We Solve Murders

Amy’s father-in-law is the joint protagonist of We Solve Murders. Before retirement, he was an officer in the Metropolitan Police. At the beginning of the novel, his formidable investigative skills are underused in his role as a private detective, looking into minor crimes and lost pets. Steve is reliable and principled, and his aura of integrity makes a strong impression on others, leading him to gain friends wherever he goes. His compassion and selflessness are illustrated in his actions in the case of Mollie Bright. While identifying Mollie as a thief, Steve conceals her guilt at his own expense after learning that she was a victim of bullying. His refusal to take money from the bully’s father, Gary Gough, demonstrates that, unlike many of the characters, he is immune to The Corrupting Influence of Money. Steve is also the source of much of the novel’s humor as his down-to-earth character starkly contrasts with the jet-setting lifestyle he is drawn into during the investigation. His pragmatic attitude is reflected in the battered backpack he takes on his travels, containing only the essentials.

Steve is depicted as deeply affected by the tragic death of his wife, Debbie. His grief manifests as an extreme aversion to risk or change. Consequently, the scope of his world has shrunk to a limited geographical and psychological comfort zone. His tendency toward caution and overthinking contrasts with Amy’s character traits. At the same time, the duo has significant features in common, including a similar sense of humor and a traumatic childhood. Osman hints that Steve is the survivor of parental abuse, stating that he “had never relaxed as a child; his dad had made sure of that” (18). His close relationship with Amy underlines The Importance of Friendship as they reveal emotions with each other that they conceal from the rest of the world.

Steve undergoes the most dramatic character arc in the novel, illustrating the theme of Personal Growth Arising from Challenges. His initial resistance to change from his routine is reflected in frequent declarations of what he does not do, including solving murders and travel. However, when Amy appeals to him for help, Steve’s love for his daughter-in-law supersedes his fear. In the course of the narrative, he is gradually transformed as he thrives on new experiences and places and the excitement of the investigation. At the novel’s end, his proposal to call the new detective agency “We Solve Murders” affirms an intention to continue living life to the fullest.

The famous author Rosie D’Antonio is beautiful, glamorous, and of indeterminate age. While guessing that Rosie is old enough to be her grandmother, Amy estimates the author could be anything between 60 and 80. Confident, courageous, and vivacious, Rosie has five ex-husbands and flirts with every man she meets. Her motto, “If you see a door, walk through it” (95), establishes her as Steve’s foil. Her infectious joie de vivre is instrumental in reigniting Steve’s sense of fun and adventure.

As an author, Rosie is portrayed as a hybrid between Agatha Christie and Jackie Collins. While book titles such as “Tick-Tock, Death O’Clock” recall the Golden Age of crime (95), the glamor and sexual content of her novels are more reminiscent of Hollywood Wives. Rosie’s presence in the narrative introduces a meta-fictional note, allowing Osman a playful exploration of his own authorial role. Rosie’s transposition of people she encounters into fictional characters and her constant alertness to catchy book titles illustrate the writer’s habit of seeking potential fictional material in real-life scenarios.

Rosie’s character arc during the investigation involves a growing awareness of The Importance of Friendship. The bestselling author’s need for excitement is reflected in her habitual search for a new sexual conquest and initial hope of seducing Steve. Rosie’s eventual realization that she values Steve more as a long-term friend than a potential lover signals a new appreciation of subtle yet profound interpersonal relationships.

François Loubet (aka Mickey Moody) is the novel’s primary antagonist. The world’s most successful money launderer, he is “number-one on the FBI’s Most Wanted list” (33). Throughout the narrative, Osman utilizes the “villain monologue” trope to give insight into Loubet’s character and motivations. Directly addressing the reader, he takes pleasure in revealing his grand plan and modus operandi, including the use of ChatGPT to disguise his identity. His character embodies The Corrupting Influence of Money as his continued pursuit of greater wealth is driven by a desire for absolute power. This point is underlined when his commission of the murders of three influencers is revealed to be nothing more than a show of one-upmanship directed at Jeff Nolan.

The true identity of Loubet is one of the narrative’s central mysteries, and the final revelation that he is Mickey Moody provides a plot twist. Osman’s deceptive portrayal of Mickey Moody as an unassuming minor character is filtered through Rob Kenna’s underestimation of his golfing companion. Readers become retrospectively aware of the humor and irony in Rob Kenna’s assumption that “Mickey Moody, the big lunk, has never killed anyone, you can just tell” (81). Paradoxically, the remark is both wildly wide of the mark and true, as Mickey hires Kenna to facilitate his murders rather than committing them himself. However, Mickey makes an exception when he ruthlessly shoots his murder broker.

Jeff Nolan is Amy’s boss and the CEO of Maximum Impact Solutions. His well-groomed yet physically imposing presence is captured in Steve’s initial impression of him as “a tall, good-looking black guy, very nice coat” (98). Missing and believed dead for much of the narrative, Jeff’s character provides a plot twist when he reveals he has been posing as loss-adjustor Martin on the pub quiz team after faking his own death.

Although Jeff is innocent of colluding with Loubet, his moral flexibility is demonstrated by his score of 96 on his own psychopath test and in his former willingness to provide bodyguards for the notorious money smuggler. His assertion that “if you don’t protect criminals you very soon run out of clients” highlights The Corrupting Influence of Money (31).

Henk is Jeff Nolan’s former best friend and business partner. The Dutchman left Maximum Impact Solutions when he suspected Jeff was involved in Loubet’s money-smuggling activities. Henk’s moral principles and his low score of 12 on the psychopath test establish him as Jeff’s foil. The pair’s inability to agree on anything, from the answers to the pub quiz to what kind of wine to drink, demonstrates their conflicting traits while illustrating how they complement one another as a team.

A multi-faceted and contradictory character, Henk is both strait-laced and eccentric. His cerebral and precise nature is echoed in his diction and vocabulary—a factor that leads Jeff to conclude his former partner is the author of Loubet’s ChatGPT communications. Henk’s puritanical streak is further reflected in the detail that “Left to his own devices, [he] would drink only milk” (297). His confession that he enjoys the thrill of standing up while a plane is landing is, therefore, a surprise to readers. Also unexpected is the revelation that Henk sent death threats to Max Highfield to negotiate a higher protection fee.

Susan Knox is the Head of Human Resources at Maximum Impact Solutions. Due to her years of service at the company, Jeff and Amy trust her and do not suspect that she is Loubet’s accomplice, Joe Blow. Susan’s motivations are revealed at the end of the novel in her letter to Mickey Moody. Her story is a cautionary tale on The Corrupting Influence of Money, as her fraudulent investment of the company’s funds escalates into providing Loubet with money-smuggling couriers, who are then murdered. Throughout the narrative, Susan’s regret at becoming involved with the crimes is clear as she pleads with Loubet to stop having people killed. However, once implicated, she cannot extricate herself. After being caught and imprisoned, she acknowledges the price of her greed, stating. “I have got everything I deserve” (429).