Top Ten Tuesday (TTT) brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish.
This week’s prompt is “Ten Books To Read If You Like This Super Popular Book/Author.” I’m going back to my roots this week at Hidden Staircase – that’s right, Nancy Drew. Girl detectives. Female sleuths. Women solving mysteries. However you like to phrase it, she’s a leading lady with brains, spunk, and a sense of justice.
In the spirit of keeping things fresh, I will do my best to list books that don’t frequently appear in my TTT lists.
Nancy Drew #2.
Ten Books to Read if you Like Nancy Drew (Girl Detectives)
Nancy Drew mysteries feature a strong, independent female lead who has a knack for stumbling upon a mystery that she can’t resist. She’s got two best friends to back her up, and love interest Ned is always waiting in the wings.
These are cozy mysteries, perfect for reading in a comfy chair, snuggled in a blanket while drinking a mug of hot chocolate. At least, that’s what works for me.
The Thousand Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas
Sassy. Smart. Fiercely loyal. A marshmallow.
Sleuth: Veronica Mars
Faithful sidekicks: Wallace & Mac
Love interest: Logan Echols
Swift Justice by Laura DiSilverio
Gigi provides great comic relief to serious PI Charlie Swift.
Sleuth: Charlie Swift
Faithful sidekick: Gigi
Potential love interests: Father Dan or Connor Montgomery
The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen
This was the first Her Royal Spyness mystery I picked up, and it’s still my favorite.
Sleuth: Lady Georgiana Rannoch
Faithful sidekicks: Belinda & personal maid Queenie
Love interest: Darcy O’Mara
Due or Die by Jenn McKinlay
Set in a small town, librarian Lindsey gets pulled into this murder investigation when a friend is a prime suspect.
Sleuth: Lindsey Norris
Faithful sidekicks: Beth & puppy Heathcliff
Potential love interest: Sully
The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I read this mystery. What I got was a lot of laughs, and even a tear or two at the end.
Sleuth: Isabel Spellman
Faithful sidekick: Petra Clark
Potential love interest: Daniel Castillo
Killer Twist by C.A. Larmer
Roxy Parker is a ghostwriter who has a knack for stumbling upon a mystery. (…and the kindle edition is free right now!)
Sleuth: Roxy Parker
Faithful sidekick: Oliver Horowitz
Potential love interest: Max Farrell
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
What’s not to love about these books? Set in 1950’s England, Flavia de Luce has a passion for poisons. And sleuthing.
Sleuth: Flavia de Luce
Faithful sidekicks: Dogger & her faithful bicycle Gladys
Potential love interest: None. She’s eleven.
The Merlot Murders by Ellen Crosby
Fun mysteries, especially if you enjoy learning about US history or wine making. (Another book bargain, the Kindle edition is $1.99)
Sleuth: Lucie Montgomery
Faithful sidekick: [it’s been a while since I’ve read these, and I can’t remember!]
Potential Love interest: Quinn Santori
Scotched by Kaitlyn Dunnett
This series takes place in the small town of Moosetookalook, Maine. I don’t know if I’d live there; they seem to have a high murder rate. Like Murder She Wrote‘s Cabot Cove.
Sleuth: Liss MacCrimmon
Faithful sidekicks: Sherri & cat Lumpkin
Love interest: Dan Ruskin
Espresso Shot by Cleo Coyle
In this fun series you’re learning a lot about coffee and food. The author even includes recipes for dishes cooked in the story at the end of the book.
Sleuth: Clare Cosi
Faithful sidekick: ex-husband Matteo
Love interest: Mike
Bonus Sleuths
I tried to keep my top ten to books I don’t typically mention in my top ten lists. With that being said, I would be remiss if I did not mention these two ladies.
Kinsey Millhone series by Sue Grafton
Sleuth: Kinsey Millhone
Faithful sidekick: Landlord Henry Pitts
Potential love interest: Depends on where you are in the series
Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear
Sleuth: Maisie Dobbs
Faithful sidekick: Best friend Priscilla & employee Billy
Potential love interest: Simon and James
What fabulous females have I missed this week? What topic did you choose for your top ten? Post your link in the comments below!
Hidden Staircase 
I love the Library Lover’s series as well as the Veronica Mars books. I am going to have to check out Scotched. Great list!
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Thanks! I hope you enjoy it. I’ve only read the one Library Lovers, but I definitely want to read more.
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I love Nancy Drew! 🙂 I see a lot I have read on your list, and some new ones I have to check out now… 🙂 Here’s mine.
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Nancy Drew was one of my first favorite heroines! I haven’t read either of the Veronica Mars books yet, but I really need to. My TTT
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I’m actually still in the middle of the first VM book. 🙂 I just don’t want her to end so I’m taking my time. Loved the variety of your TTT!
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Nancy Drew was my favorite childhood heroine. Great list! The Flavia de Luce and Veronica Mars books are some favorites of mine as well!
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Thanks! I love Flavia. To be honest I’m only about halfway done with the first Veronica. I started it but then put it down, I want to make it last. 🙂
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I totally understand! I’ve read both but have to say that the first Veronica is my favorite. Though in the second there’s an appearance by a lesser known character in the show that’s intriguing! 🙂
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I love the Her Royal Spyness series! I’d also recommend the Daisy Dalrymple books by Carola Dunn. They’re a tad more serious but have a similar premise – poor aristocratic girl trying to earn a living in the 1920s-30s.
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Thanks for the recommendation! I haven’t heard of those but I love a good girl sleuth. 🙂
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Awesome list! I loved Nancy Drew and I enjoy several of these that you have listed – Royal Spyness, Due or Die, and Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie are all books I’ve really enjoyed. I’m really wanting to try the Cleo Coyle series and The Merlot Murders.
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Those two series are interesting because they really focus on the coffee and the wine. Which I like both so I enjoy reading about them. 🙂
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I love the Flavia deLuce series. I am waiting for the newest from the library.
Here’s my TTT: http://eviloverlordthoughts.com/if-you-likethen-try/
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I have recently gotten really into cozy mysteries (though I’ve been a Nancy Drew fan from birth) so I’m def. looking all of these up on Goodreads! Thanks for the great recommendations!! My TTT
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I really loved Nancy Drew when I was younger. I also appreciate a cozy mystery so will check some of these out. Great take on the topic this week!!
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I’ve never been a fan of Nancy Drew but this post was lovely! I loved reading all the different type of sleuth-y books there are!
Great post! xoxo 💋
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I love this! I lived on Nancy Drew all through my childhood.
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Yes! Nancy Drew was my favorite thing when I was a kid. I read (and reread) every one.
However, I haven’t read any of these except for “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.” So thanks for the recommendations 🙂 (I think – my TBR pile is swelling after reading this week’s TTT’s!)
Here’s mine if you’re interested: http://rlhendrian.blogspot.com/2015/09/ttt-top-10-books-you-should-read-if-you.html
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Nancy Drew is still my favorite sleuth of all time! I loved those books when I was a girl. 🙂 I also really enjoy the Flavia de Luce novels. They’re so much fun!
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The more I hear about this library mystery series the more I think I need to read it. A librarian named Lindsey (close enough) — who has a PUPPY?! It’s meant to be! I’ve also seen those Cleo Coyle books floating around and thought they looked interesting. Now that I know you enjoy them, maybe I’ll give the first one a try!
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Start with book 2 (Due or Die) for the puppy. He showed up in this one. It’s the only one I’ve read in the series, but I plan on reading more. 🙂
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Oh and the coffeehouse – I think I’ve read three of them, just bounced around the series. So you can start anywhere.
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Try Lyndee Walker’s Nichelle Clark series, Headlines in High Heels; Nancy Martin’s The Blackbird Sisters
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Thank you Judy! I haven’t read either of these, adding to my list. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Buried Under Books and commented:
This is a fun post, reminding me of some of my favorite girl detectives and giving me leads on some I haven’t tried…yet 😉
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