The best contemporary murder/mystery novels by women writers and one bloke who isn’t Richard Osman

This is the book that got me hooked on reading. I’ve recommended it to loads of people and they’ve all loved it. It’s a truly addictive read.

When Saffron’s beloved Gran, Rose, moves into a care home because of dementia, a pregnant Saffron and her boyfriend, Tom, go to live at 9 Skeleton Place. Having watched too many house makeover TV programmes and not being too keen on the wallpaper, they decide to renovate the old place. Their hopes of creating a dream home are shattered when they discover two dead bodies buried in the garden.

What has Granny been hiding? Will she be able to remember? Wishing they hadn’t dug up the garden, Saffron and Tom dig up the past before the police incarcerate dear old granny. 

My brother introduced me to this writer, and I’m so glad he did. This is the thirtieth book in the Stephanie Plum novels—yes, folks, the thirtieth! After reading this one, I immediately bought another. Only twenty-eight to go! 

This book has it all: humour, action, and great characters. I was particularly charmed by bounty hunter Stephanie Plum's relationship with her sidekick, the slightly bonkers Lula. Tracking down a bail jumper and a security guard suspected of being his accomplice should be simple, but neither finding the culprits nor Stephanie’s love life is straightforward; everything soon spirals into a vortex of complications.

Be prepared for a roller-coaster ride with slick dialogue and quirky characters, including an orange dog. This book will keep you hooked to the end. 

I laughed out loud at some of the lines in this book. If you’re looking for something to brighten up your day, then this is the book for you. It’s masterfully clever and intricately woven in a rich tapestry of humour and fun.

Think Murder On The Orient Express but set in Australia with a train whose passengers are all crime writers, including  Ernest Cunningham, a “lowly debut author” with writer’s block, who Stevenson uses as the narrator. Ernest hilariously explains the rules of writing a murder mystery novel while at the same time guiding us through the plot, unravelling a complex set of clues that eventually lead to the unveiling of the killer.

I’ve read a few books by this author and have never been disappointed. I particularly like Our Holiday because it’s not only a cracking yarn, but it has something to say about the impact of holiday homes on local communities.  

During their summer visit to their holiday home in Pine Ridge, a picture-postcard coastal village, Sloane Rangers Charlotte and Perry find they need more than sunscreen for protection. Their not-as-wealthy friends, Amy and Linus, have also recently bought a place there, but this is more of a source of irritation to Charlotte and Perry than a comfort. Simmering tension with the locals builds to a violent and unexpected crescendo, and it takes more than a bucket and spade to dig up the dead body.

I read this book while sitting on a terrace overlooking the beautiful Cornish coast. It is a fantastic holiday read. I literally had to drag myself away from it to avoid spending the entire time with my nose stuck in a book. It might not be the best one for you if you’re thinking of travelling abroad!

A dream holiday turns into a nightmare for sisters Lori and Erin when, after an argument, Lori takes the onward connecting flight to their island resort destination alone. Fasten your seatbelts for a crash landing. A terrified Lori recounts her fight for survival on a remote island while guilt-ridden Erin searches for the answer to the mysterious disappearance of the plane and the whereabouts of her missing sister.