I LOVE detective fiction and am always on the hunt for a new series to fall in love with, so this was delightful. (Also, I had no idea there is a new Jackson Brodie book coming out -- THANK YOU!)
Could hardly believe it but SoNovelicious's guest writer, Kate Lillie of Five Books For, executed the same sort of detective “disguises” at age eight as did I, as the result of an overactive imagination and blissful days and evenings of reading the Five Find Outers, Famous Five, Magnificent Seven, Sherlock Holmes and more! (By the way, Kate, I don’t know if you ever tried using lemon juice as secret ink. it really does work – the letters show up perfectly when warmed!)
I love everything about this! I’d forgotten but I did try using lemon juice as invisible ink, thank you for reminding me. I will have to try it with my son when he’s older - something to look forward to. I also desperately wanted a spaniel because of the Secret Seven, and a shed to hold secret meetings in!
Yes, exactly, a shed! (Fortunately, we had lotsa spaniels at the time! And now have one again, though I hope it's not a sign I'll be digging out 'disguises' again!)
Oh they’re such gorgeous dogs! I tried to find a photo of me in disguise but it seems my parents never took any - such a shame but I guess that was the 80s/film cameras etc. I love that we were both dressing up in disguise as kids and trying to solve mysteries!
Loved learning more about Kate. I so enjoy her newsletter with so many books out there, it is nice to have a perspective from someone so wise give her take on the books. It just means my TBR list gets longer. Having a guest poster is such a great idea!
Thanks so much for this guest post from Kate Lillie, Gayla! I enjoyed reading about her many childhood disguises. I was an eclectic reader as a child, but Nancy Drew was on the list, and my big brother Denis used to terrify me with scary late-night readings of Sherlock Holmes (I still have nightmares about “The Hound of the Baskervilles”!). I love reading or listening to mysteries and am thrilled to have Kate’s excellent list of authors to check out.
I think the Hound Of The Baskervilles is definitely his creepiest story, and I can imagine it would be even scarier read out by a big brother! I’m really glad you found some new reading ideas from the post.
So! Many! Books! This was so great. I’ve been just now discovering my love for a good detective mystery through the Louise Penny series and I can’t wait to check out more from this list!
So glad you found more books to read! I know many who have read the Penny series and I've yet to start on it. There are always too many other books that catch my eye. Thanks for reading!
I’ve enjoyed them in audio so far! I hardly ever read a series but I’m enjoying more and more of them - especially on audiobook. It helps me know what I’m going to listen to next without having to think about it. Less decisions is a win for me rn!
I’m so glad you found some new reading ideas! I still haven’t read any of Louise Penney’s books but I’m really looking forward to finally getting around to them, I always hear people speaking so highly of them.
Worth it to listen to them on audio! I’m only on the 7th book out of like 200, but Ralph Cosham does such a great job with reading! My sister told me he only did some before he passed, so I’ll have to see if the 2nd narrator is to my liking! A narrator can make or break my listening experience.
Yes, the narrator makes all the difference! That’s a great idea, thank you. I’m listening to David Copperfield at the moment but wondering what to listen to next so that’s really helpful. I often listen to non-fiction but I’ve really hit a wall with it recently so a series would be the perfect way to use up some credits.
I'm obsessed with this description of you as a kid with your bald cap and fake mustache!! I love reading mysteries and detective fiction, and you highlighted so many great examples I want to go out and read! My favorite series as a kid was the "Cat Who . . ." mysteries by Lillian Jackson Braun.
As I read through her guest post when she submitted it, I saw "little Kate" in my mind as a child detective. Her writing is so good and it takes you into her story.
I used to love Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys as a child, and my love for mystery and now fantasy has increased. Funny since I write romance. I'm an eclectic reader, I suppose. Thanks for sharing.
I LOVE detective fiction and am always on the hunt for a new series to fall in love with, so this was delightful. (Also, I had no idea there is a new Jackson Brodie book coming out -- THANK YOU!)
Thanks for reading, Sarah!
I love the Jackson Brodie books! I’m so glad you found some new reading ideas here.
Could hardly believe it but SoNovelicious's guest writer, Kate Lillie of Five Books For, executed the same sort of detective “disguises” at age eight as did I, as the result of an overactive imagination and blissful days and evenings of reading the Five Find Outers, Famous Five, Magnificent Seven, Sherlock Holmes and more! (By the way, Kate, I don’t know if you ever tried using lemon juice as secret ink. it really does work – the letters show up perfectly when warmed!)
How fun for you to find a lover of being a detective. Thanks for reading!
I love everything about this! I’d forgotten but I did try using lemon juice as invisible ink, thank you for reminding me. I will have to try it with my son when he’s older - something to look forward to. I also desperately wanted a spaniel because of the Secret Seven, and a shed to hold secret meetings in!
Yes, exactly, a shed! (Fortunately, we had lotsa spaniels at the time! And now have one again, though I hope it's not a sign I'll be digging out 'disguises' again!)
Oh they’re such gorgeous dogs! I tried to find a photo of me in disguise but it seems my parents never took any - such a shame but I guess that was the 80s/film cameras etc. I love that we were both dressing up in disguise as kids and trying to solve mysteries!
Loved learning more about Kate. I so enjoy her newsletter with so many books out there, it is nice to have a perspective from someone so wise give her take on the books. It just means my TBR list gets longer. Having a guest poster is such a great idea!
What a great problem to have; a full TBR. Thanks for reading!
Thanks so much Santina 💕
Thanks so much for this guest post from Kate Lillie, Gayla! I enjoyed reading about her many childhood disguises. I was an eclectic reader as a child, but Nancy Drew was on the list, and my big brother Denis used to terrify me with scary late-night readings of Sherlock Holmes (I still have nightmares about “The Hound of the Baskervilles”!). I love reading or listening to mysteries and am thrilled to have Kate’s excellent list of authors to check out.
Thanks for reading, Ruth! How fun to find another newsletter to read!. You won't be disappointed.
I think the Hound Of The Baskervilles is definitely his creepiest story, and I can imagine it would be even scarier read out by a big brother! I’m really glad you found some new reading ideas from the post.
So! Many! Books! This was so great. I’ve been just now discovering my love for a good detective mystery through the Louise Penny series and I can’t wait to check out more from this list!
So glad you found more books to read! I know many who have read the Penny series and I've yet to start on it. There are always too many other books that catch my eye. Thanks for reading!
I’ve enjoyed them in audio so far! I hardly ever read a series but I’m enjoying more and more of them - especially on audiobook. It helps me know what I’m going to listen to next without having to think about it. Less decisions is a win for me rn!
I’m so glad you found some new reading ideas! I still haven’t read any of Louise Penney’s books but I’m really looking forward to finally getting around to them, I always hear people speaking so highly of them.
Worth it to listen to them on audio! I’m only on the 7th book out of like 200, but Ralph Cosham does such a great job with reading! My sister told me he only did some before he passed, so I’ll have to see if the 2nd narrator is to my liking! A narrator can make or break my listening experience.
Yes, the narrator makes all the difference! That’s a great idea, thank you. I’m listening to David Copperfield at the moment but wondering what to listen to next so that’s really helpful. I often listen to non-fiction but I’ve really hit a wall with it recently so a series would be the perfect way to use up some credits.
I'm obsessed with this description of you as a kid with your bald cap and fake mustache!! I love reading mysteries and detective fiction, and you highlighted so many great examples I want to go out and read! My favorite series as a kid was the "Cat Who . . ." mysteries by Lillian Jackson Braun.
As I read through her guest post when she submitted it, I saw "little Kate" in my mind as a child detective. Her writing is so good and it takes you into her story.
I used to love Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys as a child, and my love for mystery and now fantasy has increased. Funny since I write romance. I'm an eclectic reader, I suppose. Thanks for sharing.
I never read either of those as a child, but I did watch the Hardy Boys on TV. Thanks for reading!
I read all Enid Blyton as a child. Just love them. 🥰 And yes to crime fiction. I'm in the middle of writing a psychological thriller. 🤗
I love psychological thrillers!