H: EVERYTHING AUTHOR FROM A – Z

Julie Hyzy

White House Chef Mysteries.

Our protagonist is Olivia Paras. Set in Washington D.C.’s White House, Ollie is a White House Assistant Chef with aspirations to become the Executive Chef. When she witnesses a murder, the race is on.

A grand series with intrigue and timely topics that provides insight into the affairs of the White House, complete with Ollie’s Secret Service boyfriend.

Joan Hess

Hess wrote two series I love.

The Claire Malloy Mysteries feature a bookstore owner in a small college town with a teenage daughter (who speaks in CAPITAL LETTERS) and a detective boyfriend. Sharp wit and clever plots make these novels shine.

The Arly Hanks Mysteries. Arly is recuperating from a failed marriage back in her Arkansas hometown as Maggody’s sheriff. These novels include a wide variety of bumbling, ridiculous residents and Hess’ wit is unsurpassable.

MaddyHunter

The Passport to Peril Mysteries feature Emily Andrew, who escorts tours for seniors from her Iowa hometown.

The novels are set in fabulous locations (France, Alaska, Switzerland, etc—armchair travel at its best) and the characters and the situations they get into are a hoot!

My personal favorite character is Jackie, Emily’s ex-husband. (If you read the books, you'll know why!)

Elena Hartwell

The Eddie Shoes Mysteries. Edwina Schultz (Eddie Shoes) is a private investigator in Washington.

Her mother, Chava, had Eddie when she was sixteen. Chava has a history of card counting in casinos and Eddie’s father is mob-connected.

It’s a wild ride with Eddie and her family as they investigate crime.

G: EVERYTHING AUTHOR FROM A – Z

Erle  Stanley Gardner

Perry Mason rocks.

Erle Stanley Gardner was a voracious writer. A retired attorney, he devoted a tremendous amount of time to “The Court of Last Resort” along with many friends from the forensic, legal and investigative fields. The Court reviewed and reversed miscarriages of justice against criminal defendants. Erle's specialty was litigation and the development of trial strategy.

The Mason books are intriguing courtroom dramas. Long live Perry Mason.

Eva  Gates

Lighthouse Library series. Her series is set in the Outer Banks (North Carolina) and the library is situated in a lighthouse. Two of my favorite things! Amusing characters and good plots.

Delores  Gordon-Smith

Author of the Jack Haldean Murder Mysteries.

Another series set in England in the 1920s. Jack Haldean is a crime writer and a former Royal Flying Corps pilot who gets involved with murder.

Interesting time period and Jack’s a likeable bloke.

F: EVERYTHING AUTHOR FROM A – Z

Monica Ferris

Needlecraft Mystery series.

Betty Devonshire travels to Excelsior, Minnesota to visit her sister, Margot. All is well—until it isn’t.

In the first book, Betty has to solve Margot’s murder. Inheriting her sister’s needlecraft shop, Betty becomes immersed in murder after murder throughout the 19 book series.

And the novels always include a pattern for some needlework project.

Dick Francis

This author was a famous British steeple chase jockey who gained further prominence riding for the Queen Mother. After he retired, he wrote a series of books all revolving around racing. Most of the novels are stand-alones, but the protagonist is always involved in some way with the horse racing world.

After the death of his wife, Mary (who co-authored the books, but got no credit), his son, Felix co-authored their novels (he got his name on the books). After Dick’s death, Felix continued the writing (with his father’s name in the titles).

These novels give the reader a fascinating insight into the racing world.

Kay Finch

Bad Luck Cat Mysteries. Protagonist Sabrina Tate and her black cat, Hitchcock, solve mysteries. Hitchcock is a great, little sleuth and the series is entertaining.

E: EVERYTHING AUTHOR FROM A – Z

Aaron Elkins

The Gideon Oliver Series. A modern forensic mystery.

Gideon is known as the Skeleton Detective. He’s a forensic anthropologist who consults on cases for the police all over the world.

Gideon is delightful and the novels are extremely well done.

J.C. Eaton

Sophie Kimball Mysteries.

Sophie works as an accountant for a police department in Minnesota.

Her retired mother in Arizona calls for help—there’s a book curse killing members of her book club and Sophie flies to Arizona and cracks the case. A gaggle of the mother’s friends ‘help’ Sophie in her quest to find out what’s going on.

It isn't long before Sophie moves to Arizona.

D: EVERYTHING AUTHOR FROM A – Z

Carola Dunn

Another historical—Daisy Dalrymple Mysteries.

Set in England in the 1920s, The Honorable Daisy Dalrymple is a modern thinking girl who supports herself by writing magazine articles. Need I say she gets involved in murder?

This is a classic British cozy mystery (The Golden Age of Mystery is alive and well and represented in these 24 novels). 

Heartwarming and charming novels.

Casey Daniels

Pepper Martin Paranormal Mysteries.

Pepper’s beloved dad is sent to prison and Pepper must *gasp* get a job. She ends up as a cemetery tour guide. A bop to the head and she sees dead people who want her to solve crime. Fun reads.

Jeanne Dams

Dorothy Martin Mysteries.

Dorothy is an American expat living in England. Her hubby has just died and Dorothy is alone and lonely—until murder ensues.