We Chase Shadows (We Solve Murders #2)

Title: We Chase Shadows (We Solve Murders #2)

Author: Richard Osman

Published in: 2026

Date read: Not yet read

Score: /5

Genre:

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman is the second entry in the We Solve Murders series, bringing back his signature blend of witty banter, international globe-trotting, and low-stakes cozy charm.
Core Premise:
Following the events of We Solve Murders, the unlikely investigative agency—comprising former private security agent **Amy Wheeler**, her retired ex-cop father-in-law Steve Wheeler, and bestselling crime novelist Rosie D’Antonio—is officially open for business at "We Solve Murders HQ" in Steve's quiet Hampshire village.

When Rosie inadvertently mentions their agency on a talk show, they land their first proper client: **Vern Blackwood**. Vern is a smooth-talking, semi-legitimate entrepreneur who has amassed a fortune selling dubious health supplements.

Plot Arc & Investigation:
The trouble begins at sunrise high in the hills of Tuscany. Vern’s bodyguard is found murdered on the steps of his private Italian villa. Tucked onto the corpse is a threatening note signed by a mysterious figure, effectively declaring: "You're next."

Vern hires Amy, Steve, and Rosie to figure out who killed his bodyguard and neutralize the threat against his own life before it’s too late. While initial suspicion falls on Vern’s ruthless rival competitor, Jakob Eriksson, the trio quickly realizes that Vern has accrued plenty of enemies over the years—and that the note itself might be a misdirection.

The investigation rapidly turns into a jet-setting chase across the globe:
•Italy & Barcelona: Amy and Rosie handle the high-octane groundwork, tracking shadowy leads through European safehouses and high-stakes criminal circles. •Palm Springs: The trail leads to California as deeper layers of Vern's past business dealings and fraudulent schemes are unraveled. •The Hampshire Village Pub: Meanwhile, Steve attempts to run operations from his local pub with assistance from their eccentric agency secretary, Felicity. However, the danger soon hits too close to home when the killer tracks the investigation back to Steve's doorstep.

Resolution & Themes:
As bodies continue to pile up and one member of the team finds themselves directly in the crosshairs, the trio uses a mix of sharp investigative instincts, tradecraft, and Rosie's understanding of narrative tropes to unmask the real mastermind.
True to Osman's style, the book explores the contrasts between Steve’s preference for a quiet life in the countryside and the chaos of high-stakes international crime, underpinning the mystery with themes of aging, unlikely family bonds, and the joy of finding new purpose.

Comments:

Books that we've read by Richard Osman (6):
The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club, #1) (2020), The Man Who Died Twice (Thursday Murder Club, #2) (2021), The Bullet That Missed (Thursday Murder Club, #3) (2022), The Last Devil to Die (Thursday Murder Club, #4) (2023), We Solve Murders (2024), The Impossible Fortune (2025)