If you are searching for the richard osman new book, there is an exciting answer: We Chase Shadows, the second novel in Richard Osman’s We Solve Murders series. The mystery brings back the unconventional detective trio of Amy Wheeler, Rosie D’Antonio and Steve Wheeler for another international investigation.
Following We Solve Murders, Osman’s latest mystery moves between locations including Italy, Barcelona and Palm Springs. The story begins with a body discovered outside a private villa in the Italian hills, setting the investigators on the trail of a dangerous and elusive killer.
With its combination of crime, humor, unusual characters and an international setting, We Chase Shadows continues Osman’s move beyond his hugely successful Thursday Murder Club novels. This guide covers the book’s title, release date, plot, characters, series position and what readers should know before picking it up.
Key Takeaways
- Richard Osman’s new book is titled We Chase Shadows.
- It is the second book in the We Solve Murders series.
- The UK publication date for the hardback is 10 September 2026.
- The story follows Amy, Rosie and Steve as they investigate a murder connected to a private villa in Italy.
- The investigation takes the trio across several locations, including Italy, Barcelona and Palm Springs.
- The novel follows We Solve Murders, which introduced Osman’s second detective team.
Biography Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Richard Osman |
| Date of Birth | 28 November 1970 |
| Age | 55 |
| Birthplace | Billericay, Essex, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Author, television presenter and producer |
| Education | Trinity College, Cambridge |
| Years Active | 1990s–present |
| Known For | The Thursday Murder Club, We Solve Murders and television presenting |
| Major Achievements | International bestselling novelist and television personality |
| Estimated Net Worth | Not included because reliable current figures vary widely |
Main Article
What Is Richard Osman’s New Book?
Richard Osman’s new book is We Chase Shadows, the latest novel in his We Solve Murders series.
The book follows the same central detective trio introduced in We Solve Murders: retired police officer Steve Wheeler, his daughter-in-law Amy Wheeler and bestselling crime novelist Rosie D’Antonio. Penguin identifies the novel as We Solve Murders #2.
The novel is another mystery adventure rather than a continuation of the Thursday Murder Club storyline. That distinction is important for readers who know Osman primarily for Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim.
Instead, We Chase Shadows develops the newer detective team and gives them another case involving international travel, hidden motives and an elusive killer.
What Is the Release Date for We Chase Shadows?
The UK release date for We Chase Shadows is 10 September 2026. Penguin lists the hardback edition at 432 pages, with ebook, audiobook and other formats also available.
Penguin Random House’s US listing gives 15 September 2026 as the availability date for its hardcover and ebook editions.
This means the exact date readers see can depend on their country and edition.
| Edition/Market | Release information |
|---|---|
| UK hardback | 10 September 2026 |
| UK ebook | 10 September 2026 |
| UK audiobook | 2026 |
| US hardcover | 15 September 2026 |
| US ebook | 15 September 2026 |
| UK paperback | Listed for 2027 |
Penguin’s UK listing also gives the hardback ISBN as 9780241747070 and confirms the book’s position as the second We Solve Murders mystery.
What Is We Chase Shadows About?
The story opens in the Italian hills, where a body is discovered on the steps of a private villa. A threatening note found on the body adds another layer to the mystery.
The case reaches Amy, Rosie and Steve, who take on what appears to be their first major investigation through their expanding detective operation.
Their client has reasons for avoiding the police, making the case more complicated from the beginning. As the investigation develops, the trio encounters multiple suspects and competing motives.
Among the people connected to the mystery are a wanted criminal from Sweden, an ex-wife and a business rival. The investigators must work out who can be trusted while attempting to identify the person behind the murder.
The investigation eventually stretches beyond Italy. Penguin’s description specifically mentions Barcelona, Palm Springs and Steve’s village pub as locations in the story.
The Central Mystery
At the heart of We Chase Shadows is a murder that does not have an obvious solution.
The suspects appear to have their own secrets, while the killer remains difficult to locate. This creates the type of puzzle-driven structure readers might expect from Richard Osman: a serious mystery balanced by character-driven humor and an unconventional group of investigators.
The official synopsis deliberately leaves much of the solution unrevealed, allowing readers to discover the twists themselves.
Who Are the Main Characters?
Amy Wheeler
Amy is an experienced investigator who previously worked in international security. She brings professional investigative skills to the trio and often provides a practical counterbalance to the other characters.
Steve Wheeler
Steve is a retired police officer and Amy’s father-in-law. After retiring from the police, he becomes involved in private investigations and helps develop the group’s detective work.
His police background gives the team valuable experience, but his retirement also allows him to approach cases differently from a conventional police investigation.
Rosie D’Antonio
Rosie is a bestselling novelist and one of the more unconventional members of the team.
Her experience as a crime writer gives her an unusual perspective on mysteries and suspects. Her personality also contributes much of the series’ humor and energy.
Together, the three characters create a different dynamic from Osman’s Thursday Murder Club.
Is We Chase Shadows Part of the Thursday Murder Club Series?
No.
We Chase Shadows is part of Richard Osman’s We Solve Murders series rather than the Thursday Murder Club series.
Osman has therefore created two separate mystery worlds:
| Series | First Book | Newest Book |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday Murder Club | The Thursday Murder Club | The Impossible Fortune |
| We Solve Murders | We Solve Murders | We Chase Shadows |
The distinction matters because readers looking for the continuation of Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim will want The Impossible Fortune, not We Chase Shadows.
The Impossible Fortune is the fifth Thursday Murder Club novel and was published in hardcover in 2025, with a US paperback edition released in August 2026.
How Does We Chase Shadows Follow We Solve Murders?
The first We Solve Murders novel introduced Steve, Amy and Rosie as an unlikely investigative team.
Steve is a retired police officer, Amy has professional security experience and Rosie is a famous crime novelist. Their different backgrounds allow the series to combine traditional investigation with humor and unconventional problem-solving.
We Chase Shadows builds on that foundation by giving the trio another international mystery.
Readers who enjoyed the chemistry between the three characters in We Solve Murders can therefore expect the second book to develop their relationships as well as the central case.
What Makes Richard Osman’s New Book Different?
One of the most interesting aspects of We Chase Shadows is its international scope.
Rather than confining the mystery to one community, the story moves across several locations. That gives Osman more opportunities to introduce different suspects, environments and sources of danger.
The book also retains the combination of mystery and humor associated with his novels.
Penguin describes the book as a globe-trotting mystery, while published reviews highlighted its humor, twists and character-driven appeal.
For readers, that means We Chase Shadows is not simply a traditional murder investigation. It is also an adventure built around the personalities of its investigators.
How Many Pages Is We Chase Shadows?
The UK hardback edition is listed at 432 pages by Penguin.
The US edition is listed at 352 pages by Penguin Random House, demonstrating why page counts can vary between international editions and formats.
This difference does not indicate different stories. Publishers can use different trim sizes, typesetting and edition specifications in different markets.
What Is the Plot of The Impossible Fortune?
Readers searching for the Richard Osman new book may also encounter The Impossible Fortune, because it is another recent Osman release.
The Impossible Fortune is the fifth Thursday Murder Club mystery. Its story begins with the group dealing with personal changes while Joyce prepares for a wedding and Elizabeth faces grief. The investigation begins when Elizabeth meets a wedding guest who needs help and subsequently disappears.
The case involves a valuable code, a potential kidnapping and a murder investigation.
This book is particularly relevant for longtime Thursday Murder Club fans, while We Chase Shadows is the more recent release in the We Solve Murders series.
Richard Osman’s Two Current Mystery Series
Richard Osman now has two major mystery franchises, and understanding the difference makes it easier to choose the right book.
The Thursday Murder Club
This series centers on four older friends who become involved in murder investigations.
The original group consists of Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron. The books combine cozy mystery elements with humor, friendship and themes surrounding aging and community.
The series includes:
- The Thursday Murder Club
- The Man Who Died Twice
- The Bullet That Missed
- The Last Devil to Die
- The Impossible Fortune
We Solve Murders
The second series introduces a completely different team:
- We Solve Murders
- We Chase Shadows
The newer series has a more international investigative feel, with Amy, Steve and Rosie taking on cases that take them beyond their everyday surroundings.
Who Should Read We Chase Shadows?
We Chase Shadows should appeal particularly to readers who enjoy:
- Cozy and humorous crime fiction
- Character-driven mysteries
- Amateur and unconventional investigators
- International murder mysteries
- Richard Osman’s earlier novels
- Fast-moving plots with multiple suspects
- Mysteries that balance suspense with comedy
It is also a natural choice for readers who have already finished We Solve Murders and want to see what happens next with Amy, Steve and Rosie.
New readers may also find the premise accessible, although starting with the first We Solve Murders novel can provide useful background on the characters and their relationships.
Should You Read We Solve Murders First?
Yes, if you want the fullest experience.
Because We Chase Shadows is the second book in the series, reading We Solve Murders first gives readers a better introduction to the central characters.
It establishes Steve, Amy and Rosie and explains how their investigative partnership develops.
However, readers primarily interested in the new mystery may still be able to follow the second novel without having read the first. The main advantage of reading the series in order is a stronger understanding of the characters.
Richard Osman’s Books in Publication Order
For readers discovering Osman for the first time, his major mystery novels can be divided by series.
Thursday Murder Club Series
- The Thursday Murder Club
- The Man Who Died Twice
- The Bullet That Missed
- The Last Devil to Die
- The Impossible Fortune
We Solve Murders Series
- We Solve Murders
- We Chase Shadows
Reading each series in publication order is the simplest way to follow the characters and their development.
Why Readers Are Interested in Richard Osman’s New Book
Richard Osman has established himself as a bestselling novelist as well as a television presenter. His books have attracted readers because they combine traditional mystery elements with distinctive characters and humor.
The appeal of We Chase Shadows comes partly from the return of a detective team that is still relatively new compared with the long-running Thursday Murder Club characters.
It also gives readers a different kind of Osman mystery.
The Italian setting, international investigation and mixture of professional and unconventional investigators create plenty of opportunities for twists while keeping the focus on the characters.
Penguin describes the We Solve Murders series as an international bestseller and confirms that Osman intends to continue writing books in both series.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Richard Osman’s new book called?
Richard Osman’s latest book is We Chase Shadows, the second novel in his We Solve Murders series.
When was We Chase Shadows released?
The UK edition of We Chase Shadows was released on 10 September 2026. The US hardcover and ebook editions are listed for 15 September 2026.
What is We Chase Shadows about?
The story follows Amy, Rosie and Steve as they investigate a murder after a body is discovered at a private villa in the Italian hills. Their investigation takes them through several locations, including Italy, Barcelona and Palm Springs.
Is We Chase Shadows the next Thursday Murder Club book?
No. We Chase Shadows is the second We Solve Murders novel. The latest Thursday Murder Club novel is The Impossible Fortune.
Who are the main characters in We Chase Shadows?
The main detective trio consists of Amy Wheeler, Steve Wheeler and Rosie D’Antonio. They were first introduced in We Solve Murders.
Should I read We Solve Murders before We Chase Shadows?
Reading We Solve Murders first is recommended because it introduces the main characters and establishes their relationships. However, readers can still approach We Chase Shadows as its own mystery.
How many pages is We Chase Shadows?
The UK hardback edition is listed at 432 pages. Page counts can vary by country and edition.
Does Richard Osman have more books planned?
Osman’s publisher states that he promises there are more books to come in both the Thursday Murder Club and We Solve Murders series.
Conclusion
For readers searching for the richard osman new book, the answer is We Chase Shadows, the second mystery featuring the We Solve Murders detective team.
The novel takes Amy, Rosie and Steve into a new international investigation that begins with a body in the Italian hills and expands across multiple locations. Its September 2026 release makes it one of Richard Osman’s major new fiction releases of the year.
Readers should also remember that We Chase Shadows is separate from the Thursday Murder Club series. Those looking for Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim should turn to The Impossible Fortune, while readers who enjoyed We Solve Murders can continue directly into Osman’s latest mystery.
With its combination of mystery, humor, international settings and an established cast of unconventional investigators, We Chase Shadows offers another opportunity to see why Richard Osman has become such a prominent name in contemporary crime fiction.