A good mystery on a rainy afternoon is one of life's small perfect things. These five are clever without being gruesome, and each is easy to settle into with a pot of tea.
The Thursday Murder Club, Richard Osman (2020)
Four retirees in a comfortable village meet to solve cold cases and end up with a real one. Funny, warm and plotted with care. For readers who want a mystery with no nightmares.
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Alexander McCall Smith (1998)
Precious Ramotswe opens a detective agency in Botswana and solves problems with common sense and kindness. For a slow, gentle, sunlit story.
Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie (1934)
A murder on a train stuck in the snow, and Hercule Poirot interviewing every passenger. For a classic with a famous twist.
And Then There Were None, Agatha Christie (1939)
Ten strangers on an island, and a rhyme that begins to come true. Tense and brilliantly built. For readers who love to guess.
The Hound of the Baskervilles, Arthur Conan Doyle (1902)
Sherlock Holmes, a family curse and a foggy moor. For an evening that wants a little shiver.
How to enjoy a mystery
Keep a notebook beside you and write down your suspect after each chapter. You will be wrong at least once, and it is part of the fun. If you want more in this style, tell the BookPal which of these you liked best.
