murder mystery books – Kate Michaelson

The Kate Hamilton Mystery Series by Connie Berry

Published on May 23, 2023May 24, 2023 by katemichaelsonwriter

Avid readers know that the only thing better than discovering a book you love is finding an entire series. Luckily for me, I’ve recently discovered the Kate Hamilton series of mysteries by Connie Berry.

Little girl saying she's so excited — So excited!

The series follows Kate, a level-headed and smart forty-something with a dry sense of humor. Although Kate lives in Ohio where she has her own antiques store, family affairs take her to the British Isles where all of the books are set. Along with her love interest, who happens to be a British Detective Inspector, Kate gets entangled in murder investigations everywhere from the Scottish Highlands to quaint English villages.

Cover of Dream of Death, Berry's first Kate Hamilton book

Cover of A Legacy of Murder, Kate Hamilton series book 2

With its humor and British charm, I think this series will appeal to a wide range of mystery lovers, from those who enjoy the antiquities and wit of Gigi Pandian’s Jaya Jones series to fans of atmospheric British mysteries, like those by Ann Cleeves and Elizabeth George.

Here’s a list of Connie Berry’s Kate Hamilton books in order so that you can find out for yourself if this series is for you. Happy reading!

Dream of Death – Still grieving her husband’s untimely death, antiques-store owner Kate Hamilton travels back to his family’s estate on a small island in the Scottish Hebrides to help his sister with a mysterious request. Soon she finds herself drawn into a murder that parallels the violent deaths of two young women hundreds of years ago.
A Legacy of Murder – Berry’s second book in the series takes Kate to a quaint Suffolk village with stately homes steeped in history, but her Christmas holiday is interrupted by a missing ruby and a series of murders.
The Art of Betrayal – The third book finds Kate filling in for an antiques dealer when a death at the local May Fair pageant draws her into a murder with overtones reaching far back into Anglo-Saxon history.
The Shadow of Memory – The fourth book (a 2023 Edgar Award nominee) explores the connection between a sixty-year-old murder and the long-buried secrets of a local sanatorium.

Cover of Mistletoe and Murder, Berry's upcoming a novella

Bonus Book! Upcoming Novella

Mistletoe and Murder, a novella, which Berry refers to as book 4 ½ in the Kate Hamilton series, will come out in October of 2023.

Check out the author’s website for more information on Connie Berry and her books.

The Bangalore Detectives Club by Harini Nagendra

Published on May 16, 2023May 17, 2023 by katemichaelsonwriterLeave a comment

Cover of The Bangalore Detectives Club shown on a phone next to a mug

The Bangalore Detectives Club by Harini Nagendra has received about every recognition a debut mystery can get, and after reading it, I see why. The story, set in 1921, follows mathematics scholar Kaveri as she settles in the Indian city of Bangalore with her new husband Ramu. In an early chapter called Swimming in a Sari, we see how Kaveri’s adventurous nature pushes up against the conventional expectations of upper-class women in 1920s India. Later on, when Kaveri attends a dinner for her husband’s hospital and witnesses the lead-up to a murder, she can’t help but lend her empathy and intelligence to the investigation–particularly after someone she knows is blamed for the crime.

Reader Takeaway

From the vibrant descriptions of India’s lush landscape and rich history, to the mouth-watering descriptions of food, reading this book was like visiting a time and place I would never get to be a part of otherwise. Another pleasure of this book is the supporting cast, such as Kaveri’s older neighbor, Uma Aunty, who accompanies her in her amateur sleuthing. I’m already looking forward to spending more time with these likable characters in the sequel, Murder Under a Red Moon. As an aside, I listened to this book and especially enjoyed Soneela Nankani’s narration, so I would recommend that format for anyone who likes audiobooks.

Writer Takeaway

Although this book offers all the traditional charms of a cozy mystery, it does not glass over social issues of the time, such as the caste system, restrictions on women, and British colonization. Nagendra gives a great example of how to use social issues as key elements to drive a story without letting the issues overtake the narrative. The story works so well because she doesn’t just tell us about the issues; she shows their impact on characters in ways that drive the plot forward.

Bonus Takeaway

This book is a testament to the power of sensory details, even in a fast-paced mystery. The rich world that Nagendra creates drew me in just as much as wanting to know whodunnit.

Deer Season by Erin Flanagan

Published on May 10, 2023May 11, 2023 by katemichaelsonwriter2 Comments

Erin Flanagan set her Edgar-winning debut mystery DEER SEASON in the 1980’s in Gunthrum, Nebraska. The story follows the disappearance of teenager Peggy Ahren, but much of the story centers on Alma Costagan and intellectually disabled farmhand, Hal Bullard, who has become like a son to her over the years. When Hal becomes an easy target for suspicion, Alma and Milo (Peggy’s brother) are among the few people left still searching for answers.

Reader Takeaway: As someone who grew up in the rural Midwest, I loved the setting of this novel. It felt true to my experiences growing up in a similar place and time–from the network of small-town gossip to basement rec rooms and what it takes to keep a farm running. What I most appreciated was that it portrayed rural Midwesterners not as caricatures but as intelligent, complex individuals; in fact, what set the novel apart for me were the poignant insights into each character, particularly Alma and Milo. Flanagan shows us how Alma’s life has not turned out as she expected and how disappointments have begun to turn her bitter. This is a quiet, slow burn of a mystery that takes its time to fully build a world and make you care about the characters.

Writer Takeaway: I set my debut mystery HIDDEN ROOMS in rural Ohio, and although I hadn’t read DEER SEASON when I drafted it, so much of what Flanagan achieved in her this novel is exactly what I hoped to capture myself. Flanagan demonstrated how to set a riveting mystery in a “flyover” farm town by capturing the complex layers of tension between those who have lived in a place their whole lives, those who are new to town, and those who want to leave one day. I recommend this (and Flanagan’s other work) for any writer who wants to capture the overlooked depths and nuances of an under-represented place.

Hidden Rooms – Available Now

Published on November 15, 2022May 8, 2024 by katemichaelsonwriterLeave a comment

Hugh Holton Award winner Hidden Rooms by Kate Michaelson

My debut mystery, HIDDEN ROOMS, was released in April 2024 from CamCat Books. Here’s a short synopsis.

Hidden Rooms follows Riley Svenson, a young woman who returns to her remote Ohio hometown and begins experiencing a bewildering array of health issues. When her brother’s fianceé, Beth, is killed and her brother becomes the prime suspect, Riley must unravel the secrets behind what happened to Beth and solve her own medical mystery.

Searching for explanations, Riley reacquaints herself with a town full of historic houses, wild woods, and old acquaintances who are not what they seem. As the danger builds, she must learn to trust the instincts she has begun to doubt over the course of her long, undiagnosed illness.

Many of my own experiences inspired this book. After years of working to find a diagnosis and treatment for my own chronic illness, it occurred to me that, in the current healthcare system, the onus fell to me to solve my own medical mystery. This struggle (and my love of writing) inspired me to write a mystery in which the protagonist investigates a murder while looking for answers to her own bewildering symptoms. My hope was to write a page-turner that also validates the real-life experiences of people struggling with undiagnosed chronic conditions.

What are your thoughts? I’d love to see your questions, feedback, and thoughts. Follow me here and on social media for updates.

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Tag: murder mystery books