I’ve been on a real mystery kick lately. I’m finding mysteries the perfect escape for my mental state right now. They’re fast-paced, mentally stimulating, and most importantly not emotionally taxing. I’ve mixed some old favorites with some new to me (and maybe to you) for a list of six book recommendations.
If you haven’t read this Agatha Christie classic, you are missing out. Ten strangers with secrets are lured to a mansion on an isolated island. There they are killed off one-by-one. And Then There Were None is a nail-biting, plot-twisting, page-turning masterpiece.
The Impersonator by Mary Miley is set in the Prohibition era. Down-on-her-luck vaudeville performer Leah Randall is hired to impersonate a missing heiress, so she can collect the inheritance for a greedy uncle. However, it isn’t long before Leah starts to wonder what happened to the missing heiress and whether or not Leah is facing the same danger. The book is characterized by strong writing, a compelling plot, and a time period that makes the whole story come alive. This is the first in a series. I’m so glad I have more to look forward to.
I’m not entirely sure that Gone Girl qualifies as a mystery by genre definitions, but I’m going to include it here because for this non-mystery expert it sure felt like a mystery. For those of you who missed this hot book (or resisted it), it’s time to read it. When Amy Dunne disappears, her husband comes under suspicion. He, of course, claims innocence but seems pretty darn guilty. The twists and turns in this novel are genius and will keep you guessing until the very end. Flynn does a remarkable job of portraying the psychology of the characters.
Perhaps you remember my blog post a few months back with author Michelle Cox? She was releasing the fifth book in her Henrietta and Inspector Howard series. Here’s the first. A Girl Like You is the story of a beautiful woman, Henrietta, who gets caught up in a nasty murder mystery. She teams up with Inspector Howard and goes undercover at men’s club. If you like mysteries and historical fiction with a little light romance sprinkled in, then this is the book for you. This is such a fun read. The idea that there are four more waiting to be read is so delicious.
The Thirteenth Tale is a modern-day gothic ghost story. This is one of those stories within stories. The framework involves a reclusive, famous writer telling a biographer the stories of her life. The process helps both the writer and the biographer make peace with their pasts. It’s a fascinating, spooky read that you might want to put in the cue for Halloween.
Secret Lives and Private Eyes is set in Richmond, VA (where I happen to live). Many of the places in the book are based on real places and some of the plotlines are based on local news stories. All of this is to say, I had a lot of fun reading about this fictionalized version of my hometown. On top of that, Delanie Fitzgerald is a strong, savvy private investigator who is easy to root for. The book brings together famous, singers back from the dead and strip club owners in a page-turning, who-done-it mystery. For more about the author, check out this interview with Heather Weidner.
Please share your mystery recommendations in the comments below.
Thanks so much for including me!
Thanks for writing such a fun book. It’s so awesome when a book you enjoy is part of a series because the fun doesn’t have to stop on the last page.