I’ve mentioned before my frustration with the romance genre and its strict boundaries. In recent years, many of the most compelling love stories I’ve read have been in non-romance books, particularly mysteries and historical mysteries.
For example, Julia Spencer-Fleming’s Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne mysteries feature a romance between an Episcopalian priest and a much older, married cop. The adultery aspect alone would make such a story unacceptable within the romance genre, and a hero who’s pushing fifty is also a rarity. Yet Clare and Russ’ continuing story arc is one of the most convincing love stories I’ve read in years.
Similarly, the hero of C.S. Harris’ Regency mystery series, Sebastian St. Cyr, is torn between two women in a complicated love triangle. Although many readers are fans of Kat Boleyn, I’m rooting for a HEA between St. Cyr and Hero Jarvis.
For a love story with less angst than those mentioned above, I can recommend Carola Dunn’s fun, cosy mystery series featuring Daisy Dalrymple and Detective Alec Fletcher. Carola Dunn previously wrote traditional Regencies before turning her pen to historical mysteries set in 1920s England.
Then, of course, there are Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane in Dorothy L. Sayers‘ classic mystery novels. I enjoyed these books as much for the friends-to-lovers story arc between Lord Peter and Harriet as for the mysteries themselves.
Bearing in mind that many romance fans are avid readers who read widely, I thought it would be helpful to compile a list of mystery books and series which might appeal to them. The books contained in this list are predominantly character-driven stories. The mysteries also play a pivotal role, but it is ultimately the people who make these stories appealing.
My list is by no means definitive and I welcome suggestions for further additions.
VINTAGE MYSTERY AUTHORS
Dorothy L. Sayers’ books featuring Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane
Georgette Heyer’s mysteries often contain a romantic subplot
GOTHIC ROMANCE/MYSTERY AUTHORS
HISTORICAL MYSTERY AUTHORS
Ariana Franklin – Adelia Aguilar and Rowley Picot (Medieval England)
Carola Dunn – Daisy Dalrymple and Alec Fletcher (1920′s England)
Anne Perry – Thomas and Charlotte Pitt (Victorian England)
Elizabeth Peters – Amelia Peabody and Emerson
Jacqueline Winspear – Maisie Dobbs and ??? (World War I/1930s England)
Deanna Raybourn – Lady Julia Grey and Nicholas Brisbane (Victorian England)
C.S. Harris – Sebastian St. Cyr – Hero Jarvis/Kat Boleyn (Regency England)
Lindsey Davis – Marcus Didius Falco series
CONTEMPORARY MYSTERY AUTHOR
Julia Spencer-Fleming – Clare Fergusson and Russ van Alstyne (Adirondacks, New York)
FUTURISTIC/SCI FI MYSTERY AUTHORS
Lois McMaster Bujold – Vorkosigan Saga
J.D. Robb – Eve and Roarke
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Great list. I’ve never been a mystery fan, but the few series I’ve read have been because of the potential for romantic, character-driven relationships. The only one I can think of at the moment, though, which isn’t on this list is the Didius Marcus Falco (or maybe Marcus Falco Didius? something like that!) series set in Ancient Rome.
@Preeti: By Lindsey Davis? This series rings a bell but I haven’t read it. I’ll add it to the list. Thank you!
Well, I’m just mentioning this but the series is OOP and defunct right now but supposedly the author is still adding to the series but it’s been in hiatus for the last 5 years but Dana Stabenow’s Liam Campbell series [Fire and Ice] would have been a great addition to your list beside Julia Spencer-Fleming. The hero is a police officer or state trooper (memory fail) and the heroine is a bush pilot in Alaska. Their relationship started off adulterous but it ended according to the back story but they meet again when Liam is transferred to Anchorage. Bedroom door is never closed and the chemistry was pretty hot.
The mystery is the focal point but the romance is just as important. There are a host of negative reviews about this series on Amazon but same can be said for Karin Slaughter (who I enjoy as well) who romance readers need to stay far, far, far away from. But I hate recommending a series that is OOP, my apologies but they are worth hunting down if interested. Maybe they’ll come back in print someday, who knows, but the author assures me that she is continuing this series. She has two going, the Liam Campbell series and the Kate Shugak series (which is still going strong).
You’ve left off the Phrynne Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood! Similar to Daisy Dalrymple and Maisie Dobbs, but more hip and slinky.
Thank’s for the list, Sarah. I’ve bookmarked some of these authors.
I’ve been very tempted to get the Sebastian books by C.S. Harris many times, but I’m really not a fan of love triangles, and that’s what’s putting me off. Plus, if I get invested and the heroine who I like the most doesn’t get with Sebastian, it’s going to be a huge disappointment. From what I’ve read from other sites, Hero seems to be the chosen favourite?
Okay, Keishon, I’ve ordered all the Liam Campbell books (used, of course).
I have to admit, I like Deborah Crombie’s English police procedural mysteries but the romance isn’t very exciting. And while I love Elizabeth George’s series, anyone who’s read them knows that there’s a critical element missing from her romantic subplots.
But I have a quirky suggestion for romance-readers who also like thrillers. Try Thomas Perry’s Jane Whitefield books (best to read them in order) and Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books (okay to read in any order).
Neither series has a developing romance per se — but the principle characters are themselves very (very) satisfying to read about. And I think that’s an important point: part of what makes the Julia Spencer-Fleming romance so wonderful is that I like and care about both Clare Ferguson and Russ van Alstyne. Together, they’re romantic gold dust. But I would enjoy them even apart. And so, in her own way, Jane Whitefield is as resourceful and enjoyable as Clare, and Jack Reacher is as magnetic as Russ.
Now, if I could just introduce Jack Reacher to Jane Whitefield…
I second recommendations for Deborah Crombie and Elizabeth George. I also highly, highly recommend P.D. James though the romance is a much tinier part and develops very slowly and there’s some triangulation there, too, like in Elizabeth George.
Charlotte MacLeod (vintage American cozies) has the Sarah Kelling and Max Bittersohn series and the Peter Shandy series. Both have romantic couples. They’re very witty books with nice language use.
I used to read a lot of mysteries, but now I only read them occasionally if they’re character driven and have romantic elements. I gave up on Elizabeth George early on, for which I am extremely thankful.
If you like lighter romantic mysteries you must read Never Pick Up Hitchhikers! by Ellis Peters. http://tinyurl.com/267hrqb It’s a gothic style mystery/romance (mysterious events, accidental sleuth, romantic ending) but set in 1970′s England. It’s just a delightful book.
I enjoyed the Aunt Dimity series by Nancy Atherton, but I think I’ve fallen behind. They’re cozy mysteries with just a tad of the paranormal thrown in (Aunt Dimity is a ghost and communicates by writing in a journal), and a closed bedroom door. I like the relationship between the heroine Lori and her true love Bill despite that, lol. I especially like the way the author brings out that people are not always what they appear.
I just counted my stash; I have 10 books and I know there are more. I’d call them comfort reading.
A few more recs for historical mysteries: Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell series and PB Ryan’s Gilded Age series. For contemporary cozy mysteries, DR Meredith’s John Lloyd Branson series is seriously awesome, and her Megan Clark series is pretty good, too.
I’m late with this — and Heidenkind beat me to it, which is good — but BritHub 2.0 and I were out last night with friends, seeing a Sherlock Holmes play. In the play, Holmes gets kissy-face with Irene Adler (who, interestingly, was supposed to be from New Jersey, but pronounced her name ur-REN-nah; we’d always assumed she was British and pronounced her name eye-REEN-nee).
Holmes loves Irene Adler?
Nooooooooo!
Everyone knows (I felt like shouting) that Holmes ends up with Mary Russell!
And that’s when I realized that I’d failed to mention that wonderful series by Laurie R. King here. What I love about it is that I think it’s a wonderfully convincing romance despite the age difference. It reminds me of something BritHub 1.0 said to me when we were engaged: “It’s just that our heads fit together so well.”
Mary Russell’s and Holmes’s heads fit together perfectly.
Lydia and Bill series – S. J. Rozan
Lydia Chin is a New York-based P.I. and Bill is some sort of a sidekick. There’s a strong romantic attraction between them throughout the series. First book in the series is China Trade.
Julian Kestrel series – Kate Ross
A must-read. That’s all I can say. If you’re into Regency era or historical fiction, read this series. First book in series is, I think, Cut to the Quick, but my favourite is, again I think, The Devil in Music. (I’m still gutted Kate Ross lost her battle against cancer. She was so young, too.)
Death In… series – M. M. Kaye
Bwaha. What can I say? Death in Zanzibar is probably my favourite, but for romance readers, it’s better to avoid this one because the hero is pretty much an alcoholic. Not that much, but he drinks a bit.
Ursula Marlow series – Clare Langley-Hawthorne
If you like Amelia Peabody /Harriet Vane , you probably will like these two books. It’s not as strong as AP/HV, but still reasonably enjoyable.
There is an American historical (Gilded Age) mystery series I truly enjoyed but I forgot her difficult-to-memorise name and book titles. I had a serious crush on the heroine’s romantic interest – a honest-to-god-sexy news journalist who hides his wealthy/elite family background (he’s the second son of a family from the world of the 400). Why did the %$&£ I donate those books? *headdesk*
How about Tracy Grant?
I’m not sure whether to suggest this:
the Rei Shimura series – Sujata Massey
If you can close your eyes and mind to her somewhat dodgy portrayal of Japan (esp in early works), you might enjoy this one. The mystery aspect can be shaky, but what carries the series is Rei’s attempts to make sense of where she stands and what she is, regarding her mixed-race (Japanese / American) identity, and a bit of her love life (Hugh Glendenning the Scottish lawyer!).
The first in the series is ‘The Salaryman’s Wife’. However, this series is not for readers who prefer the romantic interest to remain the same throughout the series.
Most mystery novels (with romantic sub-plots) I quite liked are standalones (example: Katherine Neville’s The Eight; Megan Chance’s The Spiritualist; Will Davenport’s The Painter; Rennie Airth’s River of Darkness, etc.) so I won’t list them all here.
UNREAD/TBR (thought it might interest someone):
I have two unread books by Suzanne Arruda in my TBR. Since I’m into anything that combines 1920s / Amelia Peabody / Indiana Jones, I was told I’d enjoy SA’s books a lot.
After the Armistice Ball – Catriona McPherson (set in the Highlands and I was ordered to read this. *gulp*)
The Hanover Square Affair – Ashley Gardner
some mysteries – Marion Chesney
I second some of Maili’s choices, too: Tracy Grant, Sujata Massey, Marion Chesney, and Katherine Neville.
Also Tasha Alexander does marvelous historical mysteries.
Thanks to everyone for all the brilliant recommendations! I’ll add them to the list and create a permanent page for it. There are several authors I haven’t read and I’ll definitely try them out.
Another rec for Phryne Fisher from me! Also, Julia Ross for Regency mysteries, though there are only four of them.
From Janet W’s mum. “Hmmm. Tricky one. I would recommend Donna Leon’s Venetian series. Its a Venice not seen by tourists & the family life of Commissario Guido Brunetti is as interesting as the murders. The relationship between Guido & his well-born wife extremely “romantic”..And how about Anne Perry’s Thomas Pitt & Charlotte – another well-born wife. More romantic than her other series (Monk & Hester)…”
… I may not have phrased this well enough: she reads TONS of English mystery series too (plus further afield). When the list is up, if you want to send me a draft in email, I’ll send it to her and ask for additions … such a great addition Sarah!
One other one: Roberta Gellis’ medieval mysteries, starting with A Mortal Bane. Excellent series but cravat, there’s a subtle romance in them but with the great characters and setting, I really didn’t mind so much. You can leave it off the list and consider this a personal rec to you. Gellis can be a bit heavy handed with the historical details but I love her for it.
Janet W here: my mum, about to turn 80 this summer, lives in Sudbury, Ontario. The land of looooooooong winter nights. She was born in New Jersey, grew up in the shadow of the Mohonk Mountain House in the Hudson Valley, went to college on the Main Line in Philly, became a librarian and after she retired, went back to school to get her music degree. She is a huge Jane Austen fan. Here are her recs:
“Lately I have been reading mysteries by Scandinavian authors, don’t know why they are so much into this genre, must be the long dark winters. These are not (on the whole) especially romantic. A prolific author is Henning Mankell- Swedish . “the natural heir to the great Swedish crime novelists Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo” I read these back in the 70′s & note they are being reprinted. An Icelandic writer is Arnaldur Indridason. You can’t put his “gripping, authentic, haunting” books down. Try “Voices”, “Tainted Blood”, “Silence of the Grave.” Norwegian Karin Fossum – “humane thrillers which perturb & chill”.
I myself am tired of Anne Perry, find Elizabeth Peters too – twee. Julia Spencer-Fleming is generally unavailable here. I too was devastated by the death of Kate Ross.
HOW ABOUT REGINALD HILL? The TV series does not do Dalziel & Pascoe justice. His mysteries are wonderful & fortunately he has written a slew. Did you know he (Hill) is a member of the Jane Austen Society & often quotes her. One of his titles “Pictures of Perfection” is a JA quote.
As you know I am a John Harvey fan & was searching for his novels when visiting you. His 10 Charlie Resnick novels are top-drawer. “the benchmark for British police procedural”. Another favourite is Peter Robinson..his hero, Chief Inspector Banks is very engaging (I like his taste in CDs) he operates in Yorkshire but Peter Robinson is a transplanted Brit & lives in TO. “any reader who misses Morse should go north with Banks”.
Finally I can recommend a Canadian writer whose mysteries are set in North Bay, of all places (it is called Algonquin Bay). “Forty Words for Sorrow” & “The Delicate Storm” are real page-turners. G. Blunt won the British Crime Writers Macallan Silver Dagger award…He is not prolific but his books are worth waiting for.”
Hope you all find something here that interests you: one day I hope to be as engaging a writer as my mother! Janet
@Janet W: Wow! Please thank your mum for me. There are a few authors on that list who look particularly interesting.
I was thinking of the Vicky Bliss series by Elizabeth Peters and remembered this post so I came back to see if anyone mentioned it. The Bliss series isn’t as well known as the Peabody series, but it’s just as good, IMO.
Vicky is a museum curator who has adventures involving fake/stolen antiquities. There are six books which really should be read in order because in book 2 Vicky meets her love interest, John Smythe, and their relationship progresses through and is tangled up in the plots of the rest of the books. John Smythe is a thief who works for the bad guy.
This series is highly romantic and definitely qualifies as mystery that would appeal to romance readers. It appeals to me, and I’m a mostly romance reader.
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