Mystery Appreciation Week draws to a close and we officially end it with a giveaway of our top two reads of the week!
Ana’s pick is the fabulous Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood and Thea’s, the wonderful The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman, both reviewed this week for our Old School Wednesdays feature.
We have one copy of Cocaine Blues and one copy of The Ruby in the Smoke to giveaway. The contest is open to ALL, and will run until Saturday, February 16 at 12:01am PST. To enter, leave a comment here telling us what’s your favourite Mystery novel/series. Good luck!
74 Comments
Ali
February 9, 2013 at 12:25 amI was always partial to Dick Francis mysteries. And I have a new mystery writer that I can’t wait for you guys to read! (He’s in my writing group and his first book is coming out this summer).
Also, I have to say I absolutely adore the cover of Cocaine Blues.
scribe k.
February 9, 2013 at 2:23 amPersonally, I haven’t read many mystery novels–but these look like a great place to start! I would have to say, if these even count, that I have always loved the Monstrumologist Series, which while is not a mystery in the classical sense (it’s actually horror) but the characters in the story often have to solve some sort of mysterious case, put together shuffled puzzle pieces, and place them together before time runs out.
Sara Pepparkaka
February 9, 2013 at 2:34 amI’m very fond of Ruth Galloway in Elly Griffith’s series. Ruth is a forensic archeologist, and solves mysteries in Norfolk.
Andrea
February 9, 2013 at 2:47 amI don’t think it’s possible to play favourites, so instead I’ll give you a recommendation: Kate Ross’ (sadly only four book) series about a Regency dandy detective. Nicely different. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/351385.Cut_to_the_Quick
Gerd D.
February 9, 2013 at 4:21 amLiza Cody’s Anna Lee novels are a favourite of mine.
Katharine
February 9, 2013 at 4:38 amMy favorites are kind of old school- I’d say at the top would be Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe series – haven’t read one for years, but I can still clearly imagine the main characters and their individual quirks. Also Phyllis Whitney books and Dell Shannon (more police procedurals I guess). Yay mysteries!
Katrina
February 9, 2013 at 5:07 amI lurve me some Agatha Christie!
Katie S.
February 9, 2013 at 6:06 amI recently read Murder On the Orient Express, so now I’m on a mission to get my hands on as many Agatha Christie novels as I can.
Katie
February 9, 2013 at 7:18 amWhen I was a kid, Nancy Drew books and Joan Lowery Nixon’s books were my favorite. Nowadays I enjoy The Lady Julia Gray books.
Suz Glo
February 9, 2013 at 7:21 amI would have to choose Agatha Christie’s Tommy and Tuppence novels. I read them as a teenager and, along with Nancy Drew, those books really sold me on mysteries.
Evie
February 9, 2013 at 8:18 amI just started reading Sherlock Holmes. I’m really enjoying Doyle’s stories
Stacy
February 9, 2013 at 8:41 amNancy Drew has always and will always be my fav!
leanna
February 9, 2013 at 8:46 amMy favourite mystery series of all time is the Ruchard Jury series by Martha Grimes. That woman is insane, I’m pretty sure the series is into it’s twentieth-ish book and still going strong!
I’d love to read Cocaine Blues, as I just recently watched a tv episode of the Phryne Fisher mysteries, and it was hilarious!
xo leanna
leanna
February 9, 2013 at 8:46 am**Richard Jury, not “Ruchard” haha. Morning typing 😉
jenmitch
February 9, 2013 at 8:57 amI’m not a big mystery fan, but when I was in my early teens, I used to DEVOUR Christopher Pike books. I’m curious to do a re-read and see if they are any good 15 years later…
sandyg265
February 9, 2013 at 9:03 amI like Bill Knox’s Thane and Moss series. They are police procedurals set in Scotland.
JenP
February 9, 2013 at 9:29 amI love Mary Higgins Clark’s early works
Joanna
February 9, 2013 at 10:02 amDorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie will always be my go-to mystery authors but some of the crime fiction novels I absolutely loved recently were The Devotion of Suspect X by Higashino Keigo and The Alienist by Caleb Carr.
Liz
February 9, 2013 at 10:04 amMy favorite is a close tie between the Benjamin January mysteries by Barbara Hambly and the Gaslight mysteries by Victoria Thompson. Both of them have some truly great characters and do a fantastic job with their settings. On a happy note, both series have a book coming out next year!
Genevieve
February 9, 2013 at 10:49 amI really enjoy Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce mystery series.
Stephanie
February 9, 2013 at 10:54 amAlthough not a traditional detective story, I love Diane Setterfield’s The Thirteen Tales. Absolutely gorgeous story, writing, and characters.
Devon E
February 9, 2013 at 11:09 amWhen I was a little kid, I adored Nancy Drew. Now I’m more into Agatha Christie, and I love Spencer Quinn’s Chet and Bernie mysteries. A dog who solves crimes? Definitely appeals to my inner child and dog-lover.
Paige
February 9, 2013 at 12:46 pmI’m pretty fond of Susan Hill’s Simon Serrailler books.
Matthew
February 9, 2013 at 12:47 pmAlan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce mysteries, hands down. Though, I also really love Agatha Christie (especially the Miss Marple stories) and Anne Perry’s Charlotte Pitt novels.
brenda c
February 9, 2013 at 12:51 pmI don’t read much mystery, but I do really enjoy the Amelia Peabody series.
Melanie G
February 9, 2013 at 12:55 pmI’ve got many favourite series, and one of them is the Ian Rutledge mysteries by Charles Todd. Another is the Flavia de Luce series, by Alan Bradley. And the Bess Crawford mysteries, also by Charles Todd. And the Kate Shackleton mysteries by Frances Brody. Yes, I love historical mysteries. 😀
Hannah
February 9, 2013 at 1:02 pmI love the oldies- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. I can’t choose between the Sherlock Holmes stories, but I do know my top two favorite Agatha Christies. The first is is either the lovely first entry in the Tommy and Tuppence series or The Mysterious Mr. Quinn.
Lexi
February 9, 2013 at 1:50 pmI recently have enjoyed the Brother Cadfael series, though I have only read through book 3.
MarieC
February 9, 2013 at 2:20 pmI would have to go with Sherlock Holmes, followed by the excellent Mary Russell series.
The Hipster Owl's Bookshelf
February 9, 2013 at 2:31 pmMy all-time favorite mystery writer is Sherlock Holmes. I’ve read all the stories at least twice…well worth over 1000 pages of awesomeness! 😀 (Random fact…I tried to get into Agatha Christie but just couldn’t for some reason.) I’m so obsessed with Sherlock Holmes, that I was a complete sucker for the movie with Robert Downy Jr. and the BBC series. LOVE, LOVE, Sherlock and dear Watson! 😀
On a side note, read your short review about Cocaine Blues and Strong Poison with Lord Whimsey…so now I’m dying to get BOTH those books! hehe 😉
Thanks for always posting such amazing reviews! I always look forward to checking out your sight!
Serenity
February 9, 2013 at 5:04 pmI mostly like my mysteries as interwoven into the plot of my fantasy novels. But as far as straight up mysteries go, I did really enjoy the first two books of Stieg Larsson’s Millenium trilogy.
Peg Schoenfelder
February 9, 2013 at 6:30 pmI like Don Winslow’s surfer themed mysteries. I just finished The Gentlemen’s Hour and thought it was terrific.
Jasmine Stairs
February 9, 2013 at 6:33 pmMy favourite mystery series is still Dorothy Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey series.
Mariska
February 9, 2013 at 6:41 pmNancy Drew..always be my favorite..i even play the game 🙂
Linda W
February 9, 2013 at 6:53 pmMy favorite mystery series are the books involving Brother Cadfael by Ellis Peters. I also love the Hercule Poirot mysteries by Agatha Christie.
DebraG
February 9, 2013 at 7:00 pmI love Sherlock Holmes and I love all the stories written about him later.
Alouette Kim
February 9, 2013 at 7:14 pmNot really a mystery reader, but The Minority Report was amazing. And yes, I realize it’s a short story (never watched the movie) but I absolutely loved it.
Teresa
February 9, 2013 at 7:25 pmI was a huge Nancy Drew fan when I was younger!
Anonymous
February 9, 2013 at 7:25 pmOh my gosh – how can I choose just one mystery series? I guess I’ll go with the amazing Louise Penny’s Three Pine series. I also love “Charles Todd”‘s Ian Rutledge series; Deborah Crombie’s Kincaid and James series; Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce series; Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley series; Elizabeth Peter’s Amelia Peabody series; Julia Spencer-Fleming’s Fergusson and van Alstyne series; and Laurie King’s Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series.
Judy S.
February 9, 2013 at 7:27 pmOops – didn’t mean to be anonymous. The lengthy answer above is mine. 🙂
Judy
Emily
February 9, 2013 at 7:27 pmSarah Caudwell’s books are terrific! There are only four of them, and they’re so funny. The first one is Thus Was Adonis Murdered.
Also, Laurie King’s Mary Russell books are awesome — the first one is The Beekeeper’s Apprentice.
Nicole H.
February 9, 2013 at 8:30 pmThe nerdy chemist in me is loving Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce mystery series – but Christy, Sayers, P.D. James…all come to mind.
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
February 9, 2013 at 8:33 pmMy favorite mystery series? There are so many wonderful writers, it’s hard to choose. But I think I’ll go with Dorothy Sayers for her combination of terrific mysteries with fantastic writing (for example, Gaudy Night.) Close behind are Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (because where would the mystery genre be without Sherlock Holmes?) and Laurie R. King (because where would Holmes be without Russell?)
Mary Preston
February 9, 2013 at 8:43 pmI’ve always enjoyed a great Agatha Christie mystery.
erinf1
February 9, 2013 at 9:26 pmOH the Ruby and the Smoke! I remember reading that in junior high and I loved it! I was also a bit scandalized cuz there was closed door *S…E…X* in it! 🙂
Stephanie
February 9, 2013 at 10:51 pmI love the Ophelia and Abby series by Shirley Damsgaard.
Kate & Zena
February 10, 2013 at 12:46 amThe original Sherlock Holmes. 🙂
Alyssa
February 10, 2013 at 3:56 amI adored Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.
Susan
February 10, 2013 at 4:38 amI think my favourite is probably The Burford Family Mysteries by James Anderson. They’re formulaic in some ways and very much parodying/inspired manor house mysteries, but I find them charming and good fun.
debbie
February 10, 2013 at 5:11 amI love myseries, I like the hamish macbeth series by m.c. beaton.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
sandyl
February 10, 2013 at 6:43 amI love historical mysteries. My current favorite is the Sebastian St. Cyr series by C.S. Harris. Altough my all time favorite is the Benjamin January series by Barbara Hambly.
Giada M.
February 10, 2013 at 7:28 amI love everything written by Agatha Christie.
Thank you for this lovely giveaway! 😀 I haven’t read both books. They sound pretty good! *_*
Dana
February 10, 2013 at 8:02 amI always loved Agatha Christie’s books. As a teen I devoured every book they had of her in our small library. I always loved the idea of potentially being able to solve the mystery myself (though I never did). Thanks for the great week and for the giveaway.
Taylor
February 10, 2013 at 11:14 amLove Love PD James’ older books!
eliza
February 10, 2013 at 2:34 pmcocaine blues sounded like so much fun! and it has been *eons* since i read ruby in the smoke! i’d love to re-visit it.
my favorite series is probably the enola holmes series, by nancy springer. i love the character of enola (much younger sister of sherlock holmes), so resourceful, so independent! and the books are just so fun! all of the exclamation points!!!
Liz Bourke
February 10, 2013 at 4:31 pmI think I have to call Barbara Hambly’s Ben Janvier series my favourite, although Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher and Colin Cotterill’s Dr Siri (at least the first four installments) run neck and neck for second place, and Madeleine E. Robins’ Sarah Tolerance books have a special place in my heart – and I’d probably better stop rambling, hadn’t I?
Jason
February 11, 2013 at 7:28 amTeam Marple all the way!
bookharlot
February 11, 2013 at 7:29 amI love the Deborah Knott series by Margaret Maron.
April V.
February 11, 2013 at 7:54 amI’m a huge fan of the Amelia Peabody mysteries but I also loved Lindsay Davis’ Marcus Didius Falco series and CS Harris and Maria E. Schneider and of course many others. My true love is fantasy but I really enjoy historical mysteries and contemporary cozy mysteries.
discoveringstudent
February 11, 2013 at 8:46 amAbsolutely hands down, my favourite mystery series is Dorothy L Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries.
However, others include Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold and the original Sherlock Holmes stories.
Maria (BearMountainBooks)
February 11, 2013 at 8:48 amFavorite implies one…
Well, how about the Vicky Bliss series by Elizabeth Peters? And the Virginia Lanier Bloodhound series?
I’ll stop there. But I could go on and on.
Superbwg
February 11, 2013 at 10:05 amI still love the original Nancy Drew books, I think the original girl detective will always be one of my favorites
Stacey
February 11, 2013 at 10:57 amAlthough I really like the Sally Lockhart series (and loved it as a child), my two favorites are the Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries by C.S. Harris, and the Marcus Didius Falcus (of ancient Rome) series by Lindsay Davis.
@April V., it looks like we have similar tastes!
Yvette
February 11, 2013 at 4:57 pmSounds cliche, but I like Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes!
Deb B.
February 11, 2013 at 7:16 pmI’m a huge fan of the Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne series by Julia Spencer-Fleming.
Natalie benkovich
February 11, 2013 at 7:48 pmI live Patricia Cornwell!
Christina
February 11, 2013 at 10:06 pmNancy Drew! Was so addicted as a child & I still love them!
Vanessa C
February 11, 2013 at 10:10 pmNot a big fan of mystery but I thought Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn was brilliant. I also enjoyed the Millennium series.
Vicente L Ruiz
February 12, 2013 at 2:27 amAh, any of the Sherlock Holmes books is fine by me. And in the same vein, I’ve more or less recently discovered Laurie R King’s Mary Rusell series, which of course is indeed Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes!
Vanessa
February 12, 2013 at 8:52 amIt’s a toss-up between Amelia Peabody and Mary Russell. Impossible to choose.
Mel S
February 12, 2013 at 11:22 amI used to love Nancy Drew as a kid but these days I like Christopher Fowler’s Bryant and May series. Something so cool about old guys investigating crimes… 🙂
jillheather
February 12, 2013 at 2:58 pmTana French’s Dublin Murder Squad, with a close second for Susan Hill’s Simon Serrailler.
Ray Pratt
February 14, 2013 at 6:35 amFirst & foremost, ACD’s Sherlock. After that, Poe’s Dupin, anything by Agatha Christie and a long list of other ‘classic’ mysteries. For recent series, I guess my favorite is Steve Hockensmith’s Holmes on the Range series, because they are not only good mysteries, but good westerns with a sense of humor added on for good measure.
Justine
February 14, 2013 at 12:02 pmThe Westing Game blew my mind when I read it in elementary school. I should re-read it to see if it’s as good as I remember.