Paranormal mysteries cover a wide range of mysteries from hardcore private investigators who track down undead killers, to cozies where the hero sees ghosts and the ghosts help catch the killer, to books where psychics help the FBI catch the killer, and on it goes. Some of these books create a whole new magical world where demons, werewolves, vampires, witches, Elves, and dragons live to books where the world is as we known it with a little twist. Some are funny and others take themselves very seriously. If you grow tired of the everyday mystery novels, paranormal mysteries can add a little whimsy into the mix. 

 

Reading right now:

Juliet Blackwell’s latest is “The Last Curtain Call” which is part of the Haunted Home Renovation mystery series. This is the eighth in the series with contractor Mel Turner whose renovation business allows her plenty of chances to come in contact with the ghosts still haunting the places she is renovating. In this latest addition to the series, San Francisco’s Crockett Theatre is falling down and full of squatters (both alive and dead) unfortunately when Mel tries to renovate the historic building, one of the squatters is found newly dead and the ghosts may be more hindrance than help in this case.

 

On hold right now:

“Witches and Wedding Cake” by Bailey Cates is the ninth book in her Magical Bakery Mystery series. The first book in this series “Brownies and Broomsticks” introduced Katie Lightfoot who moves back home to open a bakery in Savannah with her aunt and uncle only to find that she has a witch heritage that she can tap into with cooking magic. Throughout the books Katie is learning her new craft, solving murders, and building a new romantic relationship. Unfortunately as Katie gets ready for her marriage, her soon-to-be sister-in-law’s ex-husband is found dead and Katie must solve the murder before the wedding can go on.

“Ink & Sigil” by Kevin Hearne is the first in his new series called the Ink & Sigil series which is a take off on his popular Iron Druid Chronicles. Al MacBharrais uses his magic to protest the world from rogue gods. Unfortunately his apprentices keep getting killed and when his latest apprentice turns up dead the police find that he was secretly living a life of crime. Al must solve the mystery of the apprentice’s death before the police ask too many questions and uncover his own secret life.

As a huge fan of Seanan McGuire, I cannot wait for the latest in her October Daye series which comes out September 1. The series started with “Rosemary and Rue” and now the 14^th book “A Killing Frost” will continue Daye’s adventures. As a half Fae, Daye has lived her life as an outsider until she gets dragged into investigating a murder in the Faerie world which ends up dragging her permanently into the role of knight errant which seems to involve resolving whatever disaster is about to hit the Fae.

Gina LaManna’s the Hex Files Mysteries from the Sixth Borough series started with “Wicked Never Sleeps” and in September the sixth book arrives called “Wicked Twist of Fate.” This series centers around Dani DeMarco a detective in Wicked, the paranormal sixth borough of New York.

Adele Abbott has written a huge series called Witch P.I. series which started with “Witch is When It All Begins” and her 38^th book is coming out in October (“Witch is Where Clowns Go to Die”). This series is just what it says a witch private investigator who solves crimes.

 

Other Mysterious Things:

Some of the books that I’ve mentioned here are Fantasy with a mystery touch and some are  mysteries with a paranormal touch. I’ve talked before about how much we love to categorize things and that those categories sometimes keep us from exploring outside whatever genre we have decided we like. Unfortunately, if we aren’t willing to cross those lines sometimes we miss amazing books that are fun and exciting to read. It may be worth your time to venture out a bit. Other authors with a paranormal mystery slant that I feel are worth your time are Jennifer Estep, Victoria Laurie, Heather Graham, Terri Reid, Lily Harper Hart, Daniel O’Malley, Allie Therin, Theodora Goss, Jonathan Wood, Kim Harrison, Angie Fox and many more which I will continue to mention sometimes in the hope that I can get at least one person to step out of their comfort zone and enjoy a different kind of really good read.

A cozy mystery is a sub-genre of the mystery genre which means that what these books usually have in common is that the sleuth is an amateur who is usually living in a small town or a small community. Cozies are less violent than other types of mysteries with little blood and guts and the sex is usually tame. Cozies are often funny and have quirky characters. In other words, cozies are just fun and sometimes exactly what you need to relax after a day of trying to cope with reality. Plus having an average person solving a mystery shows that we can all be heroes. And we need heroes.

 

Reading right now:

One of my favorite cozy authors is Donna Andrews whose new book “The Falcon Always Wings Twice” just came out. This is the 27^th book in the Meg Langslow series. As this series has progressed, it has just gotten better. All of the reoccurring characters have developed into important and fascinating parts of the stories which I look forward to in each book. The latest in the series centers around a Renaissance Faire that Meg’s grandmother is hosting. This presents a great opportunity for everyone to get involved including Meg’s husband who is an actor in charge of putting on an improvised play every day at the fair, her grandfather who is excited by the falcon show at the fairgrounds, Meg and her two boys have a blacksmithing display for the fair goers, and so on. When one of the actors is found murdered, Meg’s sleuthing abilities kick in.

 

On hold right now:

The 14^th book in the very popular Royal Spyness Mystery series just came out (“The Last Mrs. Summers” by Rhys Bowen). This very funny series centers around a royal who is 34^th in line for the throne, but doesn’t have a penny to her name. This is an historical mystery set in the 1930s which makes it even harder for Lady Georgie to get by with only the knowledge of how to do the perfect curtsy.

Lynn Cahoon has many series going and several of those series has recent additions or soon to arrive additions and some of them are novellas. For instance, Cahoon’s new series is being introduced by a novella “Chili Cauldron Curse” which is the first appearance of the Kitchen Witch Mystery Series. Also look for a new addition to the Farm-to-Fork series “Penned In,” and book 11 in the Tourist Trap Mystery which is called “Murder in Waiting.”

Another prolific author with plenty of new books coming out is Amanda Flower. The 3^rd book in the Magic Garden Mystery series is “Mums and Mayhem” which just came out. “Dead End Detective” is the first in her new Piper and Porter Mystery series. After her partner in the Two Girls Detective Agency dies in a car accident, Darby Piper becomes a suspect in her death. Additionally, Flower’s 6^th book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series “Candy Cane Crime” comes out in October.

 

Vivien Chien has the 6^th book in the Noodle Shop Mystery Series ready to go (“Killer Kung Pao”). This look into Cleveland’s Chinese community is a lot of fun. The main character Lana Lee is busy running her family’s Chinese restaurant in Asia Village while juggling her constant involvement in everything that happens in the Village including murder. This is a series well worth your time.

 

Other Mysterious Things:

Cozies make great TV series and plenty are available to watch on Netflix or whatever streaming service you enjoy. Those I have watched and loved include: “Father Brown Mysteries,” “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries,” “Brother Cadfael,” “Pie in the Sky,” “Agatha Raisin,” “Death in Paradise,” and “Rosemary & Thyme.” Many of these are based on books so if you like them don’t forget to read the books. I recently watched “Brother Cadfael” again and was pleased at how well it holds up. Any of these make a great distraction from everything that is happening right now. If you need a break from the depressing news, any of these shows will do the trick.