Thursday Thirteen: Mysterious Ways

1. Sharon McCone is my favorite PI since Nancy Drew.  There are 24 books in this series, and Marcia Muller and Sharon just keep getting better and better.  After reading the latest, Vanishing Point, I decided to go back and reread the last half-dozen or so.  What a treat!
2. Margaret Maron and Judge Deborah Knott are true Carolina girls, and this series is pure comfort food to me.  The characters are so real and everyone sounds like home folks.
3. I'm always thrilled to learn that there's a new Jan Burke novel on the way (in October!).  I've enjoyed all of the Irene Kelly books, but with Bones I thought the series went to a whole new level.  That book scared me more than any book since The Stand.
4. Philip R. Craig's Martha's Vineyard mysteries  have given me a new appreciation for more northerly beaches.  JW Jackson  could be the slightly more domesticated brother of Travis McGee and I would probably have a crush on him if his wife wasn't a crack shot.
5. I discovered the Benni Harper series right about the time Liam was hospitalized, and read nearly all of them in one big chunk.  Afterwards I wrote Earlene Fowler a note and thanked her for helping me keep my sanity that week, and got a very nice note in return.  I really like the combination of personal relationships, California history and mystery in this cozy series.
6. Julia Spencer-Fleming has one of the most interesting lead characters in the genre; the Reverend Clare Ferguson is an Episcopal priest.  All of the books in this series have the titles of traditional hymns.  They have a strong sense of place, and the evolving relationship between Clare and the local police chief is very compelling.
7. Alex Cooper bears a striking resemblance to Linda Fairstein, and both of them are fascinating women.  Her most recent book, Death Dance, in addition to being a terrific crime novel, also offers a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the Metropolitan Opera House.
8. If I was in a jam, I'd definitely want Elvis Cole on my side.   Robert Crais has also written several non-Elvis books; I'm reading and enjoying The Two-Minute Rule right now.
9. Nancy Pickard is a triple threat, with three very enjoyable series to her credit.  I loved the Jenny Cain series, and I was very pleased to see that Pickard had picked up the characters created by Virginia Rich and carried them through several more books.  But my favorite of her protagonists is Marie Lightfoot, a true-crime author.  There are only three books in that series; you could read them all in one rainy weekend and it would be time well spent.
10. Food mysteries are always fun and I'm especially fond of the Hannah Swensen series by Joanne Fluke.  How can you not love someone who runs a cookie shop?  Very Honorable Mention in this category to Katherine Hall Page and Diane Mott Davidson, whose caterers Faith Fairchild and Goldy Schulz always manage to serve up delicious food with a side of crime-solving.  All of these books (plus the aforementioned Virginia Rich books) include recipes.
11. Linda Barnes created the intriguing Carlotta Carlyle, a Boston cabbie/PI.  Boston is a character in its own right in these books, and they don't come along nearly often enough to suit me.
12. VI Warshawski is a long-time favorite, Kathleen Turner notwithstanding.  Sara Paretsky keeps VI current and isn't afraid to show the toll that an aging body and weary spirit can take on her.
13. No list of PIs would be complete without Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone.  The Alphabet Series is one of the first ones I read when I started really getting into the genre, and by now Kinsey is an old friend. 

All things Thursday Thirteen can be found here.

Comments

[Kimmy]

Nancy Drew... my all time favorite! She's timeless!
My 10 year old is really into the Hardy Boys. They're good, too. But no Nancy Drew ;)
Happy T13! Mine are up, too!

[meredith]

You know ... i never got into Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys. I really should have ... and it is never too late.

Happy TT!

[Mrs Lifecruiser]

All though I haven't read all those books (maybe because they aren't translated to Swedish) I must say that #10 sounds really interesting. anything with the word food sounds good to me, the hungry monster ;-)

[Jennifer]

You've been holding out on me. Look at you! A veritable feast of mysterious offerings! Yay!

[Wacky Mommy]

Cool -- thanks for the list.

[colleen]

You do read a lot! The only one I've read is Nancy Drew. You know, back in the days of cooties!

[Leanne]

Hey you! I'm sorry I haven't been by lately, and am so happy to read you today!

I really am envious of people who can devour books like you. I wish that I had the curiousity that I used to have, the hunger for reading. I look at a book now and my eyes scream.

Your bookshelf is full and your selection sounds wonderful - enjoy one for me!

[buttercup]

When I was young-er I read all of the Nancy Drew books that were out. I clipped out one of the pages that listed all of the books from a book that I borrowed from the library (so bad!) and crossed each book off as I read it.

Funny, though I loved those books when I was young, mainly because Nancy Drew kicked ass, I haven't read many mysteries in the last 10 years. Maybe it's time to check out one of the ones on your list.
Thanks for stopping by!

[Gail Martin]

There is an Earlene Fowler book in the restroom at work. It needs to come home with me this week. (Don't ask any questions about the boss who needed reading material in the restroom. I never did.)

Since you love mysteries, may I recomment "Shadow of the Wind." I found it almost impossible to put down. My coworkers are taking turns reading it now.

Thanks for visiting my TT!

[Seren]

I like VI Warshawksi too. Have you read Alexander McCall Smith's "No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series? Not really a detective series as such, though crimes do get detected. But it's main character, Precious Ramotswe, is lovely. I'm also a big fan of Ian Rankin. I do love a good mystery!

[Jenny Ryan]

Oh, I LOVE mysteries! My secret dream was always to be a detective! Thanks for visiting my TT :)