If You Like….

Last week’s debate about whether one could include Elizabeth Peters as a Mary Stewart read-alike got me thinking about another favorite subgenre of mine: the humorous mystery novel.

If you like mysteries with rollicking, laugh out loud humor, you’ll probably like:

— Most Elizabeth Peters novels, with special attention to her early stand-alones, like The Love Talker; the Vicky Bliss series (Night Train to Memphis still makes me make snorting noises in public); and the Jacqueline Kirby series;

— Donna Andrews’ Murder with Peacocks, in which our heroine must plan three weddings, solve a murder, and deal with her crazy Southern family;

— in a similar vein (wedding planning), Jennifer Crusie’s Agnes and the Hitman, although we can debate whether this is properly mystery, contemporary romance, or romantic suspense (I just call it highly amusing);

— anything by Dorothy Cannell (think British equivalent of Elizabeth Peters), although my two favorites will always be Down the Garden Path and The Thin Woman;

— and Kasey Michaels’ madcap “Maggie” series, in which a novelist has to deal with her Regency hero coming to life in her living room, closely followed by a series of dead bodies.

I know I’m leaving out a ton of rollicksome, frolicsome mystery novels– so which madcap mysteries would you recommend?

8 Comments

  1. jen on March 5, 2012 at 9:47 am

    Yes! Love, love, *love* The Thin Woman and Down the Garden Path. Fantastic reads.

  2. leslie on March 5, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    Marion Chesney’s Edwardian mystery series starting with “Our Lady of Pain” is a hoot.

  3. Sheila on March 5, 2012 at 3:02 pm

    Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness ! found out about here.

  4. CelineB on March 5, 2012 at 3:40 pm

    Lisa Lutz’s Spellman series.

  5. Amy on March 6, 2012 at 9:54 am

    I second the Spellman’s! The latest installment was just released last week.

  6. Bridget Erin on March 6, 2012 at 12:24 pm

    I love Janet Evanovich’s sseries. I’m through the first 3, only 15 more to go!

  7. Pamela E. Harris on March 6, 2012 at 9:46 pm

    You have named all my favorites!

  8. Molly on March 9, 2012 at 11:04 pm

    I love Agnes & the Hitman!!

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