I love a good mystery, don’t you? A story that makes you think and entertains you all at the same time can be just the thing. And since it’s almost Halloween I’m particularly drawn to a bit of a scare. That’s why this week’s Ten on Tuesday topic is 10 Favorite Mystery Books. Here are mine:
- A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton. Kinsey Milhone is like an old, old friend.
- And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. It’s the first Christie I ever read – I was in 7th grade – and it’s remained a favorite ever since.
- Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. Perhaps more gothic than mystery but nobody is more chilling than Mrs. Danvers.
- The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. It’s considered to be the first mystery novel ever, how could it not be on my list? Plus, it’s a very good read.
- Promised Land by Robert Parker. Really, any of the Spenser mysteries are good, plus Parker is a Massachusetts guy.
- Hot Money by Dick Francis. I’ve read several of his but this one is my favorite.
- Dying for Chocolate by Diane Mott Davidson. Like Kinsey Milhone, Goldie Schultz feels like an old friend. I’ve read the entire series but this one, book 2 is perhaps the strongest of stories.
- The Body in the Belfry by Katherine Hall Page. This is the first book in a lengthy series featuring Faith Fairchild, a former New York City caterer, now living in Massachusetts and married to a minister. She gets into lots of trouble solving mysteries and it’s all quite entertaining.
- The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell. This is perhaps the creepiest of Cornwell’s books and I think that’s why it’s my favorite.
- Mystic River by Dennis Lehane. I had a hard time choosing between this one and A Drink Before the War. Honestly, all of Lehane’s books are excellent.
Those are my favorite mysteries, what are yours? Make sure you link your blog post if you write one and click here if you want to sign up for the Ten on Tuesday email list.
Yhanks for the list. I love a good mystery.
There used to be a mystery bookstore near where I lived in Greenwich Village that had a bookcase that doubled as a secret door to its storage room. I would buy mysteries there regularly, but now I use the library.
I have read all of Wilkie Collins, Rex Stout, Agatha Christie, and the “Annotated Sherlock Holmes”. Great writers and mysteries. If you can get a hold of a copy, look for “The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun” by Sebastian Japrisot. I’ll look up some of the books on your list which I haven’t read yet and check them out. There’s nothing like a good book!
Thanks for the ideas. I have recently gotten back into reading mysteries with some Mary Higgins Clark books. I will look for some of your suggestions. Enjoy your week.
I love a good mystery and have read many of those you listed. One of my favorites is “The Nine Tailors” by Dorothy L. Sayers.
I love a good mystery and have read many of those you listed. One of my favorites is “The Nine Tailors” by Dorothy L. Sayers.
I rarely read mysteries, but I see a few I’m going to add to my TBR list. It’s a great time of year to find a scary book and nestle down to read.
Don’t miss Louise Penny. Her first is StillLife, there are 8 novels in all, and each one is just a great read.
Anything by Dashiell Hammett. Also, Raymond Chandler.
Loved Body Farm and Mystic River … I never got into the old fashioned mysteries, but I do love those two. Maybe it’s time I read a few more 🙂
I have to admit that even though I am a reader, mystery series are not something that I have read a lot of, but I may give a few of these a try.
I almost never read mysteries, but some of those you listed sound intriguing!
How funny, I’m just rereading A is for Alibi right now. I’m a little out of order but I love Sue Grafton’s books. Mystic River also made my list. What a fabulous book! I think that there are quite a few on your list that I’ll add to my queue. I’m always up for a good mystery.
I’m not much of a mystery lover, but some of the books you mentioned sound intriguing. I did read a knitting mystery that was set in Westport MA – I can’t remember the name of it though!
I am completely deficient in the area of mysteries!!
Like Vicki, I’m deficient in mysteries. I remember ripping through Agatha Christie & loving her books!
Ooh, ooh, ooh, good list, including some authors I haven’t tried. Dennis Lehane has a new one, just out. Grim and funny at the same time, like all of his. There is another authoress who writes mysteries about Boston and environs whom we really like – can’t think of her name right now (she hasn’t written a new book lately) but I’ll pull one of her books off the bookshelf and send her name later.
Great list! I haven’t read Cornwell in years and years, I should remedy that. And the only Lehane I’ve read is Mystic River, which I really enjoyed. It also sounds like I’d enjoy Katherine Hall Page too. Love the topic, Carole! Thanks for organizing 10 on Tuesdays!
Love Rebecca! I just bought the Kindle edition of Into the Darkest Corner. Looks promising.
A local radio DJ I was listening to one day was going on and on about the book, “A Cold Day in Paradise” by Steve Hamilton. Paradise, Michigan, is a small town near the Soo and a place my Dad is familiar with. I bought Dad that book, plus a couple of sequels, for Christmas based on the DJ’s review. Dad loved them. I have bought all of Steve Hamilton’s books for Dad, always borrowing them when he was done. They are great–really compelling reads and the familiar location is a fun plus. I recommend “The Lock Artist” which is not part of the “Paradise” series, too. That one is partially set in a town just down the road from me!
Im not much of a mystery reader, but SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS was great
Definitely try Louise Penny! (But do read them in order . . . especially later in the series.)
I read all genres of mysteries and enjoy them. I’ve never read a Dennis Lehane novel but I recently heard an NPR interview with him. He said a reader had told him that his book was okay after it got going. Then Mr. Lehane proceeded to read the first paragraph. It was very gripping. He was really ticked off with the reader and made a funny comment. I thought heck I’d like to meet this guy and read his book.
I love this topic!! I’m always looking for a good read. I have recently finished the Jesse Stone series by Robert Parker…imagining Tom Selleck in every page! I also find Mrs. Danvers to be a spooky gal.
I’ve enjoyed Tana French’s mysteries; Louise Penny’s books are perfect for knitting time (it’s light and you can concentrate on lace). I powerwalked through Restless by William Boyd – terrific voice talent.