Richard Osman's Picks: Top Contemporary Novels of the Month

Sara Lawrence has reviewed three notable contemporary novels for the month: Rebecca F. Kuang's "Taipei Story," Mel Giedroyc's "The Comeback," and Richard Osman's "We Chase Shadows."

In "Taipei Story," Kuang, author of the 2023 novel "Yellowface," centers on Lily Chen, a Chinese-American student from Yale who spends a summer in Taipei, Taiwan. Lily embarks on what she anticipates as a coming-of-age journey through an intensive language course. However, she encounters unexpected challenges, including annoyance with fellow students, feelings of loneliness, and difficulty in her classes. An ill-advised romantic entanglement leads to gossip, and Lily grapples with her grandfather's death. Lawrence notes that she "rooted for Lily from start to end."

Mel Giedroyc's "The Comeback" tells the story of Gill Piper, whose mother died on the day she was born. Gill grew up in Leatherhead with her withdrawn father. A formative part of her childhood was her involvement in the local theater's youth group, where she was present when Carla Keswick, a star performer, broke both ankles due to a spilled drink on stage. This incident, occurring in 1985, led to Carla's inability to perform and a lasting grudge. In 2022, Gill, now 48 and facing personal setbacks, returns to Leatherhead to participate in the theater's 100th anniversary. She discovers Carla is still the artistic director. The novel is described as "funny and heartwarming."

"We Chase Shadows" is the second installment in Richard Osman's "We Solve Murders" series, praised for its readability. The detective trio, consisting of retired policeman Steve, his daughter-in-law Amy, and crime novelist Rosie, are eager for a murder case after dealing with less significant investigations. Their wish is granted when Vern, a wealthy expatriate in Italy, hires them. Vern's bodyguard has been found dead on his doorstep with a note warning Vern he is next. The detectives travel from their New Forest office to Tuscany, and subsequently to Palm Springs, Sweden, and Barcelona, pursuing the potential threat. Lawrence observes that the trio's "emotional struggles are brilliantly juxtaposed against the murder, mayhem and globetrotting."