6 Mystery Series to Die For
Please tell me I'm not the only one who gets started on a series and
then, well, gets started on another series and then another. . . until I
can barely remember which series I'm supposed to be reading. I've read
at least one book in each of the following mystery series. I keep
telling myself to get back to these authors, especially because all the books
featured here are published this month.
- Bookman Dead Stye by Paige Shelton (#2 in the Dangerous Type series; Berkley Prime Crime): This cozy mystery series is set in a Utah tourist town and stars Clare Henry who, along with her grandfather, restores old typewriters and repairs old books. Clare also has a tendency to get caught up in solving murders with her pal on the police force. Great characters, a little romance, and good plotting make me want to read more.
- The Lost Woman by Sara Blaedel (#8 in the Louise Rick series; Grand Central Publishing): This police procedural series features Copenhagen detective Louise Rick,who is particularly skilled at solving missing person cases. The crimes are sometimes brutal, but the darkness is offset by Louise's personal life, which has its ups and downs in the love department but is balanced by steady friendships.
- Darkness Absolute by Kelley Armstrong (#2 in the Casey Duncan novels; Minotaur Books): This unique, gritty series is set in the northern Canadian wilderness, in a town that is virtually off the grid and barely has electricity. Rockton residents have their secrets, including relative newcomer detective Casey Duncan. Casey may be running from her past, but there's no escaping murder, which is found even on the fringes of civilization.
- Death of a Ghost by M. C. Beaton (#32 in the Hamish Macbeth series; Grand Central Publishing): Unambitious Hamish Macbeth is happy being the constable in the north Scotland town of Lochdubh, even if he generally runs circles around the city detectives when it come to solving murders. This is a fun, light series that's perfect for the beach or travel; you'll get lost in the characters' lives and enjoy a guilty pleasure.
- Heartbreak Hotel by Jonathan Kellerman (#32 in the Alex Delaware series; Ballantine): This thriller series stars LA child psychologist Alex Delaware, who has a knack for getting mixed up in murder, thanks to his friend Milo, an LAPD detective. If you pick up this series, expect forensic psychology, a complex protagonist, LGBTQ characters, and detailed plotting.
- Bone Box by Faye Kellerman (#24 in the Decker/Lazarus series; William Morrow): Detective Peter Decker and his wife, Rina Lazarus, originally solved murders in Los Angeles, but they later moved to upstate New York, where murder and other crimes are, apparently, just as common. The series deals with dark murders that often have a foundation in a current socioeconomic issue. In addition, the novels feature strong threads of contemporary Orthodox Jewish life.
14 comments:
As you know I love Kelley Armstrong, and will follow her books anywhere!
I've pretty much given up on keeping up with series. I think the only one of these series I've tried is the Beaton one.
I have Darkness Absolute. Anyone's guess when I will actually read it because we know how I do with series. lol
I seem to accidentally find myself in the middle of series by reading a book I didn't know was part of one. Luckily, with mystery series, they almost always can stand alone.
OK, let's talk about mystery series and how very many I've read or at least sampled. I have a few that I've faithfully kept up with. I have a few more that I left behind some time back, some because I was not happy with them (Patricia Cornwell) and some, well, not sure what happened (both the Kellermans). Sigh. I have some of Armstrong's books (not this series yet) and some of M.C. Beaton's books (Agatha Raisin). So many series. LOL
I just started Susan Elia MacNeal's series (Mr. Churchill's Secretary) and can't wait to read the others. I try to read one series at a time.
Your first sentence... a resounding yes! Ditto to much of what Kay said, above. Some I love and then lose interest in many books later, and some get lost under the umbrella term of "so many books, so little time"!
I've read both the books in this Kelley Armstrong series, and just about all the J. Kellerman books with Alex Delaware and Milo, except I skipped 2 or 3 of the more current ones. Not sure why I'm losing interest here. Never tried his wife's series, nor Beaton's, though I've read some glowing reviews for this British cozy series.
Thanks for a fun post. I love to discuss mystery series-- that's a subject firmly in my wheelhouse!
I actually shy away from books in a series, especially like many of the ones you list that are in the 20th or higher in a series. Do I need to read them all? Are they good as a stand alone? The last book you mention sounds really good, but 23 books before it...overwhelming.
That said I have a few I've tried, a cozy mystery or two and a Lisa Scottoline law firm series. I think I'm more suited for the stand alone game.
I just finished A Darkness Absolute and oh my gosh it was so good. I'm really liking that series. :)
I think the last Hamish I read was the 25th. Time to go find the others. I've had occasional times when I've read all the books in a series, one right after the other - an older series that I've just discovered. Binge reading, you might call it!
I couldn't get into the Hamish series, but I love Beaton's Agatha Raisin series. She is such a mess, but so fun!
i seem to drift in/out of the Kellermans books .. i like both Faye's and Jonathan's style(s) and characters but hadnt read one of Faye's recently so thanks for the heads up ... i read the first of Kelley Armstrong's Casey Duncan books and i am still not 100% sure i will read more .. just started Harlan Coben's series featuring Myron Bolitar and i am liking it a lot .. there are like 30+ of these ....i hope i stick with them
I really enjoyed the first book in the Casey Duncan series by Kelley Armstrong and I look forward to reading this one! ;-)
I do love a good mystery. I'm actually reading The Lost Woman and so far so good!
Post a Comment