Mar 27 2009
Favorite mystery series
In the past few weeks, I’ve done posts about my favorite read-alouds and audiobooks. I thought I’d continue the series with my favorite books in each genre that I read, starting with mysteries. One thing that I love about mysteries is the sense of tidy resolution at the end. Even though mysteries deal with the rough, scary side of life, the bad guy loses, the good guy wins - at least usually. I guess that’s one of the reasons that I was so dissatisfied with the ending of Tana French’s In the Woods. I know that I am in the minority, though, because many critics proclaimed her “brilliant” and “gutsy” for leaving one of the mysteries unsolved.
Another thing I love about mysteries is that they usually come in series. When I read the first in a series, and love it, I have the thrill of knowing there are more books with the same character, written in the same style. P.D. James is the author of two series I enjoy.

Cover Her Face is the first in James’ Inspector Adam Dalgliesh series. I’ve read several - not in order, which is unusual for me - and I love the way James writes her characters. She explores the intricacies of human nature and keeps you guessing until the very end, when the culprit is revealed. Dalgliesh is a fascinating detective, a combination of poetry-writing intellectual and shrewd investigator.

An Unsuitable Job for a Woman is the first in James’ Cordelia Gray mysteries. I’ve only read this one, but I loved the character and will definitely be reading the rest of the series.

Booked to Die by John Dunning is the first of the Bookman mysteries. Cliff Janeway is a Denver homicide detective who loses his badge after taking justice into his own hands. As a second career, Janeway turns to his passion: books. He opens a used book store and starts to deal in collectible books, solving mysteries on the side. I love the character of Janeway, and I love all the book talk. I’ve read the first four books in the series; they’re all great.

If you’ve been reading this blog for long, then you know how much I love Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes mysteries. The Beekeeper’s Apprentice is the first in the series. King combines history, mystery, the iconical Holmes character, and the inimitable Mary Russell to brilliant result. I’m on book six in the series, which I plan to read soon.

Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone series is one of the first mystery series to truly hook me as an adult. I read A is for Alibi the summer of 2007, and proceeded to read all the way to R is for Ricochet before the summer was over. They make perfect lakeside and poolside reading. I’ve since read volumes S and T, although I didn’t care for T is for Trespass as much as I did the rest of the series. I’m looking forward to the release of the next volume.

I’m new to the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. I listened to the first two on audibook, for which C.J. Critt is the brilliant reader. Stephanie Plum is a lingerie-salesperson turned bounty hunter, and these books are filled with humor and action. The supporting cast of characters are so well-written that you can see them: Stephanie’s mother and father, Grandma Mazur, Joe Morelli, Loula. I have book three ready to listen to after I finish Diana Gabaldon’s Voyager.
There you have my mystery series addictions. Which ones have you read, liked, loved, hated? Which great series am I missing out on?
Other posts in my “favorites” series:
~ 55 Must-Read Novels
~ My Top Twelve Audiobooks
~ Our Favorite Read-Alouds























Deanna - I’m glad you’re enjoying the Outlander series! I’m loving Voyager - I think I’m with Sandy in saying this is my favorite so far.
Ladytink - I love the PLum ones, too - I’m looking forward to listening to number three after I finish Voyager.
Thanks again!
thx!. This one is great!!!
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Great. Now i can say thank you!
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
sunlight computer allowed science
ratified understanding solutions power last natural access
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Perfect work!
Great site. Keep doing.
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Beautiful site!
Great site. Good info.
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Great site. Good info.
Beautiful site!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
I want to say - thank you for this!
Beautiful site!
Great site. Good info.
Beautiful site!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
Incredible site!
Incredible site!
Great site. Good info.
Incredible site!
It is the coolest site, keep so!
It is the coolest site, keep so!
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Perfect site, i like it!
Beautiful site!
Great site. Keep doing.
Great site. Good info.
Great site. Good info.
It is the coolest site, keep so!
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Perfect site, i like it!
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
Great site. Good info.
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
I want to say - thank you for this!
Very nice site! cheap viagra
Very nice site! [url=http://oixypea.com/oxoxarr/2.html]cheap cialis[/url]
Very nice site! cheap cialis http://oixypea.com/oxoxarr/4.html
Beautiful site!
Perfect work!
Perfect site, i like it!
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Incredible site!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Great site. Good info.
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
Incredible site!
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
Perfect work!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
I want to say - thank you for this!
I want to say - thank you for this!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Beautiful site!
Incredible site!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Perfect site, i like it!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Great site. Good info.
Perfect work!
Great site. Good info.
I want to say - thank you for this!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Perfect site, i like it!
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Great site. Good info.
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Great site. Good info.
ltqfmyvuhwkajc cootsmjqldc bankers cormorants builders stars children professors developers matrons lorries consultants beauties bastards women boys documents monitors money guinness preachers drunks goblins painters girls falcons performers actors guillemots harpers misers pearls idiots capons knights young bacteria prose weapons grapes winnings princes husbands goldfinches riches servants satellites gods goths angels ladies canal information pipers
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Great. Now i can say thank you!
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Perfect work!
Incredible site!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
Great. Now i can say thank you!
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Great site. Keep doing.
Great site. Keep doing.
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
Beautiful site!
Perfect work!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Great site. Good info.
Beautiful site!
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Perfect site, i like it!
I want to say - thank you for this!
Incredible site!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
Great site. Keep doing.
Perfect site, i like it!
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Perfect work!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Perfect site, i like it!
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
Perfect site, i like it!
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Great. Now i can say thank you!
It is the coolest site, keep so!
grace site yaor two.
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Perfect site, i like it!
Beautiful site!
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
Great site. Good info.
grace site yaor two.
Perfect site, i like it!
Beautiful site!
grace site yaor two.
Perfect work!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Great site. Good info.
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Incredible site!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
hi. I review you site
Perfect site, i like it!
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
Great work, webmaster, nice design!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Of course, what a great site and informative posts, I will add backlink - bookmark this site? Regards,
Im a gamer i love playing games
Flash Games Online at DeoGames.com
[url=http://www.deogames.com]Flash Games Online[/url]
How are you guys doing
Flash Games Online at DeoGames.com
[url=http://www.deogames.com]Flash Games Online[/url]
buy xenical online
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Perfect work!
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Perfect work!
Incredible site!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
Great site. Good info.
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Great. Now i can say thank you!