If you like: Foyle's War, French cafes, puzzles, ghosts, Elizabeth George
The Kelley Sisters are here with another list! This time, we’re dipping into some of our favorite mysteries.
Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker: While it has the charm and appeal of a cozy mystery, this book isn’t something light and inconsequential. It takes place in idyllic, rural France, where the wine, bread, and cheese are as important as the characters, but it deals with topics related to racism and immigration. I would follow Bruno anywhere—especially if he keeps describing delicious French food in detail. -- MK (Save on Goodreads)
City of the Lost by Kelley Armstrong: The main character of this book killed a man. Not being able to tell if the heroine is all that heroic from the get-go makes the overarching mystery all the more complicated, murky. As mysteries unfold within mysteries, the reader never knows who to trust, which creates a tense and intriguing read. -- MK (Save on Goodreads)
Encyclopedia Brown series by Donald J. Sobol: I’m not ashamed, I’ll say I still pick up an Encyclopedia Brown book if I see it and try to see if I’m any better at solving mysteries than I was in elementary school (not always). Each chapter is a puzzle the reader has to solve. There’s not much of a plot, beyond Encyclopedia and his partner Sally foiling local bullies who want to trick other kids out of their baseball cards. But the puzzles are tricky and it stars a brainy hero and a tough heroine. -- AK (Save on Goodreads)
Farthing by Jo Walton: If you love the TV series Foyle’s War (the show was created by Anthony Horowitz, so score two for him in this list), try this World War II mystery with a twist. Walton sets her story in an alternative history, where Britain strikes a deal with Nazi Germany. Known more as a fantasy author, Walton focuses on how her characters react to an impossible situation. Like a lot of murder mysteries, there’s a creeping sense of horror that comes from someone’s indifference to humanity. But “Farthing” takes it a step further, exploring how believable it is for that indifference to become institutionalized. -- AK (Save on Goodreads)
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz: A meta-ish whodunnit that is easy to devour. It’s a mystery for people who love mysteries, complete with a rotating cast of suspicious characters, crackable codes, and exciting twists. It’s fun, it’s surprising, and is written in a perfect way that keeps you turning pages until the very end. -- MK (Save on Goodreads)
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson: A YA mystery with a bit of a supernatural Jack the Ripper twist! The reader gets to run around London with a charming, funny main character who can see ghosts, but it’s not all sunshine (and not just because it takes place in England). Grisly murders and an ever-present, lingering threat of danger adds the perfect amount of suspense. -- MK (Save on Goodreads)
An Unsuitable Job for a Woman by P.D. James: James only wrote two books about Cordelia Grey. While it’s a shame there aren’t more, let’s appreciate what we do have. Cordelia is a young woman whose eccentric upbringing by communists and Catholic nuns has made it difficult to find a place in the mainstream, so she ends up in the career that tends to attract those who don’t quite fit in: private detection. The books tend to be more atmospheric and character-driven than hunting down clues. But Cordelia is smart, kind and efficient. She finds a way to live justly, even if she can’t always bring justice to an end. -- AK (Save on Goodreads)
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