Name: We Chase Shadows
Author: Richard Osman
ISBN: 9780241745892

The case file

Amy, Rosie and Steve return for a case stretching from the Italian hills to Palm Springs and Barcelona.

Get this book

Listen on Audible Buy from Waterstones

ISBN 9780241745892

Some links earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Series position · Book 2

Can I start here?

Not recommended. It is a new case, but the trio and their bonds are established in We Solve Murders.

Who will enjoy it

For readers already fond of the cast

We Chase Shadows suits readers who prefer a faster, international mystery with a compact central trio.

Tone & themes

Fast, funny and far-ranging

Family, trust and reinvention underpin a more mobile adventure, while the humour remains distinctly Osman.

Listening note

Nicola Walker

The English recording listed below is unabridged.

Our opinion · 30-second verdict

Read after We Solve Murders; the returning trio is the point of the journey.

A body outside an Italian villa sends Amy, Rosie and Steve after a killer across Europe and America.

Spoiler-free companion

Inside this case

A globe-spanning second case with danger moving closer to home.

Key locations: Italy · Palm Springs · Barcelona · Steve’s village pub
Characters in the story: Steve · Amy · Rosie
Themes: Loyalty · Hidden identities · Family · Pursuit

Meet the characters →

Our opinion · reader profile

What kind of case is it?

Pace5 out of 55/5

Puzzle4 out of 54/5

Humour4 out of 54/5

Emotional weight3 out of 53/5

Content notes

Murder, pursuit and violent threat
Criminal deception

Formats & languages

How else can I read or listen?

Penguin lists print, ebook and audio editions. For We Chase Shadows, the details below cover 2 audio recordings, including Deutsch. Exact formats, covers and availability vary by country.

While you read

Three things to notice

How familiar relationships are tested by a second case
The contrast between glamorous destinations and Steve’s village pub
Which identities and loyalties appear least certain

Reading-group file

Three spoiler-free questions

Which setting creates the strongest atmosphere?
How has the trio changed since their first case?
Where does the story most effectively hide danger in plain sight?

Quick answers

Frequently asked

Does this book solve its central mystery?

Yes. We Chase Shadows has its own central case, while the character stories continue across the series.

Should I read the series in order?

Not recommended. It is a new case, but the trio and their bonds are established in We Solve Murders.

Are translated audiobooks available?

This guide includes Deutsch recordings. Check the audiobook section below for marketplace details.

Edition details

Series: We Solve Murders
Series position: 2
First published: 10 September 2026
UK edition: 432 pages · ISBN 9780241745892

UK edition history

Formats on the publisher record

Edition described above

Format: Hardback
Published: 10 September 2026
Imprint: Viking
Dimensions: 244 × 38 × 165 mm
Weight: 656 g

2026
HardbackFirst UK publication
First publication
2026
Ebook
2026
Audio download and CD
2027
PaperbackYear listed by Penguin; exact date not shown

Explore international editions →

Reception

Awards, milestones and critical pattern

Celebrate the books’ awards and bestseller milestones, and discover what readers and critics enjoy about them.

Sales milestone

New York Times bestseller

Mushens Entertainment reported on 25 September 2026 that We Chase Shadows reached No. 7 on the New York Times Combined Print & E-Book Fiction list and No. 8 on its Hardcover Fiction list. The same report placed it at No. 1 in The Sunday Times Hardback Fiction chart and No. 2 overall. These are the positions reported that day, not current rankings.

Publication status