I love a good mystery or suspense novel. My sister and I used to devour them and trade them back and forth. I’ve read so many, that there really is no mystery anymore. I can usually figure out the culprit within the first few chapters or within the first quarter of the story. You’d think that would put me off reading mysteries, but it doesn’t. Here’s why I love a good mystery: characters and relationships.
It’s really the relationships of the main characters that keep me coming back for more, especially in a series. You can find those in the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Series or the Monk Series by Anne Perry. And another writer that I love is Martha Grimes and her Richard Jury Pub series. This series centers around Richard Jury who is a Scotland Yard detective and his friends and coworkers. The books are centered around a Pub, most in England and a couple in the States and that’s where the title comes from. This is where today’s creativity prompt comes from: I Am The Only Running Footman.
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I thought I’d share some of the mysteries that I’ve enjoyed over the years. I’ve already mentioned any book by Anne Perry. You can start anywhere in the series, but to truly get to know the characters, where they come from, and how they’ve grown, it’s best to start at the beginning with The Cater Street Hangman for the Pitt series and The Face of a Stranger for the Monk series. There is also the Richard Jury Pub series which starts with The Man With a Load of Mischief. And for something completely different try The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson. Considered more a thriller, I was surprised by the ending of this book. (That doesn’t happen often.) While I was right about who did it, I was completely wrong as to the why. Utterly wrong. You will be too.
Nice read….those titles definitely scream ‘mystery’….I plan to buy a couple of books in July….I should consider some mystery books
Reading mysteries has always been a fun summer past-time for me.
I love a good mystery too! But I don’t even want to try to figure out the culprit – I enjoy the unfolding.
Good play on names! I love trying to figure out who it is. So much fun. I’m most disappointed when too much foreshadowing is used and I figure out the entire plot and don’t really need to keep reading. It’s at this point that I really want great characters to carry it all forward. Mind you, I’m not always looking for the solution, it is just right there in front of me.
I love it that I’ve found so many readers in the blogging community. I love a good mystery/thriller as well! I just finished one not too long ago titled, “The Luckiest Girl Alive.” It was very good and I’d recommend it if you like stories where damaged females overcome their obstacles and come out on top. 🙂 It’s a great story.
I’ve also written some mystery/thrillers for the upper middle grade/lower young adult genre. I just finished an upper YA novel that I’m very excited about. 🙂 I’ll let you know when it’s published! 🙂
Yes, I’d love to know when you’re book is finished. And if you’ve never read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo then you must because The Girl of the title is very damaged and overcomes a lot.
Yes! I read that book and watched the movie! It was awesome! 🙂
I have never seen the movie. Except for the Harry Potter books and movies (which I loved both) I tend to either read the book or see the movie. Otherwise, I’m so disappointed.
I hear you. That can happen, but in this case, both were very good. 🙂
Cool, I will have to check it out then. So the next question is which movie did you watch. Two were made, did you see the one with Rooney Mara or the other one?
I saw both. I liked them both, but the one with Rooney Mara was better. 🙂
Good to know. I will have to check it out.
Love Stieg Largersson’s books. Loved his style of writing.
Yes. I don’t like it though when an author dies and someone else tries to carry in the work. Only the first three in the series were written by him. The last two we’re not.
I never really read any mysteries before I read the girl with the dragon tattoo but I thoroughly enjoyed it! I will definitely have to take a look at your other recommendations