Great Mystery Guide!

Vernon Area Public Library District great mystery guide!

Nice Read-Alikes Wiki!/Young Adult Titles

Click here for some great read-alikes

These read-alikes have a young adult theme, but there are some that will appeal to adults as well such as Janet Evanovich...

Looking For A Mystery....great site to explore all kinds of mysteries

Click here

Great Cozy Mystery Site

Looking for all mysteries cozy?  Look no further!

Click here!

Bloodstained Booklshelf

Go to the bloodstained bookshelf for a list of upcoming mystery titles in the U.S.  Fabulous mystery Reader's Advisory tool!

Here is the link!

RUSA/division of ALA nice readalike lists!

Look at this great Reading List from the Reference and Users Services Association

Click here for the Reading List

Reader's Advisory Link Farm! Give this a look!

Give this Reader's Advisory Link Farm a Try!  You'll be Glad you did! 

Here's the link!

Similar Sites to stopyourekillingme.com nice list

Click here for a nice list of similar sites to stopyourekillingme.com

We're Reading Historical Mysteries next!

Click here for some great suggestions!

Be sure to also check the links cited on the web site for more titles!

It's A Mystery To Me! Panel Discussion at the Waltham Public Library

Laura Bernheim, Head Reference Librarian, introduces It's a Mystery To Me!

 program

Angela Gerst, Susan Conant, Gary Goshgarian

Panelists enlightening us about their writing process

Susan Conant, a prolific writer who loves to set mysteries in Cambridge, MA

Angela Gerst, whose book A Crack In Everything takes place in Waltham, MA

Gary Goshgarian who introduced the very successful science fiction course at Northeastern University where he is a professor

taking questions from the audience, autographing books

On Tuesday, May 14th at 7:00PM we had a lovely program made possible with federal funds provided by the Institute of Museum of Library Services for the Library Services and Technology Act and administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.  Whew!  That was a mouthful.

Partnering  with Sisters In Crime, we at the WPL hosted Susan Conant, Gary Goshgarian whose pen name is Gary Braver, and Angela Gerst.    Here are some of their answers to the questions asked by Laura Bernheim, the Head of Reference at the Waltham Public Library, and the audience.
I have not included all of the questions as I think the answers will make it clear what they are talking about.  Please feel free to use the links to help you learn more about these fabulous authors!

Angela Gerst, author of A Crack In Everything featuring amateur sleuth Susan Callisto writes "all over the house".  She is not the sort of writer who always knows everything that will happen in the book.  She uses an outline, writes the book and then checks the facts.  Writing short stories has moved her into a totally different direction.  Angela Gerst has a writing group of four writers that she finds necessary for her writing process.

Susan Conant's first contract was for four books.  She got into the habit of doing outlines.  She is planning to self-publish her 20th dog mystery.

Gary's first novel had eighty seven pages of outline.  Now he will write 1 sentence for each chapter to say this is what will happen in this chapter and so on.  He writes quasi-scientific thrillers.  He likes the Frankenstein model of watch out what you wish for.  Read more about the Frankenstein model in this interview with Gary.

His book Tunnel Vision explores the question of whether or not there is an afterlife.  He is able to fact check with other professionals at Northeaster.  Fay Weldon has had a near death experience.

His book, Skin Deep, explores plastic surgery.  Plastic surgeons earn a lot of money..

Angela Gerst likes the escape aspect of mystery.  The villian is always more interesting than the goody two shoes!  Here's an interview with Angela.

Susan Conant--"Blackie Lanagan".  She says, "If Whitey Bulger had read my book the Dogfather,  he would have had a good disguise and he would be around now!"

Gary--Thriller vs. mystery....thrillers:  Power, money, sex, voyeuristic  Mystery:  Whodunnit?
Agatha Christie:  Mysteries such as Murder On The Orient Express a puzzle that needs to be solved.

Gary was jogging around the track with his friend Robert Parker.  There was very little mystery in Parker's books.  Spencer is the archetypal white knight.  Talking with Robert inspired Gary to write!

Susan Conant--the puzzles (a la Agatha Christie) have gone out of style.  Forensic science has replaced that.  It's easier to find things out now than it used to be.  You can use google and your cell phone so the mystery novel has changed.

Question to Susan Conant:  Why are you self-publishing?
She hates deadlines.  Has published 27 books.  Amazon pays 70% royalites.  Publishers say that they will promote your book.  However, her daughter, Jessica Conant Park, had such a good experience with self-publishing.  The publisher said that her main character at 18 was too old for a young adult novel.  Her daughter's essay How Amazon Saved My Life was picked up by the Huffington Post.

Angela lives in Newton.  She saw a famous building on Moody Street in Waltham that was owned by Rex Trailer.  Angela said "that's where my main character's office is".

Susan likes eccentricities so she set a lot of books in Cambridge.  She loves the Waltham Ocean State Job Lot and Russos.  She has some scenes set in Waltham.  She wanted to use a "gritty" section of the river.  She has created a couple of characters who "belong there".

Gary's book Tunnel Vision is set in Arlington and Boston.  Skin Deep the last scene takes place in Flora which is the favorite restaurant of his wife and himself.  Gary's book Elixir was optioned for film for two years by Ridley Scott!

Regarding the future of publishing, all three writers are concerned about maintaining the quality of books.  Writing vs. authors.  Editors and copy editors can be so important for fact checking, looking for accuracy, grammar, consistency and maintaining integrity and quality.

Gary Braver's favorite books One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Of Mice and Men.  These authors inspired him to write.

Susan Conant loves Barbara Pym and Nancy Drew.  Pym has the cozy piece and Nancy Drew has the mystery piece!  Susan pointed out that there is a Barbara Pym Society!

This program was truly delightful.  I am currently reading Skin Deep by Gary Braver and loving it!  Next up will be A Crack In Everything by Angela Gerst.  Ater that?  Creature Discomforts by
Susan Conant!

This article originally appeared in the Waltham Patch

Louise Goldstein
Head of Circulation
Waltham Public Library

Chic Lit, Female Fiction and Novel Ideas....trashionista!

Trashionista!

follow WPL on pinterest!

We're just getting started!  Take a look!

Click here!

we're reading diversity mysteries!

Here's the diversity index from stopyou'rekillingme.com

Sisters In Crime comes to WPL

Read all about it here!

Save the date!  Tuesday May 14th!

bookish.com

Like Book Psychic, GoodReads and LibraryThing....

bookish.com  will help you find other titles based on your reading taste.

Give it a try!

interesting poirot trivia

Look here!

Murder On The Orient Express--Read Alikes

From NoveList Plus


Night Over Water by Ken Follett
An English aristocrat, a German scientist, a murderer, a thief, and a beautiful woman are among the desperate passengers who board the most luxurious airliner ever built to escape from England two days after the declaration of war against Germany in 1939.

Death of a perfect mother by Robert Barnard
When vulgar, flamboyant Lill Hodsden is strangled, Chief Inspector Dominic McHale uncovers more suspects than he can handle, including Lill's humiliated husband, browbeaten teenaged daughter, and two "devoted" sons.

Burglars Can't Be Choosers by Lawrence Block
Hired to perform a seemingly simple break-in, Bernie Rhodenbarr is horrified when he takes the fall for a murder rap and is forced to flee, and stationed in an out-of-town apartment, he tries to discover why he was set up.

 Blood Work by Michael Connelly
Eight weeks after a heart transplant saves his life, former FBI agent Terry McCaleb discovers that his new heart came from a murder victim, leading Terry to become involved in tracking down the killer.

The Black Box by Michael Connelly
Harry Bosch investigates after a bullet from a recent killing is a match for one used in the unsolved murder of a photographer in 1992.

 Love You More by Lisa Gardner
 Brian Darby lies dead on the kitchen floor. His wife, state police trooper Tessa Leoni, claims to have shot him in self-defense, and bears the bruises to back up her tale. For veteran detective D. D. Warren, it should be an open-and-shut case. But where is their six-year-old daughter? As the homicide investigation ratchets into a frantic statewide search for a missing child, D. D. Warren must partner with former lover Bobby Dodge to break the case.


View Alikes from IMDB 

Read Alikes from LibraryThing

Read Alikes from Goodreads 

Mystery File--Two lists of Mysteries set on trains

Using Gnooks to find Agatha Christie Read Alikes

Agatha Christie Read Alikes from the Seattle Public Library

Authors similar to Agatha Christie

If you like Agatha Christie from BHPL Book Blog

Go On a Murder Mystery Lunch....Orient Express UK!

Popular Humorous Mysteries From Goodreads

Favorite Twist Ending Mysteries from LibraryThing

Life After Life--two new books 2013

An alert Circ person who orders large print materials for our library has pointed out that there are two 2013 titles with the same title.  One is Life After Life by Jill McCorkle and the other is Life After Life by Kate Atkinson.  Two entirely different books, both by top notch writers.

Therefore, if you are reserving this title for someone, be sure you have the right author.  It is also possible that library patrons may get on the wrong list by mistake.

Thank goodness for our alert staff members!

Paige Eaton posted these Reader's Advisory Websites

Reader's Advisory Websites

You need to have a user name and password for the Staff Information Page to view these.

A very nice list!

NDEs popular topic

We've all heard the stories.  The person is in a motorcycle accident, or rushed to the ER, or they have an unexplained medical condition.  There are lots of books about Near Death Experiences. 

Lately, there have been some titles that have received a great deal of attention.

Proof of Heaven 

Dying To Be Me

Heaven Is For Real

Personally, my favorite of the three is Dying to Be Me.  The writing is very good and there is something that feels believable about the story.  Still, if you are interested in this subject they are all worth a go.

You don't want to miss out on some of Elisabeth Kubler Ross's writing.  Her works are classics, well written and fascinating.

Here is a listing of popular Near Death Experience titles from Goodreads.

Here is a listing of popular Near Death Experience titles from Barnes and Noble.

Here is a lovely list of popular Near Death Experience titles from LibraryThing

Next Reads at the Waltham Public Library

Here at the Waltham Public Library, we offer a wonderful service for our users.  This is the Next Reads Newsletter.  One can sign up and receive a listing of the latest titles in a number of categories.  The sign up is right on the Waltham Public Library Homepage.  Here's the link!

For those of us working on the Mystery focused Reader's Advisory study, mystery is one of the newsletters.  Also available are:  Thrillers and Suspense.

There are lots of other newsletters as well.  This includes but is not limited to:  Science Fiction, Romance, Audiobooks, Religion and Spirituality, Teen Reads, Popular Culture, Horror and a host of other subjects

Subscribers to this newsletter can see a description of the book and they can link right into the catalog to reserve any titles of interest.

.

Amateur mysteries--Aunt Dimity

I just read my first Aunt Dimity novel.  This was a light, cozy novel.

Here's the website for all things "Dimity".  It's easy to remember, by the way.  auntdimity.com

This is a good read for people who like a book that has no violence, offensive language or anything that will keep them up at night.

Also good for people who enjoy romance.

And, for people who like a little bit of friendly ghost activity.  More like Casper than Poltergeist if you get my drift.

Some lovely teas and British countryside.  And a much loved stuffed rabbit named Reginald.

I would also recommend this book to someone who is under a lot of stress and just needs something light and restful.

My own personal review?  Well, remember, whatever I say may not apply to the reader.  I would give this 3 out of 5 teacups.  However, that is because I read for character and the characters were not as well developed as I might have liked.

There will be lots of happy campers with Aunt Dimity.  Also, I suspect that since this is the first in the series, the books probably improve.

We are reading "Murder On The Orient Express!"

We are reading Agatha Christie's Murder On The Orient Express for our next Reader's Advisory meeting.  I'm sorry, but I have trouble with the mustache!  That Poirot is one smart cookie, though.  I did NOT see the (spoiler...can't say) answer to the mystery coming.  I guess my detective training is not where it should be, yet.


Here is the website for all things Agatha

Here's some biographical info about Agatha--biography.com

Bookreporter.com and Growing Up Haunted

I'm listening to I'm Looking Through You:  A Memoir of Growing Up Haunted by Jennifer Finney Boylan read by the author.  My first comment is this...beautifully written.  The author is also a GREAT reader.  This is a tale of a young boy, Jim, who knows that he is really a Jenny.  AND it is also the tale of someone who is seeing ghosts.

Anyway, I was looking for reviews of this book and found a lovely sight for all things book.

Bookreporter.com

What Kind of Reader Are You?

Find Out Here!

And Here!

Thanks to Jan Resnick and Leane Ellis, expert Reader's Advisors,  for sending these articles along!

Classic Mysteries

Here are some classic mysteries from Goodreads!

Here are some classic mysteries from LibraryThing

And here's a site that includes podcasts and webcasts called classicmysteries.net

Macmillan E books coming to Minuteman!

Dear Library Partner,

Beginning March 1, more than 1,150 eBooks from Macmillan will be available in Content Reserve as a pilot program for US public libraries. The collection of mystery and crime titles from Minotaur Books specializes in thrillers, cozy mysteries, psychological suspense, and hard-boiled crime. Select from must-have mystery authors like Chris Ewan, Ian Rankin, Lee Child, Charles Todd, and more!

Macmillan Library eBook Collection Highlights:

“Pray for Silence” by Linda Castillo “In the Bleak Midwinter” by Julia Spencer-Fleming (award-winning author) “The Tourist” by Olen Steinhauer (award-winning author) “Quiche of Death” by M.C. Beaton “The Lock Artist” by Steve Hamilton “Heartsick” by Chelsea Cain

“A Taint in the Blood” by Dana Stabenow “Blue Heaven” by C.J. Box “Burn” by Nevada Barr “The Real Macaw” by Donna Andrews “A Crimson Warning” by Tasha Alexander

Reading Maps

Courtesy of the Berwyn Public Library

book bitch

Advice from the "book bitch" about conducting the reader's advisory interview!

Great Blog! RA for all

Here's the Link

Keeping up with series

Try Fict Fact

Try KDL What's Next

Try Pauline Dewel's blog...the mystery page turner

Try this

All kinds of mysteries and links to be had in this blog:  amateur, classics, hard boiled soft boiled and some great links as well!

Book Annotation form courtesy of Joyce Saricks

Annotation Form

Author

Title

Publication Date

Number of Pages

Geographic setting

Time period

Series Notes

Plot Summary

Subject Headings

Appeal Points

Frame

Character

Language

Storyline and Pace

Setting

Tone/Mood

Similar Works

Name of Annotator

Lu Lu's picks...MC Beaton and more

I am really enjoying the Agatha Raisin series.  The main character, Ms. Agatha Raisin, like me is in her 50's...Although she laments some slight girth around her waist, not to worry because she still has great legs.  Agatha has moved to the Cotswolds in England after retiring from her career as the head of a Public Relations agency in London.   She is a funny, fesity woman.  Her achille's heel seems to be her interest in Mr. James Lacey, her neighbor.  Their on again, off again romance is fun to follow.  James Lacey, can't live with him, can't live without him.  What's a detective to do?  The characters are lots of fun and the plot keeps me guessing.  Of course, I am no sleuth!  I have read at least five of these so far and I love them!  Oh, and she has two cats!  An appeal factor for cat lovers like myself!

These books are well written.  The scenery, the characters, the plots are all well drawn.  I don't feel like I am reading a formulaic mystery when I read these.


I shall be updating this page....Stay tuned.

amateur detectives From: The Reader's Advisory Guide To Genre Fiction

Please note:  I am quoting directly here from Joyce Saricks Reader's Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction, Second Edition, ALA 2009 pps. 201-202.

Here she is talking about the amateur detective:

..Other authors focus on the occupations or hobbies of the sleuths, usually amateur detectives, and the details-about almost everything from scrapbooking to sports-add interest and variety to the plots.  Diane Mott Davidson popularized the cooking Mystery (recipes included) specialty begun by Virginia Rich with her Eugenia Potter series (The Cooking School Murders is first).  Davidson's series feature caterer Goldy Bear (Catering to Nobody starts the series), put gourmet cooking and Mysteries with recipes on the map.  Among amateur detectives, we have herbalists and gardeners (Susan Wittig Albert's China Bayles and Ann Ripley's Louise Eldridge), actors-including those who also create greeting cards (Harley Jane Kozak's Wollie Shelley), journalists (Edna Buchanan's Britt Montero), antiuqe and rare book dealers and scouts (John Dunning's Cliff Janeway and Sharon Fiffer's Jane Wheel), ancient and medieval physicians (Ruth Downie's Gaius Petreius Ruso and C.L. Grace's Kathryn Swinbrooke), clergy (Julia Spencer-Fleming's Clare Fergusson and Margaret Coel's Father John O'Malley), psychics (Charlaine Harris's Harper Connelly and Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs), forensic experts (Kathy Reich's Temperance Brennan in Quebec and North Carolina and Ariana Franklin's twelfth-century expert in the art of death, Adelia Aguilar), and almost any profession and hobby imaginable.  In the course of the Mystery, readers learn almost as much about the profession or hobby of the detective as they do about the investigation, and for many readers, this is an important satisfaction.

Link to the book

Amateur Detective Books -- a small sampling

Amateur Detective Novels

This is a very small sample of some of the amateur detective books out there.  

Jane Jeffry Mysteries
Churchill, Jill
Single mother in Chicago solves mysteries in her spare time.  All of the titles are a riff on famous book titles.  
examples: Wars and Peas; The House of Seven Mabels
Other sub-genres: cozy mystery; culinary mystery
Appeal terms: Tone: amusing; Characterization: strong frazzled heroine

Myron Bolitar Mysteries
Coben, Harlan
Sports agent whose clients all seem to get caught up in murder.
examples: Deal Breaker, The Final Detail
Other sub-genres: Hardboiled fiction
Appeal terms: Tone: Disturbing; Subject: Sports; Setting: New Jersey

Goldy Bear Schulz
Davidson, Diane Mott
A caterer who solves mysteries.  All of the titles have something to do with food.
examples: Catering to Nobody, Dark Tort
Other sub-genres: culinary mysteries
Appeal terms: Tone: upbeat, perky; Pacing; leisurely; Setting: small town Colorado

Hannah Swenson Mysteries
Fluke, Joanne
A local bakery owner solves mysteries with the help of her sheriff brother-in-law and her business partner.  Like Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, she finds herself having to choose between two men.  All of the titles contain the name of a pastry.
examples: The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, Fudge Cupcake Murder
Other sub-genres: culinary mysteries; cozy myseries
Appeal terms: Tone: suspensful; Pace: leisurely

Benjamin January Mysteries
Hambly, Barbara
An African-American man who is a doctor and a musician moves back to New Orleans in the mid-nineteenth century after the death of his wife, and solves mysteries (usually after he is falsely accused) sometimes aiding a local policeman.  
examples: A Free Man of Color, Sold Down the River
other sub-genres: diversity mystery, historical mystery,
Appeal terms: storyline: intricately plotted; language: compelling; Setting: New Orleans, 1830’s

Annie Laurance
Hart, Carolyn G
Mysteries usually solved by the owner of the mystery book shop, “Death on Demand”
examples: Death on Demand, Murder Walks the Plank
other sub-genres: cozy mystery
Appeal terms: tone: amusing; pace: fast

Henrie O.
Hart, Carolyn G
Retired newspaper reporter who solves mysteries throughout the United States
examples: Death in Paradise, Death in Lover’s Lane
other sub-genres: cozy mystery
Appeal terms: tone: suspenseful; pace: fast

Sebastian St. Cyr
Harris, C.S.
A viscount in early nineteenth century Britain becomes an amateur sleuth after he’s falsely accused of a crime.
examples: What Angels Fear, Why Mermaids Sing
other sub-genres: historical mystery
Appeal terms: pace: fast paced; details: intricate

Nora Gavin
Hart, Erin
A pathologist moves to Ireland after her sister’s murder, and uses her background in forensics to solve cold cases.  
examples: Haunted Ground, Lake of Sorrows
other sub-genres: diversity mystery
Appeal terms: suspenseful; storyline and detail: intricate


Stella Hardesty
Littlefield, Sophie
Stella, the owner of a sewing machine shop, helps women who are victims of domestic violence.
examples: A Bad Day for Sorry, A Bad Day for Pretty
other sub-genres: women in peril
Appeal terms: characterizations: strong female character; tone:violent

Rei Shimura
Massey, Sujata
Follows the adventures of a Japanese-American teacher and antiques dealer who lives in Japan and solves mysteries on her travels.
examples: The Salaryman’s Wife, The Flower Master
other sub-genres: diversity mystery
Appeal terms: tone: suspenseful; setting: Japan

Easy Rawlins
Mosley, Walter
Easy Rawlins becomes an amateur detective after being fired from his job in a factory and his run-ins with the mob.
examples: Devil in a Blue Dress, Six Easy Pieces
other sub-genres: hard-boiled fiction, diversity mystery, historical mystery
Appeal terms: tone:atmospheric; characterizations: strong secondary characters, in addition to a fully fleshed main character; setting: Los Angeles, 1940’s

Catherine LeVendeur
Newman, Sharan
A young woman, who starts out as a novice at a convent in France during the twelfth century solves mysteries while also re-examining whether she wants to be a nun.
examples: Death Comes as Epiphany, The Wandering Arm
other sub-genres: historical mystery
Appeal terms: tone: atmospheric; settings: France, 12th century; details: lush

Faith Sibley Fairchild
Page, Katherine Hall
A caterer and minister’s wife solves mysteries in her small town in Massachusetts  (Think Cabot Cove except not in Maine)
examples: The Body in the Belfry, The Body in the Vesibule
other sub-genres: cozy mystery, culinary mystery
Appeal terms: pace: leisurely; tone: humorous

Vicky Bliss
Peters, Elizabeth
Art historian Vicky Bliss uses her expertise to solve crimes.
examples: Laughter of Dead Kings, Street of the Five Moons
other sub-genres: romantic supsense
Appeal terms: tone: funny; language: witty

Omar Yussef
Rees, Matt Beymon
A Palestinian school teacher solves crimes in his spare time, as well as observing the political situation around him.
examples: The Collaborator of Bethlehem, The Fourth Assasin
other sub-genres: diversity mystery, political thriller
Appeal terms: pace: fast; language: gritty

Joe O’Loughlin
Robotham, Michael
A psychologist living in London who has also just been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease gets caught up in sleuthing after he’s falsely accused of a crime.
examples: Suspect, Shatter
other sub-genres: noir, suspense
Appeal terms: tone: disturbing; setting: London

Reverend Clare Fergusson
Spencer-Fleming, Julia
Clare is the first female Episcopal priest in Millers Kill, New York, who also was a helicopter pilot during the first Iraqi War.
examples: In the Bleak Midwinter, Out of the Deep I Cry
other sub-genres: romantic suspense
Appeal terms: tone: suspenseful; pace: fast

Alan Gregory
White, Stephen
A psychologist in Colorado profiles murderers, and offers assistance to the deputy DA, who becomes his girlfriend.
examples: Privileged Information, Higher Authority
other sub-genres: psychological thriller
Appeal terms: tone: suspenseful; language: compelling

Susan Henshaw
Wolzien, Valerie
Local PTA president solves murder in another town that is equally as violent as Murder She Wrote’s Cabot Cove.
examples: Murder at the PTA Luncheon, A Good Year for a Corpse
other sub-genres: cozy mystery
Appeal terms: setting: Connecticut; characterization: strong female protoganist

Meg Langslow
Andrews, Donna
Everyone with whom Meg, a sculptor/blacksmith, associates seems to be become entangled in murder.  All of the titles are either a play on a movie title, a book title, or a famous line and feature an animal’s name.
examples: Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon, The Penguin Who Knew Too Much
other sub-genres: humorous mystery; romantic mystery
Appeal terms: tone: offbeat; pace: fast

Flavia de Luce
Bradley, Alan
Flavia is eleven years old, lives with her widowed father in 1950’s England, and likes to solve mysteries.  Think Nancy Drew as an elementary school student but written for an older audience.
examples: The Sweetness and the Bottom of the Pie, The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag
other sub-genres: adult mystery with young adult appeal
Appeal: tone: upbeat; storyline: plot-driven (as opposed to character-driven)

Cat Who Mysteries
Braun, Lillian Jackson
Jim Qwilleran is a crime reporter who solves mysteries with his two cats, Koko and Yum Yum.
examples: The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, The Cat who Turned On and Off
other sub-genres: cozy mystery, animal mystery
Appeal: tone: heartwarming; characterization: strong characters

Temple Barr and Midnight Louie
Douglas, Carole Nelson
More cat mysteries, this time getting solved by Temple Barr, a publicist, and her large cat, Midnight Louie.  Many of the titles are published under multiple names.
examples: Crystal Days, Cat on a Blue Monday
other sub-genres: animal mystery
Appeal: tone: suspenseful; language: witty

Mrs. Murphy Mysteries
Brown, Rita Mae
More cats!  Mary Minor Haristeen, a postmistress, investigates mysteries with her cat, Mrs. Murphy
examples: Wish you were Here, Murder on the Prowl
other sub-genres: cozy mystery, animal mystery
Appeal: tone: amusing; pace: fast

Claire Malloy
Hess, Joan
A bookstore owner who solves mysteries and has a complicated relationship with her daughter.
examples: Strangled Prose, Busy Bodies
other sub-genres: soft-boiled mystery
Appeal: characterization: strong secondary characters; setting: Book Depot adds atmosphere

Amelia Peabody
Peters, Elizabeth
Egyptologist, Amelia Peabody, is considered a spinster in the Victorian age (in the first book, anyway), and solves mysteries during her travels to Egypt.  
examples: Crocodile on the Sandbank, The Curse of the Pharaohs
other sub-genres: historical mystery
Appeal: characterization: minor characters become more fully realized as the series progresses; setting: Egypt, Victorian Age

Miss Marple
Christie, Agatha
Before Jessica Fletcher was a busybody attracting murder everywhere she goes, there was Jane Marple, a woman who never came across a mystery she couldn’t solve.
examples: The Murder at the Vicarage, The Tuesday Club Murders
other sub-genres: classic mystery
Appeal: characterization: Smart female lead; tone: suspensful

Isabel Dalhousie Mysteries
McCall Smith, Alexander
Moralist Isabel becomes caught up in investigating when she’s a witness to a tragic death.
examples: The Sunday Philosophy Club, The Right Attitude to Rain
other sub-genres: cozy mystery
Appeal: tone: upbeat; language: engaging

Flower Shop Mysteries
Collins, Kate
Florist, Abby Knight, seems to always find herself caught up in murder (and also dating different men)
examples: Mum’s the Word, Snipped in the Bud
other sub-genres: romantic mystery
Appeal: tone: amusing; pace: fast

Eleanor Roosevelt Mysteries
Roosevelt, Elliott
The former first lady solves crimes, sometimes with other members of the White House staff.  
examples: Murder and the First Lady, The White House Pantry Murder
other sub-genres: historical mystery
Appeal: setting: White House, 1930’s - 1940’s; storyline: plot driven

Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries
Bebris, Carrie
The lead couple from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice find themselves becoming mystery solvers starting with their wedding.  All of the titles are a play on Jane Austen’s books.  Also look for the Jane Austen mysteries by Stephanie Barron, in which Austen herself plays detective.
examples: Pride and Prescience, The Matters at Mansfield
other sub-genres: literary mystery, historical mystery, cozy mystery
Appeal: tone: romantic; language: engaging

Charles Dickens Mysteries
Palmer, William J
Gritty and steamy mysteries involving Dickens and his friend, novelist, Wilkie Collins.
examples: The Hoydens and Mr. Dickens, The Detective and Mr. Dickens
other sub-genres: historical mystery, literary mystery
Appeal: tone: suspenseful; detail: atmospheric, prurient

Edgar Allan Poe Mysteries
Schecter, Harold
The writer teams up with real historical figures, such as Davy Crockett and PT Barnum, to solve crimes.
examples: Nevermore, The Mask of Red Death
other sub-genres: historical mystery
Appeal: tone: disturbing; setting: 19th century United States

The Westing Game
Raskin, Ellen
Occupants in a house must use clues to figure out who murdered the building’s owner.
other sub-genre: Young Adult
Appeal: tone: secretive, humorous; characterization: fully fleshed out characters

Britt Montero
Buchanan, Edna
A crime reporter in Miami often finds herself solving crimes that baffle even the police department.
examples: You Only Die Twice, Contents Under Pressure
other sub-genres: diversity mystery (Britt is Cuban-American)
Appeal: tone: suspenseful, serious

Seneca Falls Historical Mysteries
Monfredo, Miriam Grace
Seneca Falls librarian, Glynis Tyron, solves mysteries during the 19th century.
examples: Seneca Falls Inheritance, North Star Conspiracy
other sub-genres: historical mystery, cozy mystery
Appeal: language: compelling; setting: Seneca Falls

Miss Zukas
Dereske, Jo
A Washington State librarian solves mysteries in books with some very fun titles.
examples: Miss Zukas and the Library Murders, Out of Circulation
other sub-genres: cozy mystery
Appeal: setting: Washington State; characterization: strong female librarian (yeah baby!)