On the Shelf

Header Right Social

FacebookInstagramYoutubeMeetupOn the Shelf Blog

Header Right Search

Detective and Mystery Fiction

Elementary

by Leave a Comment

Recommended Series

Series Title: Elementary by CBS Television Studios
First Book: Elementary Season One
Who it’s for: [Teens, Adults,]

“Sherlock Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) is a recovering addict who meets Joan Watson (Lucy Lui) as his ‘sober companion’. Initially their relationship is strictly professional, and somewhat frosty, but they grow to understand and work with one another, eventually forming a friendship and partnership. Together they assist Captain Gregson and Detective Bell of the NYPD, where Holmes’ observational abilities and deductive talent unravel a series of complicated cases. Alongside his police work, Sherlock struggles with a past he left behind in London involving an ex-girlfriend Irene Adler, a ‘nemesis’ in Moriarty, and an absent father.”– IMDb

While I as waiting for the BBC’s Sherlock to release some more mini movies, I was told about this show. The concept intrigued me- recovering addict, NYC, and Dr. Watson as a woman. In addition, I liked the lead actors from their previous work.

Elementary did not disappoint. The episodes were the typical one-hour mystery murder show. Even though they were not buddy-buddy and there was absolutely no sexual tension between Sherlock and Watson, I really liked their comradery. They also had great comradery with the police Captain Greggson, played by veteran actor Aidan Quinn, and their assigned police liaison, Detective Marcus Bell.

I would recommend this to people who like episodic buddy-cop-mystery shows with real backstories and character arcs that run throughout the seasons.

Click to Request Season 1-6 on DVD!

P.S. Apparently, Season 7 started on May 23, 2019.  I cannot vouch for it. I thought Season 6 ended the series pretty well.

All By Myself, Alone

by Leave a Comment

All By Myself, Alone by Mary Higgins Clark
Format: Digital Audiobook
Who it’s for: Adults

I often do a fair amount of travelling to see family and my favorite thing to do while on a long drive is play a good mystery audiobook. I enjoy the pace of Agatha Christie’s Poirot novels and this book was able to satisfy my need for a pleasant mystery! We follow married couple Alvirah and Willy Meehan who are recently wealthy lottery winners on a luxury cruise. The Meehan’s investigate the mysterious death of a fellow passenger in possession of an emerald necklace that once belonged to Cleopatra. Clark tells the story with a fun ensemble of colorful characters including a Gemologist, Celia Kilbride, and Shakespeare Professor, Ted Cavanaugh. With the death of a passenger, a missing necklace, and a man overboard, this luxury liner turns out to be more excitement than the passengers were expecting!

Find it in the catalog 

White Hot

by Leave a Comment

White Hot by Ilona Andrews
Format: CD Audio Book #2
Who It’s For: Adults

In this Hidden Legacy Series book, best-selling authors Ilona Andrews a pseudonym for a husband and wife writing team, have put out another magical detective story.

Nevada Baylor is the lead in a family owned detective agency. She possesses a unique secret magic skill –she knows when people are lying.

She has used this skill and good old-fashioned hard work to solve cases, which has built her family business up and kept it afloat. Her magic skill is a secret, in a time when magic users are the norm.

Conner Rogan is a billionaire prime, one of the highest-ranking magic users. They are working together to solve a mystery that has them pitted against powerful magic possessors. The sparks between Nevada and Rogan are undeniable but Nevada refuses to see them. As Nevada hones her magic skills, she and Rogan will soon discover that ice can burn.

Find it in the catalog.

In This Grave Hour

by Leave a Comment

 

In This Grave Hour by Jacqueline Winspear
Format: CD Audiobook
Who it’s for:  Adults

Jacqueline Winspear writes the Maisie Dobbs series about a young English woman detective.  Her writing is highly entertaining and she describes everything in great detail.  Orlagh Cassidy is an award winning narrator who is able to change her accents to make each character distinct as well as speak in different languages.  The combination of author and narrator makes this audio book a pleasure to listen to.

In This Grave Hour is set in England in September of 1939, just as World War II is beginning.  Maisie, a young private investigator with experience solving murder cases, is tasked with solving the murders of three former Belgian men who become refugees in England.  As the investigation proceeds, Maisie encounters other murders that are somehow connected to those of the Belgian men.  To further complicate the situation, a young refugee girl arrives with a train of children being sent to England to live with families to protect them from the violence of war in their own countries.  The little girl, named Anna, doesn’t speak and Maisie is determined to find her family.  Britain is on the brink of war and is approaching its gravest hour.  I highly recommend this audio book if you enjoy mysteries and historical fiction.  I’m looking forward to listening to the next book in this series.

Find it in our catalog