I adore mysteries but I really need some beach reads that don't have dark undertones. It seems that so much fiction these days has some sort of dark backstory or serious issue. I don't like or want sheer stupidity but I really could use some breezy (preferably good) reading for brain candy. Any suggestions?
Try Julie Hyzy -- she has the Manor House and White House Chef series. The chef books are much better earlier in the series; the last few have been poorly plotted, IMO. Rhys Bowen's Her Royal Spyness series is fun too. She writes the Molly Murphy books but those tend to have less fluffy plot lines to them.
Donna Andrews might be worth a try. Murder with Peacocks was enjoyable. I didn't get much farther with the series but it has a ton of books and a strong following.
ETA What about Agatha Christie (Miss Marple books are never terribly dark) or Mary Stewart? Stewart has a gothic vibe but it's not heavy or serious.
Post by hopecounts on Jun 27, 2015 12:27:28 GMT -5
The Royal We is VERY light, a little drama but nothing dark or heavy Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella is light and funny nothing remotely heavy Her Shopaholic series is good until And Sister then they go from silly but fun to just dumb
I got a kick out of Elizabeth Peters' Crocodile on the Sandbank. It's a light mystery that takes place in Egypt a century or so ago, and the main character has so good zest.
I love Mary Stewart's work, but I would not describe it as light or fluffy.
These are not mysteries, but I really like and find light and easy to read: Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series and Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series
(all links are to the Kindle version of the first books in the series)
I realize upon rereading my OP that I was unclear. I don't actually need my light, fluffy reading to be within the mystery genre and I'm not sure why I even mentioned that mysteries are my fave. I actually do expect mysteries to have dark undertones because it's sort of the nature of the beast. :-)
Anyway, thanks so much for these suggestions. I will check them out (literally)!
LOL, right? I would love to turn to YA for some breezy reading but it's all death and destruction these days. I don't dislike that stuff, I just need a break from the doom and gloom for a bit.