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Mystery Books with Anthropologists and Archaeologists as Their Sleuths…

February 25, 2010

Angela just asked if I could add a new theme to the site which features “archaeology/anthropology based series“>>> so here goes! (Remember that I am only including authors who are posted on the Cozy Mystery Site. I am sure that there are many other authors who write mysteries which feature anthropologists and archaeologists…)

Margot Arnold: Penny Spring & Sir Toby Glendower Mystery Series… set in Great Britain, has both anthropologist and archaeologist as the sleuths.

Aileen G. Baron: The Lily Sampson Mystery Series features an archaeology graduate student in the early to mid 1900s.

Jefferson Bass: Body Farm Series … Dr. Bill Brockton works at the Tennessee body farm. (not Cozy)

Dana Cameron: Emma Fielding Mystery Series…Emma is a New England archaeologist/professor.

Barbara Cleverly: Laetitia Talbot Mystery Series…set in France after WWI, the sleuth is an archaeologist.

Beverly Connor: Diane Fallon Forensic Investigations Mystery Series (anthropologist) AND Lindsay Chamberlain Archaeology Mystery Series

Aaron Elkins: Gideon Oliver Mystery Series… Elkins, a former anthropologist has as his sleuth, a professor of anthropology.

Mary Anna Evans: Faye Longchamp Mystery Series… Faye is an archaeologist on the Florida Gulf Coast.

Lyn Hamilton: Archaeological Mystery Series: Lara McClintoch is a Canadian antiques dealer.

Erin Hart: Nora Gavin/Cormac Maguire Mystery Series: Nora is a forensic anthropologist and Coramc is an archaeologist.

Rett MacPherson: Torie O’Shea Mystery Series… Torie is a genealogist who uses a little anthropology, archaeology, & history in her searches.

Sharyn McCrumb: Elizabeth MacPherson Mystery Series… sleuth is a forensic anthropologist.

J. Michael Orenduff: Pot Thief Mystery Series… sleuth is a treasure hunter.

Elizabeth Peters (aka Barbara Mertz & Barbara Michaels: Amelia Peabody Mystery Series… a British Egyptologist/archaeologist.

Kathy Reichs: Temperance Brennan Mystery Series… (Not Cozy) the basis of the Fox show Bones… forensic anthropologist in Quebec.

Lynda S. Robinson: While the Lord Meren Mystery Series does not feature an archaeologist or anthropologist, the author of this ancient Egyptian mystery series holds a PhD in anthropology (emphasis on archaeology).

Sarah R. Shaber: Professor Simon Shaw Mystery Series… Simon is a history professor, and there is a little archaeology and anthropology thrown into the mysteries.

Malcolm Shuman: Alan Graham Mystery Series… Alan is a contract archaeologist in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

♦ To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link ♦

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49 Comments - Click Here to Read the Comments or to Add Another

Comments

  1. Angela says

    February 25, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    Thank you for the list! You’ve added at least 4 more authors to my list with just this list alone! 🙂

    Reply
  2. Arlene says

    February 25, 2010 at 1:36 pm

    Love the Amelia Peabody series…..

    Another fun series is actually a children’s series by R.L. LeFevers. Theodosia Throckmorton is a little girl who lives with her father who is curator (or director?) of the museum of antiquities. She is an amateur archaeologist who finds all sorts of mystery and trouble.

    Reply
  3. Danna - cozy mystery list says

    February 25, 2010 at 3:25 pm

    Hi Arlene,

    That sounds like a truly delightful series. What a neat setting… It would provide a lot of educational possibilities that could just “slipped into” the plot of the story, without the reader knowing…

    Reply
  4. Kirsten says

    February 25, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    Diana O’Hehir writes a nice series with a daughter and her Egyptologist father (who is suffering from Alzheimer’s).

    Reply
  5. Danna - cozy mystery list says

    February 26, 2010 at 8:29 am

    Thanks, Kirsten, for telling us about Diana O’Hehir!

    Reply
  6. Vickie B says

    February 26, 2010 at 9:54 pm

    Beverly Connor has two series featuring a forensic anthropologist, Diane Fallon and one featuring forensic anthropologist who specializes in archaeology, Lindsay Chamberlain. Both of these are superb mysteries.

    Reply
  7. Danna - cozy mystery list says

    March 1, 2010 at 12:57 pm

    Thanks so much for telling us about Beverly Connor!

    Reply
    • GaMtGrl says

      October 12, 2015 at 10:17 am

      Beverly Connor is one of my favorites!

      Reply
  8. Sara says

    August 27, 2010 at 2:17 pm

    I’m trying to recall the author of this series, and would appreciate help from you and your readers. IF I remember it correctly, it’s a series that came out at least since 1996 (or later) in which a female who works either in anthropology or with Native American artifacts in a western U.S. state. She found clues to a hidden mine (gold or silver maybe???) and one of the books had a really old map in it that she traced. I think there were at least three books or more in the series. Any clues? Thanks. SARA

    Reply
    • Annie says

      March 6, 2011 at 10:47 am

      I have also been seeking the author of this same series! Has anyone been able to provide resolution? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Sara says

        September 13, 2011 at 1:35 pm

        I still am looking for this series. Let me know if anyone figures this mystery out, please! – Sara

        Reply
        • Sara says

          May 28, 2012 at 5:55 pm

          This is for ANNIE who had the same question as I. SOLVED!!! The author of these books is Judith Van Giesen. The book that I was looking for originally when I posted the query is called “Vanishing Point” published in 2001. It is still available online and at used bookstores. I found it quite by accident and was thrilled to finally get reacquainted with the books by Van Giesen. Happy hours ahead….
          Sara

          Reply
          • Danna - cozy mystery list says

            May 30, 2012 at 9:27 am

            Sara, thank you so much for posting the answer to your question!

            Reply
  9. Danna - cozy mystery list says

    August 31, 2010 at 9:10 am

    Hi Sara,

    I’m going to be posting an entry tomorrow (Wednesday, Sept. 1) asking for help on to find your mystery series/author. Hope someone can come up with the author for you!

    Reply
  10. Lizz says

    December 11, 2010 at 2:06 pm

    Kathy Reichs has a YA series now with the first book called Virals. It is a really good book and I loved it.

    Reply
  11. Lizz says

    December 11, 2010 at 2:09 pm

    Sorry I forgot the add that Virals is about Tory Brennan and she is the niece of Temperance Brennan.

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      December 12, 2010 at 9:48 am

      Thanks, Lizz, fof telling us about Kathy Reichs young adult series…

      Reply
  12. LeeAnn says

    December 28, 2010 at 8:20 pm

    I have a favorite author for you to add to this theme. Her name is Beverly Connor and she writes two different series that have anthropologists as protagonists. The first is the Lindsey Chamberlain series and the second is Diane Fallon series. These are well written with type and varied plots.

    Reply
  13. Danna - cozy mystery list says

    December 29, 2010 at 11:42 am

    Thanks, LeeAnn!

    Reply
  14. Kay says

    January 2, 2011 at 11:10 am

    Elly Griffiths writes a very good cozy set in England. Just two so far with a third almost due for release.

    Reply
  15. Danna - cozy mystery list says

    January 2, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    Thank you, Kay, for telling us about Elly Griffiths!

    Reply
  16. Sara says

    December 22, 2011 at 7:01 pm

    I’m still trying to find out the author of this series. Any clues yet? Thanks, Sara

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      December 23, 2011 at 4:02 pm

      Sara, can you believe it has been over a year that you first posted your question about this author? Once you asked the question, Annie said she also wanted to know who the author is. I posted an entry asking for the information you were seeking, and here are the answers we had for your question:

      Suzy: “Sarah Andrews writes a series about a geologist. Would that be the one you are looking for?”

      Carrie: “Beverly Connor, Patricia Cornwell, Jefferson Bass and Kathy Reichs have all written mysteries involving anthropology. Could it be one of those?”

      Vickie B: “I think Carrie is right, Beverly Connor has two series and one of them is a forensic anthropoligist. ‘Lyndsay Chamberlain’ is the one out in the field and the series I am thinking is what Sara is looking for.”

      I hope the author you have been looking for is one of the above authors.

      Reply
  17. Elly says

    January 28, 2012 at 1:33 am

    I am wondering why Beverly Connor is not on the list of mysteries with archeology/anthropology themes.

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      January 28, 2012 at 9:14 am

      Thank you, Elly, for telling us about Beverly Connor.

      She is currently not on the list of archaeology/anthropology themes because she is not on the Cozy Mystery site. (I only list those authors who are on the site, since I’m not familiar with every mystery author.)

      Reply
  18. Elly says

    January 28, 2012 at 5:13 pm

    Sorry for the bluntness, the second half of my message somehow disappeared…a mystery in itself. A few months ago a friend sent me Dead Secret thinking I might like the caving done by the protagonist. There are two series and I have now read all of Ms. Connor’s books. Great detail on forensics, history, and engaging women characters kept me wanting another of her books. Thank you for posting and I hope you will read this series I think others will enjoy too.

    Reply
  19. Elly says

    January 28, 2012 at 5:19 pm

    Forgive me for hogging the blog with a third message, but obvious to all, I hadn’t read the blog before posting. Now I see that there are a few Beverly Connor posts ahead of me. I hope someone will pass this and your very wonderful website along to Ms. Connor. If I were an author of mysteries, being on this list would mean that I had really made it!

    Reply
  20. Denise says

    March 23, 2013 at 6:59 pm

    Thanks for the list. Always looking for more authors with this theme. I have a couple authors to add if you would like; Elly Griffiths and Jefferson Bass

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      March 25, 2013 at 4:53 pm

      Thanks, Denise, for telling us about Elly Griffiths and Jefferson Bass.

      Reply
  21. DK says

    February 24, 2014 at 12:46 pm

    What great fun! Thank you so much for the list.

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      February 24, 2014 at 2:11 pm

      DK, I’m glad you’re enjoying the Anthropologist/Archaeologist Sleuths!

      Reply
  22. Andrea says

    February 24, 2014 at 2:34 pm

    Dear All

    Thanks so much for the list and the information that you have put on this blog. My degree is in anthropology emphasis on the archaeology. I love this sub genre of the cosy’s. You have given me a few more names to check out. Of course there are also the classic writers who have links with archaeology and have set books with this theme such as Agatha Christie and Gladys Mitchell. Thanks again for the great work everyone. Going to look out for the Connor and Van Giesen’s here in Oz.

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      February 25, 2014 at 3:25 pm

      Andrea, you are so right about the Golden Age of Mystery authors who wrote mysteries in this theme.

      Reply
  23. Cheryl says

    September 2, 2014 at 12:50 am

    The Dr. Ruth Galloway series written by Elly Griffith is excellent.

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      September 2, 2014 at 3:13 pm

      Cheryl, thanks for letting us know how good Elly Griffith’s Dr. Ruth Galloway mysteries are.

      Reply
  24. Ian says

    May 15, 2015 at 3:11 pm

    Agree with the comments about the Dr. Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths. They feature a contemporary professor of forensic archaeology working in Norfolk, on the east coast of England, who keeps getting drawn into murder investigations that involve historic burial sites dating from the stone age through WWII and usually gets herself into life-threatening peril along the way. The books are both suspenseful and funny.

    I discovered the series recently (OK, my wife discovered it and told me about it), and read all six that are currently available in the space of two weeks (Griffiths writes fast; she seems to come out with about two books a year). Very excited for the next one, which is coming out soon (in May 2015), and found this thread looking for similar books to tide me over until then. Great suggestions here, thanks!

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      May 15, 2015 at 7:01 pm

      Ian, thank you for telling us about Elly Griffiths’ Dr. Ruth Galloway series.

      Reply
  25. dragons3 says

    October 12, 2015 at 5:11 pm

    I just discovered this list. My undergraduate degree is in History and I love mysteries, so archaeology and anthropology mysteries are among my very favorites. There are several authors listed here that I haven’t read, so I’m off to Amazon as soon as I finish this post. There are a couple of series I really enjoy that aren’t listed here. Malcolm Shuman has a series featuring Alan Graham, a contract archaeologist in Baton Rouge, LA. Rett MacPherson’s Torie O’Shea series isn’t, strictly speaking, about an archaeologist/anthropologist, but it loosely fits into the category and is a very good cozy series. Torie is a genealogist, so there’s a bit of anthropology and a bit of archaeology and a lot of history in these books. Another good cozy series is Sarah Shaber’s Simon Shaw books. He’s a history professor, but there’s some archaeology and anthropology involved in these mysteries, too. Jefferson Bass has the Body Farm series, featuring Dr. Bill Brockton, at the body farm in TN. These are decidedly NOT cozies, but are somewhat similar in style to Kathy Reichs’ books.

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      October 13, 2015 at 2:02 pm

      Dragons3, thank you for adding these four authors/series to the Anthropology/Archaeology theme!

      Reply
  26. Judy R. says

    July 21, 2018 at 4:35 pm

    Take a look at books by Elly Griffiths. They are set in South east England and involve a forensic archaeologist. A really can’t put down series of books.

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      July 22, 2018 at 9:56 pm

      Judy, I’ll have to check that out some time!

      Reply
    • Janice G says

      July 23, 2018 at 1:36 pm

      Elly Griffiths is one of my favorite mystery writers, especially the Ruth Galloway archeology series. Her ability to convey the atmosphere of the setting is amazing. I also like the Magic Men series but it has a harder edge to it.

      Reply
  27. Lee says

    January 7, 2019 at 6:06 pm

    Looking for a crime novel where the female lead protagonist is an archeologist or paleontologist, not really sure. Old people are being killed in a family because of some manuscripts. Would really appreciate some help. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      January 8, 2019 at 3:08 am

      Lee, I’m afraid that doesn’t immediately ring any bells. I’ll keep it on hand for a question post for the main blog at some point, or possibly another reader might notice this comment and be able to help.

      Reply
  28. AC says

    July 18, 2023 at 8:48 pm

    Hello! I am looking for a book I read as a kid. It has a leading female character, young, and she is an archeaologist or an egyptologist. She travels to Egypt for a reason I do not recall, and she gets herself in a lot of problems, deadly ones (people trying to kill her, she gets locked up inside a chamber in a pyramid). I believe that the novel is set in the 1980s, or maybe the 1970s. Do you have any information that can help my research?
    PS: it is not the Amelia Peabody series.
    Thank you so much.

    Reply
    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      July 19, 2023 at 3:38 am

      AC, do you know what year you might have read the book first? Also, was it a children’s/young adult book, or something intended for adults? Also, I’m assuming from what you have said that more fantastical elements like time travel or Egyptian deities are not featured.

      I will admit, my first guess would have been something in the Amelia Peabody series. But I have a few other possible guesses – The Buried Pyramid, by Jane Lindskold, would be one guess. Another might be The Pyramid of Doom by Andy McDermott. However, both of these are only about 20 years old so they might be too modern depending on when you think you might have read it, and don’t match every element of what you’re suggesting.

      Reply
      • AC says

        July 19, 2023 at 8:19 am

        Hello Dana! Thank you so much for reply!
        It was indeed a book intended for adults. I was around 12 (early 90s) when I read it. The plot involved also antiques traffic mobs; the lead character was abducted, but then she escapes.
        I asked Bard (Google´s IA), and it mentioned a book by wilbur smith, with a female character named Sarah Cameron who travels to Egypt to investigate her father´s death. But I was not able to find that book online, nor related info on that novel by that author.
        Thank you again!

        Reply
        • Danna - cozy mystery list says

          February 14, 2024 at 7:50 pm

          AC, sorry about the delay on this reply… I put this up as part of a questions post on the front blog page. Several suggestions have come in – the Vicky Bliss series and the stand-alone novel The Jackal’s Head, both by Elizabeth Peters, or The Sphinx, by Robin Cook. Hopefully one of these (or another later post) will give you a solution!

          Reply
  29. CLAIRE W says

    September 11, 2023 at 1:44 pm

    Archeological thrillers are my favorite subgenres! Three series I am reading through: Ernest Dempsey Sean Wyatt series, J Robert Kennedy James Acton series, and David S Brody’s Templars In America series. The 3 series are very different even though the various relics often occur in all three; enough so that they are not derivative at all.

    All three have great storylines, excellent recurring characters, and are well written.

    Reply

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