Here are 100 books that The Impossible Fortune fans have personally recommended if you like The Impossible Fortune. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Nine Perfect Strangers

Susan McCormick Author Of The Room at the End of the Hall

From Susan's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Doctor Cozy mystery lover Giant dog lover San Francisco fog lover

Susan's 3 favorite reads in 2025

Susan McCormick Why Susan loves this book

I re-read this book in anticipation of the show, and it held up as I remembered. I love Liane Moriarty and her characters, and this one is chock full of interesting, believable, empathetic characters of all ages, as usual. It is a great suspense, with so many twists and turns and interweavings. The end wasn’t “perfect,” but the journey there was fantastic.

By Liane Moriarty ,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Nine Perfect Strangers as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Now a Hulu original series

“If three characters were good in Big Little Lies, nine are even better in Nine Perfect Strangers.” ―Lisa Scottoline, The New York Times Book Review

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Big Little Lies

Could ten days at a health resort really change you forever? In Liane Moriarty’s latest page-turner, nine perfect strangers are about to find out...

Nine people gather at a remote health resort. Some are here to lose weight, some are here to get a reboot on life, some are here for reasons they can’t…


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Book cover of Flashes of a Dying Hour

Flashes of a Dying Hour by Lynda Allen,

What if menopause gave you a superpower?

Menopause unlocked a previously unknown superpower for Liv Wilde – psychic visions during hot flashes. While her visions rarely have life and death consequences, for the first time Liv sees a dead body in a premonition. When she comes face-to-face with the man…

Book cover of What You Are Looking for Is in the Library

Janell Lovelace

From Janell's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why Janell loves this book

It was cozy, but also made you think about what’s important to you

By Michiko Aoyama ,

Why should I read it?

6 authors picked What You Are Looking for Is in the Library as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE TWO-MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING INTERNATIONAL NOVEL

The Top Ten Times bestseller
A Time Magazine Book of the Year
'An undeniable page-turner' New York Times

'I ADORED this uplifting, hopeful novel ' Daily Mail
'It made me laugh and cry and feel comforted' 5***** Reader review
'A tribute to the transformative power of books and libraries' Irish Times

An inspirational tale of the love, comfort and growth you can find in the pages of a good book.
_________________
What are you looking for?

So asks Tokyo's most enigmatic librarian, Sayuri Komachi.

But she is no ordinary librarian.

Sensing exactly what someone is…


Book cover of The Thursday Murder Club

Joan Havelange Author Of Wayward Shot

From Joan's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Joan's 3 favorite reads in 2025

Joan Havelange Why Joan loves this book

Funny and a mystery. Old people had lives an they are under estimated

By Richard Osman ,

Why should I read it?

34 authors picked The Thursday Murder Club as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A New York Times bestseller | Soon to be a major motion picture from Steven Spielberg at Amblin Entertainment

"Witty, endearing and greatly entertaining." -Wall Street Journal

"Don't trust anyone, including the four septuagenarian sleuths in Osman's own laugh-out-loud whodunit." -Parade

Four septuagenarians with a few tricks up their sleeves
A female cop with her first big case
A brutal murder
Welcome to...
THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB

In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss unsolved crimes; together they call themselves the Thursday Murder Club.

When a local developer is found dead…


If you love Richard Osman...

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Book cover of Flashes of a Dying Hour

Flashes of a Dying Hour by Lynda Allen,

What if menopause gave you a superpower?

Menopause unlocked a previously unknown superpower for Liv Wilde – psychic visions during hot flashes. While her visions rarely have life and death consequences, for the first time Liv sees a dead body in a premonition. When she comes face-to-face with the man…

Book cover of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Elizabeth Sims Author Of Holy Hell

From my list on crime novels with witty female protagonists.

Why am I passionate about this?

People behave rationally and irrationally. Observing and thinking about human nature is the sport of my lifetime. In literature and art, I worship real wit. I thirst for the unusual, the deadpan, the acknowledging of one thing while another slips in unseen. Wit has been, for me, a shield and a tool for good. I try not to use it as a weapon because wit as a weapon often damages a wider target than one intends. I strive to endow my fictional women, my protagonists, with sharp yet understated wit that spares no one, not even themselves. Especially not themselves. The books I recommend here live up to my standards.

Elizabeth's book list on crime novels with witty female protagonists

Elizabeth Sims Why Elizabeth loves this book

I’m not a fan of novels that are paced like greased rockets, as if the author’s afraid you’ll suddenly throw the book across the room, turn on Netflix, and order a pizza. Which is a key reason I love this book. Precious Ramotswe is a “traditionally built” woman who solves crimes in a superbly witty yet unhurried fashion and with deep compassion that stops short of sentimentality.

Her heart (huge) and brain (gently incisive) work in perfect tandem in this book. The plot is simple, which will frustrate readers who prefer intricate puzzles in their crime fiction. But for me, the pleasure lies in leisurely getting to know this wise, ingenious detective and her humble neighborhood in Botswana’s capital city.

By Alexander McCall Smith ,

Why should I read it?

11 authors picked The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Precious Ramotswe, a cheerful woman of traditional build, is the founder of Botswana's first and only ladies' detective agency. Here is a gentle interpretation of the detective role: solving her cases through her innate wisdom and understanding of human nature, she 'helps people with problems in their lives'. With a tone that is as elegant as that which is unfailingly used by his protagonist, Alexander McCall Smith tenderly unfolds a picture of life in Gaborone with a mastery of comic understatement and an evident sympathy for his subjects and their milieu. In the background of all this is Botswana, a…


Book cover of Gaudy Night

Melanie M. Jeschke Author Of Inklings

From my list on novels set in Oxford, England.

Why am I passionate about this?

Whenever in Oxford, I feel I’ve come “home.” It’s a magical city steeped in beauty, history, literature, culture, and fascinating people. I’ve been blessed to have taken graduate courses at the University, participated in numerous conferences, brought tour groups, lived “in college,” and conducted walking tours of the town. My familiarity with the city enabled me to write the original chapter on Oxford for Rick Steves’ England guidebook, and it’s where I set my fictional series, The Oxford Chronicles. When I can’t be there in person, I love to visit vicariously through good books. I hope these novels will enable you to experience some of the magic of Oxford too.

Melanie's book list on novels set in Oxford, England

Melanie M. Jeschke Why Melanie loves this book

I’ve always been fascinated by the “dreaming spires” of Oxford University and enjoy Gaudy Night because it immerses me in the world of a (fictional) women’s college set in 1930s Oxford.

As a former professor, I’m intrigued by the internecine political and personal battles in the Senior Common Room (SCR), or college faculty lounge, as well as the friction between those professors devoted entirely to an academic career versus those trying to maintain the challenging balance of work and family, the same issues women struggle with today, nearly one hundred years later.

Sayers weaves together these tensions with a mysterious “poltergeist” who torments the college with poison-pen letters, pranks, vandalism, and violence into a compelling mystery under the dreaming spires.

By Dorothy L. Sayers ,

Why should I read it?

13 authors picked Gaudy Night as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The twelfth book in Dorothy L Sayers' classic Lord Peter Wimsey series, introduced by actress Dame Harriet Mary Walter, DBE - a must-read for fans of Agatha Christie's Poirot and Margery Allingham's Campion Mysteries.

'D. L. Sayers is one of the best detective story writers' Daily Telegraph

Harriet Vane has never dared to return to her old Oxford college. Now, despite her scandalous life, she has been summoned back . . .

At first she thinks her worst fears have been fulfilled, as she encounters obscene graffiti, poison pen letters and a disgusting effigy when she arrives at sedate Shrewsbury…


Book cover of Dog On It

Joan Havelange Author Of Wayward Shot

From Joan's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Joan's 3 favorite reads in 2025

Joan Havelange Why Joan loves this book

Comical mystery. From a dogs point of view

By Spencer Quinn ,

Why should I read it?

10 authors picked Dog On It as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The first book of the New York Times bestselling Chet and Bernie mystery series, an “enchanting one-of-a-kind novel” (Stephen King) that is “nothing short of masterful” (Los Angeles Times).

Chet, the wise and lovable canine narrator of Dog on It, and Bernie, a down-on-his-luck private investigator, are quick to take a new case involving a frantic mother searching for her teenage daughter. This well-behaved and gifted student may or may not have been kidnapped, but she has definitely gotten mixed up with some very unsavory characters. With Chet’s highly trained nose leading the way, their hunt for clues takes them…


Book cover of Still Life

Rob Phippen

From Rob's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why Rob loves this book

I loved the unexpected character of chief inspector Gamache. He’s a far cry from the hardbitten, cynical, alcoholic rebel that we’ve come to expect from detective fiction. Instead he’s thoughtful, kind and insightful. Instead of flashes of inspiration, we see him spending his time fully immersing himself in the lives, thoughts and feelings of the people surrounding a crime, until the identity of the perpetrator begins to make itself known.

The backdrop of the book (and those that follow it) is almost a character in its own right: the idyllic community of Three Pines, off the beaten track in Quebec. It’s a place you’ll want to go back to.

By Louise Penny ,

Why should I read it?

9 authors picked Still Life as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In Still Life, bestselling author Louise Penny introduces Monsieur L'Inspecteur Armand Gamache of the Surete du Quebec, a modern Poirot who anchors this beloved traditional mystery series.

Winner of the New Blood Dagger, Arthur Ellis, Barry, Anthony, and Dilys awards.

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surêté du Québec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montreal. Jane Neal, a local fixture in the tiny hamlet of Three Pines, just north of the U.S. border, has been found dead in the woods. The locals are certain…


Book cover of A Murder at Malabar Hill

Amanda Hampson Author Of The Tea Ladies

From my list on cosy crime to snuggle up with on a dark and stormy night.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have always loved ‘whodunit’ mysteries and the crime genre. When I was in my early teens, I read a couple of dozen Agatha Christie books and was hooked from then on. I was determined to tackle this genre for my 7th novel and (as with several previous novels) wanted to incorporate historic elements into the story because of my fascination for social history. My objective was to immerse the reader in the mid-sixties and then layer in the murder mystery element. The books I’ve recommended are all very different but offer a good grounding in the genre.

Amanda's book list on cosy crime to snuggle up with on a dark and stormy night

Amanda Hampson Why Amanda loves this book

A Murder at Malabar Hill is a murder mystery that offers a fascinating insight into Indian culture in the 1920s.

The story takes place in Bombay, where the character of Perveen Mistry is the city's first female lawyer. The cultural and social challenges she faces as a woman in a male-dominated profession are woven into the story, as well as the complexities of India's caste system.

Through Perveen's interactions with her clients, we learn about the intricacies of Islamic and Hindu marriage laws, the importance of family honour, and the difficulties faced by women in traditional Indian society. I found this book fascinating, and with the wonderful descriptions of food, clothing, and architecture, felt transported to the streets of Bombay.

By Sujata Massey ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked A Murder at Malabar Hill as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Winner and Top Pick of the 2019 American Library Association Reading List for Mystery
Winner of the 2019 Mary Higgins Clark Award
Winner of the 2019 Lefty Award for Best Historical Novel
Winner of the the 2018 Agatha Award for Best Historical Novel
Finalist for the 2019 Shamus Award
Finalist for the 2019 Harper Lee Legal Fiction Prize

'Marvelously plotted, richly detailed . . . This is a first-rate performance inaugurating a most promising series.' The Washington Post

'Perveen Mistry has all the pluck you want in a sleuthing lawyer, as well as a not-so-surprising - but decidedly welcome -…


Book cover of The Secret, Book & Scone Society

katie5

From Katie's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Unknown Author Why Katie loves this book

A group of lonely women, living in a small town, decide to start a book club. The more time these strangers spend together, the closer they become. This is a heartwarming story about found friendship and acceptance from past traumas endured by each woman. It was emotional, uplifting, and heartwarming. I recommend the entire series.

By Ellery Adams ,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked The Secret, Book & Scone Society as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

First in the mystery series from the New York Times-bestselling author: “Anyone who loves novels that revolve around books will savor this tasty treat.”—Library Journal (starred review)
 
A quirky club in small-town North Carolina holds the keys to health, happiness, friendship—and even solving a murder—all to be found within the pages of the right book…

Strangers flock to Miracle Springs hoping the natural hot springs, five-star cuisine, and renowned spa can cure their ills. If none of that works, they often find their way to Miracle Books, where, over a fresh-baked “comfort” scone, they exchange their stories with owner Nora…


Book cover of The Bullet That Missed

Mats Vederhus Author Of Murder In Lima

From Mats' 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Mats' 3 favorite reads in 2024

Mats Vederhus Why Mats loves this book

Richard Osman has created a fascinating gallery of characters. I honestly never thought I'd be interested in reading about a gang of pensioners solving murders, but thanks to his plotting and ability to give his characters interesting personalities, it works well.

By Richard Osman ,

Why should I read it?

10 authors picked The Bullet That Missed as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Brought to you by Penguin.

A new mystery is afoot in the third book in the Thursday Murder Club series from record-breaking, bestselling author Richard Osman.

It is an ordinary Thursday and things should finally be returning to normal.

Except trouble is never far away where the Thursday Murder Club are concerned. A decade-old cold case leads them to a local news legend and a murder with no body and no answers.

Then a new foe pays Elizabeth a visit. Her mission? Kill. . . or be killed.

As the cold case turns white hot, Elizabeth wrestles with her conscience…


Book cover of Nine Perfect Strangers
Book cover of What You Are Looking for Is in the Library
Book cover of The Thursday Murder Club

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