We Chase Shadows

In We Chase Shadows, Osman portrays grief as a permanent, integrated part of a person’s identity rather than a temporary phase to be overcome. Steve’s daily, private conversations with his late wife, Debbie, anchor his emotional world and demonstrate that love and loss can coexist as a constant, defining presence. Rather than presenting grief as an obstacle to a normal life, the novel suggests that for some, acknowledging loss and incorporating it into the fabric of their daily existence allows them to process and survive it.

Steve’s relationship with Debbie continues after her death through an internal dialogue that he considers both natural and essential to his life. He reflects that he speaks to his dead wife every day on a park bench and “she talks back, but why wouldn’t she? His heart is still her heart” (67). This ongoing conversation is a conscious choice to maintain their bond, allowing him to remain connected to her despite her absence. For Steve, the alternative—ceasing to communicate with Debbie—is untenable. This daily practice suggests that grieving is a process unique to each person. Through these silent exchanges, Steve processes the complexities of his life and the murder cases he investigates, just as he did with Debbie when she was alive, yet he still feels the pain of her absence keenly.