I don’t have too much to add here, but I’m excited to check out everyone’s recommendations! I love Christie and Sayers (the Harriet Vanes are prob my favorite) and Sherlock Holmes! I enjoyed the first couple Maisie Dobbs but not so much the later ones. A great kid’s mystery series is the Mysterious Benedict Society. Also, I’ve enjoyed all the many, many (😂)movie and tv renditions of Agatha Christie’s stories.
Thanks Kirsten! We loved Benedict society as well as all the Christie renditions! ;) I have tried to start The Man Who Was Called Thursday a few times - apparently, I didn't persevere enough! I will have to give it another shot.
Thanks for all these recommendations, Noelle! I’m also historically not a huge mystery fan for reading, though I do enjoy mystery movies and tv series.
I’ve only read two Sayers, both for a book group: Gaudy Night and The Nine Tailors. Both were intriguing and well-written, but I preferred Gaudy Night.
My book group also read the first of the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear; so well done! Though I didn’t continue with the series, several ladies in my group recommend all of them.
I had no idea Rowling had written mysteries under a pseudonym; will have to check those out.
Speaking of mysteries and pseudonyms, my mother-in-law really enjoyed the Brother Cadfael mysteries by Ellis Peters; I haven’t gotten around to these myself, but discovered that Ellis Peters is the pseudonym of Edith Pargeter whose epic Heaven Tree Trilogy is one of my favorites.
Wonderful - thanks for all these great recommendations! I've heard of Maisie Dobbs. I think I read the first book in the series, but it's been quite a while.
I was planning on expanding my reading horizons to detective genre, I’ve kind of been enchanted with the fantasies. I was going to start with Chesterton’s “Father Brown” Series, but I’m going to consider your recommendations, thank you
I discovered Tey last year and now I’m a fan. All her books are good! Farrar is cool because it’s as much an adventure story as a mystery. The 39 Steps is another in that vein. Ruth Rendell’s Inspector Wexley is someone you would probably like as well. And since I realized you asked for recommendations, James Lee Burke, Raymond Chandler, PD James and Ross Macdonald are a few more of my favorites.
Yes, I love that about Farrar! Many people have recommended 39 Steps, so I will have to check that out. I've read some of Chandler's work, and he's good. I was within an inch of adding PD James to my list. The only reason I didn't is that it's been a few years since I read her, and I couldn't remember which books I read! I will check out the others—thanks for the recommendations!
I forgot about M. M. Kaye’s mysteries! And I have two on my shelf—Death in Zanzibar and Death in Berlin. I don’t have Death in Andamans, which I remember loving. And I just checked mine on my shelf, which reminded me of another mystery series I’ve enjoyed by Harry Kemelmen. They’re about a rabbi in the northeast, I think mostly written in the ‘70s. And then there are the Brother Cadfael mysteries by Ellis Peters. Sayers is definitely my top pick, though.
Yes, I have read through that entire series, and it's a lot of fun! I will definitely look into your other recommendations as well - thanks! Which Sayers is your favorite?
My hands-down favorite is Gaudy Night, but that’s the third of the Harriet Vane and Lord Peter ones, and it’s kind of nice to track those in order. For a stand-alone, Murder Must Advertise is probably best.
Oh, forgot to say that I like Chesterton’s The Man Who Was Called Thursday. It was a little hard to get into but it ended up being really good!
I don’t have too much to add here, but I’m excited to check out everyone’s recommendations! I love Christie and Sayers (the Harriet Vanes are prob my favorite) and Sherlock Holmes! I enjoyed the first couple Maisie Dobbs but not so much the later ones. A great kid’s mystery series is the Mysterious Benedict Society. Also, I’ve enjoyed all the many, many (😂)movie and tv renditions of Agatha Christie’s stories.
Thanks Kirsten! We loved Benedict society as well as all the Christie renditions! ;) I have tried to start The Man Who Was Called Thursday a few times - apparently, I didn't persevere enough! I will have to give it another shot.
Yeah, I think it gets better as it goes on.
Thanks for all these recommendations, Noelle! I’m also historically not a huge mystery fan for reading, though I do enjoy mystery movies and tv series.
I’ve only read two Sayers, both for a book group: Gaudy Night and The Nine Tailors. Both were intriguing and well-written, but I preferred Gaudy Night.
My book group also read the first of the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear; so well done! Though I didn’t continue with the series, several ladies in my group recommend all of them.
I had no idea Rowling had written mysteries under a pseudonym; will have to check those out.
Speaking of mysteries and pseudonyms, my mother-in-law really enjoyed the Brother Cadfael mysteries by Ellis Peters; I haven’t gotten around to these myself, but discovered that Ellis Peters is the pseudonym of Edith Pargeter whose epic Heaven Tree Trilogy is one of my favorites.
Wonderful - thanks for all these great recommendations! I've heard of Maisie Dobbs. I think I read the first book in the series, but it's been quite a while.
I was planning on expanding my reading horizons to detective genre, I’ve kind of been enchanted with the fantasies. I was going to start with Chesterton’s “Father Brown” Series, but I’m going to consider your recommendations, thank you
I haven't read the Father Brown books, but enjoyed the TV series! I didn't watch all the way through, but the first couple of seasons are gold.
Just streamed the 1st episode, it was really good. Sad that it will be gone on Amazon soon, but excited that there are 12 seasons
I’ve read and enjoyed all your top novels except MM Kaye, which I’ll have to check out.
Wow, really? That's awesome - I have never found anyone else who has read Brat Farrar!
I discovered Tey last year and now I’m a fan. All her books are good! Farrar is cool because it’s as much an adventure story as a mystery. The 39 Steps is another in that vein. Ruth Rendell’s Inspector Wexley is someone you would probably like as well. And since I realized you asked for recommendations, James Lee Burke, Raymond Chandler, PD James and Ross Macdonald are a few more of my favorites.
Yes, I love that about Farrar! Many people have recommended 39 Steps, so I will have to check that out. I've read some of Chandler's work, and he's good. I was within an inch of adding PD James to my list. The only reason I didn't is that it's been a few years since I read her, and I couldn't remember which books I read! I will check out the others—thanks for the recommendations!
I forgot about M. M. Kaye’s mysteries! And I have two on my shelf—Death in Zanzibar and Death in Berlin. I don’t have Death in Andamans, which I remember loving. And I just checked mine on my shelf, which reminded me of another mystery series I’ve enjoyed by Harry Kemelmen. They’re about a rabbi in the northeast, I think mostly written in the ‘70s. And then there are the Brother Cadfael mysteries by Ellis Peters. Sayers is definitely my top pick, though.
Yes, I have read through that entire series, and it's a lot of fun! I will definitely look into your other recommendations as well - thanks! Which Sayers is your favorite?
My hands-down favorite is Gaudy Night, but that’s the third of the Harriet Vane and Lord Peter ones, and it’s kind of nice to track those in order. For a stand-alone, Murder Must Advertise is probably best.