Only to your reading experience, of course!
I am not a real fan of crime fiction. I don’t know why, but I have never felt compelled enough to read endless stories about solving murders. I agree, there are many charming and quirky detectives both in literature and on screen, but, alas, I have stayed immune to the whodunnit spell.
Even so, sometimes I pick up a book with a crime in its plot – and find myself loving it. It’s true, though, that there should be something more to the book than ‘he/she is dead – long, confusing investigation – we found the villain’ for me to give it a try.
So, that being said, here are some books which I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend even though crimes and murders and investigations are a part of the plot.
“Accusing Mr Darcy” by Kelly Miller
An absolutely delightful “Pride and Prejudice” variation, which will please both classical Jane Austen fans and those readers who prefer a more modern twist to a story.
“Accusing Mr Darcy” by Kelly Miller is an alternative version of how Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy fell in love. We get the charming setting of rural, aristocratic England with grand manors, elegant dinner parties, and leisurely walks in the well-tended parks. As well as the tender expression of passions and inner turmoil of the characters. But in addition to all the components for which regency romance fans stay faithful to the genre, a story of a dark, sinister secret unfolds on the pages.
If you appreciate that special, exquisite charm of a regency novel, Ms Miller will transport you right into the luxurious living rooms and garden mazes of the English countryside, so you’ll be able to dive into the lifestyle long gone but still vivid in many readers’ imagination.
“Just Jonathan” by Donna Scuvotti
“I had nobody to talk to. Nobody to share my crippling grief with. So I withdrew. Farther and farther into my shell.”
Besides taking readers on a rollercoaster of a serial killer mystery and a deep exploration of grief through the lens of a teenager, this book is a real treat for everyone who loves animals. Only the person who adores animals could have described how profound the therapeutic impact of having them around can be. The author has managed to do it masterfully. I loved Sydney the golden retriever and wouldn’t mind cuddling up with Luke’s calico cat.
The story makes an unexpected turn when Jonathan meets Luke. Their first meeting already felt like a life-changer but in a way completely different from what Jonathan could imagine. And from there, a whirlpool of events and revelations starts.
I don’t want to spoil the experience of unwrapping this story for you, so I’d better leave it here. I’ll only add that “Just Jonathan” is the book that will surprise you, for it will lead you to the paths you don’t expect you’ll be treading when you start reading.
“Here Today, Scone Tomorrow” by R.A. Hutchins
If you are on the look-out for a perfect recipe of a cozy mystery, look no further! “Here Today, Scone Tomorrow” by R.A. Hutchins is what you’ve been looking for.
Ingredients:
– a newly-divorced forty-something lady with a hefty check from her ex-husband on its way and a glamorous wardrobe
– a quirky English village
– even quirkier village inhabitants
– a talking parrot
– a murder (the victim is an extremely unpleasant individual over whose demise nobody mourns)
– a handsome detective
Spiced with humour, delicious pastry, and secrets of the village inhabitants.
“Betrayal” by Wendy Bayne
This is the second book in the Crimes Against the Crown historical crime and adventure series by Wendy Bayne. Just as I predicted in my review of the first instalment of the series “Untitled”, upon beginning to read the continuation of the story, I had no smallest idea what to expect from it.
After the head-spinning adventures Lissa, Miles, and a versatile set of characters went through in “Untitled”, “Betrayal” doesn’t disappoint in the action department. Events you couldn’t have envisaged happen in every chapter, and you simply can’t stop yourself from turning the pages. Similarly to the first book, the second one is also packed with mysteries, risky endeavours, hard-to-catch villains, as well as heart-melting love stories.
Set in the 19th century, “Betrayal” takes the reader on a risky journey between high society mansions and the neighbourhoods of the poor. The author masterfully portrays the life of different classes, with vivid strokes of her words drawing a picture of human motives and destinies, all with infinite variations and thus, incredibly exciting.
Read full reviews of these and other wonderful books here:
Eve's Book Diary 
Thank you for including “Accusing Mr. Darcy” in this wonderful group of books, Eve! 🙂
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You are most welcome, Kelly! “Accusing Mr Darcy” is a wonderful read.
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