Mysteries Abroad: Sixteen Cozy Novels that Feature Travel and International Intrigue

Books transport us into different places and, sometimes, new worlds. We have an opportunity to find out about interesting characters and explore those worlds through creative story telling. That’s one of the reasons under my pen name, Lucy Connelly, I transplant my characters into a variety of places, so they have a chance to do exactly that—explore.

In my Sea Isle series, the main character moves from Seattle to a small town in Scotland. The Mercy McCarthy series are twins who move from the States to Ireland. And the upcoming series set in Wales is about a journalist who returns to her university roots in Wales.

Though it isn’t out of the country, my Ainsley McGregor series (Written by Candace Havens and has been made into movies on Great American Family) is set in small-town Texas, which feels like another world to many readers.

All of these are mysteries, along with the list below,  transports us to a new place––possibly for the cheapest vacation ever. From Agatha Christie, who used her personal travels as fodder for her books, to newer authors, at the very least you’ll have some great reads.

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Donna Leon, Death at La Fenice

Donna Leon’s Death at La Fenice is set in Venice at an opera house. It’s a high-profile murder with lots of twists and turns, but she also brings Venice alive for the reader in this series.

Carmen Amato, Cliff Diver

Carmen Amato brings Mexico alive in Cliff Diver: A Detective Emilia Cruz Novel. She uses famous beaches and nightclubs in Acapulco as the backdrop for mysteries based loosely on her time as a real-life expert in national intelligence.

Erica Ruth Neubauer, Murder at the Mena House

In her Jane Wunderly mysteries, author Erica Ruth Neubauer takes readers around the world. The first book in the series, Murder at the Mena House, is set in Egypt where a young woman is accused of killing a flapper and the clever heroine must clear her name.

Tarquin Hall, The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing

The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing, is the second book in the series from Tarquin Hall, and features detective Vish Puri. India comes alive culturally and, don’t be surprised if you end up hungry.

Alexander McCall Smith, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency

Set in Botswana, Alexander McCall Smith’s The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series is set in Botswana. Thanks to the heroine, Precious Ramotse, we can feel the heat, and swat the files, while she solves complicated, and sometimes dangerous mysteries.

Ovidia Yu, Aunty Lee’s Delights

Set in Singapore, Aunty Lee’s Delights, by Ovidia Yu, focuses on Rosie Lee, who after the death of her husband, is determined to create a culinary empire. But when there is murder afoot, turns out the wealthy, and well-connected Aunty Lee, can track down clues faster than the police. This is another one that will leave the reader hungry.

Mary Stewart, My Brother Michael

Mary Stewart’s My Brother Michael, starts out during a quiet holiday in Athens. But when someone comes to Camilla with a life-or-death situation, she takes matter in hand to solve a fourteen-year-old mystery.

Ann Cleeves, Raven Black

To cool off, dive into Ann Cleeve’s Shetland Series. The first book, Raven Black, is set in Shetland during January. Jimmy Perez and his crew must break through frozen ground to find the killer. These are intense mysteries within a wonderful community of odd fellows.

Rex Stout, The Black Mountain

One of the few times Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe leaves the brownstone is in The Black Mountain. In this one he travels four thousand miles to the mountains of Montenegro to investigate the murder of one of his closest friends.

Gigi Pandian, Artifact

Artifact: A Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery by Gigi Pandian travels from the British library in London to the rugged Highlands of Scotland. She’s received mysterious package from a former flame, who just happens to turn up dead. She’s determined to find answers, but someone close might just be the murderer.

Estelle Ryan, The Gauguin Connection

One thing Doctor Genevieve Lenard doesn’t like is change. In The Gauguin Connection, she forced out of her comfort zone investigating insurance claims to help solve a murder for her boss. But it turns out the stolen items are the least of her problems in this mystery.

Agatha Christie, The Mystery of the Blue Train

Agatha Christies’ Hercule Poirot travels the world solving all kinds of murders. The Mystery of the Blue Train is book six in the popular series. Poirot is in Nice trying to solve a murder and a jewel heist that happened on the train. The suspect seems clear, but Poirot isn’t so sure about that.

Elizabeth Penney, Madrigals and Mayhem

Molly is looking forward to her first English Christmas in Madrigals and Mayhem. She’s adjusting to her move to Cambridge and running her family’s bookshop, Thomas Marlowe: Manuscripts and Folios. But when a new friend is in trouble, she steps in to solve the crime.

Yukito Ayatsuji, The Decagon House Murders

Travel to Japan in Yukito Ayatsuji’s, The Decagon House Murders. The story takes place on an island off the coast of Japan where a university murder club has come together to solve a murder. What they weren’t counting on was becoming the victims.

Clare Mackintosh, The Last Party

Clare Mackintosh’s The Last Party is set on the border of Wales and England. The murder happens during a New Year’s Eve party with a house, and a village, full of suspects. It’s up to Ffion Morgan to find the killer before she becomes the next victim.

M. M. Kaye, Death in Kashmir

Death in Kashmir has heroine Sarah Parrish on a skiing vacation to Gulmarg, a resort in the mountains of Kashmir. She was expecting an uneventful trip where she could relax. But when two people in her party are the victims of foul play, there’s no way she can’t try her best to solve the puzzle.

Parrish travels the world in this series, and one never knows where she might end up.

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