| The Queens of Crime by Marie BenedictDorothy L. Sayers, a cofounder of the Detection Club, wants to prove to the male members that the women writers are just as worthy. So in 1931, she teams up with Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy to solve a real murder. Read-alikes: Colleen Cambridge's Phyllida Bright mysteries; Nicola Upson's Josephine Tey mysteries; Nina de Gramont's "The Christie Affair". |
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| The Next Deadly Chapter by V.M. BurnsNewly engaged cozy mystery author Samantha Washington gives a talk at a casino that's interrupted by a heckler. When he's later found dead and her future mother-in-law is a suspect, Sam investigates. The modern murder case combined with excerpts from Sam's historical work-in-progress gives readers two cases to enjoy in this charming 10th Mystery Bookshop novel that's fine for newcomers. |
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| The Dark Hours by Amy JordanIn this gripping dual timeline debut, retired Garda detective Julia Harte is relieved to hear the serial killer she put away in 1994 has died. Then she learns that a copycat crime has occurred in Cork and she's needed on the disturbing case, forcing her to leave her rural home behind and face old demons. For other crime novels set in Ireland, try Tana French's Dublin Police Squad series or Dervla McTiernan's Cormac Reilly books. |
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| The Lost House by Melissa LarsenAgnes' grandfather left Iceland for California 40 years ago after villagers blamed him for killing his wife and child. With him dead and a podcaster wanting to explore the cold case, Agnes travels to her ancestral home hoping to clear his name and finds herself looking into a new death in this "haunting whodunit" ('Kirkus Reviews'). Read-alikes: Scandinavian crime novels by Camilla Läckberg or Ragnar Jónasson. |
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| Knife Skills for Beginners by Orlando MurrinThough he's still mourning his husband's death, London chef Paul Delamare agrees to teach a culinary course for an injured friend. But after Paul finds his pal dead, he becomes the prime suspect and needs to clear his name. This amusing debut by a chef/food writer features a closed circle of suspects, recipes, and a bit more edge than some cozies. Read-alike: Jessa Maxwell's "The Golden Spoon". |
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| Murder in the Dressing Room by Holly StarsIn London's Soho neighborhood, Misty Divine's drag mother, Lady Lady, is found murdered in a stolen dress in her dressing room. When the cops assume the performers are guilty, Misty steps up to solve the crimes. Fans of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' will want to pick up this debut that has "lovable characters, lively dialogue, and dry humor" ('Publishers Weekly'). |
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Pro Bono
by Thomas Perry
Los Angeles attorney Charles Warren is helping a young widow find her late husband's missing money when he recognizes a con job that targeted his widowed mother years before, and he quickly becomes entangled in the web of fraud, betrayal, and criminals surrounding the theft.
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This Book Will Bury Me: A Novel
by Ashley Winstead
Five amateur sleuths, whose hunt for an elusive killer catapults them into danger as the world watches. It's the most famous crime in modern history. But only she knows the true story. After the unexpected death of her father, college student Jane Sharp longs for a distraction from her grief. She becomes obsessed with true crime, befriending armchair detectives who teach her how to hunt killers from afar. In this morbid internet underground, Jane finds friendship, purpose, and even glory... So when news of the shocking deaths of three college girls in Delphine, Idaho takes the world by storm, and sleuths everywhere race to solve the crimes,
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The Silent Film Star Murders
by Melodie Campbell
The Merry Widows are back! Lady Lucy Revelstoke and her pickpocket-turned-maid Elf are once again embarking on a transatlantic crossing. Also on board are Renata Harwood, star of the silver screen, and her bitter rival, Stella Burke. Roy Armitage may be Renata’s husband, but he used to be Stella’s man. Everyone expects these leading ladies to serve up delicious drama at dinner, but things take a tragic turn when Renata’s little sister goes missing. Has she been seduced by a cad and hiding out in second-class, as Renata fears, or has the poor girl thrown herself overboard?
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Kills Well With Others
by Deanna Raybourn
Four women assassins, senior in status-and in age-sharpen their knives for another bloody good adventure in this riotous follow-up to the New York Times bestselling sensation "Killers of a Certain Age". After more than a year of laying low, Billie, Helen,Mary Alice, and Natalie are called back into action. They have enjoyed their time off, but the lack of excitement is starting to chafe: a professional killer can only take so many watercolor classes and yoga sessions without itching to strangle someone...literally. When they receive a call from the head of the elite assassin organization known as the Museum, they are ready tackle the greatest challenge of their careers.
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