Whodunit - Mystery Book Fans - Catholic Mysteries and Others

There was an old series of mysteries that had Father Murphy and a Communist in it. Does anyone know who the author was? Was it Enim Dinnis under another name?

Haven't heard of that series... I've burned out a bit on cozies... or rather what I've come to refer as "cookbooks with bonus mystery!" I actually sent a message to my friend, Aimee Thurlo, thanking her for not succumbing to including Sister Agatha's best refectory recipes in her mysteries!

I sure have seen an uptick in new cozy series as I'm, say, standing in line at Walgreen's or browsing the book section at Target. Several of these are cat themed, and I'm oh-so-tempted. (Writing down the authors for now so I'll remember them and can see if the library has the books.)

Speaking of cat mysteries, I guess it was confirmed that the matriarch of the genre, Lilian Jackson Braun, did indeed pass away this year at the age of 97. May she rest in peace like a cat in a warm sunny window!

Have also noticed that there are many cake, cookie, cupcake, themed cozies, and lots of knitting, candle and soapcrafting, and of course quilting and sewing and bookstore themes - so much of my favorite stuff in its own right and certainly great backdrops for the kind of mysteries I enjoy.

Does anyone who reads cat mysteries here and is Catholic read the Carole Nelson Douglas Midnight Louie books? I'm curious as to your opinion. The books' view of the Church is definitely influenced by "political correctness" and sometimes it irritates me, but I've stuck to the series that goes through the alphabet and there're only the letters w x y & z left so I'll see what I think when I see how all the plotlines are resolved. This is a "noir" series more, but I got hooked on it a long time ago and I like the characters even if I don't like all that they say or do.

There hasn't been much activity here lately, but I just wanted to chime in with a new (well, new to me) mystery series I've discovered. The Posadas County mysteries by Steven F. Havill.

Set in fictional Posadas County, New Mexico (although fictional, I'll bet I could find it for you on a map!) the series features Undersheriff Bill Gastner and an interesting cast of characters. Except for a few instances of profanity and vulgar language, the series is clean and well-written. The second book does have a storyline that features a defrocked priest who is in rehab and is found to have fathered a child, but the topic is handled well (and if it really bothers you, you can probably skip it, although you will miss some backstory that figures in later books.)

New Mexico has some fabulous writers and I hope to join their ranks someday!

I just finished reading Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers. It is a really entertaining book. I would also recommend Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy Sayers. These are both excellent mystery novels.

Finished the cat mysteries and liked them. IMO Murphy is getting better all the time at plotting.

Right now I'm reading some cat mysteries by Shirley Rousseau Murphy. I've followed her "Joe Grey" cat mystery series since the beginning. They are "cozies" with a little fantasy thrown in.

I am currently reading Cat Playing Cupid and then there are two other recent ones I haven't read - Cat Striking Back and Cat Coming Home, that follow it (in one order or the other).

Anyone else like cat mysteries? Meow!

The Cadfael mysteries are available from Netflix as well.

bluerose,
you might want to check with your local library. Ours has the Cadfael mysteries on dvd. Maybe yours does too. just a thought. Great group!!

I have read the Brother Cadfael mysteries and suggest reading them first. They are a fun read. Wish I could find other series as good, so please make suggestions. The movies are good as well just not as in depth as the books but I love the atmosphere.