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Shady Hollow by Juneau Black
Have you ever read a book and known that the author must have had so much fun writing it? Shady Hollow is just that. In this world, anthropomorphized woodland creatures live together in blissful harmony. That is, until a frog working at the local mill is found murdered. Then it's up to the intrepid vulpine reporter to figure out who did it. Are you wondering about how all these different species, some of whom eat the others in real life, interact peacefully? Don't think about it too hard. The book is lighthearted fun, a great read for relaxing on the beach.
Under Lock and Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian
Stage magician Tempest Raj has moved back home following a scandal that caused her Las Vegas show to be closed down. She spends her days enjoying her grandparents' cooking and working with her father's specialty construction company. But when her former body double is found dead inside a wall with no apparent way in there, Tempest takes it upon herself to find out what happened to the victim, and how it connects to what happened in Las Vegas. Full of mysteries around every corner, this series will keep you on your toes trying to figure out how everything connects, while also making you excited to see how it continues in the next book.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
What mystery recommendation list would be complete without the Thursday Murder Club? A group of septuagenarians get together every week to discuss old murder cases, so when someone is murdered at their retirement community, who better to solve the case? Richard Osman's witty writing creates unforgettable characters that you wish you knew in real life. Filled with hijinks that will make you laugh and touching moments that will make you cry, The Thursday Murder Club will draw you in and you won't be able to put it down once you start. The good news is that there are already 3 other books in the series, another on the way, and a movie in the works!
Wish You Were Here by Rita Mae Brown
Your typical cozy mystery with a twist. Harry is a postmistress in a small Virginia town who brings her pets, a corgi named Tucker and a tabby cat named Mrs. Murphy, to work with her. Everyone knows everyone in town, which makes it all the more shocking when folks start turning up murdered. Harry, with insider information on the mail each victim received before being killed, takes it upon herself to investigate the murders.Complete with Southern manners and small town drama and backstabbing, each of the Mrs. Murphy mysteries is a delight from start to finish.
The Bodies in the Library by Marty Wingate
Of course I had to include a library mystery in this list. Hayley Burke, a down on her luck museum curator, gets a job managing a private library of first editions from the Golden Age of mystery. The only problem is that she doesn't know anything about those books. While trying to learn about them as quickly as she can, she ends up using her new knowledge when a man is killed in the museum's backyard. Between the references to the Golden Age of mystery and the mystery lovers fan club who just can't help but butt in on the investigation, this series is a fun take on classic mysteries.
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About the Author
Adrienne is a Library Associate at Petworth Neighborhood Library. She enjoys reading books of all genres, especially books recommended by other people. When not at the library, Adrienne is usually spending way too much time online, or taking a nap with her two cats.