FIVE ON FRIDAY | Favourite Mystery Books

I had originally planned on writing a list that had to do with singular books, but as I tried to think about the books I love I realised that too many of them were series. So instead of getting five books, I thought that I would suggest 4 different series and a lone book that I love.

1. Phryne Fisher Mysteries by Kerry Greenwood

If you’ve got Netflix, you’ve probably seen a mystery series Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries floating around, especially if you love TV mystery shows. These are the books in which that TV series is based on. My Mum and I are both a fan of this series, she was actually the one who put me onto them. They are a fun little romp through 1920’s Melbourne with a Lady Detective who is much too modern for the times that she lives in. Kerry Greenwood does an amazing job of researching the era and creating this world for Phryne to solve mysteries. She delves into some of the things that were going on at the time and creates amazing, fleshed out characters that you’ll fall in love with.

To find out more about the series check out Phryne's Website

2. Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich

If you’ve seen the movie One For the Money with Katherine Heigl, push it to the side and give the books that movie is based on a try. The Stephanie Plum series is not exactly a series series, it’s what I call a chick mystery, written in the style of chick lit with a mystery thrown in for fun. If you don’t like that kind of thing then I would probably skip this series, but I often find myself gravitating to it when I need a fun, easy read that doesn’t really take itself too seriously.

For more about this series, check out Janet Evanovich's Website

3. The Tournament by Matthew Reilly

Take a thriller writer, give him Queen Elizabeth the 1st and send her to the middle east for a chest tournament that turns deadly and you’ve got this book. Matthew Reilly has been a favourite author of mine since I was sixteen and he had talked about this project for a while before he actually announced it. The story itself is amazing, told from the Point of View of Elizabeth the 1st, it tells of a trip she makes to the Ottoman Empire with Roger Aschem so that England can take part in a get Chess Tournament. During the tournament, a guest is killed and Aschem is asked to find the killer and Elizabeth helps him. It’s fast-paced, fun and really worth the read.

To find out more about this book, check out Matthew Reilly's Website

4. Corrina Chapman Series by Kerry Greenwood

Ok. Ok. I know that I have already got a series by Kerry Greenwood on this list, but the Corrina Chapman series needs to be on here as well. Set in modern-day Melbourne, Corrina is a baker who finds herself in the middle of mysteries whether she likes it or not. Written with amazing detail like Phryne, if you like a cast of quirky characters, this series is worth the read.

To find out more about this series, check out Corrina's Website

5. Captain Lacy Regency Mysteries by Ashley Gardner

Sometimes it’s nice to read a mystery series about a character who isn’t rich and is a little down on his luck. Captain Lacy does that brilliantly, giving a vast world filled with characters while explaining what life was like on the bottom of the ladder. If you don’t mind a little romance thrown in for fun, this series is worth the read.

To find out more about this series, check out Ashley Gardner's Website

Until next time,

(aka - Sophie)