9 Recommendations for Readers Who Love British Mysteries
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Carol reads more books each month than the rest of us combined. She’s a fan of classic British mysteries, especially police procedurals, and is always looking for new reads. This month Jen, Tina, and Lida are sharing some of their favorite reads of the last twelve months that they think Carol would love, too. If you love British mysteries, we think you’ll love them, too.
Jen’s Suggestions
The Secret Life of Miss Mary Bennet by Katherine Cowley – There's a whole world of Jane Austen fan fiction, and I was charmed by Katherine Cowley's imagining of plain Mary Bennet (the middle child between memorable Jane and Lydia in Pride & Prejudice) as an English spy during the Napoleonic Wars. It's smart and funny and wonderfully sympathetic. I think Carol will love it, too.
The Case of the Missing Marquess, An Enola Holmes Mystery by Nancy Springer – Another series inspired by a classic: Nancy Springer’s delightful introduction of a sister into the Sherlock Holmes cannon. I loved it, and I think Carol will, too. Enola is the high-spirited much-younger and ignored sister of Sherlock and Mycroft who outwits her brothers as she makes her way in the world alone when her mother disappears.
Northern Spy: A Novel by Flynn Berry – My sister gave me this book for Christmas two years ago and I devoured it on a recent vacation. I can’t believe I waited so long. It’s the story of two sisters caught up in the terror and ideals of the IRA. It’s riveting and heart wrenching and explosive. It’s a modern spy story, and I’m curious if Carol will love it as much as I did.
Tina’s Suggestions
All Shall Be Well (Book 2 Duncan Kincaid / Gemma James Series) by Deborah Crombie – I simply adore how Deborah Crombie develops her characters in this wonderful British police procedural series. Of the half dozen books in this series that I have read, this installment touched my heart the most. Duncan’s sweet and gentle neighbor is dying of cancer. When she is found dead, Duncan suspects murder, and he is challenged to figure out why someone would be motivated to kill a dying young woman. Deborah Crombie handles this story with great sensitivity. The writing is lush and beautiful with the twists and turns of a good procedural. I know Carol will love this one if she hasn’t read it already!
The Greenleaf Murders: A Historic Homes Mystery Book #1 by R.J. Koreto – This book is set in a Gilded-age mansion in New York – something I know Carol appreciates. The main character, Wren Fontaine, is the architect hired to restore it to its former grandeur. Needless to say, the house holds secrets, and when two deaths a century apart are tied to the mansion, Wren finds herself in the middle of the investigation. This book is modern and yet I felt immersed in the splendor of the house and its history. This promises to be a fun, light new series that I think Carol and all lovers of historic homes will savor.
Loch and Key: A Church Street Kirk Mystery Book #2 by Daniel K. Miller – I have read the two books in this new series set in the Scottish Highlands and I loved them both. Miller does a wonderful job of placing us on the streets of the lovely city of Inverness. Loch and Key is a cozy Christmas story, but when a neighbor’s body washes up in Loch Ness, the beloved and handsome Reverend Daniel Darrow once again finds himself bumbling through an investigation. I added Loch and Key to this list for its atmosphere and quirky characters which I think will appeal to Carol and to anyone who wishes to spend their next holiday warmed by a fire in the Highlands.
Lida’s Suggestions
The Finalist by Joan Long - Reminiscent of the world’s best-selling mystery - Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians, I’d be curious to know what Carol (an Agatha expert) would think of this debut thriller. A colorful island setting and an interesting cast lay the groundwork for a contest held by the widow and the editor of a late bestselling author who didn’t finish his last book. A handful of unknown authors are selected to complete the manuscript in seven days; the best of which will win $1m and a contract to take over the late author’s series. What could go wrong? For starters, a body washes up on shore. Was it an accident, suicide, or murder? Cut off from the outside world, each contestant holds fast to a secret and each wants to win the contest…in a bad way.
Grey Mask (The Miss Silver Mysteries, #1) by Patricia Wentworth - Published in 1928, I’m willing to bet that Carol has read this, but in case she hasn’t, this book also reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel. Elderly protagonist, Miss Silver, is a former governess turned P.I. Quiet, diminutive, and quite the knitting enthusiast, she proves herself strong and independent with a sharp mind that never quits. That was enough to capture my interest. This novel contained all the elements of a Golden Age mystery that I like: London fog, heiresses, intrigue, and masked criminals, plus solid writing.
Green for Danger, (#2 in the Inspector Cockrill series) by Christianna Brand -This Golden Age detective story opens with a top-notch set-up: A mail carrier reluctantly pedals his bike uphill to deliver seven acceptance letters from seven different people, all of which will be taking up posts in a military hospital in Kent. It’s WWII and many citizens want to do their part...or escape their past. The first chapter ends with the reader being told that, in one year, one of the letter writers “would die, self-confessed a murderer.” Written in 1944, the author demonstrates a keen eye for detail that I think Carol would appreciate. Martin Edwards calls this book Christianna Brand’s “masterpiece.”