Mystery Books that Take Place in West Virginia…
Here are some West Virginia facts:
The capital and the largest city is Charleston.
State motto is “Mountaineers Are Always Free”.
State nickname is the Mountain State.
State flower is the Rhododendron.
State bird is the Cardinal.
Virginia was named after Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen.
Mystery authors who are found on the Cozy Mystery Site who feature West Virginia locations/settings in their books:
Christina Freeburn: Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery Series – Faith Hunter was an Army Judge Advocate General (lawyer) who now runs a scrapbooking store in West Virginia.
Julie Anne Lindsey (aka Jacqueline Frost, Julie Chase, & Bree Baker): Apple Cider Shop Mystery Series – Winnie Montgomery and her grandmother own an apple orchard in West Virginia.
T. Doyle says
Hi,
I’d love for you to add my newest release, Too Sweet to Die by T. Doyle. It takes place in Forest Forks West Virginia, which is a fictional town that is very similar to Huntington, WV where I reside.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
T., I’ll have to check out your work some time, and possibly add it to the list! Thanks for the comment!
Bamba says
Awww “Almost Heaven ~ West Virginia! Love this post. I am a ‘Coal Miner’s daughter 😀 Although I have moved ~ the saying goes you can take the girl out of West Virginia but can never take West Virginia out of the girl!
Bamba says
I still have several (4 or 5) of Author Carlene Thompson mysteries in my book shelf. Her mysteries were based in West Virginia.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bamba, thanks – I’ll have to check this author out and hopefully add her to the list.
Allison says
I love Carlene Thompson!!! I love that her mysteries always have a female protagonist and they take place in WV. She has several books and I’ve read almost all of them. I believe she is still a professor at Marshall University! I live in Charleston, WV and I’m so glad to have found this site! I love my cozy books!! Thanks for recommending so many great books!!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bamba, I’m glad to hear we have some West Virginia people on the site!
Cynthia says
I’m a coal miner’s daughter, too! Born and raised here, moved to Florida, Wisconsin, and Virginia Beach but came back home! One of my Floridian co-workers once told me he’d “never met someone from WV who didn’t love WV.” <3
Robin H. says
Julie Anne Lindsey’s Apple Cider Shop mysteries are also set in West Virginia. I enjoy them very much!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Robin, thanks – I’ve added this to this list as she’s already on the site.
Susan D. Rosenberg says
I just want to put a positive review in for Author Katherine Bolger Hyde’s books. I just finished “Death with Dostoevsky”. I also read “Arsenic with Austin”, “Bloodstains with Bronte” and “Cyanide with Christie”….I can’t wait for the “E” title….
The fun part is that the main character is well-read and loves books & libraries. Ms. Hyde brings little bits about each author in the titles and weaves their style into the story.
These stories are fun and the who done it can be a head scratcher to the very end. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys mysteries with a little bit of thought and fun included.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan, thanks for the recommendation! I’ll have to give that one a look and maybe add it to the list.
Kivara says
It’s a single book, but “Too Many Cooks” by Rex Stout is set in Kanawa County, WV. It is an excellent read.