Mysteries- arranged alphabetically by series- if not part of a series, then by title
Ratings-
5 stars= couldn't put it down
4 stars= good enough to keep me reading
3 stars= an all-right read
2 stars= not great
1 star= a waste of time
Go back to the Reading Introduction Page
I have read hundreds of mysteries... they are my escape. Haven't previously
considered them valuable enough to review here, but will try to start making some brief notes. Check back in the
future, or bug me if you really care. I like classic who-dun-its better than horror and gore.
Click on book titles to see the review
Albert Samson - by Michael Z. Lewin
Albert Samson is a private investigator in Indianapolis. I've only read one of these books, and give the series
for now.
See explanation of rating system
(7)The Cat Who... mysteries - by Lilian Jackson Braun
These books are very light reading, but they are delighful. If you love small-town life, a rich, distinguished newsman named James Qwilleran with a flair for attracting both the ladies and a good story, try these books (although his heart belongs to Polly Duncan). Oh yes, and he owns two cats, Koko and Yum Yum, Siamese who will win your heart and solve the mystery every time. Braun understands small-town life in the rural far north, as well as cats! She manages to come up with a new twist, and a little history lesson nearly every time. I give the series as a whole a rating of
Within the settings and limits of the entire series I've rated the individual books. I've read most of the series, but did so before I began reviewing mysteries. You'll have to wait till I read 'em again!
See explanation of rating system
(16) (12) (13) (18) (25) KaTeRiNa's Lilian Jackson Braun web site
Donald Lam, Bertha Cool mysteries - by A.A. Fair (a pen name of Erle Stanley Gardner) See explanation of rating system
Within the settings and limits of the entire series I've rated the individual books. So a 5-star Bertha Cool book will never be as good as a 5-star Perry Mason, just because the series is less well written as a whole.
March 1970 (29)
(7) (15) (1) (8) (18) (10) (24) (11) (20)
11/05 Owls Don't Blink June 1942 (6) (19) (22) (17) (4) (28) (23) (2)Doug Selby, D.A. - by Erle Stanley Gardner
Doug Selby is the newly elected D.A. of Madison County, California. He has just beaten the previous political machine of former D.A. Sam Roper. Police Chief Larkin, of Madison City, still represents the former regime. Selby is young, clean-cut, and full of genuine integrity. With the new Sheriff, Rex Brandon, and reporter for the Clarion, Sylvia Martin, Selby sets out to uphold the law. These books are Perry Mason in reverse, displaying everything good about district attornies' offices and police methods, with a crooked defense lawyer (A.B. Carr) as the counterpoint. Some analysts believe that Selby is somewhat autobiographical of Gardner's early years as a lawyer in Oxnard, California.The plots are ingenious, perhaps even better written than the Mason books. I give the series as a whole a rating of
See explanation of rating system
(9) (7) (6) (1) (5) (3) (2) Duffy House - by Crabbe Evers
This series features a Chicago Sportswriter, Duffy House. He is pulled into the role of detective in his home city. Aided by his niece, Petrinella (Petey), they solve mysterious deaths which plague the big leagues.These are books for die-hard baseball fans. The author is actually two people, William Brashler and Reinder Van Til. Makes sense: there is so much baseball trivia that I don't think one person could ever know so much! I'm a Yankee fan, and yet I was a bit lost in the historical allusions. I give the series as a whole a rating of rather than 5 because the trivia gets in the way of the story for those of us who aren't glued to ESPN in the summer. Yet the plot was good and complex, and the solution not obvious too early, and not contrived. Dig in, if you are a baseball affecionado.
See explanation of rating system
(2) Father Koesler Mysteries- by William X. Kienzle
Father Robert Koesler, Detroit Diocese, is a humble priest who is able to help the police solve crimes, which always somehow involve the Catholic Church. He is quite an amateur mystery buff. Koesler is in his mid-forties when the series begins, tall, blond, and quietly likeable. Unlike the Perry Mason books, Koesler actually ages with the release of each book. The series as a whole gets from me. They are well-done, and you will be ahead of the game in figuring things out if you know church workings, politics, and a little Latin. Each book will give you some Catholic trivia to digest. There is often a red herring to separate from the kettle of fish. Remember, the individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.
See explanation of rating system
(4) (16)(14)(17)(13)(15)(9)(2)(8)(11)(6) (19) (10) (12)(3)(18)(1) (5)(7)Fletch Mysteries- by Gregory McDonald
Irwin Maurice (I.M.) Fletcher is an irreverant reporter-turned-detective who gets himself into crazy scrapes and somehow adroitly also gets himself out of those scrapes. The series as a whole gets from me. This has more to do with the style than their clever plots. If you like the style, the books are well-written. Remember, the
individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.
See explanation of rating system
(2) (1) (3) (8)Inspector Henry Tibbett Mysteries- by Patricia Moyes (d. 2000)
These books were written from 1959- 1980 in the style of traditional English murder mysteries. Inspector Tibbit is with the London police force. He's a rather unremarkable and self-effacing man who accomplishes great feats of logic. Of course the reader is maddeningly in the dark except that you can occasionally grasp at a clue or two and figure out parts of the solution if you work at it hard enough. for the series. The
individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.
See explanation of rating system
12/07 Dead Men Don't Ski 1959 (1)Jimmie Haswell Mysteries- by Herbert Adams
These books were written in the late 1920's in a lighthearted style of young love, noble motives and with good attention to detail. They are set in London. Jimmie is a young lawyer who likes to help the police solve interesting cases which come to his attention. The style is charming, and you can't help but like the hero and his young bride. Adams wrote over 50 books between 1899 and his death in 1958, in a variety of series and topics. The series as a whole gets . The
individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.
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(1) (2)(3) (4)Kat Colorado - by Karen Kijewski
Kat Colorado is a private investigator in Sacramento, California. I give the series as a whole. The books are light reading.
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Kay Scarpetta Mysteries- by Patricia Cornwell
Kay Scarpetta serves as Chief Medical Examiner for Richmond, Virginia. The series is known for her meticulous autopsies and her knack for becoming personally involved in the cases. The series as a whole gets . The
individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.
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Kinsey Millhone Mysteries- by Sue Grafton
Kinsey Millhone is a private investigator in Santa Teresa, California. This series is the one based on the alphabet. The series as a whole gets . They are short, and can usually be read in an evening. It is also usually possible to figure them out, in contrast to some books that withhold so much info that you have no hint at the outcome. They do tend to end abruptly and leave a number of loose ends. The stories build upon previous tales, so it pays to read them in order. The individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.
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(1) (2) (3) (4)Mary Higgins Clark mysteries
Although the Clark books do not feature a recurring set of characters, they are so stylistically similar that I've listed them as a series. The main character is usually a woman, often one who is falling in love with someone. The flaws of the relationship are obvious to the reader, but not always to the characters. These are psychological suspense tales.Some might say that the books appeal primarily to women because they are often told from that perspective, but they don't have the feel of "girl books" to me. They are not about the emotional workings of the female psyche, but tap the fears of any human. Clark knows how to spin a tale that will keep you guessing and give you the chills. Some end well and some don't, so you don't have a pre-set formula to rely on. I give the series as a whole a rating of
See explanation of rating system
Melody Lane Mysteries- by Lilian Garis
The Melody Lane Mystery Stories are a series from the same time period as
the first Nancy Drew books; 1933-1940. High-school age chums, led by Carol Duncan solve
various mysteries in their neighborhood. The books are set in the Eastern U.S., never specifically pinned down, but near a state line in an area of old rambling estates. The writing style is somewhat choppy and "breathless," but appealing
after you get used to it. The plots are more complex than the Drew series with more everyday life details, and
they give an interesting look into the time period. The series as a whole gets almost . The
individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.
See explanation of rating system
(2) (1) (9) (5) (3) (4)See explanation of rating system
Mrs. Murphy is a tiger cat (very similar to Sneaky Pie!) whose best friend is a corgi named Tee Tucker. Together they aid their human, Mary Minor Haristeen (Harry) to solve murders in the small town of Crozet, Viginia where Harry is Postmistress.
The series gets The individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series. reviews from me; if you just know that your dogs and cats understand more than they usually get credit for, you will love these books. This is another series set in small-town America. The author understands rural life and interactions, and the characters as they grow through the series are almost as much fun as the mysteries.
(9) (5) (11) (1)
Mrs. Pollifax- by Dorothy Gilman
Mrs. Pollifax is a past-middle-age lady who finds herself caught up in espionage, and discovers that she is quite good at it. The stories are entertaining, although technically sloppy and the names just don't work, in my mind. It all tries to sound British, while supposedly being American. The series as a whole gets . The individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.
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Nero Wolfe- by Rex Stout
Nero Wolfe is the brainy fat man from New York who sits behind his desk, never goes out, employs an outstanding chef, tends magnificent orchids on his fourth floor and sends Archie Goodwin out to do his leg work. To Wolfe the important things in life are his orchids, his stomach, his afternoon beers and his schedule. Unfortunately he occasionally is forced to use his genius to solve crimes so that he can support his wonderful schedule. Archie's no fool, but his talent is "street-smarts," which brings verbatim information to feed Wolfe's gray cells. Wolfe is a stolid hero worthy of admiration, Archie provides the brash and flippant action, and the interaction of the two, who "by some miracle tolerate each other," is a large part of the appeal of the series.
Stout was an amazingly consistent writer over the 50 years these books appeared (1934- 1985). There is hardly a Wolfe mystery that is not well done. The cases are narrated by Archie. The Wolfe formula usually involves getting all the suspects into the office together where they are questioned until some miscellaneous fact triggers Nero's brain. In between these interviews, Archie is sent on errands from the mundane to the fabulous.
The characters develop throughout the series, so reading these chronologically can be meaningful. The numbers in parenthesis indicate the order in which the books were written. Overall, these are some of my favorite mysteries, and the series as a whole gets . The individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series.
See explanation of rating system
(21) (41) (9) (10) (13) (20) (52) (11) (73) (40) (26) (70) (23) (60) (1) (59) (51) (33) (27) (14) (15) (25) (2) (19) (42) (65) (28) (34) (12) (22) (4) (69) (3) (24) (16) (6) (57) (5) (18) (39) (8)
Orchids mentioned in Nero Wolfe Stories Orchid name Book or Story Brassocattleya Calypso Murder by the Book Brassocattleya fourniearae Murder by the Book Brassocattleya Nestor Murder by the Book Brassocattleya thortoni The Silent Speaker Brassocattleya Truffalianas League of Frightened Men Calanthe veitchi sandhustiana Too Many Clients Cattleya Dionysius Murder by the Book Cattleya Katadin Murder by the Book Cattleya mossiae reineckiana Before Midnight Cattleya peetersi Murder by the Book Cattleya tianae The Rubber Band Cypridium lawrencaenum hyeanum The Mother Hunt Dendrobium bensoniae The Second Confession Dendrobium chrystoxum The Final Deduction Dendrobium cybele Murder by the Book Laelia purpurata The Final Deduction Laeliocattleya barbarossa Murder by the Book Laeliocattleya Carmencita Murder by the Book Laeliocattleya luminosa aurea The Red Box Laeliocattleya Lustre The Rubber Band Laeliocattleya St. Gothard Murder by the Book Lycaste delicatissima Too Many Clients Miltonia roezli Frame-Up for Murder Miltonia roezli v. alba The Golden Spiders, and The Final Deduction Miltonia vexillaria The Final Deduction Oncidium forbesi Murder by the Book Oncidium marshallianum The Final Deduction Oncidium varicossum Murder by the Book Odontoglossum harryanum The Second Confession Odontoglossum pyramus Death of a Demon Paphiopedilum lawrenceanum hyeanum The Red Bull Phalaenopsis Aphrodite The Golden Spiders, A Right to Die Vanda caerulea The Golden Spiders Vanda petersoama In the Best Families Vanda suavis A Right to Die
Perry Mason- by Erle Stanley Gardner
See explanation of rating system
Perry Mason is, of course, the lawyer who can never be defeated. Is there anyone alive who does not picture Raymond Burr when they read a Mason case? With his cohorts, secretary Della Street
and detective Paul Drake they outsmarted Lt. Tragg and Sgt. Holcomb of the LA police and District Attorney Hamilton Burger for about 40 years (1933- 1973). Although they never aged, their methods did, progressing from barely legal dance-stepping
in the early books to more solid use of logic, open-minded searches for truth, and wits to win their cases in later books. (Burger and Tragg were introduced in 1935 and 1940 respectively.)
The series wins top reviews from me, keeping in mind the time periods in which they were written. They are much less detailed than some modern mysteries, but the characters are satisfying and who doesn't love a winner! The individual book ratings compare each work to others in the series. I've got them almost all reviewed, and am trying to make it so each one links into the next chronologically. Be patient... not all the formatting is perfect yet.
Additionally, beginning with The Case of the Dubious Bridegroom most of the cases have a forward dedicated to and telling a bit about some real-life person who has significantly contributed to the field of forensics or detection.
I've got them almost all reviewed, and am trying to make it so each one links into the next chronologically. Be patient... not all the formatting is perfect yet. If you want to begin with the first one, scroll down to The Case of the Velvet Claws.
(71) (39) (16) (77) (66) (25) 
(68) (28) (22) (58) (80) (21) (7) (36) (6) (24) (30) (5) (11) (55) (73) (59) (51) (20) (23) (35) (64) (19) (81) (29) (83) (38) (57) (46) (52) (47) (26) (43) (40) (27) (18) (42) (75) (4) (69) (84) (10) (31) (33) (56) (3) (53) (41) (72) (61) (34) (49) (37) (15) (74) (85) (79) (67) (45) (14) (44) (54) (63) (13) (17) (62) (8) (65) (70) (9) (12) (2) (48) (50) (76) (32) (1) (60) (78) Richard Jury - by Martha Grimes
This is the first book in this series that I have read. At this point I'm not ready to get as excited as the reviewers who call Grimes the modern Christie and Sayres. I give the series as a whole. The characters seem a little unrealistic and strained, but maybe if I read the whole series I'd get to know them better. Richard Jury is a police superintendent from Scotland Yard.
See explanation of rating system
Ruby Crane - by Jo Dereske
Ruby Crane lives in a cabin in northern Michigan, content to enjoy the solitude and laid-back lifestyle of the northwoods. She lives with her teenage daughter who is still recovering from a serious head injury. Ruby is a documents examiner, a forensic specialty which allows her to live independently. I give the series as a whole. There is a solid understanding of life in the rural northwoods. The books are light reading.
See explanation of rating system
See explanation of rating system
The Alienist by Caleb Carr
The Case of the Musical Cow by Erle Stanley Garnder
Don't Close Your Eyes by Carlene Thompson
Final Appeal by Lisa Scottoline
The Kingdom of Death by Hugh Pentecost
Known Dead by Donald Harstad 1999
The List by Steve Martini
The Mountain Cat Murders by Rex Stout
10/06 The Outside Man by Richard North Patterson
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