OT: Mysteries - easy read & animals/vet stuff

What about the James Herriot series about the Yorkshire vet? All Cratures Great and Small is the first. Should fascinate anyone who loves animals and wants to be an animal doctor, even if they aren't mysteries. And they read like fiction. Also, Rita Mae Brown's mysteries with the cat are a lot of fun.

Pat > In March we're taking our dear niece to Walt Disney World for 8 days or > so. She's in pre-vet animal science (will be 2nd semester junior @ time > of trip). We'll be spending quite a bit of time in the car (16 hrs or > so) & relaxing poolside. I'd LOVE to be able to introduce her to some > GOOD, FUN READS in the cozy mystery vein (that's how her mom got turned > on to reading). She actually enjoys reading text books & she doesn't > mind reading non-fiction, but I haven't had a huge amount of success > with fiction. She's taking brit lit this semester and doing really well > & enjoying it too (oh, by the way, she REALLY liked the BBC production > of Pride & Prejudice (the one with Colin Firth)). >

Thanks Pat,

I gave her the James Herriot series a few years ago -- not hitting on much with her yet... Oh, the Rita Mae Brown books are a good choice! Side note: her twin sister is named Rita Mae (but not for the author).

EG

I would recommend a series by Donna Andrews. I think the first is Murder with Peacocks. The main character is Meg, a blacksmith, who has one of those families - you know. The books are funny and the situations Meg gets in are too (in MWP, she has 2 weddings that she's agreed to help with...or is it 3?)

I enjoy Stephanie Plum but I think quite honestly that they wear thin after awhile.

Alison

I love that series!

I'm eagerly awaiting Motor Mouth at the library. I like the new series. C

If she really enjoys Brit Lit, why not some classic Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie?

Ooo, another good suggestion. See, I knew I'd get great ideas from ya'll. EG

I've been pondering this - I've heard nothing but good about the JE audiobooks - she insists on good reader.

How about some Agatha Christies, M.C. Beaton ( I love the Hamish stories), Jill Churchill - the one with all the puns in the title. I'll think of some more for you!

Cheryl

Elizabeth George - she is so DARK, great books, but darker than midnight in a cave. Cheryl

just read a good mystery by a "new" author...Here's the Church, Here's the Steeple by Tempa Pagel..a 200 yr. old mystery solved by a stay-at home mom who volunteers for a local historical society in modern day Massachusetts. I would recommend it if you like a bit of history with your mystery.

Not quite that dark. Hey, there's a new one just coming out...

Oh, no animals, but I really like the Margaret Maron books. She has 2 series - one the Judge Deborah Knott (set in NC) which I like very much, and the other the Sigrid Harald series - a bit more serious.

Fun - hmm, there is nothing funnier than the ridicualous Joan Hess "Magody" series - with the sheriff deputy in town being essentially the only one still seeming to have most of their brain. Also, her other series - the Claire Malloy books - Claire owns a bookstore, small university town, teen-age daughter - always involved in some crime solving. They're kind of hilarious as well. Not as ludicrous as the Maggody books, but similar.

You could go for fun with either the Tommy & Tuppence series, or the Lord Peter Wimsey series (Dorothy L. Sayers).

For very light, there are the MC Beaton books - Hamish MacBeth series (scottish police guy in a remote village) and the Agatha Raisin books. They're quick, and light.

And for a slight classical tie-in, there are 2 books by Carrie Bebris - "Pride & Presciens" and "sense &???" that are mystery/crime books set as a follow on to Pride & Prejudice. The 3rd book is in hardcover - so I haven't read it yet. They're good - not disappointing. And quick.

Plus - if you're a horse person - there is always Dick Francis and the various horse-racing related books.

Ok - got to go for real now.

Ellice

Not exactly mysteries, but there's a fairly cute series about Southern vampires from Charlaine Harris. Alan Ball (creator of Six Feet Under) is supposed to be planning a new tv series based on those books for HBO.

Oh, there's a cute laugh-out-loud series by Anne George about two older Southern sisters, based in Alabama. I was so sad when I finished the series and found it it had ended because the author had died.

I dearly love the Stephenie Plum novels!. Great light reading plus she has Rex the Hamspter! Great light reading and there are 12 one them. Enough to keep one busy reading for an entire summer let alone a trip to Disney! On the other hand if she likes animals and mystery with less humor try Iris Johanson She tends to write about horsepeople and their animals.

She was a treasure!

I love the Charlene Harris books. I also like the Mary Jane Davidson books; they are a hoot.

Cheryl

The early ones were listed by a friend as slit your wrists dark.

I like Judge Deborah ones. If you like those, try Marne Davis Kellog

I love Maggody, but want, desperately desire, to kick the pants of the teenager in the Malloy series

I love Lord Peter. Besides, I get to use my Latin reading her.

I love Hamish, Agatha is another one I want to slap silly.

I'm looking forward to the latest one; wonder if the library is getting it.

Sure you do!

Cheryl

Cozy mysteries are my "thing". I have a collection of over 1000. The Evanovich books are wonderful. If you are looking for cozy dog/cat books, try these authors:

Lydia Adamson, cat series Marian Babson Laurien Berenson Susan Conant Carole Douglas Rita Brown

Those are all really good. There is also a group of "young women" cozy mysteries where the main character is a hair dresser - the author excapes me but Permed to Death, is one of the titles. Also a series by Cleo Coyle that revolve around a coffee shop. Lots of good cooking mysteries as well. Moni