15 Mystery Book Series That Keep Amateur Detectives Guessing

Series starter: Still Life

For fans of: From Doon with Death by Ruth Rendell and A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd

Louise Penny’s mystery book series follows the bold Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, who heads up the homicide department at Surêté du Québec (Quebec’s provincial police force). The book series is famous for its heroic protagonist (Gamache), a modern Hercule Poirot who was introduced in 2005 with Still Life, about the investigation into the murder of a retired teacher known for her painting skills.

We love sharing good recommendations, and this one comes highly recommended by Sloane Bernard, a lawyer and voracious reader who shares her thoughts about books on Instagram. As she says, “Penny and her bestselling Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series are Canadian national treasures. Beyond well-plotted mysteries, Chief Inspector Gamache explores the duality of good and bad, as he investigates vile happenings in Three Pines, an otherwise idyllic village in Quebec. With 19 books to date, characters and ripples from previous stories are carried throughout, and it feels like visiting with old friends (or foes). In books that I have read and reread, there is a comfort to the pages. For fans of Agatha Christie, Penny is sure to please with this award-winning series that continues to grow.”

FYI, the Gamache series was turned into a Prime Video show (Three Pines), and Penny won an Agatha Award for her 16th book in the series, All the Devils Are Here.

Series starter: The Thursday Murder Club

For fans of: The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

Richard Osman’s first installment of this series burst onto the scene in 2020, when readers needed a dose of merriment. Julianne Buonocore, president of the Literary Lifestyle, recommends this book, noting that “The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman has remained popular with readers for some time now, especially since an adaptation was recently announced. At a recent book release event I attended, actress Lauren Graham called them some of her favorites!”

These lighthearted mysteries center around four unlikely friends who live at Coopers Chase Retirement Village in England. These sprightly, energetic elderly folks spend their days solving cold-case murders from police files they’ve secretly acquired. As librarian and bookfluencer Jean Stehle describes it, “these savvy septuagenarians show the younger folks how it’s done in this witty and charming cozy mystery series that proves age is a state of mind. A retirement community is the last place you’d expect to find amateur sleuths, and that’s what makes this book (the first in a series) such fun! Check your preconceptions of what people in their 70s can and can’t do, and go along for this wildly entertaining and endearing ride.”

Since The Thursday Murder Club, Osman has graced bookstore shelves with The Man Who Died Twice (2021), The Bullet That Missed (2022) and The Last Devil to Die (2023). And if you love all of those, you’ll want to pick up his new mystery series book, We Solve Murders (out in September 2024).

Series starter: The Mysterious Affair at Styles 

For fans of: Inspector Singh Investigates: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder by Shamini Flint

If Agatha Christie is the queen of whodunits, Hercule Poirot is perhaps her most trusted imaginary advisor in her beloved mystery series books. The Belgian detective has shown up on-screen many times, including with recent portrayals by Kenneth Branagh in Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express. But Christie first introduced Detective Poirot in her 1920 classic novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles. The story begins with a sudden death during a wartime visit to the British countryside. Most folks suspect the highly dislikable husband, but a great detective living nearby (Poirot, of course) is determined to consider all suspects equally.

One thing to keep in mind: While each Poirot story can be read as a stand-alone book, Christie does include subtle references to previous cases and characters throughout.

Series starter: Cocaine Blues

For fans of: Speedy Death by Gladys Mitchell and The Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton

Among our list of not-to-be-missed mystery series books is Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries by Kerry Greenwood. Although the first book was released back in 1989, the smart and sassy “lady detective” is a modern-day queen. In fact, the series inspired the popular television adaptation of the same name, broadening its appeal and reach. Cocaine Blues, first in the series, introduces readers to the glamorous and intrepid Phryne Fisher, a private detective in 1920s Australia. The series follows Phryne as she solves a variety of crimes, from murder to smuggling, using her wit, charm and extensive skill set.

Known for its vibrant historical setting and richly detailed descriptions, the Miss Fisher series blends elements of mystery with the opulence and social issues of the Jazz Age. Greenwood’s portrayal of a liberated, fashionable and fiercely independent female sleuth is both refreshing and engaging, making this series a must-read for fans of historical mysteries with strong, multifaceted heroines.

VIA MERCHANT

Series starter: In the Woods 

For fans of: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and Case Histories: A Novel by Kate Atkinson

Tana French’s Irish mysteries will chill you to the bone with their dark blend of psychological suspense and touches of horror. Launched in 2007, the series begins with In the Woods, when Rob Ryan, a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad, is sent to investigate the horrific murder of a little girl. Her body was uncovered in the same dark woods where Ryan himself was found as a boy—bloodied, shaken and unable to remember how or where his playmates had vanished.

These mystery series books were adapted into a TV show (Dublin Murders) in 2019, but we always suggest reading the books before streaming.

Series starter: A Study in Scarlet Women

For fans of: A Curious Beginning (A Veronica Speedwell Mystery) by Deanna Raybourn

This set of bestselling mystery series books that started in 2016 gives a classic tale a feminist twist: What if the most iconic literary detective had been a woman? Like Sherlock, Charlotte Holmes is smart. She is observant. She is tenacious. And she is desperate to make enough money to avoid needing a man for support. That’s where her detective skills come in. With the help of her friend Mrs. Watson, she takes on murderers and thieves under the alias “Sherlock Holmes.” Indeed, the games are afoot!

Series starter: Finlay Donovan Is Killing It

For fans of: Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

This funny book series, which was introduced to us in 2021, is a must for lovers of wild and hilarious mysteries. It comes strongly recommended by Old Town Books owner Ally Kirkpatrick, an Alexandria, Virginia, native. “As I am local to the D.C. area, I love this humorous, fun and fast-paced book series that takes place in the Beltway region. In Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, a single mom is overheard describing the plot of her next suspense novel in a Panera Bread. When she is mistaken for a real-life contract killer, escapades ensue, including getting tied up in an unfolding murder investigation!” What’s not to love about that?

Series starter: One for the Money

For fans of: The Spellman Files: Document #1 by Lisa Lutz and Body Movers (A Body Movers Novel, Book 1) by Kelley Armstrong

If you prefer your mysteries packed with outrageous characters and a heaping helping of ridiculous humor, you’ll love all 31 of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books. But make sure to start with One for the Money from 1994. Plum’s life has hit a dead end. She lost her job and car, and now she’s flat broke. And while she has no idea what she’s doing, she decides to become a bounty hunter—come what may. Her first case just so happens to be a dirty ex-cop she knew back in high school. This book was loved enough to be adapted into a movie in 2012, starring Katherine Heigl. If you’re curious about Stephanie Plum and the rest of Evanovich’s heroines, here’s how to read all of Janet Evanovich’s books in order.

Series starter: The Hanover Square Affair

For fans of: Murder on Black Swan Lane by Andrea Penrose and A Brazen Curiosity by Lynn Messina

If you’re a mystery lover who also is loving the Bridgerton on TV, this may be the next series for you to check out. “Blame too many hours reading Jane Austen and watching Bridgerton, but I cannot get enough of books set in Regency England,” says Lynn Morrison, author of 20-plus cozy mysteries herself. “This long-running series is one of my absolute favorites because of the mix of upstairs/downstairs intrigues and excellent character development. Captain Gabriel Lacey acts as the bridge between the highest echelons of society and the poor at the bottom, humanizing every one of them while solving twisty crimes.”

The first Captain Lacey book came out in 2003, but it will transport you right into the 1800s. Be prepared to be obsessed.

Series starter: The Lost Ones

For fans of: City of the Lost: A Rockton Novel by Kelley Armstrong and Who Is Vera Kelly? by Rosalie Knecht

Nora Watts knows what it’s like to feel lost. She spent years in the foster-care system and has experienced housing insecurity as an adult. But thanks to her laser-sharp lie-detection skills, she’s now working in private investigations. In 2017’s The Lost Ones, Sheena Kamal’s book in the series, Nora is awakened by a phone call in the middle of the night. A man’s teenage daughter is missing. And, oh, by the way, the girl is also the baby Nora gave up for adoption 15 years ago. Can she face her past and inner demons to take on the case?

Series starter: Bluebird, Bluebird 

For fans of: American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson

Perhaps Ann Patchett said it best: “In Bluebird, Bluebird, Attica Locke had both mastered the thriller and exceeded it.” Locke’s Highway 59 series follows Darren Matthews, a Black Texas Ranger faced with solving crimes while dealing with the racial inequities and politics of rural life in the Lone Star State. On the hunt for more mystery reads by Black authors? Locke’s series currently has two books—the Edgar Award–winning Bluebird, Bluebird from 2017 and Heaven, My Home—but there’s hope for a third. (Locke is also a screenwriter for some of the best shows on Netflix and Hulu, including From Scratch and Little Fires Everywhere.)

Series starter: Jar City

For fans of: The Snowman by Jo Nesbø

Mystery readers who like cold, dark thrills and twisty turns should love this compelling Nordic noir series by Arnaldur Indriðason. His 2000 mystery Jar City introduces readers to Inspector Erlendur Sveinsson, a brooding and tenacious Icelandic detective. Set against the stark and haunting landscapes of Iceland, this series delves into the complexities of human nature and the dark undercurrents of Icelandic society. Known for its atmospheric storytelling and intricate plotting, the Inspector Erlendur series explores themes of crime, family and the passage of time with chilling perfection. Indriðason’s ability to weave together past and present cases, along with his deep character development, makes this series a compelling read for fans of Nordic noir and psychological mysteries.

Series starter: Poisoned Primrose

For fans of: The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow

If lighthearted cozies are your thing, you’ll fall in love with Dahlia Donovan’s charming whodunits set in the U.K. village of Cornwall. Meet Pineapple “Motts” Mottley. She’s a self-described autistic, asexual woman, and she and her cat just want a little peace and quiet by the sea. Instead, Motts finds dead bodies. Enjoy the mayhem that unfolds as she and her new motley group of friends work to solve one mystery after another. Pick up this mystery book series (which has four titles, starting with 2020’s Poisoned Primrose) if you love a diverse cast of characters, from our neurodivergent protagonist to LGBTQ neighbors and friends.

Series starter: The Widows of Malabar Hill

For fans of: Blackwater Falls by Ausma Zehanat Khan and A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee

Welcome to 1920s India. Perveen Mistry is the only female lawyer in Bombay, which means she’s a natural fit to seek justice for crimes against women. And she’s doing exactly that. In the first book of this historical fiction mystery series, The Widows of Malabar Hill, Mistry is investigating a shady will for three Muslim widows when the case turns sinister. Someone has been murdered, and it’s up to Mistry to sniff out the culprit.

This series comes highly recommended by Kerri Wallace, a librarian with more than 20 years of experience who currently works at Hoboken Public Library. “This whole series is filled with great history,” she says, “and you’ll be cheering on Perveen as she fights for women’s rights and solves crime as India’s first female lawyer.” Reviewers love how this series introduces different cultures and religions with a creative, cunning heroine and complex crimes.