I was asked by a Cozy Mystery site reader to do an entry that would include actors and dancers. I have decided to separate the two themes. This post includes mystery books that feature actors. I have only included the authors who can be found on the Cozy Mystery site:
Lydia Adamson: Alice Nestleton Mystery Series
Conrad Allen (aka Edward Marston & Keith Miles): George Porter Dillman Mystery Series
Marian Babson: Trixie Dolan & Evangeline Sinclair Mystery Series
George Baxt: Celebrity Sleuths Mystery Series
Simon Brett: Charles Paris Mystery Series
Jeffrey Cohen (aka E. J. Copperman): Double Feature Mystery Series
Lesley Cookman: Libby Sarjeant Mystery Series
Eileen Davidson: Soap Opera Mystery Series
Jane Dentinger: Jocelyn O’Roarke Mystery Series
Susan Dunlap: Darcy Lott Mystery Series
Jerrilyn Farmer & Joan Rivers: Red Carpet Mystery Series
Kellye Garrett: Detective by Day Mystery Series
Ann Granger: Fran Varady Mystery Series
Kerry Greenwood: Ruddy Gore (7th in the Phryne Fisher Mystery Series)
Stuart M. Kaminisky: Toby Peters Mystery Series
Ngaio Marsh: Night at the Vulcan (aka Opening Night)
Edward Marston (aka Keith Miles & Conrad Allen): Elizabethan Theatre Mystery Series
Stefanie Matteson: Charlotte Graham Mystery Series
Linda Palmer (aka Melinda Wells): Daytime Mystery Series
Melinda Wells (aka Linda Palmer): Della Cooks Mystery Series
Please feel free to comment if you see an author from the Cozy Mystery Site who belongs on this list, or if you have any corrections.
♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦
Cristina (Rochester Reader) says
Wow, that’s a great list! I spotted some familiar ones
Dayna says
Thanks for putting this list up! I see some I haven’t read yet, but look forward to.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
You’re both welcome, Cristina & Dayna.
Susan says
Hi. Kerry Greenwood’s ‘Ruddy Gore’ has Phryne Fisher investigating a series of murders backstage in a Gilbert and Sullivan troupe.
I think it belongs on this list.
Cheers,
Susan
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Susan, I’ll add Kerry Greenwood’s Ruddy Gore to the Actors and Actresses mystery theme list…
Susan says
You’re welcome Danna.
I don’t know if this is the right place to ask, but another book in the same series has Phryne going undercover in the circus. Are there any more cozies set in the circus? I’d love a list…
Susan.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan, I have to admit that a circus theme never even entered my mind! That’s a new one for me…
Rory says
Rick Copp writes the hilarious “The Actor’s Guide to . . .” series about a former child star who solves crimes.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Rory, for telling us about Rick Copp…
Susan says
Well… The one I was thinking of, was “Blood and Circuses” by Kerry Greenwood. No 6 in the Phryne Fisher mysteries.
I’m sure there must be more out there… Anyone?
Carolynn says
You can check the Internet. There is a listing for Phryne (pronounced fry-knee!) Fisher books by Kerry Greenwood, who lives in Australia. There are evidently 17 stories (detailed in the article) out so far, with another with short stories and recipes (?) and miscellany, and a second with the first three stories together. The series is set in the late Twenties and Phryne is quite the capable woman, able to handle most anything that comes up herself. I had never heard of her, but I intend to start reading this series pronto!
Carolynn
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Carolynn. Here is Kerry Greenwood‘s page which is posted on the Cozy Mystery site. She writes both the Phryne Fisher Mystery Series and the Corinna Chapman Mystery Series.
Joshua says
Danna, Thanks so much for the thematic groupings! Checking out this page before led me to the Phryne Fisher series, which is now one of my favorites.
Just wanted to add as a one-off for the page: I’ve just read “Night at the Vulcan” by Ngaio Marsh and it’s ALL about a theatre production and actors. Perfect one if (like me) you like that setting.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Joshua, I have found several authors from those Cozy Mystery theme pages, also.
You are so right about Night at the Vulcan. Even though it’s a stand-alone, I’m going to go add it to the Actors and Actresses theme page right now. Thank you!
Tessa says
HELP OH HELP!, I am trying to find a series I so want to reread. The main solver of mysteries is either a playwright or a director of plays. He has a beautiful actress girlfriend. I believe his name is Magnus or something similar. The author is English and has a very simple surname like Thompson etc.
In one book they go to an outdoor performing space that holds a mystery of a disappearance that happened in the 1950s. I can’t find any info in my reading journals and it’s driving me bonkers. If one of you well-read souls has encountered this author, please contact me.
Tessa
marion says
Hi, Tessa. I did a little hunting for you on Google and Amazon. Hadn’t been able to track down what you are looking for so far. If anyone can help you narrow down the name, that would help. You may have better luck than I did. I looked under Thompson and Thomson and mystery/suspense novels have been written by people with both names, according to the Amazon listings I saw this evening. You might contact your local library and ask the reference librarian to hunt for you. They often know of other sites and are trained in the art of advanced searches. I can imagine your frustration. I’ve had times like that when some data is just out of reach of your memory. Enough to drive you bonkers but if someone helps me by throwing a name or something at me, I can suddenly remember.
Tessa says
Hi, marion,
Thanks for your efforts. A friend played the old alphabet game with me and I got it. The author
is Robert Richardson, his sleuth is Augustus Maltravers. Gus is a playwright, his actress girlfriend is Tess Davy(Duh, should have remembered her)
My friend says I transposed Mal and Gus to get Magnus. These are wonderful reads with very neat locations around Britian. Please add them to the Brit list if not the Actor/Actress. They may not be super easy to find, but they are still out there. Tessa
The Latimer Mercy is first (1985)
Bellringer Street (not sure of date)
The Book of the Dead(1989)
The Dying of the Light 1990
Murder in Waiting (1991)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Tessa, I’m so glad you found the author who you were looking for. Sounds like your friend and you might have had a good time playing “the old alphabet game”.
Ksenija says
There are two books by Susam Sussman “Audition for Murder” and “Cruising for Murder” with a San Francisco actress detective-narrator. I’ve read the Audition – excellent plot and a superb example of writing craftsmanship.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you for telling us about Susan Sussman’s Morgan Taylor Mystery Series.
Anne Madison says
An actor and director as well as a novelist, Ngaio Marsh also wrote Killer Dolphin (Death at the Dolphin), Enter a Murderer, Final Curtain, Light Thickens and Vintage Murder, all with theater themes.