any Osman offerings now. 😊
Wanda wrote: "I loved The Thursday Murder Club more than this one, but I'll read any Osman offerings now. 😊"I am very excited to try Thursday Murder Club book now. It seems that everyone who liked this book loved that series as well, which bodes well for me.
Great review, Nataliya - and a worthwhile reminder that a 3-star rating is still a good book. Sometimes "simply delightful" is exactly what you want and need!
Great review! I had so much fun reading this
Great minds think alike (and fools seldom differ). It's totally Joan Collins crossed with her sister Jackie!And OMG i went googling and found the photos of a 1988 Vanity Fair article on them, I am going to read that article (it is by Dominick Dunne!) and those photos, yep, Rosie...
Ian wrote: "Great review, Nataliya - and a worthwhile reminder that a 3-star rating is still a good book. Sometimes "simply delightful" is exactly what you want and need!"Exactly! There nothing wrong with a 3-star rating as far as I am concerned. Some it to show they hated a book, but to me it means it was fine � � not great, not outstanding, but fine. I enjoyed it without thinking it was particularly great, and I’m happy about that.
Greta wrote: "Great review! I had so much fun reading this"Thanks, Greta! It is very enjoyable, isn’t it?
Hirondelle (not getting notifications) wrote: "Great minds think alike (and fools seldom differ). It's totally Joan Collins crossed with her sister Jackie!And OMG i went googling and found the photos of a 1988 Vanity Fair article on them, I am..."
I had no idea that Joan and Jackie Collins were related 🤯
So of course I went and found that Vanity Fair article. It’s silly how at all times such pieces always try to create any kind of rivalry between two successful women, no matter what. Like woman can’t be happy if another woman is successful.
Yes, Nataliya, it was Thursday Murder. But maybe I was just grouchy that day, quen sabe?
Considering they were sisters, and other piece of news, I think the rivalry might not have been manufactured by the media (their parenting maybe, the media probably not!). It seems to have been complex. But Osman seems to have conflated the two perfectly well so issue solved.I was so picturing Joan Collins in that irish tv interview, lol...
Left Coast Justin wrote: "Yes, Nataliya, it was Thursday Murder. But maybe I was just grouchy that day, quen sabe?"I’ll make sure to read that one in a non-grouchy mood then :)
I loved Thursday Murder Club series. Though it also started as silly happiness, it became quite heartbreaking by the fourth book
Hirondelle (not getting notifications) wrote: "Considering they were sisters, and other piece of news, I think the rivalry might not have been manufactured by the media (their parenting maybe, the media probably not!). It seems to have been com..."You think so? I never had a sister, and my brother is many years younger, so the whole sibling rivalry thing for me has never been anything than vaguely hypothetical.😅
langana wrote: "I loved Thursday Murder Club series. Though it also started as silly happiness, it became quite heartbreaking by the fourth book"Uh-oh. Note to self to bail at book 3. I get enough heartbreak from other books�.
Nice review, Nataliya! I had high expectations for this but feels like this is more of a light palate cleanser read...
Nataliya wrote: "sibling rivalry thing for me has never been anything than vaguely hypothetical."That is a good thing! But yeah it is a real thing, though not inevitable but not uncommon either... It seemed real enough for those two though I think they made it work for them also!
Hirondelle (not getting notifications) wrote: "Nataliya wrote: "sibling rivalry thing for me has never been anything than vaguely hypothetical."That is a good thing! But yeah it is a real thing, though not inevitable but not uncommon either....."
And now I have an almost irresistible urge to read a Jackie Collins book 😅
This review made me want to read it more than the description lol
I think I read a Jackie Collins once! I do not recall it too well, but I have some fond memories of proper bonkbusters. Not sure if I would dare to read them now!
Oi…I remember when Jackie Collins was all the rage (and of course Joan and Dynasty, it was a definite 80’s vibe) but I can’t remember actually reading any of her books though I remember them being super popular. I think my lack of going with the popular flow was that I was more of a Stephen King fan back then and was decidedly stuck in that lane.Do love this review and I’m feeling pretty smug about my bargain purchase off of Kindle now that I’ve read this.
Oops! Not so smug now. I have The Thursday Murder Club which I hope is at least as fun as this but I’ve duly added We Solve Murders to the wishlist 😁
Kaz wrote: "This review made me want to read it more than the description lol"I feel flattered :)
Hirondelle (not getting notifications) wrote: "I think I read a Jackie Collins once! I do not recall it too well, but I have some fond memories of proper bonkbusters. Not sure if I would dare to read them now!"Bonkbusters!!!! Hehe.perhaps I should arm myself with a nice bottle of wine before committing to one of those 🍷
Sherry wrote: "I think my lack of going with the popular flow was that I was more of a Stephen King fan back then and was decidedly stuck in that lane."Stephen King: the Jackie Collins of horror. I chose that for myself as well :)
Nataliya wrote: "perhaps I should arm myself with a nice bottle of wine before committing to one of those "Oh totally. Ideally champagne which if memory serves is the drink of choice for this type of book....And bonkbuster is the technical term, wikipedia article and all, I did not invent it (not that good with words!)
Hirondelle (not getting notifications) wrote: "Nataliya wrote: "perhaps I should arm myself with a nice bottle of wine before committing to one of those "Oh totally. Ideally champagne which if memory serves is the drink of choice for this typ..."
Champagne it is then. Although that will get me hopelessly tipsy, but perhaps it is exactly what is needed for a good Jackie Collins romp. And the bonkbuster article gives a few Jackie Collins books as examples, so my next plane read is going to be all set 😅
It will probably count also as historical fiction. I got to confess I would love to read your thoughts on a Jackie Collins novel read while tipsy, it sounds tremendously fun!
Hirondelle (not getting notifications) wrote: "It will probably count also as historical fiction. I got to confess I would love to read your thoughts on a Jackie Collins novel read while tipsy, it sounds tremendously fun!"A suggestion which one? Apparently my library has a gagillion of her books 😅
I think I tried one of her books, but I do not remember which one, and if I did, my memory is so faint I likely would not recommend it! My favorite bonkbuster authors were Judith Krantz and Jacqueline Briskin, maybe Sidney Sheldon if he counts, and of course Jilly Cooper for the britishness and horses and dogs!Go with whichever has more ratings on goodreads, that is always my call!
Hirondelle (not getting notifications) wrote: "I think I tried one of her books, but I do not remember which one, and if I did, my memory is so faint I likely would not recommend it! My favorite bonkbuster authors were Judith Krantz and Jacquel..."That would have to be the plan. My next airplane read will be a Jackie Collins, and then my life will be complete 😆
I am looking forward to that review! Do enjoy!
