Richard Osman Books in Order – Complete Guide to Series and Releases

Richard Osman has become one of Britain’s most successful crime fiction authors, capturing readers with his distinctive blend of wit, warmth, and carefully crafted mysteries. His debut novel, released in 2020, launched what would become one of the most beloved contemporary detective series in recent memory.

This comprehensive guide presents every book by Richard Osman in publication order, spanning his Thursday Murder Club series and newer standalone titles. Whether readers are discovering his work for the first time or tracking the latest release, this overview provides everything needed to navigate his growing bibliography.

From the cozy retirement village setting of his flagship series to the globe-trotting adventures of his newest characters, Osman’s work spans multiple detective fiction formats. Understanding the complete list of his publications helps readers make informed choices about where to begin or continue their journey through his stories.

Richard Osman Books in Order

Before exploring individual titles, readers can benefit from a consolidated overview of Richard Osman’s published works. The following grid summarizes the key facts about his bibliography.

Key Insights on Richard Osman Books

Several patterns emerge when examining Richard Osman’s publishing history and reception. The Thursday Murder Club debut achieved remarkable commercial success, accumulating over 804,000 ratings on Goodreads and establishing Osman as a major force in the cozy crime genre.

• All five Thursday Murder Club books achieved bestseller status upon release
• The series maintains strong review averages, with later books scoring higher than earlier entries
• The Bullet That Missed (2022) holds a 4.35 average rating from nearly 283,000 ratings
• The Last Devil to Die (2023) earned the highest rating at 4.46 average, indicating growing reader appreciation
• Omnibus editions combining multiple books have expanded accessibility for new readers
• Osman launched a new series with We Solve Murders in 2024, signalling scope beyond the Thursday Murder Club universe

Richard Osman Books at a Glance

Thursday Murder Club Series by Richard Osman in Order

The Thursday Murder Club forms the cornerstone of Richard Osman’s literary output. This series introduces four retirees at Cooper’s Chase retirement village who form an unofficial detective club, meeting weekly to investigate cold cases. Their peaceful existence is disrupted when a real murder lands on their doorstep in the debut novel.

The central characters—Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron—bring distinct perspectives and skills to their investigations, creating dynamics that deepen with each successive book. The series balances traditional detective fiction elements with contemporary voice and sharp humour that has earned Osman’s work widespread critical acclaim.

Reading the books in publication order allows readers to follow the natural progression of relationships, ongoing plot threads, and character development that accumulates across the series. Each book functions as a complete mystery while contributing to a larger narrative arc.

The Thursday Murder Club (September 2020)

The debut novel introduces the four protagonists and establishes the Cooper’s Chase setting. When a local developer is found dead, the Thursday Murder Club sees an opportunity to apply their accumulated knowledge from years of reading detective fiction to an actual investigation. The book received substantial attention upon release, benefiting from Osman’s existing profile as a television personality.

The Man Who Died Twice (September 2021)

The sequel introduces new complications involving the diamond trade and a mysterious Italian connection. Elizabeth’s troubled past resurfaces, threatening the fragile stability the group has achieved. This book expanded the scope of the series beyond Cooper’s Chase while deepening the individual character arcs established in the first entry.

The Bullet That Missed (September 2022)

The third installment received the strongest critical reception of the series to that point, earning a 4.35 average rating from nearly 283,000 readers on Goodreads. The plot weaves together multiple threads from previous books while introducing fresh mysteries, demonstrating Osman’s ability to balance series continuity with standalone entertainment value.

The Last Devil to Die (September 2023)

Continuing the series’ upward trajectory in reader appreciation, this fourth book achieved the highest average rating at 4.46 stars. Reviewers particularly praised the unexpected twists and the emotional depth brought to the ensemble cast’s continuing adventures. The book reinforced the series’ position as a standout achievement in contemporary mystery fiction.

The Impossible Fortune (September 2025)

The most recent Thursday Murder Club entry involves a wedding, death threats, and an uncrackable code, according to available descriptions. Released approximately seven months before this publication, the book represents the latest evolution in Osman’s storytelling approach. The title suggests a potential shift toward more elaborate, high-stakes narratives within the established framework.

How Many Richard Osman Books Are There?

As of April 2026, Richard Osman has published eight confirmed books across his fiction career. This total encompasses the five Thursday Murder Club novels, two entries in the newer We Solve Murders series, and at least one non-fiction work published before his fiction debut.

The breakdown by category reveals the structure of his bibliography. The Thursday Murder Club series accounts for the majority of his published fiction, with each entry receiving annual release scheduling that has proven remarkably consistent across the five-book run from 2020 to 2025.

The We Solve Murders series, launched in 2024, marks a significant expansion of Osman’s fictional universe. This new series features different central characters—detective duo Steve and Amy Wheeler—and explores narratives that extend beyond the British retirement village setting of his earlier work.

Omnibus editions, which bundle consecutive Thursday Murder Club books together, add additional purchasable variants to the lineup. These collections provide cost-effective options for readers entering the series or those wishing to revisit the stories in consolidated form.

Latest Richard Osman Books in Order

Staying current with Richard Osman’s releases requires tracking both completed books and announced upcoming publications. The literary landscape around his work continues to evolve, with the author maintaining an active publishing schedule that has produced new material annually.

Released in 2025

The Impossible Fortune arrived in September 2025 as the fifth Thursday Murder Club novel. This release continued the annual publication pattern established with the series’ debut, marking approximately seven months of availability at the time of this overview. The book introduces a wedding scenario, death threats, and a cryptographic challenge, suggesting continued experimentation with plot complexity.

Announced for 2026

We Chase Shadows represents the next major release, scheduled for September 10, 2026. This title forms the second entry in the We Solve Murders series and features a global chase for a killer, indicating a more international scope than the Thursday Murder Club’s British-centric setting.

This upcoming release demonstrates Osman’s commitment to expanding his fictional universe beyond the Cooper’s Chase retirement village. The We Solve Murders series provides an alternative entry point for readers, with different protagonists and presumably distinct narrative approaches compared to the Thursday Murder Club formula.

Richard Osman Books Timeline

The publication history of Richard Osman’s books reveals a deliberate approach to building his literary career. The timeline below captures every major release, illustrating both the consistency of his output and the natural evolution of his storytelling.

1. September 2020 — The Thursday Murder Club (Series debut, establishes core characters and Cooper’s Chase setting)
2. September 2021 — The Man Who Died Twice (Sequel introduces diamond trade subplot and Elizabeth’s past)
3. September 2022 — The Bullet That Missed (Third entry achieves highest critical acclaim to that point)
4. September 2023 — The Last Devil to Die (Fourth book earns highest reader rating at 4.46 average)
5. September 2024 — We Solve Murders (Launch of new series with different protagonists)
6. September 2025 — The Impossible Fortune (Fifth Thursday Murder Club, involves wedding and cryptic code)
7. September 2026 — We Chase Shadows (We Solve Murders second entry, global chase narrative)

This timeline demonstrates Osman’s shift from single-series focus to parallel fictional universes. After establishing the Thursday Murder Club as a reliable annual release, the author introduced We Solve Murders in 2024, suggesting plans for concurrent series development.

Confirmed vs Upcoming Books

Distinguishing between published works and announced future releases helps readers prioritize their reading choices. The following comparison establishes clear boundaries between what is currently available and what remains forthcoming.

The Thursday Murder Club books represent the most reliable reading option, with all five entries available across multiple formats including print, ebook, and audiobook. We Solve Murders provides immediate access to Osman’s newer series, while We Chase Shadows remains a future release requiring patience.

Context and Analysis

Richard Osman’s rise to fiction prominence occurred after an established career in television, where he gained public recognition through his work on Pointless and related projects. This media background provided an initial platform that amplified the debut novel’s release, contributing to its rapid commercial success.

The Thursday Murder Club series distinguished itself within the cozy crime genre through several distinguishing characteristics. The retirement village setting provided a fresh backdrop against typical detective fiction locales, while the ensemble cast offered multiple perspectives through which readers could engage with the mysteries.

Osman’s narrative voice blends traditional mystery plotting with contemporary humour, creating an approach that appeals to readers who might otherwise find the genre restrictive. This tone has resonated strongly enough to generate consistent bestseller performance and critical acclaim across all five entries in the primary series.

The decision to launch a second series with We Solve Murders suggests authorial ambition beyond single-franchise continuation. By introducing new characters and broader geographic scope, Osman demonstrates flexibility that may sustain long-term reader interest while preventing series fatigue.

Where to Find Richard Osman Books

All Thursday Murder Club titles and We Solve Murders are available in multiple formats including print, ebook, and audiobook. Major retailers including Amazon stock the complete backlist, with digital editions offering immediate access through Kindle and comparable platforms.

Omnibus editions combining consecutive Thursday Murder Club books provide economical options for readers seeking to acquire multiple entries or for new readers beginning the series. These collections maintain full content while reducing per-book cost for committed readers.

Sources and Key Information

This overview draws upon multiple authoritative sources to ensure accuracy in publication dates, book counts, and series details. Primary sources include specialist book order websites, publisher information, and general reference sources that track author bibliographies.

Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series consists of 5 books, published annually from 2020 to 2025, with the latest being The Impossible Fortune (September 2025).

— Radio Times, Fantastic Fiction, Wikipedia

He has written 2 confirmed standalones (non-series novels) and 1 non-fiction book, for a total of 8 published books as of April 2026, plus 1 upcoming in a new series.

— Book Series in Order, TL Branson

What’s Next for Richard Osman

The announced September 2026 release of We Chase Shadows represents the most immediate forthcoming publication. This second We Solve Murders book will continue the adventures of Steve and Amy Wheeler in what promises to be a globally-scaled narrative.

Beyond this near-term release, Osman has indicated interest in annual publication schedules and potential additional content described as “chronicles.” These hints suggest the Thursday Murder Club universe may expand through supplementary material, though concrete announcements remain limited.

Readers interested in staying current should monitor publisher announcements and author interviews, as Osman has demonstrated willingness to discuss upcoming projects through media appearances. The consistent track record of annual releases provides reasonable expectation for continued publication activity.

Frequently Asked Questions