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!)
No comments:
Post a Comment