Diana sent me a letter asking for help finding authors similar to sleuth Daisy Dalrymple’s creator, Carola Dunn:
“I’m hoping you’ll be willing to give me a suggestion or two – I especially love … Carola Dunn (Daisy Dalrymple). … do you have any specific author suggestions?”
I am going to start the list off with Jacqueline Winspear (who Diana suggested in her letter) and some other authors who I think Diana might be able to substitute Carola Dunn with, now that she is all caught up with Dunn’s Daisy Dalrymple mysteries.
Authors Who Are Similar to Carola Dunn:
Susan Wittig Albert: Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter Mystery Series
Nancy Atherton: Aunt Dimity Mystery Series
M. C. Beaton (aka Marion Chesney): Hamish Mcbeth Mystery Series
Rhys Bowen: Molly Murphy Mystery Series AND Lady Georgiana Mystery Series
Emily Brightwell: Mrs. Jeffries Mystery Series
Marion Chesney (aka M. C. Beaton): Edwardian Murder Mystery Series
Jeanne M. Dams: Dorothy Martin Mystery Series
Dianne Day: Freemont Jones Mystery Series
Ann Granger: Markby & Mitchell Village Whodunit Mystery Series
Kerry Greenwood: Phryne Fisher Mystery Series and Corinna Chapman Mystery Sereis
Kate Kingsbury (aka Rebecca Kent): Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery Series
Catriona McPherson: Dandy Gilver Mystery Series
Robin Paige (aka Susan Wittig Albert & Bill Albert): Kate Ardleigh Sheridan & Sir Charles Sheridan Victorian Mystery Series
Victoria Thompson: Gaslight Mystery Series
Jacqueline Winspear: Maisie Dobbs Mystery Series
Please post your recommendations of authors who are similar to Carola Dunn, and I will add them to the list.
♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by theme, click on this link.♦
Kathryn says
I too have run out of Daiseys. I took this fine alternative from the alpha authors list –
Marion Chesney aka M. C. Beaton
EDWARDIAN MURDER MYSTERY Series:
Main Characters: Capt. Harry Cathcart, Lady Rose Summer & her Companion Daisy
Same theme of rich, titled young lady who gets a job.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Kathryn, I will go add Marion Chesney’s Edwardian Murder Mystery to the Authors Similar to Carola Dunn theme.
Judith says
I would also include Rhys Bowen’s Lady Georgie series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Judith, I’ll go add Rhys Bowen’s Lady Georgiana series to the Authors Similar to Carola Dunn theme list right now…
Cristina (Rochester Reader) says
I haven’t read this yet but Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness series springs to mind as well as Catriona McPherson’s Dandy Gilver mysteries.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Cristina, for telling us about Catriona McPherson.
Marie says
Well, I was just coming here to tell you about Catriona McPherson, but Cristina beat me to it. I recently discovered Ms. McPherson’s Dandy Gilver series which is very much like those listed above but based in Scotland. It’s a delightful series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I have added Catriona McPherson is on my list of authors to post on the site. Thank you!
Nicole says
Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher series are an Australian alternative and factually accurate.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Nicole, I’ll add Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher Mystery Series to the Authors Similar to Carola Dunn theme list.
Deborah says
Please add the DANDY GILVER series by Catriona McPherson. The first novel in the series is “After the Armistice Ball” –same time frame as DAISY but this series takes place in Scotland.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Deborah, I just added her to the authors similar to Carola Dunn list.
Moira says
I highly recommend the Dorothy Martin mysteries by Jeanne M. Dams – they’re modern rather than period mysteries, but cozy and delightful!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Moira, thanks for the Jeanne M. Dams’ shout-out!
Janice says
Jill Churchill, Grace and Favor series. Sadly, it appears to be on hiatus right now but there are 7 books published.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Janice, I know, her Jane Jeffry series is one of my favorites, but they stopped being published almost ten years ago…
Ellie says
Frances Brody’s books are wonderful cozies! I just can’t think of the heroine’s name! She solves mysteries, having tracked down ‘lost’ soldiers after WW1. She has several earlier books that aren’t part of the series. The ones I enjoy were written after 2010, for the most part. She’s bright. Enjoys photography. Her housekeeper can sew an outfit that’s inspired by a photograph! Her husband was reported as dead during the war.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ellie, thanks for telling us about Frances Brody and her Kate Shackleton Mystery Series.
Corinne says
A wonderful series is Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman. The first book is “The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax”
Renate says
Kerry Greenwood also writes the Corinna Chapman mystery series, set in Australia as well.
Denise V. says
Although it has been 8 years since Diana initially asked for suggestions, as a fellow Daisy Dalrymple fan, here are some female protagonst cozies I enjoy:
*Each are listed by protagonist name, author’s name and title of the first book in the series.*
~Ginger Gold mystery series by Lee Strauss “Murder on the SS Rosa”
~Lady Hardcastle Mysteries by TE Kinsey “A Quiet Life in the Country”
~ High Society Lade Detective Olive Belgrave series by Sara Rosett “Murder at Archly Manor”
~Lady Katherine Regency Mysteries by Leighann Dobbs & Harmony Williams “Invitation to Murder”
~Countess of Harleigh mystery series by Dianna Freeman “A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder”
And finally, my absolute favorite:
~Melissa Craig Mysteries by Betty Rowlands “Murder at Hawthorn Cottage”
Betty Rowlands also authors the Sukey Reynolds mystery series. “Death at Hazel House” (original title was “An Inconsiderate Death”)
Happy reading!
Hanna says
I just finished Sara Rosett’s Murder at Archly Manor. It takes place in London in 1923 and the main character, Olive Belgrave, left home and came to London to try to find work. Any work. I was constantly reminded of Daisy Dalrymple when the dresses, for example, with the low waistline were mentioned. Olive, too, had family members living in a manor in the country. Of course, this first book in the series was published in 2018 – well after the comments here. Rosett has a long list of books about the 1920’s that provided inspiration, mainly Christie and Sayers and I was surprised that Dunn was not mentioned.
Natasha says
I am so happy to have found this list! I became a huge MC Beaton fan during the long months of the pandemic and then had Carola Dunn Suggested by audible books. I am so glad to know there are so many more fun cozy mystery series similar to these to explore when I get through the Cornish Series and her other books.
And the comments are especially great, adding so many more suggestions.
Thank you for this!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Natasha, you’re very welcome! I’m always glad to hear when people are finding books through these sort of lists.