Chapter summaries We Solve Murders Richard Osman

We Solve Murders Chapter 86 – Breakfast with a Hitman

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

In Dubai, Rosie D’Antonio enjoys a sunny breakfast on the terrace before her planned meeting with Max Highfield. She intends to pose as a film producer (with Steve playing the role of a big-shot movie producer) to coax information from Highfield about François Loubet. Before she can join Steve, a huge man—Vasiliy Karpin—sits down at her table. Expecting an assassination attempt, Rosie instead learns that Karpin has already called off the hit after his sister-in-law, a fan of Rosie’s books, threatened him with retaliation. Karpin asks for an autograph, reveals he never hired Eddie Flood, and leaves on friendly terms. Later, Rosie recalls spotting Eddie Flood hiding poorly in the hotel the previous night. She now must determine why Eddie is in Dubai if not for her or Amy—the puzzle of Eddie’s true target remains.

Key Events

  • Rosie plans a ruse with Steve to interview Max Highfield: she will claim she wants Highfield to star in a film adaptation of one of her books.
  • Vasiliy Karpin intercepts Rosie at the breakfast terrace, initially appearing as an imminent threat.
  • Karpin explains he no longer intends to kill Rosie, citing his sister-in-law’s devotion to Rosie’s novels as the reason.
  • He signs a book for Yevdokiya-Ivanovna, confirming the hit was called off “a few weeks ago.”
  • Karpin states he has never heard of Eddie Flood, implying someone else sent the assassin.
  • Rosie remembers seeing Eddie Flood hiding near her suite the previous night, confirming he is in the same Dubai hotel.
  • The chapter ends with Rosie’s new question: if Eddie is not after her or Amy, whom has he been hired to target?

Character Development

  • Rosie D’Antonio shows quick wit and adaptability. Instead of panicking when confronted, she engages Karpin with humor and self‑possession. Her detective instincts are sharpening: she files away the sighting of Eddie Flood as an unresolved clue.
  • Vasiliy Karpin is revealed as more nuanced than a simple villain. His affection for his sister-in-law and his willingness to laugh at himself soften his dangerous reputation. He is a pragmatist who calls off hits as casually as he orders them.
  • Steve remains off‑screen but is inferred to be preparing for the upcoming charade with Max Highfield. His role as a fake producer deepens the theme of deception.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Misplaced threats and shifting alliances: The encounter flips expectations; the man Rosie feared as a killer turns out to be a book‑fan who apologises. The real threat (Eddie Flood) remains unidentified.
  • Performance and disguise: Rosie and Steve’s plan to pose as film industry insiders mirrors the broader theme of characters hiding their true intentions. Karpin’s Speedos and singlet are a deliberate, attention‑grabbing costume.
  • Unfinished business: The dangling mystery of Eddie Flood’s purpose keeps tension high and suggests that the apparent resolution with Karpin is only a detour.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 86 is a pivotal red‑herring moment. The apparent resolution of the Vasiliy Karpin threat clears one major danger but simultaneously raises a more perplexing question about Eddie Flood’s mission. It also reinforces Rosie’s resourcefulness and re‑centres the investigation on the unknown figure of François Loubet. Without this chapter, the novel would lose its crucial misdirection and the sense that the characters are still being played by forces they do not yet understand.

Study Questions & Answers

  1. Q: What does Rosie’s reaction to Vasiliy Karpin’s arrival reveal about her character?
    A: Rosie remains calm and assertive, using humour and directness. She refuses to be intimidated, even joking about the impossibility of being killed in plain sight. This shows her resilience and quick thinking under pressure.

  2. Q: Why does Vasiliy Karpin decide not to kill Rosie?
    A: His sister-in-law, Yevdokiya-Ivanovna, is a devoted fan of Rosie’s books and threatened to kill Karpin if he harmed her favourite author. Karpin takes the threat seriously and calls off the hit.

  3. Q: What new question does the chapter leave the reader with?
    A: Since Karpin denies hiring Eddie Flood, and Rosie has seen Eddie in the Dubai hotel, the central question becomes: who is Eddie Flood’s real target, and what has he been hired to do?

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