In troubled times, a well-written cozy offers welcome respite from the day’s news. Cynthia Kuhn’s series features a sharp protagonist, a look at life on campus from someone who’s been there, and a lively sense of humor.
Alexa Glock, never married, no kids, uses her expertise in odontology to help solve murders involving Māori customs, killer white sharks and more in this appealing series.
This year’s Anthony winners include a quirky mother-daughter-granddaughter trio, a Chicago detective tracking a serial killer and a young Enola Holmes taking on brother Sherlock.
Amateur sleuth Steph Williams puts to bed any ideas that gardening is a leisurely pursuit as she works for Britain’s modern monied classes — and solves a fair share of their problems — in this cozy series.
Detective Inspector Jan Talantire of the Devon and Cornwall Police is called away from a rare date to a murder echoing a similar stabbing from 50 years ago, complete with crucifix through the heart and the victim’s name, Ruth Lyle.
If you’re a fan of Agatha Christie, you’ll likely find something to love in this annual awards roundup. Fans chose the winners, which cannot include explicit sex, gore or violence.
The now middle-aged Warshawski is still reeling from her last case when she agrees to search for a missing young woman in Kansas — and then stumbles across another woman’s body. I loved book 22 in this series.
Frankie Elkin is an “average, middle-aged white woman” who travels from one missing-persons case to the next, dragging a single suitcase behind her. Think Jack Reacher, but with fewer muscles and more underwear.
Here’s a gift link to the interactive database of the NYT’s best and notable books by year and genre. Check out the picks for the best 21 mysteries of the past two decades.
There’s rarely a murder in this mystery series, which focuses instead on a hilarious young PI working for her very dysfunctional family’s investigations agency. Quirky family dynamics and humor are the stars of these books.