We Solve Murders

Fitness Instagrammer Andrew Fairbanks finally became famous through the mysterious circumstances of his murder. Fairbanks was shot in the head after taking a selfie to promote Krusher Energy Drink. His body was found half-eaten by sharks, dangling from a rope on a yacht. A leather holdall containing $900,000 was found on board.

Bestselling author Rosie D’Antonio and her bodyguard Amy Wheeler are staying on Rosie’s private island off South Carolina’s coast. Kevin, a former Navy SEAL, is also on the island. Amy works for the close-protection agency Maximum Impact Solutions. Rosie needs protection from Vasiliy Karpin, a Russian oligarch who has issued death threats against her since her latest novel depicted him in an unflattering light. Rosie is bored, but Amy insists they stay on the island for her safety.

Amy’s father-in-law, Steve Wheeler, lives in the English village of Axley in the New Forest. Steve was once an officer in the Metropolitan Police. He moved from London to Axley with his late wife, Debbie, who was later killed when a train derailed, and is now accustomed to a solitary, peaceful pace of life. He and his wife adopted a stray cat named Trouble, and Steve set up a private detective agency in Axley called “Steve Investigates.” He is currently searching for a lost dog and investigating a theft from the till of a local store. Steve is convinced the perpetrator is the owner’s daughter and has set up a hidden camera.

Steve walks the quiet streets of Axley with his Dictaphone, noting anything unusual. The quiz night at the local pub, The Brass Monkey, is the highlight of his week. He often sits by the duck pond on a bench dedicated to Debbie and records messages to her.

Jeff Nolan, the CEO of Maximum Impact Solutions, is disturbed to learn that another of his clients is dead. He believes that François Loubet is responsible for the recent murders of the social media influencers Andrew Fairbanks, Bella Sanchez, and Mark Gooch. After Maximum Impact Solutions took a job protecting a member of Loubet’s staff, two of Jeff’s clients were arrested for international drug smuggling. Jeff sent a threatening email to Loubet, warning him to stop exploiting their business connection. The murders began shortly afterward. Jeff worries that the negative publicity will cause clients to defect to Henk van Veen, his former business partner and best friend. Actor Max Highfield, whom Jeff pays to recruit minor celebrities, has already complained. He asks Susan Knox, the Head of HR, for François Loubet’s file.

Steve’s son Adam and daughter-in-law Amy often work on the other side of the world. Steve finds Adam difficult to talk to but has a close relationship with Amy. Amy calls, worrying if Steve is looking after himself properly. He does not admit that he has donated the organic vegetable boxes she sends to his friend’s compost heap. Amy reveals that she and Adam are soon meeting up and will be vacationing in Dubai. Steve declines the invitation to join them, stating he has no swimming trunks, does not fly, and cannot miss the pub quiz.

Talent agent Felicity Woollaston has worked from the same office in Letchworth Garden City for forty years. Most of her original clients have retired. However, two years earlier, she accepted an offer to change her company name to Vivid Viral Media Agency and represent social media influencers. Felicity never meets her clients and receives substantial income from forwarding mail to various companies. She knows nothing about social media and is puzzled but grateful for the arrangement. Receiving an email from would-be influencer Bonnie Gregor, she forwards it on.

Steve is intrigued by Andrew Fairbanks’s murder, noting that he was killed in South Carolina, where Amy is currently working. An internet search reveals that Vivid Viral Media Agency represented Fairbanks. Steve reflects that Letchworth Garden City is an out-of-the-way location for such a company. Watching Sheriff Justin Scroggie talking about the investigation on the news, Steve feels Scroggie is too well-groomed to be trustworthy.

Steve finds the lost dog and speaks to Mollie Bright, the daughter of the local shop owner. When he reveals that he has Mollie on camera stealing £300, she explains that a school bully, Lauren Gough, ordered her to do it. Steve guesses Lauren is the daughter of Gary Gough, a notorious local criminal. He gives Mollie’s mother £300—the fee he just earned for finding the dog—claiming the thief returned the money anonymously.

François Loubet receives an email from a Joe Blow, offering to return the money for providing “couriers” if Loubet stops killing people. Joe Blow is the assumed identity of someone who works at Maximum Impact Solutions. Using ChatGPT, Loubet states that he plans to kill only one more person: Amy Wheeler.

Jeff recruited Amy ten years earlier when she was working at a gym. He offered her the job after seeing her tackle and disarm two men fighting with weights. Jeff makes his staff undertake a “psychopath test,” only hiring those who score 75 or above. Amy scored 75, while Jeff and another undisclosed team member scored 96; 100 is the highest level.

At the Brass Monkey pub, Steve’s friend, Tony Taylor, asks if his doorbell could help to catch whoever is misusing his recycling bin. Steve tells Tony this is unlikely, as his doorbell is more than 40 years old and, therefore, does not have a camera. When Steve is asked about the Andrew Fairbanks murder, he declares he no longer solves murders.

Amy tells Rosie D’Antonio about the recent murders of clients of Maximum Impact Solutions. Bella Sanchez was promoting lip-plumping gel in St. Lucia when she was found hanging from her balcony, shot in the head. A month later, Mark Gooch’s body was found nailed to a tree in an Irish vineyard whose wine he was being paid to promote. Andrew Fairbanks was also murdered in a similarly flamboyant manner. Amy reveals she was working close to the murder scene in all three cases. Rosie suggests they should investigate the murders so that Amy can prove her innocence.

François Loubet emails his “murder-broker” Rob Kenna. He tells Rob to inform him when Amy Wheeler is dead.

Steve confronts Gary Gough about his daughter’s behavior. Gary laughs about the incident, offering Steve £300. Steve declines the money, declaring that Lauren is a bully.

Steve investigates Krusher Energy Drink and finds the product is also registered to Vivid Viral Media. He is tempted to go to Letchworth Garden City.

Rob Kenna lives in Dubai and often plays golf with his unassuming friend Mickey Moody. Rob is officially a DJ but funds his lavish lifestyle by arranging murders.

Amy is ambushed by Kevin, the ex-Navy SEAL, who reveals he has been offered a large sum of money to kill her. When he handcuffs Amy at gunpoint, Rosie knocks Kevin unconscious and locks him inside her panic room.

Sitting in his favorite London restaurant, Jeff rereads an email from Loubet suggesting his accomplice, Joe Blow, works for Maximum Impact Solutions. A Jeep crashes through the restaurant window, and two masked men start firing. Jeff responds quickly and escapes.

Rosie and Amy travel to the mainland, planning to visit Sheriff Scroggie.

Steve asks Tony Taylor to accompany him to Letchworth Garden City. Tony declines the invitation, listing several roadworks on the route, and reminding Steve they would “hit rush hour” (98). Steve is approached by a man who introduces himself as Jeff Nolan. Jeff says that he has sought Steve out as someone who Amy trusts. He asks Steve to meet him at a nearby campsite.

Rosie observes that Sheriff Scroggie’s house is on an exclusive street that only criminals can afford. Amy breaks in, instructing Rosie to look for his computer or phone. Rosie finds Scroggie’s computer close to his body, which is hanging from the ceiling.

Jeff leaves a voicemail for Amy before disposing of his phone. He explains that François Loubet has just tried to kill him, and Amy should trust no one.

François Loubet receives an email from Rob Kenna admitting Amy Wheeler has escaped.

Sheriff Scroggie’s computer is protected by iris recognition. Rosie and Amy drag his dead body to the computer and open his eye.

At the campsite, Steve finds Jeff’s abandoned car. The window is smashed, and the driver’s seat is drenched in blood. Steve observes the tire tracks of a Volvo XC90 nearby.

Emails on Sheriff Scroggie’s computer show that he was paid to kill Andrew Fairbanks. Amy and Rosie also find $100,000 in the house: the money Scroggie stole from the holdall on the yacht. Amy and Rosie are shot at as they exit the house with the evidence and the money.

Rosie suggests they temporarily stay with her friend Barb. She asks if there is anyone Amy can completely trust. Amy thinks of her husband, Adam, but he is working in Macau and is easily scared. She decides to ask Steve for help but knows he will not be happy.

Amy calls Steve, explaining that she needs him to fly to the United States to help solve the murders. Steve protests that he does not solve murders. Amy insists that a car will pick him up and take him to Rosie’s private plane.