Richard Osman Reveals Struggles with Detective Work as He Expands His Crime Fiction Horizons

Richard Osman, known for his success as a TV presenter and producer, has made a remarkable leap into the world of best-selling crime fiction. Despite his knack for writing engaging mysteries, Osman admits he's "terrible at playing detective" in real life.

Richard Osman on the set of The Thursday Murder Club with cast Sir Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, Dame Helen Mirren and Celia Imrie

Osman, whose grandfather was a professional detective and whose mother was adept at solving crime dramas, finds himself repeatedly stumped. "I think I'm brilliant, but I'm always wrong," he confesses. His wife and he often guess wrong about the outcomes of mystery plots, highlighting his humorous struggle with solving crimes.

His bestselling Thursday Murder Club series features a group of elderly amateur sleuths in a quaint retirement village. The first book has already captured the attention of Steven Spielberg, who is adapting it into a Netflix series. Osman’s new crime series, We Solve Murders, follows retired cop Steve and his energetic bodyguard daughter-in-law, Amy, as they travel the globe solving crimes. Osman highlights their contrasting personalities and their unlikely yet warm relationship as central to the story.

In a twist of modernity, Osman incorporates AI into his latest novel, featuring a murderer who uses ChatGPT to draft emails in the style of a "friendly English gentleman." Osman jokes about the usefulness of AI, expressing skepticism about its ability to write novels but recognizing its value in certain contexts.

Osman's new book also explores the world of social media influencers, portraying them as victims of crime due to their seemingly glamorous but often financially precarious lifestyles. He points out that while influencers can be exploited, they also provide new opportunities for working-class talent to break into media, a path Osman himself might struggle to navigate in today’s industry.

Despite the buzz around his new book, Osman’s fans are eagerly anticipating the next installment in The Thursday Murder Club series. With over 10 million copies sold globally, the series has set UK sales records, and Osman is currently working on the fifth book. The upcoming Netflix adaptation of the first book, directed by Chris Columbus and starring a stellar cast including Helen Mirren and David Tennant, has Osman excited and hopeful.

Reflecting on his success, Osman remains grounded. "Every bit of success is gravy, but I just always think 'I need to go and write the next thing now,'" he says. As he looks forward to continuing both The Thursday Murder Club and We Solve Murders series, Osman is focused on his next writing projects, aware that the future of his books may hold surprises, for better or worse.