Mystery/romance/funny/cozy

[HalfBearOtherHalfCat]

Looking for a book to buy my mother. I always try to get her a book by a reasonably prolific author she is unfamiliar with, in hopes of giving her a new series or collection of books to read.

My most appreciated efforts have been:

Charlotte MacLeod - The Peter Shandy Mysteries
Jana DeLeon - The Miss Fortune Mysteries

Is anyone familiar with either of those series? Can you suggest something in the same kind of vein?

Basically a well-written, fairly lighthearted mystery story. Happy ending essential. Bonus points for romance and humor.

Have a look at 28 and a half wishes (Rose Gardner series) by Denise Grovner Swank!

I've been enjoying Agatha Raisin.

The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, maybe? I haven't read them but they kind of sound like what you're describing. Plus there are loads of books in the series (20+) so that would keep your mum going for a while if she enjoyed them.

Elizabeth Peters Vicky Bliss books, if she’s not read them. Night Train to Memphis is the second-last in the series and one of my all-time favourite comfort reads. Also Peters’ Amelia Peabody books are a hoot and there are loads of them.

Julie Mulhern’s Country Club mysteries are good. Light-hearted, but well-written and funny.

I also rate Susannah Kearsley’s books - I think you’d call them romantic suspense. She has the same ability to evoke landscape as Mary Stewart (who might also be a choice if your mum hasn’t read them).

Hate to contradict but the Stephanie Plum books are awful. Vulgar, crass, poorly plotted and so many grammatical errors it seemed they weren't even edited.

I recently read London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd - strictly to decide whether to give it to my 9 year old you understand- and really enjoyed it (though decided against for the 9 year old for the moment as there is a visit to the morgue to identify a body which is upsetting).

Thank you all very much, there are some promising possibilities here. This might well keep her busy for a while!

Has your mum read any Mary Stewart books?

Charlotte MacLeod has written another series starting with the Family Vault

@PerveenMistry

Hate to contradict but the Stephanie Plum books are awful. Vulgar, crass, poorly plotted and so many grammatical errors it seemed they weren't even edited.

Really? I don't think so.

Julia Stagg

A very gentle series about 'goings on' in the French Pyrenees

Sorry - forgot the link:

here

Elly Griffith's crime thrillers set in North Norfolk. Murder, archeology, detectives, romance and comedy. They are cosy companion books.

Thank you all very much. I think I'll be able to keep my bookworm parent happy for quite a while now.

I see some Stephanie Plum uncertainty. I had heard of the series before, but actually went for the Miss Fortune series instead as it was recommended to me as: "The Plum books are good, but Fortune has better quality writing and is a million times funnier." So I guess anyone here who likes Plum but hasn't read Fortune... there's a new series for you.

I just downloaded the first of Dorothy Gilman’s Mrs Pollifix books, mainly because it was cheap on Bookbub. The series has lots of fans and the writing is sprightly. Which is as much as I can say, since I’ve not finished it.

I've enjoyed the Rei Shimura mystery series by Sujata Massey. Written in 1990s - 2000s. Amusing & interesting lore about Japanese antiques.

I like the Miss Fortune series, so another option you could look at is the Ivy Malone series. The Eat, Pray, Die series were also easy reading.

Another two series which I’ve just thought of are Sulari Gentill’s Rowland Sinclair books and Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher books. Kerry’s other series featuring a baker, which starts with Earthly Delights is good fun too.

Cruise Mystery

“A Cruse To Murder’ by Dawn Brooks in the cosy mystery genre. It’s the first of a series of books, and is easy reading, but entertaining and absorbing.

Seven Sisters

Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley is superb, and is a series of seven books, each featuring a sister discovering the origins of their background and birth (they’re all adopted). If your dm loves Long Lost Family, she’ll love this book.