Book Recs?

[munin]

Okay folks, I'm in serious need of some assistance. My mom has finally started reading more and more now that she's retired and I'm having trouble keeping her in books! I never thought I'd have this problem, it was always the other way around.

She loves books like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series and the Bird series by Donna Andrews. Mysteries that are a little funny. I've found her a couple authors she likes but she's going through about 3 books a week, give or take, so I need more authors for her to try. I've given her Diane Mott Davidson and some other chick I've now forgotten this week to see if she likes them. Any other ideas?

Comments

[maryavatar]

If she'd be open to Scottish Humour, Christopher Brookmyre might be worth a go. I pimp him out to everyone who likes humour in their murder-mysteries and so far only one person didn't like him - due to the particularly expressive swearing in his first novel :)

[writerlibrarian]

She might like in the cozy mysteries type:

Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swensen mysteries

Laura Childs' Tea Shop mysteries

Monica Ferris' Needlework mysteries

[amanda_in_pajamas]

I just added the Joanne Fluke novels to my to-read list a couple of days ago. I'm happy to see someone recommending them here! :)

[amanda_in_pajamas]

I'm a big fan of mystery novels as well...

I enjoy:
Patricia Cornwell (Kay Scarpetta) - new one coming out soon - focus on forensic science. The first book is Postmortem.

Jeffery Deaver (Lincoln Rhyme) - focuses on forensic science as well. The first book is The Bone Collector.

Dorothy Sayers (Lord Peter Whimsey) - definitely humorous - Lord Peter's character is quite fun. The first book is Whose Body?.

M.C. Beaton (Agatha Raisin) - I just started the first book in the series. I'm not sold on it yet, but I figured I'd mention it since it's sitting right next to me. The first book is The Quiche of Death.

Jim Butcher (Dresden Files) - If she likes Sci-Fi at all, these books are hilarious, and there is a mystery in it...Dresden is a Wizard Detective (much different than the TV series - and much better) The first book is Storm Front.

J.D. Robb - If she doesn't mind a lot bit of sex in her books the In Death (Eve Dallas) series is quite good, one of my favorites actually. It is set in the future, so there is some cool detective toys that come in to play. The first book is Naked in Death.

I also just bookmarked two new series to add to my to-read list...

Alan Bradley - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - much in line with Harriet, The Spy the protagonist is an 11-year old girl named Flavia de Luce. My mother has started the book and is enjoying it. The second book is due out soon.

Joanne Fluke - Hannah Swensen series - I have not started this series yet, but I came across it while looking for other books. There is a whole series of "recipe" murders. The first one is The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder

I also plan to tackle the Sue Grafton Alphabet murder novels.

[psyche29]

I second - vehemently - the JD Robb In Death books. There are 36 so far including the novellas, so it should keep her - at three a week - for three months. ;)

[cinco]

Maybe the Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series?

[mackiedockie]

I second the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Alexander McCall Smith also writes a second series set in Scotland that might also fit your mother's criteria.

I've also enjoyed Rita Mae Brown's hunt club mysteries, and my own mother likes Margaret Truman, Nevada Barr, Tony Hillerman and Dick Francis (less cozy, more quickly plotted, like Robert Parker.)

The Lovejoy mysteries by Jonathan Gash also have an element of humor.

[laughingrat]

Iain Pears writes some very lovely art history mysteries full of wry humor and really great interplay between an art historian and his wife, a police detective. They're not cozies; they're a little meatier than that, but they're still pleasant reads.

[undomielregina]

There's the Puzzly Lady mysteries, which remind me most of the Donna Andrews books. I think they started as crossword mysteries and have recently branched into Sudoku. I know there are more than 10 of them. They're not very good, but they have the kind of humor your mother is probably looking for, given the two series you mentioned, and they are fun.

(Basic premise: woman writes a crossword column and series of books, and has convinced her aunt to act as the kindly face of the work. Her aunt is instead a hard-drinking socialite, but they have to keep the whole thing a secret to avoid ruining their brand. Murders involving crosswords keep happening and the police keep asking the puzzle lady for help. Chaos ensues as they try to keep their secret and solve the murder. There's also some romantic goings-on that remind me a little bit of Andrews' work.)

[pseudo_tsuga]

Elizabeth Peters has a long series that's all about a woman who's an archaeologist during Victorian times. Each book covers a year and right now they're finally past World War I. The style is very light and humorous, though, and the protagonist is a joy to read especially because of her quirky first-person narrative.

[archersangel]

uuummm....if she doesn't mind cats being characters
the mrs. murphy mysteries by rita mae brown
the midnight louie mysteries by carole nelson douglas
the cat who.... mysteries by lilian jackson braun (although the last few are a bit same old, same old)

in the women detective series vein
the sarah kelling mysteries by charlotte macleod
the amelia peabody mysteries by elizabeth peters (this is the series re_weird mentioned)

[packbat]

I second Dorothy Sayers; what are her feelings on science fiction?

Books to read...

[nelle]

I am giving the third vote for Alexander McCall Smith's No.1 Ladies Detective Agency novels and his other series also...If any of you have seen the HBO series (now out on DVD and replaying on HBO) it is thoroughly heartwarming and enjoyable with a wonderful cast. One being Jill Smith, known Grammy winner for R&B. If you have seen the show, please know that it is in danger of not continuing and make your wishes known....see more at www.HBO.com

[aedifica]

How about Charlotte MacLeod? She has at least two series that might suit, one featuring Sarah Kelling--later Sarah Kelling Bittersohn (a Boston widow) and the other featuring Peter Shandy, a professor at a small New England college.

I fourth the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and I third Dorothy Sayers.

She may also enjoy Laurie R. King's Mary Russell books. King's other series (about Kate Martinelli) is slightly darker and might not be as much to your mom's taste.