Reading list: Halloween Book Bingo - Amateur Sleuth

Created by: Murder by Death

Books for this square will have a main character who is not a member of law enforcement.

As one of the primary definitions of cozy mysteries is the MC is an amateur sleuth, see also:
http://booklikes.com/apps/reading-lists/816/halloween-book-bingo-cozy-mystery

If I know a book is part of a series, I tried to only add the first book (or one of the books) in the series.

If you have any suggestions for additional books, please include the title and ISBN (if you have one) in the comments below and I'll add it ASAP.

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Books: 70

An Amateur Corpse

by Simon Brett

Note:

Cast, in Order of Disappearance

by Simon Brett

Note:

The Crime at Black Dudley

by Margery Allingham

Note:

Why Shoot a Butler?

by Georgette Heyer

Note:

The Lake of Dead Languages

by Carol Goodman

Note:

The Shape of Snakes

by Minette Walters

Note:

The Harper's Quine

by Pat McIntosh

Note:

The Cracked Spine

by Paige Shelton

Note:

A Morbid Taste for Bones

by Ellis Peters

Note:

10.

A Geek Girl's Guide to Murder

by Julie Anne Lindsey

Note:

11.

Designed for Death

by Jean Harrington

Note:

12.

Penpal

by Dathan Auerbach

Note:

13.

Sleight of Paw

by Sofie Kelly

Note:

14.

Just Past Midnight

by Amanda Stevens

Note:

15.

A Spark of Justice

by J.D. Hawkins

Note:

16.

Murder at the Brightwell

by Ashley Weaver

Note:

17.

Murder with a Twist

by Allyson K. Abbott

Note:

18.

Sole Survivor

by Dean Koontz

Note:

19.

The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag

by Alan Bradley

Note:

20.

The Circular Staircase

by Mary Roberts Rinehart

Note:

21.

At Bertram's Hotel

by Agatha Christie

Note:

22.

Practical Sins for Cold Climates

by Shelly Costa

Note:

23.

The White Magic Five & Dime

by Steve Hockensmith, Lisa Falco

Note:

24.

Buried Leads

by LynDee Walker

Note:

25.

The Nightmare Affair

by Mindee Arnett

Note:

26.

If Walls Could Talk

by Juliet Blackwell

Note:

27.

Cold Sight: Extrasensory Agents Book 1

by Leslie A. Kelly

Note:

28.

A Curious Beginning

by Deanna Raybourn

Note:

29.

Silent in the Grave

by Deanna Raybourn

Note:

30.

In Deep Voodoo

by Stephanie Bond

Note:

31.

One Scream Away

by Kate Brady

Note:

32.

Last to Die

by Kate Brady

Note:

33.

Deadly Lies

by Cynthia Eden

Note:

34.

The Surgeon

by Tess Gerritsen

Note:

35.

In the Shadow of the Mountains

by M.R. Graham

Note:

36.

Murder Past Due

by Miranda James

Note:

37.

Charcoal Joe: An Easy Rawlins Mystery

by Walter Mosley

Note:

38.

Sanctum

by Denise Mina

Note:

39.

The Fleet Street Murders

by Charles Finch

Note:

40.

Crocodile on the Sandbank

by Elizabeth Peters

Note:

41.

Orphan X: A Novel (Evan Smoak)

by Gregg Hurwitz

Note: All three books qualify.

42.

The Name of the Rose

by Umberto Eco

Note:

43.

An Unsuitable Job for a Woman

by P.D. James

Note:

44.

Spying in High Heels

by Gemma Halliday

Note:

45.

Murder on Cue

by Jane Dentinger

Note:

46.

Home For the Haunting

by Juliet Blackwell

Note:

47.

Pieces of Her

by Karin Slaughter

Note:

48.

Four Complete Dr. Fell Mysteries: To Wake the Dead... - John Dickson Carr

Four Complete Dr. Fell Mysteries: To Wake the Dead / The Blind Barber / The Crooked Hinge / The Case of the Constant Suicides

by John Dickson Carr

Note:

49.

Front Page Fatality

by LynDee Walker

Note:

50.

Rockets' Dead Glare (A Tourist Trap Mystery)

by Lynn Cahoon

Note:

51.

A Duty to the Dead: A Bess Crawford Mystery

by Charles Todd

Note:

52.

Death in Paris

by Emilia Bernhard

Note:

53.

A Deadly Brew (A Tourist Trap Mystery)

by Lynn Cahoon

Note:

54.

The Word is Murder

by Anthony Horowitz

Note:

55.

Magpie Murders

by Anthony Horowitz

Note:

56.

The Tokyo Zodiac Murders

by Ross MacKenzie, Soji Shimada, Shika MacKenzie

Note:

57.

Brat Farrar

by Josephine Tey

Note:

58.

Miss Pym Disposes

by Josephine Tey

Note:

59.

The Mystery of the Yellow Room

by Gaston Leroux

Note:

60.

Nine Coaches Waiting

by Mary Stewart

Note:

61.

This Rough Magic

by Mary Stewart

Note:

62.

Frenchman's Creek (VMC)

by Daphne Du Maurier

Note:

63.

Laurels Are Poison

by Gladys Mitchell

Note:

64.

The Ex-Wife

by Jess Ryder

Note:

65.

The Last Post

by B.K. Duncan

Note:

66.

The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side

by Agatha Christie

Note:

67.

Murder at the Vicarage

by Agatha Christie

Note:

68.

Stalking Jack the Ripper

by Kerri Maniscalco

Note:

69.

The Nun's Tale

by Candace Robb

Note:

70.

The Apothecary Rose

by Candace Robb

Note:

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Comments

Comments:

Ani's Book Abyss 8 years ago

If YA counts:

The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett -- the kids are playing detective when one of the students at the academy is killed; book one of 'The Arkwell Academy' and will also fit the squares for Supernatural and Monsters. (ISBN: 9780765333339)

And then some others that I commented on other lists with, but I just wanted to contribute to THIS list in case some of us can't think of one off the top of our heads for a book with an amateur sleuth.

If Walls Could Talk by Juliet Blackwell -- first book of a cozy series; MC is a construction company contractor... or something like that. (ISBN: 9780451231819) Will also fit Ghosts and Haunted Houses.

Cold Sight by Leslie A. Kelly -- first book of a paranormal romantic suspense series; female MC is a reporter; male MC is a paranormal investigator/consultant. (ISBN: 9780998145303)

A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn -- both MCs are scientists, sort of; first book of 'Veronica Speedwell' series. (ISBN: 9780451476012)

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn -- first book of Julia Grey series. (ISBN: 9780778324102)

In Deep Voodoo by Stephanie Bond -- female MC is a health store owner; male MC is a private investigator. (ISBN: 9780984789290)

One Scream Away by Kate Brady -- rom suspense, first book of a duology; female MC is an antique's expert; male MC is ex-law enforcement, now consultant. (ISBN: 9780446541527). Will also fit serial killer square.
Last to Die by Kate Brady -- rom suspense, second book of duology; male MC is a photographer. Do both MC's have to be non-LEO, because female MC is a police detective. (Cannot find a book page for this one at BL; GR book page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7856210-last-to-die )

Deadly Lies by Cynthia Eden -- rom suspense, third book of Deadly series; male MC is a rich entrepreneur. (ISBN: 9780446559256 )

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (a.k.a. J.K. Rowling) -- MC is a private investigator. (ISBN: 9781408703991 )

The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen -- female MC is a doctor. (ISBN: 9781409095040)

Murder by Death 8 years ago

Thanks for these Ani - I've added them all except the Cuckoo's Calling - I wasn't sure if PIs count as amateur sleuths, since they get paid for it. ??

(And thank you heaps for taking the time to include the ISBNs - it makes adding to the list so much faster and easier. )

Ani's Book Abyss 8 years ago

Okay. I wasn't sure either, but I included it anyway since the description was that a character isn't in law enforcement. I'm not certain P.I. count as law enforcement, but they are certainly not "amateur sleuths." Maybe one for the Q&A?

And you're welcome about the ISBNs. After I did one reading list, I realized how much easier it is to have them. lol

Themis-Athena's Garden of Books 8 years ago

Denise Mina's "Sanctum" would work for this one, too (ISBN 9781409135296) .

Murder by Death 8 years ago

Added! :)

Themis-Athena's Garden of Books 8 years ago

Yey!

XOX 8 years ago

I think Evan Smoak series counts as he is not a cop and not a PI. And he solved crimes.

Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz
The Nowhere Man by Gregg Hurwitz

Murder by Death 8 years ago

Added!

The better to see you, my dear 8 years ago

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

Murder by Death 8 years ago

Added.

The better to see you, my dear 7 years ago

An unsuitable job for a woman, by PD James

Themis-Athena's Garden of Books 7 years ago

Books from Halloween Bingo 2018 participant reading plan lists posted to date:

Spying in High Heels by Gemma Halliday (9780843957358)
Murder on Cue by Jane Dentinger (9780440161059)
Home for the Haunting by Juliet Blackwell (9780451240705)
Pieces of Her by Karen Slaughter (9780008150839)
The Case of the Constant Suicides by John DIckson Carr (9780754086154)
Front Page Fatality by LynDee Walker (9781983183126)
Rockets Dead Glare by Lynn Cahoon (Audio CD: 9781977361226; Kindle ASIN: B078LQ9ZLG -- can't find an ISBN for a hardcover or paperback print edition)

Murder by Death 7 years ago

added. :)

Themis-Athena's Garden of Books 7 years ago

Thank you! :)

SusannaG - Confessions of a Crazy Cat Lady 7 years ago

Charles Todd - A Duty to the Dead (0061791768)

Murder by Death 7 years ago

Added - thanks :)

XOX 7 years ago

Hellbent by Gregg Hurwitz (978-0718185466)
Logically. As the two previous books are on the list.

Murder by Death 7 years ago

Noted that all three books qualify. thanks!

Themis-Athena's Garden of Books 7 years ago

More books from the participants' reading plan lists -- including unassigned / "free square" / "wild card" books that would fit this category:

Death in Paris by Emilia Bernhard (9781683317685)
The Ex-Wife by Jess Ryder (9781786814050)
A Deadly Brew by Lynn Cahoon (ASIN: B078LNGPBJ)
The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz (9781409159445)
The Tokio Zodiac Murders by Soji Shimada (9781782271383)
Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey (9780099536840)
Miss Pym Disposes by Josephine Tey (9780099556695)
The Mystery of The Yellow Room by Gaston Leroux (9780008167035)
The Last Post by B.K. Duncan (ASIN: B077CTDRQB)
Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart (9781444711073)
This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart (9781444720501)
Frenchman's Creek by Daphne Du Maurier (9780349006598)
Laurels are Poison by Gladys Mitchell (9781601870704)

Murder by Death 7 years ago

The following ISBNs not in the database:
9781786814050
9780008167035 (repeat)

Added via title search.

B077CTDRQB not in the database either by title or ASIN.

Themis-Athena's Garden of Books 7 years ago

Added all three missing ones, so "The Ex-Wife" and "The Last Post" can now also go onto the list. Thanks for finding "The Mystery of the Yellow Room" via title search!

Murder by Death 7 years ago

I added The Ex-Wife, but I still can't get The Last Post to show up with ASIN B077CTDRQB. Nor under a title search (too many common words coupled with an author using initials = broken search).

Themis-Athena's Garden of Books 7 years ago

Try "Duncan Last Post" and expand ("more books") as far as possible. It *should* be the very last book showing up with those search terms ...

(/*'*&//%&%$%/*'*&//%&%$%/)

Murder by Death 7 years ago

omg... I finally found it using it the actual search page, then had to edit the ISBN10 with a fake isbn so I could finally get it to show up in the list search box.

I hate kindles.

But it's finally added to the list. :)

Themis-Athena's Garden of Books 7 years ago

Hoooray. Well, so much for a working (cough) "search" function ...

Themis-Athena's Garden of Books 7 years ago

More from the participants' "reading plans" posts:

The Mirror Crack'd by Agatha Christie (9780007120987)
-- also "Murder at the Vicarage" by Agatha Christie (9781579126254) (Miss Marple No. 1)
Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco (9780316514828)
-- ditto Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalo (9781538761182)
The Nun’s Tale by Candace Robb (9780099427421)
-- also Apothecary Rose by Candace Robb (9780099429760) (Owen Archer No. 1)
An Excellent Mystery by Ellis Peters (9780446405324) -- but the first Cadfael Chronicle ("A Morbid Taste for Bones") is already here.

Murder by Death 7 years ago

Added

Themis-Athena's Garden of Books 7 years ago

Thank you!

Themis-Athena's Garden of Books 7 years ago

A Room with a Brew by Joyce Tremel (9780425277713)
-- also "A Brewing Trouble Mystery" #1, "To Brew or Not to Brew" (9780425277690)

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Reading list: Halloween Book Bingo - Amateur Sleuth

Created by: Murder by Death

Books: 70

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