Need a good laugh combined with a good mystery read? Try one of the books below.
Left Coast Crime will have its 20th Mystery Convention March 11-14 in Los Angeles.
One of its awards is THE LEFTY - for the most humorous mystery published in a particular year. Lefty winners:
2009: Greasing the Pinata by Tim Maleeny
2008: Murder With Reservations by Elaine Viets
2007: Go to Helena Handbasket by Donna Moore
2006: Cast Adrift by Peter Guttridge
2005: We'll Always Have Parrots by Donna Andrews and Blue Blood by Susan McBride
2004: Mumbo Gumbo by Jerrilyn Farmer
2003: The Hearse Case Scenario by Tim Cockey and Pipsqueak by Brian M. Wiprud
2002: Dim Sum Dead by Jerrilyn Farmer and Fender Benders by Bill Fitzhugh
2000: Murder With Peacocks by Donna Andrews
1999: Four to Score by Janet Evanovich
1998: Three To Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich
1996: The Fat Innkeeper by Alan Russell
I read the 2000 winner, Murder With Peacocks by Donna Andrews, some years back, and it is truly hilarious. I recommend it if you need a good laugh while you wonder who dunnit.
Murder with Peacocks was great! I haven't read the rest of that series so I don't know if they are as good as the first.
ReplyDeleteThe Peacocks book stood out to me because how could you use Peacocks? Never heard of this before. Thanks Harvee :)
ReplyDeleteChristy: Evidently "We'll Always Have Parrots" is just as good -it won the Lefty award in 2005. "Murder with Puffins" was disappointing, her second in the series - I didn't finish it.
ReplyDeleteJenny Girl: The murder happens while the peacocks are strutting around on the lawn during a wedding. They are not directly involved in the happenings, except to be decorative and make their strange noises/calls. But this was a very funny book.
I loved Pipsqueak by Wiprud. He's probably one of my favorite authors. I may have to try a couple of the others.
ReplyDeleteI've not read any of these, though I have heard of a few. Must...resist...temptation.
ReplyDeleteCarol and Heather: over the holidays, am going to the library to check some of these out. Have only read one in the list.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun list. Copying it out for the next book-store trip. Thanks.
ReplyDeletethis all look like fun and i have not read one of them!
ReplyDeleteI have heard there is a novel called "Lancashire Hotpot" written by Robin Drinkall. The first 15 pages are available for free on www.lulu.com
ReplyDeleteIt is my understanding the book is partly based on a true story in Lancashire.
The main plot involves a private detective from Preston called Charlie Fleetwood. He has been hired by a firm of lawyers in Manchester to investigate the theft of some valuable Faberge jewellery at Slaidburn Hall.
Charlie Fleetwood and his partner Jeremy Worden soon realise someone is manipulating events to suit their own agenda.
The novel takes the reader through the picturesque landscape of Lancashire including Lytham, Whitewell, Chipping, Manchester and Preston. The story also includes an insight into inducing telepathy using a secret flower called "morning glory".
I will not spoil the ending but I can disclose the reader will be left wondering if "Lancashire Hotpot" is actually a story within a story about a real psychological parallel world.
Robin has written another book on Osteoporosis in Denmark. It has been described as the best patient friendly information book on non-compliance of medicine available. The Lancashire Hotpot is his first novel and the plot is 100% believable.
Spooky
thanks, very good =)
ReplyDeleteI want reading and I think this website got some really utilitarian stuff on it!
ReplyDeleteI've been really enjoying Bill Crider's Truman Smith and Dan Rhodes novels.
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