Mysteries with Character
Do you love "whodunnits" set in small towns with great characters? Look no further!
Simon Waterhouse and Charlie Zailer Novels by Sophie Hannah
Set in a quiet, English town boasting higher-than-average crime rates, this suspenseful police procedural series stars a brilliant and introspective police officer whose personal relationships are as twisty and compelling as the mysteries they investigate.
Adam Dalgliesh Mysteries by P.D. James
This mystery series centers on the intensely cerebral and private Adam Dalgliesh. A detective chief inspector at first, he rises in the ranks as the series unfolds. The series itself changes tenor: although initially offering who-done-it plots focused on solving a puzzling crime, later entries emphasize police procedural elements.
Sister Jane Foxhunting Mysteries by Rita Mae Brown
Set in Virginia's tradition-bound, foxhunting country, this series stars steely septuagenarian sleuth Jane "Sister" Arnold. The plots usually center on the uncivil actions of human characters, assisted occasionally by anthropomorphized animal characters.
Flavia De Luce Mysteries by Alan Bradley
These charming mysteries set in a post-World War II English village star a precocious, nosy pre-teen living with her family in their ancestral mansion. Flavia identifies murderers using her wits and knowledge of village life.
Penny Brannigan Mysteries by Elizabeth J. Duncan
Penny Brannigan is an ordinary manicure shop owner and expatriate from Canada. Throughout the series, she finds herself in the center of gruesome tales of murder and intrigue. Penny is assisted in her amateur sleuthing by her sidekick and business partner, Victoria Hopkirk.
Hercule Poirot Mysteries by Agatha Christie
This Golden Age mystery series features the eccentric Belgian detective Hercule Poirot as he uses his understanding of human nature to solve crimes. Many of the novels are set in England where Poirot lives, while others are set around the world during his travels.
Richard Jury Mysteries by Martha Grimes
The Richard Jury series, particularly the early books, share a number of similar features with Inspector Armand Gamache mysteries: both are clever police procedurals centered around a puzzle. They also focus on the relationships between a group of characters.
Reverend Clare Fergusson Mysteries by Julia Spencer-Fleming
Readers who appreciate the character building in the Gamache series will find much to love in the Reverend Clare Fergusson mysteries. Personalities are just as important as fingerprints when solving crimes in these intricately plotted, complex novels with a strong sense of place.
Simon Serrailler Mysteries by Susan Hill
DCI Simon Serrailler leads a complicated personal life in Lafferton, an idyllic small town just outside London. This series combines intricate plotting with gritty detail and complex characterization, simultaneously creating a realistic feel and a protagonist readers will remember.
Salvo Montalbano Mysteries by Andrea Camilleri
Set in the picturesque Sicilian village of Vigata, these charming mysteries star the food-loving Inspector Salvo Montalbano. Expect leisurely-paced tales full of grit and wit.
Milagro Mysteries by Katayoun Medhat
Like Penny’s novels, this evocative mystery series showcases a richly detailed environs and distinctive cultural milieu. Hapless investigator, Franz Kafka, investigates confounding murders and other crimes on a Navajo Reservation in New Mexico.
Ministry is Murder Mysteries by Emilie Richards
Aggie Sloan-Wilcox is the unconventional wife of the local minister. Aggie shines as a complex female protagonist who cares for those around her, whether a family member, a friend, or a helpless animal. Character-driven and heartwarming, this series features a charming small town and intriguing crimes.
Charles Paris Mysteries by Simon Brett
Amateur sleuth Charles Paris, who is overly fond of drinking and women, and often out of work, solves crimes steeped in the world of drama. These engaging books are a mix of stage lore, jostling egos, and wry humor.
Lil Campbell and Ada Strauss Novels by Charles Atkins
The Lil Campbell and Ada Strauss novels are engaging cozy mysteries, set in small-town Connecticut. They feature senior women as amateur sleuths investigating local murders. The books are light in tone, fast paced, and funny.