Richard Osman: Crime Writer Admits Poor Detective Skills, Talks New Series
Author Richard Osman confesses his inability to guess killers in crime dramas. He discusses his new series "We Solve Murders," featuring AI and influencers, while his Thursday Murder Club heads to Netflix.
Richard Osman, the acclaimed author of the Thursday Murder Club series, has made a surprising admission about his own detective skills. Despite his success in writing crime novels, Osman confesses that he struggles to identify the culprit when watching crime dramas.
"I think I'm brilliant but I'm always wrong. My wife and I think we know who did it and then at the end we both don't get it right."
This revelation comes as Osman's literary career continues to flourish. His Thursday Murder Club series has achieved remarkable success, with over 10 million copies sold worldwide as of 2022. The popularity of the series has caught the attention of Hollywood, with Steven Spielberg set to adapt the first book into a Netflix feature film. The star-studded cast includes renowned actors Dame Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan.
While the Thursday Murder Club adaptation progresses, Osman is not resting on his laurels. He's currently working on a new crime series titled "We Solve Murders." This new venture features an ex-policeman who is drawn out of retirement in the New Forest to solve crimes alongside his adventurous daughter-in-law.
Osman's new series incorporates modern elements, reflecting the changing landscape of crime and technology. One intriguing aspect is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by characters in the story. In a clever twist, Osman reveals that one of his fictional murderers uses ChatGPT, an AI language model, to disguise their writing style.
Despite this creative use of AI in his storytelling, Osman remains skeptical about AI's ability to replace human creativity in writing. He argues that while AI can assist with mundane tasks, it lacks the emotional depth and nuance required for creating compelling narratives.
The author has also drawn inspiration from contemporary issues for his new series. Osman includes social media influencers as characters, inspired by reports of influencers being exploited by criminal gangs for smuggling operations in locations like Dubai and the Cayman Islands.
As Osman continues to expand his literary universe, he remains committed to his craft. He's currently working on the fifth installment of the Thursday Murder Club series, demonstrating his dedication to providing readers with engaging and thought-provoking crime fiction.
Richard Osman's journey from television presenter to bestselling author showcases his versatility and creativity. His ability to blend traditional mystery elements with modern themes keeps his work fresh and relevant in the ever-evolving landscape of crime fiction.
