Raise your hand if you were raised reading amateur sleuths like Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys! I never stumbled into a real-life mystery during my childhood but that didn’t prevent me from picturing myself solving mysteries with my surely amazing powers of observation and deduction. I was certain I could be as skilled as Nancy, Joe, and Frank if given the opportunity. My imagination was likely also fueled by books like Harriet the Spy and the other kid-sleuth books I gobbled up after every library visit.
Many years have passed since then and I’m still drawn to stories about amateur detectives: there’s something about an ordinary person solving a crime that’s so appealing. An amateur sleuth is different from a private investigator: they’re not getting paid for their work and they typically stumble into the mystery, rather than being called to a scene as part of their job. A great amateur detective book makes it easy to think about what you’d do in their shoes and if you would have the chops to solve the crime.
There are so many directions this list could have gone in. Cozy mysteries, for instance, primarily feature amateur sleuths—but since we have a cozy mystery book list coming up soon(!!) I tried to limit those selections in favor of others.
As always, this list is merely a starting point. I hope you’ll share your favorite novels about amateur sleuths in the comments.
12 novels about amateur sleuths
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Death Below Stairs
In this historical mystery, cook Kat Holloway doesn’t mind the eccentricities of her employers so long as they let her rule the kitchen. When her kitchen maid is murdered, Kat is compelled to seek justice on her behalf. She turns to delivery man Daniel—who is more than he seems—and a few others to aid in her quest. But this is no mere murder: it involves a threat against Queen Victoria herself. A good pick for Downton Abbey fans. More info →
Mrs. Plansky’s Revenge
Loretta Plansky, recently widowed, is living in a Florida retirement community, staying busy, and focused on the neighbors’ gardens and her tennis game. Accustomed to getting phone calls from family members asking for money, she’s not surprised when her grandson Will calls and asks for $10,000 to get out of a jam. Except the caller isn’t actually Will and by morning, they’ve absconded with Loretta’s life savings. When law enforcement claims they’ll have no luck finding the scammers, Loretta takes things into her own hands. Her journey takes her to Romania and leads to so much more. I so enjoyed Mrs Plansky's sense of humor, as well as the frequent jokes about American grammar. This is a good pick for fans of the Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman. More info →
Magpie Murders
Editor Susan Ryeland has worked with author Alan Conway for years, putting up with his eccentricities for the sake of his bestselling detective series. Every Atticus Pünd mystery novel he pens feels pretty much the same to Susan by now, each one set in a small English village, following an Agatha Christie-like formula. When Susan reads Conway’s latest, however, she finds there might be more to the fictional mystery at Pye Hall. In fact, the more she reads, the more she becomes convinced that the story between the pages points to a real-life mystery. More info →
Like a Sister
When disgraced Black reality TV star Desiree Pierce is found dead in the Bronx the morning after her 25th birthday, the police chalk up to an overdose. Her estranged half-sister Lena doesn’t buy it. There’s no way Desiree would have been in that neighborhood. She’s driven to find the truth, no matter what family secrets she stumbles into along the way. Part family drama, part thriller and wonderfully narrated by Bahni Turpin. More info →
The Thursday Murder Club (The Thursday Murder Club Book 1)
This fun mystery reminded me so much of Angela Lansbury and Murder She Wrote, and holds appeal for readers aged 18 to 80-something and beyond. It's set in a retirement community, where four friends meet in the Jigsaw Room every week to chat about unsolved crimes. This group of 70-somethings call themselves "The Thursday Murder Club." When bodies start piling up in a local case, they set out to catch a killer. Getting to know each elderly character and their quirks is just as delightful as solving the case alongside them. Completely charming (though gruesome in spots); the audiobooks are so well done, as narrated by Lesley Manville. More info →
The Stranger Diaries
High school English teacher Clare Cassidy teaches a niche course on gothic writer R. M. Holland every year. When one of her colleagues is found dead with a quote from R. M. Holland left nearby, Clare starts to see her favorite works of literature in a whole new light. What follows is a procedural campus mystery for book lovers, told in three rotating perspectives—a perfect novel to read curled up in an armchair with a hot cup of tea. More info →
The Maid: A Novel
Fans of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and fast-moving, plot-driven mysteries will enjoy this tale of a conscientious, neurodivergent maid seeking to prove her innocence after she becomes the prime suspect in a wealthy man's murder at a swanky hotel. (Psst—the second book in the series comes out on November 28!) More info →
The Woman in the Library
This utterly compelling read features not just a book within a book but a mystery within a mystery! Australian writer Freddie Kincaid is working in Boston after winning a literary fellowship. She's sharing a table with three strangers at the Boston Public Library when the quiet is pierced by a woman's scream—and the four, who quickly bond after sharing this frightening moment, later discover that what they really may have heard was a murder taking place. But wait! Freddie and her pals are actually characters in a novel that established Australian writer Hannah Tigone is working on, and she's mailing chapters we're reading to a doting fan who has some advice for Hannah ... along with pointed tips that grow ever more disturbing. This is a fun little puzzle box of a book, although I've got to warn you: some of you are going to hate the ending. More info →
Death Comes to Marlow
This was Donna’s addition to the 2023 Summer Reading Guide. She says: I love a humorous murder mystery with an older amateur detective, and in this book that’s 78-year-old Judith Potts, a crossword puzzle author. Don’t be concerned that this is book two in the Marlow Murder Club series, you can easily jump in here if you haven’t read the first one. The police suspect suicide when a man is found crushed to death in a locked study during his pre-wedding party, but Judith and her friends Susie and Becks are immediately suspicious of the other guests. If you’re a fan of The Thursday Murder Club series or Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple books, I think you’ll have a lot of fun with this one! More info →
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
This was a fun romp! This adorable tea shop murder mystery has serious Only Murders in the Building vibes and boasts a pleasantly large cast of (mostly) likeable characters. When the titular 60-year old widow awakes one morning to find a dead body clutching a flash drive on the floor of her tea shop, she calls in the authorities. (She doesn't want to, but her son convinces her she has to). But, unimpressed by their approach to the case and unconvinced they can get to the truth of what happened, she takes matters into her own hands, with delightful and chaotic results and a feel-good ending I didn't expect. This was a wonderful palate cleanser after a string of serious reads. More info →
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It
A witty mystery about a stressed out single mother/novelist. Behind on her deadline, Finlay Donovan gets on a call with her literary agent to discuss the plot of her new suspense novel…which causes someone to believe she’s in the business of disposing of lackluster husbands. When she gets tangled up in a murder investigation, she finds she much prefers writing about fictional crime to living it but she can’t bring herself to walk away. A good pick for anyone who enjoys plots that are a bit over the top. More info →
Death by Dumpling: A Noodle Shop Mystery
Lana Lee returns to Cleveland to help at her family’s Chinese restaurant after her life implodes. It’s her best option, despite never thinking she’d go back. When the restaurant’s property manager dies of anaphylactic shock after eating shrimp dumplings Lana delivered herself, it defies belief. The staff knew about his severe shellfish allergy and never would have sent him that but the cook is arrested nonetheless. Lana can’t let an innocent man go to jail so she takes up the case herself, no matter what hot water it might put her in. More info →
Who are your favorite fictional amateur sleuths? Please tell us in the comments section!
P.S. 20 unputdownable mysteries and thrillers to keep you glued to the page and 12 bookish mysteries about bibliophiles and bookstores.
53 comments
How can you leave Harriet the Spy off this list?!?!
Flavia de Luce- starting with the Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie! Great list.
I agreed! Wonderful series!
I love Flavia!
Yes!!!!! Totally agree. The audiobook reader is simply amazing in this series as well.
I came here to add Flavia de Luce. Definitely agree.
Flavia!!!! She is the best! This list wouldn’t be complete without her!
Flavia is my favorite!!
Flavia is a delight!
I truly love the on-going Beatrice Hyde-Clare series by Lynn Messina.
This series is new to me, thanks for sharing!
Veronica Speedwell
I am loving listening to this series on audio!
Clearly amateur sleuth is one of my preferred genres because I’ve read and loved many of the books (series) on this list! I am excited to try a few of them I have not read like Stranger Diaries, Death Below Stairs, Death by Dumpling, and Mrs. Plansky. Thanks for the great list!
I recommend Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest. It’s about a psychic travel agent and was a lot of fun. There’s a second in the series as well.
Oh Katie, I just read Grave Reservations and second your recommendation! I need to read the second in the series!
I loved the two books in the Grave Reservations series!
I’m currently reading the Mother-Daughter Murder Night and enjoying it. Three generations of smart women!
I didn’t know this was a multi-generational story!
The Truly Devious series by Maureen Johnson features Stevie Bell, one of my favorite modern amateur sleuths. As a kid, I couldn’t get enough of Trixie Belden!
Loved Truly Devious so much!!
How about the new Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney series by Claudia Gray, featuring characters from Jane Austen novels and their descendants? Starting with The Murder of Mr. Wickham (we’re happy to see him get his!). So far only two books but I expect there will be more.
This is such a great addition! (And yes, Claudia Gray has confirmed a third one is on the way!)
My favourite is the Lane Winslow series….although, is she an amateur sleuth is she is a former British spy? I also enjoy the Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas and the Lady Emily series by Tasha Alexander. I read Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge and am looking forward to the second one.
I loved the Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman, so I can’t wait to check out “ Mrs Plansky’s Revenge.”
I’m happy to hear it!
I just finished Mother Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon, which had well developed characters. Great narration by Jane Oppenheimer was a bonus.
I’m in the middle of reading the Lady Julia Grey series – so good! I also enjoy Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series and look forward to the next book!
LOVE Veronica Speedwell!
Me too!
For those who prefer lighter mysteries, the Miss Julia series is just the ticket! The first is Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind. I’ve loved all that I’ve read so far.
Miss. Julia is a treasure!
What a wonderful list! I have read a few and added even more to my library holds list! Thanks, Anne!
I am enjoying the Mattie Winston series by Annalise Ryan. A nurse turned Assistant Coroner and sleuth. Really funny, some romance and crime solving.
Thank you for recommending this author . I am listening to the first book of the series on audio and it is hilarious!!!
These are exactly what I’m looking for every October! I am certainly a seasonally inspired reader. It’s been said before, but I must second…or third…or fourth it: Flavia de Luce! I meant to post this on another strand about seasonal reading, I Am Half-Sick of Shadows is one of my favorite Flavia books and one of my favorite Christmas season reads!
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder!
Love this list! I’ll gobble up anything by Elly Griffiths, who also writes the wonderful Ruth Galloway series. My newest favorite amateur sleuth:
Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia – a great fall New England read filled with spooky doings, a fantastic protagonist and a reverence for all things Edgar Allen Poe. More traditional than cozy and such a smart ride. It’s one of those where I immediately start searching out the author’s backlist (write faster, Kate!).
I just read Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge and it was an excellent book and definitely fits the bill. I will be checking out her others soon!
I adore the series by SJ Bennett, Her Majesty the Queen Investigates. The first in the series is The Windsor Knot.
Ditto! The Queen as an amateur sleuth!! Who can’t love that??
One of my favorite series with an amateur sleuth is the Holmes on the Range series by Steven Hockensmith- they also happen to be very funny.
I loved this series, too. I laughed out loud so many times…very silly but very fun.
Thanks for this new list Anne! With winter coming, I needed some new choices in my TBR and this list has given me plenty.
I’m happy to hear it!
A wonderful,slightly older classic series – the Brother Cadfael mysteries by Ellis Peters. Brother Cadfael is the herbalist at the Benedictine monastery in Shrewsbury, a former Crusader and sailor who has seen a chunk of the world. His duties enable him to leave the monastery, which comes in handy. A Morbid Taste for Bones is the first in the series. Highly recommended.
A good suggestion. I’ve read all the Cadfaels and enjoyed them.
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency is another book/series that comes to mind. Even though Precious Ramotswe opens a detective agency in her Botswana community, she is untrained and relies on a book by an American private detective for her methods and principles. My husband and I have devoured every book in this 20+ title series!
A perfect addition to this list would be the latest two Benjamin Stevenson books-Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone and Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect.
I would add The Agathas and The Night in Question by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson.
Check out books by Marty Wingate about her amateur detective and gardener, Pru, such as The Potting Shed mysteries.
I came here to comment about the Flavia de Luce series but I see lots of others have beat me to it. Let me just say that the reader for the audiobooks is superb. Since I am Canadian I want to showcase a few books that you might enjoy. Catherine Macdonald has, so far, written two books starring a Presbyterian minister as the sleuth (Put on the Armor of Light and So Many Windings). Michael Van Rooy wrote three books featuring his ex-con sleuth before Van Rooy’s untimely death (An Ordinary Decent Criminal, Your Friendly Neighbourhood Criminal, and A Criminal to Remember). And C. C. Benison has two series–Her Majesty Investigates (set in differing royal castles) and Father Christmas (another minister investigator starting with Twelve Drummers Drumming).
A great inclusion in this list would be the two newest books by Benjamin Stevenson – Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone and “Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect.”
I’d like to add Julie Mulhern’s Country Club Murder Series. Her amateur sleuth is Ellison Russell Jones. The books are set in Kansas City, Missouri during the 70s. Currently, there are 17 books in the series, I’ve read them all and they have been highly entertaining.
I’m glad you mentioned Kellye Garrett’s Like a Sister. A good, gritty NYC novel. It was more to my taste than her earlier Hollywood Homicide.
The Bishop Blackie novels by Andrew Greeley are fun. The one I return to is The Bishop and the Beggar Girl of St. Germain. The late Andrew Greeley was a Catholic priest and U of Chicago sociologist. Bishop Blackie and Greeley, while faithful to the church, are not averse to pushing the boundaries. The ending of Beggar Girl is quite startling.
I’ll stop with mentioning Blind Faith by Alicia Beckman, a complex cold-case mystery.Beckman is a pen name for Leslie Budewitz, who writes two cozy series.