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57 pages 1 hour read

Richard Osman

We Solve Murders

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2024

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Essay Topics

1.

Discuss how Osman uses multiple perspectives to shape the narrative. How do these different viewpoints impact the reader’s understanding of events and characters, and what does this structure add to the mystery? Explain how the novel showcases the advantages of a third-person narrator.

2.

Explore how the main characters’ backgrounds and personality traits contribute to their investigative skills. How does each of them exemplify resilience, and in what ways does their persistence reflect broader messages about facing adversity?

3.

Analyze the theme of friendship in the novel. How do characters’ relationships with each other evolve, and how does their camaraderie help them confront both external and internal conflicts?

4.

Discuss the role of humor in the novel. How does Osman use humor to address serious topics such as death, loneliness, and aging? What overall impact does this have on the tone of the story?

5.

Examine the significance of the international settings in We Solve Murders. How do the various locations shape the plot and the development of the characters?

6.

We Solve Murders features a rich ensemble of characters. Analyze how one of the novel’s minor characters, such as Max Highfield, Felicity Woollaston, Tony Taylor, Eddie Flood, or Bonnie Gregor, contributes to the narrative’s themes and meaning.

7.

Consider the novel’s emphasis on intergenerational relationships. What does Amy Wheeler’s friendship with her father-in-law and Rosie D’Antonio reveal about mutual respect and learning? Why does Steve lack a similar connection with his son Adam?

8.

Examine the influence of wealth in We Solve Murders. How do characters like François Loubet, Rob Kenna, and Susan Knox embody The Corrupting Influence of Money? Discuss how Osman critiques the role of money in shaping power dynamics.

9.

Analyze the author’s symbolic depiction of clothing in We Solve Murders. How does Osman’s focus on outward apparel deepen the reader’s understanding of the characters?

10.

Compare and contrast We Solve Murders to the Thursday Murder Club series. Consider, in particular, the novels’ tone and genre. What does Osman mean by his assertion that the characters from both series “are all happily living in the same world as each other” (441)?

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