We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman a book review

I love Richard Osman’s books. I devoured his Thursday Murder Club series. Then he started a new series with new characters but still based around murder mystery. I read the first book ‘We Solve Murders’ and enjoyed it so much I couldn’t wait for the sequel, We Chase Shadows. You can read my review below, first here are the book details.

We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman

At sunrise, high in the Italian hills, a body is found on the steps of a beautiful private villa. On the body is a threatening note, signed by a mystery man.

Back at We Solve Murders HQ, Amy, Rosie and Steve leap at the chance to take on their first proper case. So what if their new client seems to have his own reasons for avoiding the police? All they need to do is uncover who left the note, and then find them. Simple.

But once they start digging, the suspects keep piling up: there’s Sweden’s most-wanted criminal, a canny ex-wife and a fierce business rival – yet the murderer keeps evading them. And as the trio chase a villain through the shadows, danger travels closer to home . . .

Between Italy and Palm Springs, via Barcelona and Steve’s village pub, can the team catch an elusive killer who knows EXACTLY where to hide?

My Review of We Chase Shadows

I listened to We Solve Murders on Audible and enjoyed the narration by Nicola Walker so much, that it was a great way of using up my current credit by getting We Chase Shadows the follow up novel. I did relisten to We Solve Murders recently which I think was a good idea, because We Chase Shadows dives straight in with the same characters. You do get some description of who they are but the novel is mostly verbal interaction from the characters to move the story along.

After their adventures in the last novel, Amy Steve and Rosie begin a new business solving murders, called We Solve Murders. They also have a secretary Felicity who is dating Steve’s friend Tony. Of on their first case they are invited to a beautiful villa in Italy where a body guard is murdered.

The story is complex, with so many characters and so many things woven in. The owner of the Villa, Vern, is a criminal, but not a really bad one. He cons people into buying pills that don’t actually have any real proof of being of use to anyone, but they are also harmless. He’s made a fortune with his business, swapping from one ‘cure’ to another. But now he’s under threat and it’s up to Amy and the team to figure out who is threatening him and why. And also who killed his bodyguard.

The story is fast paced and as I said before it’s mostly conversation based. There is an awful lot of, Steve said…Amy said…. Steve said… Rosie said.. and the sentences are short. It’s kind of like listening to a batty relative retell a story they’d heard down the pub. But, it’s also fun and turns what should be a very dark story into something that is enjoyable. I suppose reading it would be different to listening, but I did really enjoy the listening.

The murders start piling up and it seems like everyone is in danger at one point. One of the group even gets shot. The action is non stop and you really feel like you have to know what is going to happen next. It keeps you guessing, even when you think you’ve worked it out you will question yourself. It takes the skills of all three of the group to solve the puzzles. There are some surprises on the way too.

Overall, I have to say I really enjoyed this book. I love the humour as well as the complexity of the plot. It was also really nice to see a development of the characters that starred in the last book. I wish I knew Steve in real life!