Favorite Mystery Series, Part 2

Last year on my Instagram account, I began highlighting various mystery series that I enjoy with details about each series including information about the protagonist, how many books there are so far, the setting, what makes each series a standout, and more. I took a break from Instagram and am recently back and am eager to continue this series. These are two that I spotlighted that readers had great feedback about:

Series #1: Bruno, Chief of Police series by Martin Walker – Bruno is the chief of police in a small fictional town in the Perigord region of France. Walker’s clever and often timely murder mysteries paired with a focus on the region’s food, people, and culture make this series one of the best. His wife is food writer Julia Watson so she helps develop the food and recipes he includes in his stories. The focus of the books is split between the characters and their stories and the mystery at issue in each installment so it is definitely a series that builds on itself. Starting from the beginning is recommended for this one.

Highlight: Each book has an incredibly strong sense of place; the descriptions of the region and its culture are in-depth and well-developed because Walker lives there part-time and clearly loves it. Every time I read one, I feel like I have visited the region – he brings the area so vividly to life.

First book: Bruno, Chief of Police.

Number of books in the series: 17. The most recent is A Grave in the Woods.

The Lucas Page series by Robert Pobi features Page, a retired FBI agent, whose uncanny ability to visualize a crime scene as it originally occurred repeatedly draws him out of retirement. 

Series #2: The Lucas Page series by Robert Pobi - Page is a former FBI agent who now teaches astrophysics at Columbia University, and his ability to visualize a crime scene as it originally occurred repeatedly draws him out of retirement. He is incredibly intelligent, and the mysteries he helps solve are clever and highly creative. His family factors into each of the stories, but the focus is on the mystery and Page himself. These are darker in tone than some, but not so dark that I cannot read them. Each book can work as a standalone, but I think starting with the first is worth it if you have the time. All three are truly outstanding and unlike other mysteries out there. I am hoping there will be another.

Highlights: Page’s intellect, Pobi’s sense of humor, all of the fabulous pop culture refences, the incredibly inventive mysteries, and the fast-paced storytelling. 

First book: City of Windows.

Number of books in the series: 3. The most recent is Do No Harm.

Do you have a favorite mystery series? I would love to hear about it. If you missed the first Page Turners where I highlighted two other series, you can check it out here.

For more book recommendations and bookish thoughts, see Cindy’s monthly Buzz Reads column, her award-winning Thoughts from a Page Podcast or follow @ThoughtsFromaPage on Instagram.