9 Recommendations for Readers Who Love To Laugh As They Read
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Lida loves humor in her mysteries. She chooses her books carefully and looks for ones which make her laugh, as well as having a complex plot and great characters. This month, Jen, Carol, and Tina are sharing some of their favorite reads of the last twelve months that they think Lida would love, too. If you love humor in your mysteries, we think you’ll love them, too.
Jen’s Suggestions
A Shot in the Dark (Constable Twitten Mystery #1) by Lynne Truss – I loved this book so much I featured it in my 2023 list of great summer reads, too, but it’s worth repeating. Looking for a laugh-out-loud mystery? Lynne Truss of the Eats, Shoots & Leaves punctuation bestseller fame delivers in her series set in 1950s Brighton. Constable Twitten arrives at a police station that is resting on its laurels after squashing its criminal element in a dramatic shootout years earlier. Newbie Twitten argues crime has returned to the seaside town (or, perhaps, never left), but his new colleagues don’t want to listen. It’s very British, very droll, and very funny. I hope Lida loves it as much as I did.
The Turning Tide (Dandy Gilver Book 13) by Catriona McPherson – I had the pleasure of hosting Catriona McPherson at a Sisters in Crime panel about humor, and was so enamored with her that I ran out to read her books. I started mid-series with The Turning Tide, and loved the combination of humor and intellectual mystery in this book set in 1930s Scotland. I think Lida will love it, too.
The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne – Did you know that A.A. Milne of Winnie the Pooh fame wrote a murder mystery? I didn't either until my brother-in-law sent a copy.The Red House Mystery is a classic English country house mystery that I loved from start to finish. It’s light and fun, and I think Lida will love it.
Carol’s Suggestions
Lida enjoys light mysteries that are cleverly plotted and have interesting characters. I think she’ll enjoy Murder in the CIA (Capital Crimes #8) by Margaret Truman. There are enough twists and turns to keep her reading to the satisfying ending.
With its wonderful sense of humor, The Twelve Clues of Christmas (Royal Spyness Mystery #6), by Rhys Bowen, is sure to charm Lida. Protagonist and amateur sleuth Georgie is exactly the kind of character Lida loves. Georgie, 34th in line to the British throne, is a poor relation to the King of England. With the help of her clever and elegant best friend Belinda, her clumsy maid Queenie, and her loving, ex-policeman grandfather, Georgie lives by her wits. During this busy holiday season, Lida will enjoy relaxing with this light-hearted but well-plotted Christmas mystery.
Lida is also a fan of YA and Middle Grade books. I know she will love Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring, by Angela Cervantes. When her mother informs Paloma Marquez they’re headed to Mexico City for the summer, the young girl is devastated to leave her friends. At a party in La Casa Azul, home of famed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, Paloma meets brother and sister Gael and Lizzie, who enlist her help in tracking down a national treasure—Frida’s lost peacock ring. Soon, Paloma realizes her new friends have a secret. What have they gotten her into? Beautifully written and filled with vibrant color and culture, the settings in this book sing!
Tina’s Suggestions
Murder is Bad Manners (A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery # 1) by Robin Stevens - I moderated a young sleuths panel with Robin last year and read the first in her delightful series. It’s a middle grade book and has all the charm of a British boarding school story but with the added appeal of young girls trying their hand at sleuthing. I am absolutely sure this book will captivate Lida as much as it did me.
Malice Domestic: Mystery Most Traditional, edited by Verena Rose, Rita Owen and Shawn Reilly Simmons - This anthology is chock full of short stories in the traditional mystery genre—full of puzzles, sleuths and cozy environments. What I love about an anthology is that it can satisfy an urge for something in particular with just a few pages, with the added bonus of introducing me to new authors whose longer works I can pursue. It’s a great way to end a busy day. I’m thinking Lida will find the variety as satisfying and the brevity as refreshing as I did.
Mango, Mambo and Murder (A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery #1) by Raquel V. Reyes – I had so much fun with this book because it is so different. Food anthropologist Miriam Quiñones-Smith unexpectedly lands a job as a TV chef after she moves from New York to Miami. After someone dies on set, she quickly finds herself helping the detective in a murder investigation. This book is full of charm and good recipes. It’s a light read that I think Lida will enjoy.