The Cozy Mystery List Blog

Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV

Mystery Books with a Cards Theme: Poker, Bridge, Gambling, & Card Games Mysteries

Susan* recently asked this question:

“… do you have a page for Card Game / Gambling Mysteries? I looked, but I couldn’t find one, …  I’ve found several Poker / Bridge based mysteries.”

At first I thought that I did have a Mystery Books with Cards Theme already done, but when I looked, it turns out I had the wrong type of Card in mind: Card Making Cozy Mystery theme. Still on my quest, I came up with two other possibilities: Crossword Puzzles and Bunco Mystery Books and Sudoku Mystery Books. (As Groucho Marx used to say: Close, but no cigar.)

Mystery Books with a Cards Theme (Poker, Bridge, Gambling, & Card Games Mysteries):

Jackie Chance: Poker Mystery Series

Jessie Chandler: Bingo Barge Murder (Shay O’Hanlon Caper mysteries, book #1)

Agatha Christie: Cards on the Table

Debra H. Goldstein: Carrie Martin and the Mah Jongg Players Mystery Series

Honor Hartman (aka Miranda James, Jimmie Ruth Evans, & Dean James): Bridge Club Mystery Series

Marlys Millhiser: Nobody Dies in a Casino

Gail Oust: Bunco Babes Mystery Series

Please post a comment if you know of any other mystery authors who write Poker Mysteries, Bridge Mysteries, Gambling Mysteries, or any other Card Game Mysteries.

Thanks!

Authors Similar to M.C. Beaton (aka Marion Chesney) …

I have received several letters asking me if I would do an “Authors Similar to M.C. Beaton” theme. I have tried to come up with the beginning of a list of authors who write similarly to M.C. Beaton. Here are some of the authors who I think might fit the bill. It would be great if you all would suggest some authors, whom you think other Cozy Mystery readers could read when they run out of M.C. Beaton’s mysteries.

Authors Who Are Similar to M.C. Beaton (aka Marion Chesney):

Cathy Ace: WISE Enquiries Agency Mystery Series

Rhys Bowen: Constable Evan Evans Mystery Series

Simon Brett: Fethering Mystery Series & Mrs. Pargeter Mystery Series

Emily Brightwell: Mrs. Jeffries Msytery Series

Dorothy Cannell: Ellie Haskell Mystery Series

Laura Childs: Cackleberry Club Mystery Series

Cleo Coyle: Coffee House Mystery Series

Jeanne M. Dams: Dorothy Martin Mystery Series

Carola Dunn: Daisy Dalrymple Mystery Series

Janet Evanovich: Stephanie Plum Mystery Series 

Carolyn Hart: Henrie O Mystery Series

Carolyn Hart: Death on Demand

Joan Hess: Maggody Mystery Series

Hazel Holt: Mrs. Malory Mystery Series

Betty Rowlands: Melissa Craig Mystery Series

Elizabeth Spann Craig: Myrtle Clover Mystery Series

Patricia Sprinkle: Thoroughly Southern Mystery Series

Please post your recommendations of authors who are similar to M. C. Beaton (aka Marion Chesney), and I will add them to the list.

♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by theme click on this link.♦

Senior Sleuth Traveler with Young Companion…

Here’s a question that Ann H posed in one of her comments:

“Help, please! I found an American cozy – an older, retired female sleuth who travels around the country solving mysteries. Along the way she picked up a younger woman who now accompanies her. Like a dummy I did not write down the author’s name or even the heroine’s. I truly enjoyed the first one. It also reminded me of one about an older woman who has a mobile home and travels in the West. Can’t remember names for that one either….. Thanks if you can give me some help (and even if you cannot). “

Linda C pointed out that the mystery series with the older woman in an RV is by Sue Henry (the Maxie & Stretch Mystery Series) but we still don’t know who the other retired woman is.

Do any of you know? If you do, please post a comment. Thank you!

Mystery Authors Akin to Elizabeth Peters…

This comment is from Amy. She is looking for suggestions of authors she might enjoy reading next, based on her previous mystery book encounters. Amy asks:

“I am looking for new authors to read. I really enjoyed Elizabeth Peters’ stand alone books and the Vicki Bliss series but I have finished them. I also really enjoyed some of Mary Stewart’s books. The settings are so well described that they make me want to travel. I am tired of spending money on what seems like a good mystery but it ends up being a smutty romance or has really horrible crime details. I like a romance as part of a mystery but I want mostly mystery and I don’t want explicit sex, gory murders, graphic violence or lots of bad language. (I can take a bit of sex and a bit of bad language, it just needs to be sparse.) I’m not into multiple partners. That’s not romantic. Any advice from others readers?”

Do any of you have any ideas as to whom Amy might enjoy reading next?

(By the way, Elizabeth Peters list is on my site here.)

Thank you for your help!

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