mmasc Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 Does anyone have a favorite author/book they'd like to share with me? I'm looking for some good, easy to read mysteries. Specifically, I like mysteries that are NOT scary (at all!). I've recently been reading Caroline Graham's Chief Inspector Barnaby mysteries and have enjoyed them. I've read the first two. There's a murder, but the book mostly focuses on the characters and solving the murder, so it isn't scary at all. They're also British which I've enjoyed. To give more detail in what I'm looking for, I've read a Dean Koontz and did not like it. I found it scary, and not particularly good writing. Thanks for reading and for any recommendations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce series, which begins with The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erica in OR Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 I love Dick Francis mysteries. Not a huge fan of the later ones he did, but really like the earlier stuff. British. They all involve horses/horse racing in some way, but often combine some other thing, like jewels or wine or photography. Erica in OR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 Diane Mott Davidson's catering mysteries. The first one is Catering to Nobody. They are murder mysteries, but they are not remotely scary. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmasc Posted December 26, 2014 Author Share Posted December 26, 2014 Wow, thank you for such quick replies! I'm about to go look at all of these recommendations right now! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 You can find other suggestions for that type of mystery by searching for cozy mysteries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 I second the Flavia deLuce series. I also enjoy the Agatha Raisin series by MC Beaton. I'm not a big mystery reader but I find both these series light enough for me to enjoy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 You might take a look at the Captain Lacey Regency Mystery series. The first book, The Hanover Square Affair: Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries, is currently free to Kindle readers. "London, 1816 Cavalry captain Gabriel Lacey returns to Regency London from the Napoleonic Wars, burned out, fighting melancholia, his career ended. His interest is piqued when he learns of a missing girl, possibly kidnapped by a prominent member of Parliament. Lacey's search for the girl leads to the discovery of murder, corruption, and dealings with a leader of the underworld. At the same time, he faces his own disorientation transitioning from a soldier's life to the civilian world, redefining his role with his former commanding officer, and making new friends--from the top of society to the street girls of Covent Garden." Regards, Kareni 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 Elizabeth Peter's Amelia Peabody series. Colleen Coble - pretty much all of her books would be "gentle" mysteries, i.e., the Hawaiian series and the Bree Nichols series set in Michigan. Her books are set in present times. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Lulu* Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency is the first in a series by Alexander McCall Smith that is very good and very gentle in terms of suspense and violence. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 Midsommer Murders is my favorite show of all time, FYI you can see ALL of them at AcornTV! I like Donna Andrews, her books are well written and not super "cozy" but not scary either. I don't find the Stephanie Plum series (by Janet Evanovitch) scary but if you object to cursing or a bit of crude humor then they're not for you. I love mysteries but can't do the super sweet cozy variety. If you're looking for more middle of the road then I'd also suggest the Spellman (funny family drama) series and the Kinsey Milhone (a bit darker then some of the others but great stories) series. There's some decent ones on Amazon kindle for cheap (not paperbacks) authors like Gemma Halliday and Stephanie Bond. No/not much s*x but there is some s*xual situations/crude humor, cursing etc..... They're more contemporary. I also love Joan Hess and the Maggody series as well as the Malloy series (which are cozyish, contemporary, but not crude). ETA: my idea of not scary and yours may differ. If you don't want any "detective in danger", then none of the above will work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linders Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 Louise Penny's "Inspector Gamache" series. The first is Still Life. Set in a small village in modern-day Quebec, it is very well-written, with characters so well-developed that after reading the past three years I feel I could meet and know them, and atmosphere that reminds me of Agatha Christie. The mysteries are almost secondary to the relationships. Little scare factor, no gore. And the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear. The protagonist is a young woman in post-WWI London, who sets up shop as an investigator. Again very well-written, and the historical background alone makes it worth reading. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 I will post a couple of ideas and try to come back later with a longer list after I look at my goodreads. Aunt Dimity books by Nancy Atherton seem to fit, I have only read three so far. Carola Dunn writes some nice gentle ones, Daisy Darlrymple is the main character. I really enjoyed Cat in the Stacks Mysteries by Miranda James. I will try to find some more. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 #1 Ladies Detective Series and the Mrs. Pollifax series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiegirl Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 All the ones that I were thinking of have already been mentioned but I did think of books by Dorothy Sayers, Anne Perry, P.D.James, and Elizabeth George. They are typically the same style/; they start out slow then you are gobsmacked by something crazy and, at times, sensational and then you are galloping to the end. I do like those kinds of books. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearcat Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 In addition to many of the great ones already listed I would add The Richard Jury books by Martha Grimes and the Dandy Gilver series by Catriona McPherson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayne J Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 If you like Jane Austen, Stephanie Barron has written a series starring Jane as the amateur sleuth. I am currently reading my way through them and really enjoy them. And the Hamish MacBeth series, also by MC Beaton (who wrote the Agatha Raisin series mentioned above) are nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 If you like Jane Austen, Stephanie Barron has written a series starring Jane as the amateur sleuth. I am currently reading my way through them and really enjoy them. And the Hamish MacBeth series, also by MC Beaton (who wrote the Agatha Raisin series mentioned above) are nice. I adore the Jane Austen Mysteries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 Anything by Josephine Tey Candace Robb's Owen Archer series Ellis Peters' Cadfael series seconding Dick Francis, the older ones. Dorothy Sayers or Agatha Christie I like all these and I do not like anything scary either! :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethel Mertz Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 Any of the books by Amanda Cross. (This is her pen name. Her real name was Carolyn Heilbron, a professor at Columbia University - since deceased.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethel Mertz Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 Also, Julia Spencer-Fleming. The main character is an Episcopal priest who always finds herself in trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethel Mertz Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Oh and the author Emilie Richards (the Ministry is Murder series). Some of the books are laugh-out-loud funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Anything by Josephine Tey Candace Robb's Owen Archer series Ellis Peters' Cadfael series seconding Dick Francis, the older ones. Dorothy Sayers or Agatha Christie I like all these and I do not like anything scary either! :) I second these... esp. the Cadfael & Lord Peter Wimsey (Sayers) series. I'll add: Margery Allingham's Campion series - along the same lines as Wimsey. I also recently enjoyed Gil Cunningham series by Pat McIntosh and the Gregor Demarkian series by Jane Haddam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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