E. F. Benson

Although these are not mysteries, I would have to say that this series is by far my absolute favorite sequence of books, and I have read many! They are about the everyday “goings on” in quaint British villages of yesteryear. Luckily, these books have been re-released. They are wonderful books that highlight the hierarchal struggles in small towns, struggles between friends to achieve and maintain the “Alpha-dog” status. They are truly delightful books that will make you smile, grin, chuckle, ponder, and laugh out loud. (These books were published in the 1920s and 1930s, so they are a little dated.)

MAKE WAY FOR LUCIA Series:

1. Queen Lucia   
2. Lucia in London   
3. Miss Mapp  
4. Mapp & Lucia  (My very favorite of the series!)
5. Lucia’s Progress (aka The Worshipful Lucia)
6. Trouble for Lucia  

Written by Tom Holt :

Unfortunately, Benson died before being able to pen a seventh novel in the series. I was able to find both of the following books on the web, through a small book shop. They are well worth the effort of finding them. Tom Holt wrote these two books to continue the Lucia tradition. 

1. Lucia in Wartime
2. Lucia Triumphant

Lucia and the Diplomatic Incident    ’13 (story)

Written by Guy Fraser-Sampson:

1. Major Benjy    ’08
2. Lucia on Holiday    ’12
3. Au Reservoir    ’14

I have highlighted a collection of DVDs that feature E. F. Benson’s Lucia series on the TV and Movies page.