Here are 53 books that Death by Jelly Beans fans have personally recommended if you like Death by Jelly Beans. Book DNA is a community of 13,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Book cover of The Warm Hands of Ghosts

curlygeek

From CurlyGeek's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Unknown Author Why CurlyGeek loves this book

I loved everything about this book, from the detailed history and setting (World War I Belgium and Halifax, Canada) to its beautiful but haunting story. It was the perfect blend of historical fiction and fantasy. I was already a big fan of Katherine Arden’s Winternight trilogy, but this book is very different from her other ones, and apparently it’s a book that took her a long time to write. It’s worth the wait. I loved the vivid, atmospheric writing and the way the fantastic elements just blended seamlessly with the history (war is already such a strange, unimaginable environment). I also loved the way Arden slowly builds the relationships that Freddie and Laura develop over the course of the story.

By Katherine Arden ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Warm Hands of Ghosts as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • During the Great War, a combat nurse searches for her brother, believed dead in the trenches despite eerie signs that suggest otherwise, in this hauntingly beautiful historical novel with a speculative twist, from the author of The Bear and the Nightingale.

“A wonderful clash of fire and ice—a book you won’t want to let go of.”—Diana Gabaldon, author of Outlander

“Spectacular—a tour de force, wonderful and deep and haunting.”—Naomi Novik, author of A Deadly Education

January 1918. Laura Iven was a revered field nurse until she was wounded and discharged from the medical corps, leaving behind a…


If you love Death by Jelly Beans...

Book cover of December on 5C4

December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

Book cover of Aloha Hideaway Inn

Zelda Benjamin Author Of Shortbread Cookie Princess

From Zelda's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Zelda's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Zelda Benjamin Why Zelda loves this book

I was looking for a quick, sweet read, and this ticked all the boxes. From the first page, I knew I was in Hawaii. Stacy, a local B&B owner, investigates the new luxury resort as a guest. At the same time, Fisher, the billionaire hotel owner, is undercover as hotel staff. This was a fun scene, as the reader knows the truth. The conflict presents immediately, but the romance grows slowly. I prefer a romance that builds over time with a lot of push and pull. As their relationship moves forward, Casey wants more than just kisses from Fisher. But Fisher steps back. For me, This conflict was a good reflection of their backstories and personalities. This may bother some readers, expecting no spice even though it doesn't go anywhere.

By Elana Johnson ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Aloha Hideaway Inn as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

She's got big plans for her tropical bed and breakfast, but the new high-rise resort in the bay is throwing a wrench into everything. So Stacey Stapleton does what any savvy businesswoman would do—she goes to spy on the resort stealing her business and ruining the beautiful Getaway Bay skyline.

Her undercover operation doesn't do more than show her how flawless the Sweet Breeze Resort is—and that the owner is as handsome as he is smart.

Though annoyed by the new resort, Stacey focuses on Aloha Hideaway Inn, more determined than ever to give tourists the vacation of their lives.…


Book cover of Them Bones

Susie Black Author Of Death by Dreidel

From my list on mysteries with ghost characters.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a humorous cozy mystery author, apparitions as characters are critically important members of my cast. I have introduced two ghosts—the dead wife and young daughter of one of the men in my protagonist’s life as continuing characters in my Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series. They serve as an important yet hysterically funny bridge that connects the main character’s past to her present life and creates an extra layer of conflict in her relationship with the widower and where she wants it to go.  

Susie's book list on mysteries with ghost characters

Susie Black Why Susie loves this book

Unwed, broke, and over thirty, Mississippi native Sarah Booth Delaney may live on the family plantation, but take it from me; she’s no Scarlett O’Hara. And if the not-so-Southern Belle didn’t already have enough to contend with, she’s being haunted by the wise-cracking ghost of her great-great-grandmother’s nanny, who never misses an opportunity to remind her of the mess her life has become.

I burst out laughing when the irreverent ghost scolded Sarah Booth, saying her biological clock was ticking and she better start birthing babies before her eggs got too old and dried up! If you’re like me and love a sassy ghost poking fun at an unladylike sleuth, then this is the book for you.

By Carolyn Haines ,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Them Bones as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Meet Sarah Booth Delaney, an unconventional Southern belle whose knack for uncovering the truth is about to make her the hottest detective in Zinnia, Mississippi . . . if it doesn't make her the deadest.

No self-respecting lady would allow herself to end up in Sarah Booth’s situation. Unwed, unemployed, and over thirty, she’s flat broke and about to lose the family plantation. Not to mention being haunted by the ghost of her great-great-grandmother’s nanny, who never misses an opportunity to remind her of her sorry state—or to suggest a plan of action, like ransoming her friend’s prize pooch to…


If you love Susie Black...

Book cover of Katie’s Gamble

Katie’s Gamble by Kara O'Neal,

Katie's Gamble is an unexpected, unique story about a young woman who's trying to support her younger siblings by keeping her family's confectionery shop open.

In order to do that, she has to take on her older brother, who's a notorious gambler in Louisiana. Additionally, she has to outsmart Rowdy…

Book cover of Casino Queen

Susie Black Author Of The Forecast is...Murder!

From my list on cozy mysteries that take place in a desert.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am Susie Black, an award-winning cozy mystery author. As a long-time desert dweller and professional people watcher, I’ve always been fascinated by the intrinsic relationship between the often unpredictable, severe desert weather and the distinctive, sometimes quirky people who choose to live in it. With the introduction of The Sunny Knight Mystery Series, I have created an entire series that is devoted to exploring that unique connection. The Forecast is…Murder! is the series debut title. 

Susie's book list on cozy mysteries that take place in a desert

Susie Black Why Susie loves this book

Caroline Popov is promoted to General Manager of the Night Hawk Casino in the California high desert.

I cheered as Caroline didn’t let anyone push her around. If, like me, you’re curious about the real story behind the gaming industry, but a trip to a casino isn’t in your future, this story is right up your alley.

I was blown away by gaming industry pro-Bertoia’s physical description of the casino, the emotional atmosphere that permeates the place, and the characters who play and work there that were so spot on. I checked my wallet to make sure I didn’t lose a bucket of bucks at the Blackjack table.

By Cara Bertoia ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Casino Queen as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Caroline Popov, alone, heartbroken, and deeply in debt ends up in glamorous Palm Springs, California where Native casinos have just opened, offering employment to thousands. She lands a job at the Palm Oasis Casino where she is mentored by the charismatic tribal chairman, John Tovar.

Embraced by casino culture, Caroline works her way up to casino manager of the Night Hawk, in the High Desert town of Joshua Tree. There, she is responsible for managing multicultural team members, satisfying the demands of often unique guests, and growing revenue while rooting out corruption.

In the process of rediscovering her inner strength,…


Book cover of Pleating for Mercy

Susie Black Author Of Death by Dreidel

From my list on mysteries with ghost characters.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a humorous cozy mystery author, apparitions as characters are critically important members of my cast. I have introduced two ghosts—the dead wife and young daughter of one of the men in my protagonist’s life as continuing characters in my Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series. They serve as an important yet hysterically funny bridge that connects the main character’s past to her present life and creates an extra layer of conflict in her relationship with the widower and where she wants it to go.  

Susie's book list on mysteries with ghost characters

Susie Black Why Susie loves this book

Maybe it was fond memories of my own dearly-departed wise Nana that made me fall in love with Meemaw, Texas fashion designer Harlow Jane Cassidy’s ghostly granny as she worked from the Great Beyond to help her granddaughter solve a murder and clear her as the number one suspect. Give me a gal who inherits magical power and has to think on her feet when a crisis comes calling, and she has to use it. 

Part paranormal, part mystery, part second chance at life and love, this is a woo-woo-infused fun trip to Never-neverland.  

By Melissa Bourbon ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Pleating for Mercy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

When her great-grandmother passes away, Harlow Jane Cassidy leaves her job as a Manhattan fashion designer and moves back to Bliss, Texas. But when she opens a dressmaking boutique in the turn-of-the-century farmhouse she inherited, Harlow senses an inexplicable "presence". Is Meemaw really gone, or she now Harlow's ghostly roommate?

Her old friend Josie orders a gown for her upcoming wedding, but when Josie's boss turns up dead, Harlow has to find the killer-with a little help from beyond.


Book cover of Just Add Salt

Susie Black Author Of Rag Lady

From my list on female protagonists with jobs usually performed by men.

Why am I passionate about this?

Before I became an author, I was a sales exec. As a female ladies’ apparel rep in a traditionally male-dominated industry in the Deep Southern states, I had to prove myself every day. When I started, there were no other women road reps in the region. No one, except my mentor father, thought I’d last a season. Grit and stubborn perseverance to prove the industry wrong kept me going. I succeeded beyond my wildest dreams. I took a sledgehammer to every glass ceiling I encountered and smashed it to smithereens.

Susie's book list on female protagonists with jobs usually performed by men

Susie Black Why Susie loves this book

This is a breathless ocean adventure to Mexico, chock-full of international intrigue, a deadly hurricane, and a lovesick whale courting Civil Engineer Hetta Coffey’s yacht.

I laughed out loud at the hilarious antics of zany but lovable characters. Give me a madcap escapade featuring a macho rent-a-Captain with Lucy and Ethel as the crew, on a cruise where whatever could go wrong would go wrong.

I loved the snappy, spicier-than-hot salsa dialogue and snarky banter between sassy Hetta and Jan, her BFF. Add a plot that runs at a breakneck pace, and I bought myself a ticket for a rollercoaster-worthy wild ride that was more fun than whacking a piñata.  

By Jinx Schwartz ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Just Add Salt as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Hetta Coffey is a woman with a yacht, and she's not afraid to use it!

Hetta, a globe-trotting engineer with attitude, a penchant for trouble, and a yacht, is back, and this time she s steering us into hot Mexican waters.

Miffed that vacation plans with her chronically absent boyfriend Jenks Jenkins have gone awry, she accepts a job in Baja. So what if she and her friend Jan are spectacularly unqualified to take her yacht on a thousand mile cruise in the eastern Pacific Ocean in the middle of hurricane season? Hiring a handsome, if somewhat fishy captain for…


If you love Death by Jelly Beans...

Book cover of The Delphi Agenda

The Delphi Agenda by Rob Swigart,

Papyrologist Lisa Emmer's world flips when the Sûreté detains her at her Metro station with news of the savage murder of the esteemed Paris historian Dr. Raimond Foix, her friend and mentor in the study of ancient documents.

Horrified, Lisa finds clues at the crime scene left behind for her…

Book cover of From Brick & Darkness

Susie Black Author Of The Case of the Croaked Coach

From my list on ordinary teens doing extraordinary things.

Why am I passionate about this?

Before writing cozy mysteries, I was a ladies’ apparel sales exec. To be a successful, humorous, cozy mystery author, character development is the key. Fortunately for my writing gig, salespeople are also students of human nature. I've been fascinated by what makes people tick all my life and have taken all I have learned and applied it to my writing. How characters react in life and death situations makes my casts imperfect but believable, accents their individuality, and lets their personalities come alive so that readers can’t help but invest in them.

Susie's book list on ordinary teens doing extraordinary things

Susie Black Why Susie loves this book

I gave a standing ovation to this lesson in being careful about what one wishes for and facing the consequences when one’s wishes come true in a heart-pounding fight of good versus evil. This gem is one of the most imaginative and descriptively written tales I ever read.

I could almost feel the heat from the sinister, demonic Ifrit breathing fire and the slash of its tail across the protagonist’s face. If you start out reading this book doubting the existence of djinns and parallel universes, you’ll be questioning your beliefs when you get to the end.

By J. L. Sullivan ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked From Brick & Darkness as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Bax always fantasized something remarkable would happen in his life. So when a decrepit man with glowing purple eyes offers him a ring intended for his estranged father, Bax accepts.

The ring speaks to Bax in a dream, tempting him with a vision of a powerful djinn. Desperate to make his fantasies a reality, Bax unleashes a creature called Ifrit, but soon learns this djinn isn't what the ring led him to believe. Feeding off the depths of his subconscious, the sinister demon fulfills what he thinks Bax wants by manipulating, threatening, and murdering. With everyone he loves in danger…


Book cover of How the Light Gets In

Cyndi L. Stuart Author Of Deadly Yours

From my list on mystery books with a SMACK.

Why am I passionate about this?

I've been an avid reader of murder mysteries since I was a kid when my grandmother gave me my first Agatha Christie novel for Christmas. What I love about Christie and the books I’ve picked here is that just when you think you have the whole thing figured out, the writers give you a big SMACK up side the head. So, whether the mysteries are cozies, courtroom dramas or femme noir, they all give you that moment toward the end where you cry out loud, “No way!” and then flip furiously back through the pages to see how you missed it.

Cyndi's book list on mystery books with a SMACK

Cyndi L. Stuart Why Cyndi loves this book

Louise Penny has hooked me again with another great installment in the Inspector Gamache series. I was so excited when I opened the book and found I would be returning to Three Pines for a new murder and an old story line Penny has been dangling in front of me since book one.

Both are resolved in this book (I think, but you never know) and the end is more than satisfying. There's still a lot of unfinished business in that little town and this incredible cast of characters just keeps me coming back for more. Moreover, (I remind my husband every time I start a new book in the series), I would run away with Armand Gamache if given even the slightest chance. 

By Louise Penny ,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked How the Light Gets In as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

How the Light Gets In is the ninth Chief Inspector Gamache Novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Louise Penny.

"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." —Leonard Cohen

Christmas is approaching, and in Québec it's a time of dazzling snowfalls, bright lights, and gatherings with friends in front of blazing hearths. But shadows are falling on the usually festive season for Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Most of his best agents have left the Homicide Department, his old friend and lieutenant Jean-Guy Beauvoir hasn't spoken to him in months, and hostile forces are lining…


Book cover of Tourist Season

Paul Wilborn Author Of The Everlasting Life of Charlie Wall

From my list on quirky characters and exotic scenery.

Why am I passionate about this?

Not so long ago, I got paid to roam Florida and send back quirky dispatches to waiting newspaper editors. I’m fourth-generation, and like many Floridians, I have a love-hate relationship with my home state. I love the exotic beauty, the tumultuous weather, and the “end-of-the-road” mentality of the Sunshine State, but I hate the sprawl, the traffic and the “everything’s for-sale” greed that’s turning this once-pristine place into a steaming suburban parking lot. I enjoy books that capture the beauty, the strangeness, and the quirky characters who still haunt this pistol-shaped peninsula.

Paul's book list on quirky characters and exotic scenery

Paul Wilborn Why Paul loves this book

Carl was a journalist I got to know during my days roaming the state for The Tampa Tribune and later, the St. Petersburg Times.

A Miami Herald columnist, Carl pretty much invented the modern Florida novel, with his dark and often hilarious first book, Tourist Season. Like many of his other books, this razor-sharp satire is stocked with colorful characters dealing with a state being consumed by greed, corrupt leadership, and overdevelopment. 

By Carl Hiaasen ,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked Tourist Season as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Take a trip to exotic South Florida with this dark, funny book that established Carl Hiaasen as one of the top mystery writers in the game.

The first sign of trouble is a Shriner's fez washed up on a Miami beach. The next is a suitcase containing the almost-legless body of the local chamber of commerce president found floating in a canal...

The locals are desperate to keep the murders under wraps and the tourist money flowing. But it will take a reporter-turned–private eye to make sense of a caper that mixes football players, politicians, and one very hungry crocodile…


If you love Susie Black...

Book cover of The Tao of Poison

The Tao of Poison by Isham Cook,

A poisonous maiden, a Daoist sex cult, and a violent insurgency.

The polyandrous Yan family in China's rural Shaanxi Province takes in two carpenter brothers. When one brother is convicted of murder after killing their neighbor in a dispute, a constable threatens to expose the family's rumored polyandry and extorts…

Book cover of Maximum Bob

Susie Black Author Of Death by Cutting Table

From my list on authors who create the zaniest characters.

Why am I passionate about this?

To be a successful sales exec, required my being an observant student of human nature. The same skill applied to my becoming a successful author. I discovered the most unforgettable people I encountered throughout my career were a lot like the zany oddballs my favorite authors created and the perfect models to base my cast of characters on. 

Susie's book list on authors who create the zaniest characters

Susie Black Why Susie loves this book

As a woman who was raised to have a moral compass, I am outraged whenever someone in authority abuses their power and gets away with it.

While I don’t condone revenge, nonetheless, I have to admit I cheered when lewd, lecherous, law-bending Florida Judge Robert “Maximum Bob” Gibbs finally gets his comeuppance and is judged guilty by a grudge-bearing malefactor and sentenced to death-by alligator, a unique means of execution, to say the least.

Ingenious, more than slightly off-kilter Elmore Leonard is the undisputed king of criminal mayhem. His wacky, raucous Maximum Bob is a delightfully dark humorous tale chocked full of zany characters; a group of magnificent miscreants Mr. Leonard created, knowing his readers would love to hate.

By Elmore Leonard ,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Maximum Bob as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The New York Times bestselling author of Be Cool and Get Shorty

When someone delivers an alligator to Judge Bob Gibbs' porch, there's no shortage of suspects - hard-sentencing, womanising redneck 'Maximum Bob' is pretty much the most unpopular man in Florida.

Throw into the mix the Crowe clan - about as primitive and aggressive as any alligator - a doped-up doctor on early release with a tag, quick-witted probation officer Kathy Baker, a mermaid and a long-dead slave girl called Wanda, and things get a tad complicated. And inevitably, they don't work out the way you might expect...


Book cover of The Warm Hands of Ghosts
Book cover of Aloha Hideaway Inn
Book cover of Them Bones

Share your top 3 reads of 2026!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

165

readers submitted
so far, will you?