I have a request and was hoping to appeal to the broad knoweldge here. My mom's birthday is coming up and I recently learned what books she loves to read. I've gone thirty years without knowing, which is horrible. She loves mysteries. She grew up reading every Nancy Drew. I asked her why she doesn't buy mysteries and she says she doesn't know which one to get and she likes them to have a little romance too, but just a little. So, is there anyone here that can recommend a great mystery with a little romance for a fifty something and preferably rated PG-13 at the most? I am not familiar with mystery stories. Thank you oh Great, Knowledgeable, Helpful, and Kind Hatrackers. (a little flatery never hurt anyone)
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
Not a lot of romance and what there is is rather bittersweet, but I'd recommend Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series of mysteries. Both my daughter and I enjoy them, and they are more like than PG (except, perhaps, for memories of World War I after which the novels are set).
Alexander McCall Smith's Number One Ladies Detective Agency books are delightful and also PG. I hear that HBO is starting a series based on the books, and I really wish I could see that.
Tony Hillerman's Navajo detective series are great and also PG. I'm so sorry he is no longer with us and that there will be no more of his books.
Posted by extrinsic (Member # 8019) on :
Two mystery writers are in the contemporary vanguard, Janet Evanovich and Patricia Cornwell, though some categorize Cornwell's novels as psychological thrillers. Evanovich's target audience is largely suburban housewives. Both incorporate romance to varying degrees in their series.
Patricia Cornwell is best known for her "Kay Scarptetta" series. Janet Evanovich is best known for her "Stephanie Plum" series.
Wikipedia covers both in depth.
[This message has been edited by extrinsic (edited April 04, 2009).]
Posted by Meredith (Member # 8368) on :
I'm not usually a big mystery fan. But I have enjoyed Lilian Jackson Braun's "The Cat Who . . . " series. Except for The Cat Who Saw Stars. I didn't like the ending of that one.
PG-13 at most. With very little romance, though Qwilleran does have a girlfriend in the later books. But he is very fond of his Siamese cats, Koko and Yum-Yum. The later books, set in Moose County, are definitely better than the earlier ones set in some unnamed city.
Posted by Kitti (Member # 7277) on :
And Rita Mae Brown (coauthered with her cat - Sneak Pie Brown) has a series that's similar to The Cat Who... books, only the MC is female.
Another author to consider is Ellis Peters. The MC of her Brother Cadfael books is a Benedictine monk so he's not doing anything romantic, but usually there's a set of star-crossed lovers somewhere in each book.
[This message has been edited by Kitti (edited April 04, 2009).]
Posted by wetwilly (Member # 1818) on :
Lawrence Block's "The Burglar who..." series is highly entertaining. The romance is pretty superficial and physical (but not graphic), but the stories are really fun.
Posted by snapper (Member # 7299) on :
Probably not for your Mom but the best Sci-Fi mystery is The Long Arm of Gil Hamilton by Larry Niven, IMO.
The later books, set in Moose County, are definitely better than the earlier ones set in some unnamed city.