It’s Mid-Summer Murders Week

A special all-mystery edition

Hi friends,

Hope you’re doing well.

I’ve declared it Mid-Summer Murders week here at What To Read If. Important note: I don’t actually think we’re at the mid-point of summer (I think that’s around July 15^th?), but I came up with the Mid-Summer Murder pun last week and it was too good to wait on.

For the uninitiated, “Midsommar Murders” is a long-running British TV show, based on a book series by the same name, about crimes in a wealthy English county. It is peak cozy British crime.

For Mid-Summer Murders, I’m spotlighting three mysteries spanning the genre. In keeping with the TV show, none of them are too gory or dark. Think puzzle books, not hard-boiled noir.

And, now, what to read if …

You Want a Historical Whodunnit

The Bangalore Detectives Club by Harini Nagendra

Set in 1921, The Bangalore Detectives Club follows Kaveri, a 19-year-old struggling to adjust to her new life as a doctor’s wife. A bookish math prodigy, Kaveri is not what her mother-in-law envisioned for her son. When the older woman is out, Kaveri secretly solves complex equations and reads mystery novels. While at a party at the luxurious Century Club, she sneaks out to the garden and spots someone hiding in the bushes. Thirty minutes later, the stranger is found dead.

Kaveri becomes convinced of the innocence of the police’s prime suspect and sets out to find the real killer. Joined by her older neighbor Uma Aunty, her investigation takes her to the lavish mansions of British colonial officers and tiny mud-floored homes. Because no one suspects two women would do anything more than shop or gossip, the pair are able to uncover long-hidden truths.

My favorite part of The Bangalore Detectives Club was watching Kaveri’s relationship with her husband, Ramu, develop into a strong partnership. She was given to Ramu at age 16, but convinced their families to postpone the wedding so she could continue to her studies. Over the course of the novel, as Ramu uses his medical knowledge to assist Kaveri in her investigation, he comes to appreciate his quirky, brilliant wife. I’m eager to see what this pair does in future installments.

Bingo boxes this book checks: Debut, book set in another country (unless you live in India!)

You Think Murder is For the Birds

Murder with Peacocks by Donna Andrews

Blacksmith Meg Langslow is slated to be the maid of honor in three weddings in three consecutive weeks. As if that didn’t sound exhausting enough, each of the couples has handed off wedding planning to her — with their requests ranging from requiring guests to wear Renaissance dress to having live peacocks at the event to add to the ambiance. In between managing the whims of the couples and entertaining a truly hilarious number of relatives, Meg stumbles upon a dead body. Together with an attractive stranger, she sets out to solve the murder and pull off three perfect weddings.

I’ll be honest, I’m struggling to remember the exact plot of this one because I have read at least a dozen books in this 32-book (!) series (number 33 will be out later this year). Why haven’t I read all the bird-themed novels? I love knowing I have some in reserve and can visit Meg, her family and friends whenever I want. And she’s my favorite kind of amateur sleuth, curious enough to get involved in an investigation, but smart enough to know when she’s out of her depth.

One last plug for Donna Andrew’s books: Unlike many mystery series that almost hold the characters in place, readers get to watch Meg and her family grow older, get married, start businesses, have children and more. Each book works as a standalone, but for me, the real joy is going on the journey with these characters.

Bingo boxes this book checks: Book set over the summer, book published before 2020, award winner (Agatha for Best First Novel), debut book that makes you laugh (probably)

You’re Looking for a Meta-Mystery

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

Ernest “Ern” Cunningham, the narrator of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, writes how-to guides for aspiring mystery authors, walking through the beats readers expect a whodunnit to hit. His career is an extension of the family business — in a way. As he explains on the first page, “Everyone in my family has killed someone… Some of us, the high achievers, have killed more than once.”

The family of murderers arrives at a ski lodge for a reunion as a snowstorm is coming — an ominous sign, our mystery-scholar narrator reminds us. The cause for the reunion is Ern’s brother Michael’s release from prison, where he landed because of Ern’s testimony. Further complicating matters, Michael is now dating Ern’s ex-wife. The complex family dynamics briefly take a backseat when a corpse is found and Michael is arrested again.

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone is not for everyone. Casual or occasional mystery readers likely won’t appreciate Ernest’s regular commentary on the genre tropes, such as when trying to get cell service he says, “I had to be standing on the roof to get a single bar of reception, and even then it was hit and miss. Which I’m well aware is, like, a thing in these books. … If it’s any consolation, no one’s phone runs out of battery until Chapter 33.” But, if you’re looking for something that comments on the genre while delivering a strong plot, this one is for you.

Bingo boxes this book checks: Book set in another country (unless you live in Australia)

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Thanks for reading!

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