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Mystery Series

Use this sample listing to explore different sub-genres of the mystery collection - or to discover some new authors! The author of each series is linked to the catalog, where you can find a list of their books, including books not in the series, found at the Jones Library. If you want to read a series in order, consult the Novelist database or The Whole Story, which lists series in order, found in the Readers' Advisory collection at the Reference Desk.

Golden Age
These are classic whodunits, usually from the period between the World Wars.

Lord Peter Wimsey series by Dorothy L. Sayers
Miss Marple series by Agatha Christie
Hercule Poirot series by Agatha Christie
Ins. Roderick Allyn series by Ngaio Marsh
Albert Campion series by Margery Allingham
Ins. Alan Grant series by Josephine Tey
Sherlock Holmes series by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Historical Mysteries
These series are set in a distinctly historical time period.

Brother Cadfael series by Ellis Peters
Lady Susanna Appleton series by Kathy Lyn Emerson
Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters
Mary Russell series by Laurie R. King
Sister Frevisse series by Margaret Fraser
William Monk series by Anne Perry
Canterbury pilgrims series by P.C. Doherty

Mysterious New England
These mysteries take place in New England, and many are written by New England authors.

Rabbi David Small series by Harry Kemelman
Karen Pelletier series by Joanne Dobson
Thea Kozak series by Kate Flora
Faith Fairchild series by Katherine Hall Page
Spenser series by Robert B. Parker
Brady Coyne series by William Tapply
Holly Winter series by Susan Conant
Joe Gunther series by Archer Mayor
Carlotta Carlyle series by Linda Barnes
Marty Nickerson series by Rose Connors
Dr. Zak Peter series by G.H. Ephron
Lucy Stone series by Leslie Meier
Jack McMorrow series by Gerry Boyle
Maggie Summer series by Lea Wait
Sarah Kelling series by Charlotte MacLeod
Peter Shandy series by Charlotte MacLeod
Jeff Jackson series by Philip Craig
Gloria Lamerino series by Camille Minichino

Amateur Sleuths
While having no official training, these inquisitive folks have a talent for solving mysteries.

Nina Reilly series by Perri O'Shaughnessy
Alex Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman
Cat Who series by Lilian Jackson Braun
Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman
Goldy Bear series by Diane Mott Davidson
Bernie Rhodenbarr series by Lawrence Block
Charles Paris series by Simon Brett
Deborah Knott series by Margaret Maron
Irene Kelly series by Jan Burke
Nick Hoffman series by Lev Raphael
Bel Barrett series by Jane Isenberg

Private Detectives
Sometimes former police officers, these trained detectives are hired to investigate.

Kinsey Milhone series by Sue Grafton
Nero Wolfe series by Rex Stout
Phil Knight series by Ralph McInerny
Jordan Lacey series by Stella Whitelaw
Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich
V.I Warshawski series by Sara Paretsky
Matt Scudder series by Lawrence Block
Sid Halley series by Dick Francis
Kenzie & Gennaro series by Dennis Lehane
Kate Fansler series by Amanda Cross
Easy Rawlins series by Walter Mosley

Police Procedurals
These police professionals solve crimes by the book - usually!

Jesse Stone series by Robert B. Parker
Adam Dalgliesh series by P.D. James
Ins. Thomas Lynley series by Elizabeth George
Leaphorn & Chee series by Tony Hillerman
87th Precinct series by Ed McBain
Ins. Richard Jury series by Martha Grimes
Ins. Wexford series by Ruth Rendell
Ins. Henry Tibbett series by Patricia Moyes
Pascoe & Dalziel series by Reginald Hill
Alex Cross series by James Patterson

Cozies
Domestic settings, little violence, and an amateur sleuth bring about a satisfactory ending.

Annie & Max Darling series by Carolyn G. Hart
Jane Jeffry series by Jill Churchill
Aunt Dimity series by Nancy Atherton
Dorothy Martin series by Jeanne Dams
Agatha Raisin series by M.C. Beaton
Trixie & Evangeline series by Marian Babson
Fethering series by Simon Brett
Benni Harper series by Earlene Fowler
Mrs. Malory series by Hazel Holt
Celia Grant series by John Sherwood

Hard-boiled
These are the opposite of cozies, with gritty details, urban settings, and tough detectives.

Philip Marlowe series by Raymond Chandler
Continental Op series by Dashiell Hammett
Sam Spade series by Dashiell Hammett
Mike Hammer series by Mickey Spillane
Burke series by Andrew Vachss
Travis McGee series by John D. MacDonald
Nameless Detective series by Bill Pronzini

Forensic
These forensic specialists focus on the science in crime investigation.

Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell
Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs
Eve Duncan series by Iris Johansen
Lincoln Rhyme series by Jeffery Deaver
Em Hansen series by Sarah Andrews
Dr. Sylvia Strange series by Sarah Lovett
Elizabeth MacPherson series by Sharyn McCrumb


This page last updated on December 7, 2005.