We Solve Murders

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Steve Wheeler initially avoids stepping outside his comfort zone, sticking to his regular routine and rituals like his weekly pub quiz. When have you found yourself resistant to change, and what ultimately made you embrace new experiences?

2. Throughout the novel, Steve records messages to his late wife, Debbie, on his Dictaphone to process his thoughts and maintain their connection. What have you found helpful for dealing with grief or loss?

3. Amy’s mantra, “Hit things, drive fast, defuse explosives, but, for the love of God, don’t think” (11), points to her habit of facing danger head-on while avoiding introspection. How do you balance action with self-reflection in your own life?

4. The novel explores how seemingly incompatible people like Steve and Rosie can form meaningful friendships. Have you ever formed a strong connection with someone despite having vastly different personalities or approaches to life?

5. During a meditative exercise at the wellness retreat, Rosie admits to fearing life and aging and feeling powerless, while Amy deflects with a joke about spiders. Which character’s approach to vulnerability resonates more with you, and why?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel depicts Dubai as a location for both legitimate business and criminal enterprises. How does this portrayal compare to media representations of global wealth centers like Dubai, Monaco, or Singapore?

2. François Loubet exploits social media influencers’ desire for fame and a jet-set lifestyle to coerce them into smuggling money. What does this strategy suggest about the vulnerabilities created by online success and overconsumption?

3. We Solve Murders features characters of various ages working together effectively. How does the novel confront ageism? How is this similar to or different from other contemporary media?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The novel has multiple perspectives, including those of antagonists like François Loubet. How does this affect the building of suspense, and what insights does it provide that a more limited viewpoint would miss?

2. Clothing is used symbolically throughout the novel, from Rosie’s rhinestone jumpsuit to Steve’s remove denim jacket. How do these clothes illuminate character traits?

3. Osman uses the red herring literary device extensively, misdirecting readers from the identities of François Loubet and “Joe Blow.” Which red herring did you find most compelling, and what clues did you miss or notice that pointed to the truth?

4. The leather holdall appears repeatedly as a symbol of corruption and greed. How does this develop throughout the story, and what do characters’ reactions to the bag reveal about their moral compasses?

5. The relationship between Steve and Amy exemplifies an intergenerational friendship built on mutual respect and complementary skills. How does this compare to other literary portrayals of cross-generational relationships, such as between Atticus and Scout Finch in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird or Ove and Parvaneh in Fredrick Backman’s A Man Called Ove?