I owe my entire writing career to Nancy Drew. I often say that one can’t be a writer without being an avid reader and my reading journey began when a lovely librarian placed The Secret of the Old Clock into my 9-year-old hands and a bookaholic was made. I suppose it’s no surprise that when I created my Tradd Street series, readers would call them “Nancy Drew Mysteries for adults.”
For the uninitiated, Nancy Drew was a teenage school girl who, with no detective training, and armed only with a keen intuition, loyal friends, and a sometimes misplaced confidence, solved all sorts of mysteries. Glancing through my own stacks of books, I realized that the allure of the amateur sleuth persists even in mysteries aimed at grown-ups, so I compiled the following list for other fans of the girl detective who might want to read books with a similar vein without raiding their tween’s bookshelves.
Miss Jane Marple, created by Agatha Christie
No list of amateur detectives would be complete without a firm nod toward the Queen of Amateur Sleuths, Dame Agatha Christie. In the first of her Miss Marple series, The Murder at the Vicarage, we are introduced to old spinster Jane Marple who spends her time in a small English village knitting, studying and cataloging her neighbors, and solving a murder. Although first published in 1930, this series continues to spawn novels and television series centered around crime-solving senior citizens.
Flavia de Luce, created by Alan Bradley
For this series, begun with the The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, we move to the other end of the age spectrum with precocious 11-year-old sleuth Flavia de Luce. Set in the English village of Bishop’s Lacy in the 1950s, Flavia is fascinated with chemistry and solving mysteries. Set against her own family’s personal tragedy of her mother’s death and what really happened, this series is a must for grown-up fans of Nancy Drew. The good news is that there are currently ten books in the series (and a short story).
Lady Julia Grey, created by Deanna Raybourn
No era or setting shouts “mystery” quite like Victorian England. In the Lady Julia Grey series (Silent in the Grave is the first), Deanna Raybourn uses it to its best advantage.
The second youngest of ten children in the aristocratic March family (her father is an earl), Lady Julia is thrust into mystery-solving when her husband is murdered and she must work alongside the private inquiry agent her late husband had hired to protect him to find the answers behind her husband’s death. Throw in the likeable March siblings as secondary characters and a little romance, and readers will have a very engaging read.
If you’re lucky enough to just be discovering this series now, you can binge read the nine titles currently in publication.
Penn Cage, created by Greg Isles
We move across the Atlantic to the southern United States (Mississippi) for my next recommendation. There’s something about the Deep South that lends itself well to a book about murder in a gothic setting. Maybe it’s the sultry heat that keeps tempers and old resentments hopping, or perhaps the layers of history that continue to intrude into the present. Regardless, Isles does a remarkable job of plopping his readers right into the middle of uncomfortable situations, making them sweat alongside his characters.
Although Iles introduces prosecutor/novelist/Natchez mayor Penn Cage in previous books, the trilogy starting with Natchez Burning is the first where he plays the main protagonist. The story centers around his beloved physician father who has been harboring a dangerous secret—a secret worth killing for. Penn must wrestle between revealing the unearthed truths, and duty to his father.
These are big books, with luscious writing, intricate plot lines, and richly drawn characters. These aren’t for casual, quick reading—but for those times readers are lucky enough to find extended periods of time to devote to an immersive read.
Amelia Peabody, created by Elizabeth Peters
We head to Egypt for number five on my list. The first Amelia Peabody book, Crocodile on the Sandbank, was published in 1975 and there are twenty books to the series, including a non-fiction companion volume, written by Egyptologist Barbara Mertz under the pseudonym of Elizabeth Peters.
The protagonist/amateur sleuth Amelia Peabody is a self-professed spinster who, upon inheriting a fortune upon her father’s death, escapes to Egypt to excavate tombs—but mostly to get away from unwanted suitors. Teaming up with a fellow Englishwoman, Evelyn, the two become friends and embark on their Egyptian adventure together. But when suspicious accidents and an attempted abduction occur, Amelia is convinced that someone is out to harm Evelyn, and sets out to discover who and why.
These books have adventure, mystery, romance and humor all combined to create an incredibly unputdownable series. Amanda is smart, tenacious, and funny (usually unintentionally), and she has been referred to as the female Indiana Jones.
Sadly, the author passed away in 2013, but happily she left behind enough Amelia Peabody books to entice new readers and to continue to entertain readers for generations to come.
The Gothic Ingenues of Victoria Holt
No list of amateur sleuth books would be complete without at least a nod to the queen of the gothic novel, Victoria Holt. I discovered her in sixth grade when my father received his monthly subscription to Readers Digest Condensed Books and her book Lord of the Far Island was included.
Yes, the books are a bit formulaic with a plot involving a (usually) nubile ingenue as the female protagonist who finds herself inexplicably thrust into the center of unexplainable events—even murder. And the dark brooding hero—the love interest—is usually at the center of her suspicions and our indomitable heroine must use her wits to uncover the truth. The book covers almost always depicted the heroine running away from a stately mansion or castle. At night. What’s not to love?
