I just received a comment from Princezzz:
“Help!! I really enjoy Nancy Atherton’s “Aunt Dimity”. I am looking for other authors who write the same type of stories. She sets Aunt Dimity in the U.K. and that’s what I am looking for. I can’t afford to jump on a plane and go to England every year, so reading those kinds of stories are like a “mini vacation”. Any help would be appreciated!”
Authors Who Are Similar to Nancy Atherton:
Susan Wittig Albert: Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter Mystery Series
M. C. Beaton: Agatha Raisin Mystery Series AND Hamish Macbeth Mystery Series
Carrie Bebris: Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery Series
Rhys Bowen: Constable Evan Evans Mystery Series
Simon Brett: Fethering Mystery Series AND Melita Pargeter Mystery Series
Emily Brightwell: Mrs. Jeffries Mystery Series
Dorothy Cannell: Ellie Haskell Mystery Series
Carola Dunn: Daisy Dalrymple Mystery Series
Hazel Holt: Mrs. Malory Mystery Series
Charlotte MacLeod (aka Alisa Craig): Peter Shandy Mystery Series
Robin Paige (aka Susan Wittig Albert & Bill Albert): Sir Charles and Kate Ardleigh Sheridan Victorian Mystery Series
Please post your recommendations of authors who are similar to Nancy Atherton, and I will add them to the list.
♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by theme click on this link.♦
Bridget says
Try the Ellie Haskell mysteries by Dorothy Cannell. Very funny – an American married to an Englishman and they are set in England.
Stephanie says
Hmm, I guess if I was looking for something like that, I’d start with your “BRITISH -ENGLISH COZY MYSTERIES – AND SOME NOT SO COZY!” theme pages (maybe you can add a link here?)…
I’ve not read any Aunt Dimity, so I’m afraid I can’t speak to books similar to that series in particular. But, if the goal’s mainly just to get a mini-vacation to the UK, maybe that’d be a place to start.
Vickie B says
M C Beaton – Agatha Raisin series in England and Hamish MacBeth series in Scotland
Susan Wittig Albert – Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter
Rhys Bowen – Constable Evan Evans
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Bridget, Stephanie, and Vickie for your “authors similar to Nancy Atherton” recommendations!
Arlene says
Try Simon Brett. The Mrs. Pargeter series and the Fethering series are both set in England and have similar humor to Aunt Dimity.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Arlene, I added him to the list of Authors Similar to Nancy Atherton. (Simon Brett is one of the authors on my “favorite authors” list.)
Janet says
Hazel Holt has written some 19 cosies .. “Mrs. Malory” is a plain-spoken widow residing in the little seaside town of Taviscombe, England. I’ve found them at amazon.com.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Welcome to the site, Janet! Hazel Holt’s Mrs. Malory series is one of the series I follow. You can also find her chronological list on my Cozy Mystery site:
Hazel Holt‘s page.
Barb says
Just discovered C.A. Belmond starting with “A Rather Lovely Inheritance” and there are 3 more so far.
Peculiar Crimes Unit series is more serious but SO GOOD
and all the Flavia DeLuce books by Alan Bradley.
Hope I’m not discovering this discussion too late to contribute. The books are so much fun.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Barb, for telling us about C. A. Belmond.
Also, for those of you not familiar with the Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery Series, they are written by Christopher Fowler.
And, thanks for “endorsing” Alan Bradley‘s Flavia de Luce Mystery Series.
Barb says
Oh! and Rhys Bowen has a new “Royal…” series out that’s glam and fun.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Barb, Rhys Bowen‘s Royal Spyness Mystery Series sure has a lot of loyal fans!
Julia says
If you’re looking for books set in the UK, a number of Marian Babson’s stand-alones would fit the bill. I love cats but I’m not really fond of them as main characters in mysteries, so I think I’ve only read one or two of Babson’s cat series – I don’t remember if some or all of those are also set in the UK.
Deb W says
Actually looking more for the style, the grace, the gentle mysteries and humor of Atherton, not the locale, please. Heck, nobody even gets murdered!
Gail says
yes, I would like to know about mysteries that don’t include murder and where people are basically good neighbours and funny, interesting characters.That is what I was looking for when I typed in books like Nancy Atherton, but I can’t seem to see anything like that recommended.
mariemontgirl says
Try HAZEL HOLT’S Mrs Mallory series
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Mariemontgirl, I just added Hazel Holt to the page.
Adelita says
Try Carrie Bebris, the Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mysteries. Although there are only about 4, they were enjoyable. Set in England, but not modern-day, of course.
I am also a Nancy Atherton fan, and look forward to checking out these other authors. Thank you for the list.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Adelita, thank you for the Carrie Bebris shout out!
Cynthia Jane says
I absolutely love the Aunt Dimity series – such a balanced blend of mystery, ghost story, fairy tale and quirky humor! Two series that remind me of her type of cozy mystery are Charlotte MacLeod’s Peter Shandy series, although set in Massachusetts, and Emily Brightwell’s Mrs. Jeffries series, set in England. They are both loaded with wonderful quirky characters and lots of humor.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Cynthia Jane, I remember reading my first of Nancy Atherton’s Aunt Dimity series way back in the ’90s, before paranormal became so popular. Atherton has been way before her times!
Connie says
I finished all the Aunt Dimity novels. I loved reading every single one of them, wish there were more.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Connie, you’re in luck! Nancy Atherton will be releasing Aunt Dimity and the Summer King, so you have another one to look forward to!
Susan says
I am currently rereading the entire Aunt Dimity series for at least the third time! I just started book #13, Vampire Hunter. They never get old, even if I remember the endings. Just nice, cozy, mostly relaxing reads, which is just what I need right now.
Connie says
Thank you Nancy Atherton for all the enjoyable hours of relaxing with your novels
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Connie, and that goes for a lot of us who have been enjoying Nancy Atherton‘s Aunt Dimity series over the years!
Neena says
Try books by Emily Brightwell, people do die but it is still light reading
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Neena, thanks for the suggestion! I’ll go add her to this page.
Karen says
I have been reading and collecting the Aunt Dimity books for a long time, now. It’s hard to wait for the next one… I also love Charlotte MacLeod’s Peter Shandy series. They are very similar in tone and humor to the Aunt Dimity books, although people do die. She also wrote the Sarah Kelling Kelling Bittersohn series which are quite good. I am slowly collecting M.C Beaton’s books as well but even better than those are the Victorian-Edwardian mystery series of Sir Charles and Kate Ardleigh Sheridan written by Susan Wittig Albert and her husband, Bill, under the pen-name of Robin Paige. Like, Aunt Dimity, there’s a lot of insight into people and humor but, again, they do include people actually dying. And thank you for some new authors to look out for!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Karen, thank you. I have added both Charlotte MacLeod and Robin Paige to this page.
Susan says
Thank you, Karen, for reminding me of MacLeod’s Sarah Kelling books! That will be a good place to go after I finish the Aunt Dimity series. I’ve been trying to decide what to read after that….
Donna says
I’ve not yet read any Aunt Dimity books, but I love the English cozy mysteries. Rebecca Tope writes a series about the Cotswolds. I am reading them now (5 so far). Would love to visit there, she describes the area so well. I really enjoy your website and check it out regularly for updates. Thank you.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Donna, I’m so glad you’re enjoying the Cozy-Mystery website. Lucky for you that you have have nine more Rebecca Tope Cotswold mysteries to go!
Lori says
Ann Purser, Jeanne Dams, Molly MacRae, Sheila Connolly, Carlene O’Connor are a few more authors, while some write about other UK areas, such as Scotland and Ireland, to me, the characters, settings and stories are well-worth checking out!
LISA JONES says
I Love Jeanne Dams & Charlotte MacLeod & Anne George!