Diverse Voices and Autumn Adventures
October is here, the air is crisp, the jumpers are snuggly, and let’s face it: it’s the best time for curling up with a smart and satisfying cosy mystery. But before you dive into another tale of a suspicious bake sale fatality or a very suspicious cat, why not shake up your TBR pile with mysteries from talented, diverse authors—including one that might just feature a coastal community in utter chaos (more on that later…).
Let’s Cosy Up to Diverse Sleuths!
Move over, vicar’s wife and nosy spinster—today’s mystery shelves are packed with sleuths of every background, sipping adobo or curry instead of the usual tepid tea. Have you met:
- Mia P. Manansala, whose Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries will make you hungry for Filipino food and justice, sometimes at the same time.
- Vivien Chien, who gives us noodles worth killing for in her Noodle Shop Mysteries—don’t read these before dinner or you’ll end up googling dim sum delivery.
- Raquel V. Reyes brings Cuban flair and some spicy family gossip to Miami in the Caribbean Kitchen series, proving every kitchen needs a dash of murder.
- G.B. Ralph, champion of queer detectives in sleepy English villages, for when you want a side of LGBTQ+ romance with your country intrigue.
- Marshall Thornton, whose Boystown Mysteries are so sharp-edged they could cut through a locked-room puzzle (and probably have).
- Not to forget Abby Collette and Barbara Neely, whose heroes and heroines show us that diverse voices bring new life—and a lot more laughter—to small-town crime.
Why Bother with Diversity? (Besides the Food Descriptions)
When you pick up a cosy by a BIPOC or LGBTQ+ author, you’re getting more than just a cleverly constructed murder. You’re signing up for travel—sometimes literally, often culturally and emotionally. These stories are as much about community, identity, and home as they are about tracking down the scrabble club’s secret poisoner. Frankly, you’ll never look at bingo night the same way again.
In the Spirit of Sharing…
While you’re in the mood for drama (and not just the “who took my parking spot” kind), why not check out Murder Most Dramatic, set in a British seaside town where even a council debate can trigger shenanigans and a fair bit of finger-pointing? There’s a tangled web, dodgy politics, and a protagonist who’d rather be enjoying a cuppa—but, alas, crime waits for no caffeine break.
Your Book Stack Awaits
So this autumn, try something new—a mystery with a fresh accent, a different flavour, or maybe just a hero who can’t bake but wins at detecting. Cosy mysteries have had a glow-up, and your reading chair is ready for the best season yet.
Happy sleuthing (and don’t let the cat out—the neighbourhood gossip is watching)!