Wicked Wednesday: Book Club Picks

In Murder on Cape Cod, Mac Almeida runs a bicycle repair shop. She’s also part of the Cozy Capers Book Club. Let’s help Mac out and suggest some cozy series for her to bring to the group. It’s a given that we’d include the Wickeds, so let’s think about other series we enjoy. And remember, winters are long in New England, so a nice long series would be a good thing to recommend to the group.

Jessie: I would highly recommend the Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths. The voice is charming, the mysteries filled with twists and turns and the characters are endearing. I also adore the Flavia de Luce books by Alan Bradley. From the first paragraph the beguiling narrator pulled me in and kept me cheering for her with each turn of the page!

Liz: Given my love for coffee, I would have to say Cleo Coyle’s Coffeehouse Mysteries. I love the NY setting and being behind the scenes at a coffee shop. It’s a great way to escape a cold day.

Sherry: Congratulations on the new book, Edith! Incorporating the book club into the series is really fun. I love Kellye Garrett’s Detective by Day mysteries. The first book,  Hollywood Homicide, won an Anthony Award for Best First Novel, Agatha Award for Best First Novel, 2018 Lefty Award for Best Debut Mystery Novel and 2018 Independent Publisher Award (IPPY) Gold Medal for Best First Book – Fiction! It’s set in Los Angeles and since we lived there for four years, I always love to read series set there. Plus, they are well written and fun!

Julie: Huge congratulations Edith! I would suggest Elizabeth Peters Amelia Peabody series. I love that series, which mixes Egyptology with mystery, and a little bit of romance. I’m also a Joanne Fluke fan–the bonus is that her recipes are quite delicious. There are so many series to choose from!

Barb: I am a devoted fan of Alexander McCall’s Smith’s No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. There are nineteen books, so plenty for the book group to choose from. These gentle mysteries (there’s not always a murder) take place in modern Botswana and like all good series center on a group of wonderful characters. (I’m devoted to Smith’s Scotland Street series as well, but those aren’t mysteries.)

Edith/Maddie: Thanks, Sherry. The group is reading a Sarah Winston Garage Sale mystery in Murder on Cape Cod! Readers, if you’re not in a book group but are thinking about starting one, check out my essay – “How to Start a Book Club” – that appeared over at Criminal Element last week on how to! I consulted with several long-running groups on all the things to consider and plan for. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Readers, a reminder that Murder on Cape Cod is a Barnes and Noble exclusive, so you can order it from them, or go to your local B&N. Do you have any suggestions for the book club?