I've been on a mystery-reading marathon in the last couple of months. What follows is a list of five mysteries by contemporary British authors writing in the "cozy", or classic, style of mysteries perfected by Agatha Christie and other authors of the mystery Golden Age.
Goodbye, Ms. Chips, an Ellie Haskell mystery #13 by Dorothy Cannell. Ellie returns to her prep school to investigate disappearance of a sports trophy. Amateur sleuth and her flamboyantly dressed housekeeper solve crimes.The tone is light and tongue-in-cheek.
The Janus Stone, a Ruth Galloway Mystery by Elly Griffiths (2010) 2nd in series, forensic archaelogist called in to investigate bones of buried child at building site. The tone is dark and contemplative.
Peril at Sumner House, a Daphne DuMaurier mystery by Joanna Challis (2010). The author of Rebecca as amateur sleuth. The tone is semi-serious.
Sherlock Holmes and the Shakespeare Letter by Barry Grant (2011) Sherlock is defrosted in the 21st century to solve more crimes. The mood is very similar to the original Holmes stories by Conan Doyle.
Death of a Chimney Sweep, a Hamish MacBeth mystery by M.C. Beaton. (2011) Small town in the Highlands of Scotland. Very light in tone with emphasis on the village eccentrics and the main character, Hamish MacBeth, the canny and adorable village constable.
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