Reading right now:

            “Is Fat Bob Dead Yet?” by Stephen Dobyns. This is a stand alone novel unless Dobyns decides to write more and make it a series.   It’s a comic mystery romp – think Coen Brothers writing a mystery novel.

           

On hold right now:

            “A Ghostly Demise” by Tonya Kappes. This is the third in the Southern ghost series where undertaker Emma Lee must find the killer of the town drunk to get his ghost off her back.

           

Other mysterious things:

            Comedy doesn’t seem to go well with mystery novels, yet there are many terrific mystery authors writing comic mysteries. If you want some fun with your mystery try Donna Andrews, Harlan Coben (Myron Bolitar series), Blaize Clement, Diane Mott Davidson, Janet Evanovich, Jasper Fforde, Joanne Fluke, Chris Grabenstein, Sue Ann Jaffarian, Lisa Lutz, David Rosenfelt, and Stephanie Bond. Several recently released funny mystery novels to look for include “Unleashed” by Eileen Brady whose hero is Veterinarian Kate Turner. Christopher Moore’s “Secondhand Souls” came out in August. Denise Swanson’s latest is “Murder of an Open Book.” Gloria Ferris’ most recent book “Shroud of Roses” is the second in her funny series. Tod Goldberg’s “Gangsterland” has a mobster hiding in Las Vegas after a hit job goes wrong. Philip Reed’s “Off and Running” is a funny kidnapping story. The first in a new historical series by Maia Chance just came out called “Come Hell or Highball.” And finally another funny historical mystery set in 1914 called “Girl with a Gun” by Amy Stewart. If you are looking for a funny mystery, you can’t go wrong with these and you may find it is just the start of a whole new area of reading pleasure.