Carolyn Haines writes mysteries that often have a Southern Gothic feel. Her books mix humor with suspense and feature strong female characters.
She is known for the Sarah Booth Delaney series, which is set in Mississippi and follows a sometimes-scatterbrained but always determined woman who solves crimes.
If you enjoy authors who write stories with a similar blend of Southern charm, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural, then you might be looking for other authors.
Charlaine Harris crafts mystery novels filled with lively characters, southern charm, and touches of humor and the supernatural. In “Dead Until Dark,” readers follow Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress from Bon Temps, Louisiana.
Sookie can read minds, a talent that complicates her life more than it helps. When she meets Bill Compton, a vampire who’s recently moved to town, her already strange world grows even more complicated.
Suddenly murders rock the quiet town, and suspicion points to vampires and humans alike. If you appreciate Carolyn Haines’ blend of mystery, southern settings, and quirky characters, you might find Charlaine Harris a delightful new author.
Annette Mahon crafts cozy mysteries rooted in community and friendship, often set against warm, inviting backgrounds.
Her novel “A Phantom Death” features Maggie Browne, a member of the St. Rose Quilting Bee, who stumbles across a chilling mystery tied to a haunted theater production.
As rehearsal accidents become more frequent and dangerous, Maggie and her friends piece together clues from backstage drama, theater superstition, and hidden secrets in their community.
Readers who enjoy Carolyn Haines’ blend of intriguing mysteries and charming small-town characters will find Mahon’s mix of suspense, friendship, and cozy atmosphere warmly familiar and satisfying.
Books by Mary Kay Andrews offer readers cozy mysteries and charming Southern settings filled with humor, quirky characters, and intriguing storylines. If you enjoy Carolyn Haines’ Sarah Booth Delaney series, Andrews’ novel “Savannah Blues” could be the perfect match.
In this book, readers meet Weezie Foley, an antiques picker in Savannah who stumbles upon a murder mystery after finding her hated ex-husband’s new fiancée dead. As the prime suspect, Weezie navigates the investigation, eccentric friends, Southern charm, and plenty of laughs.
Andrews blends mystery, romance, and humor into a story packed with colorful characters you’ll easily grow fond of.
Readers who enjoy Carolyn Haines’ cozy mysteries with their Southern charm and lively characters may want to explore Ellery Adams. Adams creates delightful mysteries infused with warm settings, bookish themes, and engaging characters.
In “Murder in the Mystery Suite,” the first book of her “Book Retreat Mysteries,” readers meet Jane Steward, the manager of Storyton Hall, a resort catering to book-lovers in rural Virginia.
A weekend celebrating mystery literature takes an unexpected turn when an actual murder occurs. Jane must uncover secrets hidden among her guests and within her home to solve the crime.
Adams fills her novels with warmth, wit, puzzles, and a deep appreciation for literature, making them a natural fit for fans of Carolyn Haines.
If you enjoy Carolyn Haines’ quirky Southern characters and cozy mysteries, you’ll likely appreciate books by Tamar Myers.
Her novel “Too Many Crooks Spoil the Broth” kicks off the amusing adventures of Magdalena Yoder, a witty, sharp-tongued Mennonite innkeeper who finds herself unexpectedly solving murders.
When a suspicious guest meets an untimely end at Magdalena’s quaint PennDutch Inn, she jumps into action to clear her establishment’s good name.
Filled with humor, eccentric characters, and delightful recipes reflecting traditional Pennsylvania Dutch cooking, this mystery is a great pick for cozy mystery lovers.
If you enjoy Carolyn Haines’ cozy mysteries set in small towns full of charming characters and tasty clues, you’ll probably find Joanne Fluke irresistible.
Her Hannah Swensen series begins with “Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder,” where Hannah, a talented baker in Lake Eden, Minnesota, unexpectedly turns detective after discovering a delivery driver dead behind her bakery.
Fluke mixes delightful humor, small-town gossip, and mouth-watering recipes throughout each chapter, which makes solving the crime alongside Hannah all the more fun and engaging.
Rita Mae Brown is a witty and engaging author known for lively mysteries set in cozy, southern environments. Fans of Carolyn Haines might particularly enjoy Brown’s novel “Wish You Were Here.”
This is the first book of the entertaining Mrs. Murphy series co-authored by Brown’s cat, Sneaky Pie. Set in the charming town of Crozet, Virginia, the story introduces readers to Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen and her observant pets who have a knack for solving crimes.
When local residents begin receiving mysterious postcards preceding deadly events, Harry and her clever animal companions team up to uncover clues and catch the killer. Humor, warm community relationships, and quirky pets combine to create a unique and enjoyable mystery.
Books by Laura Childs offer cozy mysteries that combine charm, a welcoming setting, and engaging storylines. In “Death by Darjeeling,” readers meet Theodosia Browning, owner of a quaint tea shop in Charleston’s historic district.
When a prominent local figure dies suddenly during an event catered by Theodosia, suspicion quickly falls on people close to her.
Determined to clear their names, she searches for clues throughout Charleston, uncovers secrets about local society, and serves plenty of tea along the way.
Readers who enjoy Carolyn Haines’s Southern mysteries set around strong-willed characters and local charm might also appreciate Childs’s blend of suspense, friendship, and atmosphere.
Readers who enjoy Carolyn Haines’ mysteries set in the rural South might also like Deborah Adams. Adams blends small-town charm with intriguing mysteries in her humorous Jesus Creek series.
In “All the Great Pretenders,” eccentric locals gather for the annual Elvis Presley look-alike contest, until a sudden death casts suspicion over the tight-knit community. Amateur sleuth Kay Martin tries to piece together conflicting stories from quirky suspects.
Adams creates warm, vivid characters and keeps the mystery fresh and entertaining, without losing the rural Southern atmosphere readers love in Haines’ novels.
Readers who enjoy Carolyn Haines might also appreciate Sarah Addison Allen, an author known for stories filled with Southern charm, family secrets, and a touch of magic.
Allen’s novel “Garden Spells” revolves around the Waverley sisters, Claire and Sydney, who belong to a magical family in a small North Carolina town.
Claire manages a mystical garden whose plants influence emotions and behaviors, while Sydney returns home after a long absence, unsure of her place there.
It is a tale of sisterhood, love, and letting go of past hurts, wrapped in the warmth of Southern traditions and the gentle glow of everyday magic.
Books by Kathy Hogan Trocheck feature Southern charm, vivid settings, and quirky characters, much in the style of Carolyn Haines.
Trocheck’s novel “Every Crooked Nanny” introduces Callahan Garrity, a former Atlanta police detective turned private investigator and cleaning service owner.
When a client’s nanny vanishes—and so does valuable jewelry—Callahan takes on a case that’s messier than any house her crew has cleaned. The mystery unfolds among vibrant Atlanta neighborhoods, eccentric locals, and twists you won’t see coming.
Readers who enjoy Carolyn Haines’ Southern atmosphere and engaging investigators will find plenty to like in Trocheck’s witty Callahan Garrity series.
Amanda Flower writes cozy mysteries full of charm, humor, and unforgettable characters. Fans of Carolyn Haines’ playful mysteries may enjoy Flower’s delightful storytelling in “Crime and Poetry.”
In this first book of the Magical Bookshop Mystery series, Violet Waverly returns home to Cascade Springs when her grandmother claims illness. Violet soon realizes grandma Daisy isn’t sick—it’s an excuse to draw her home and have her take over the magical family bookstore.
Violet is hesitant to accept her fate, but when murder strikes, she gets caught up in investigating crimes connected to clues found in the books themselves.
Readers who appreciate a small-town mystery with quirky townsfolk, a dash of magic, and engaging twists should find plenty to enjoy in Amanda Flower’s engaging cozy mysteries.
Nancy Atherton writes cozy mysteries filled with warmth, humor, and intriguing puzzles. Fans of Carolyn Haines will quickly appreciate Atherton’s charming characters and clever storytelling.
In “Aunt Dimity’s Death,” Lori Shepherd learns about the death of her mother’s cherished friend, Aunt Dimity. She expects just a simple inheritance. Instead, Lori finds herself unraveling a mysterious past with the help of letters from the deceased Aunt Dimity.
This engaging mystery pairs ghostly elements with everyday life, offering readers a delightful, heartwarming experience.
Barbara Allan is the joint pen name of authors Barbara Collins and Max Allan Collins.
Their novel “Antiques Roadkill” introduces readers to the spirited duo of Brandy Borne and her eccentric mother, Vivian, who navigate a murder mystery set against a backdrop of quirky antiques and small-town gossip.
The mother-daughter team is entertaining and quick-witted, solving mysteries with humor and playful banter. For fans of Carolyn Haines’ Southern charm and humorous mysteries, Barbara Allan delivers memorable characters and clever plots.
Readers who enjoy Carolyn Haines’ cozy mysteries set in small-town settings may also find pleasure in the stories of Mignon F. Ballard. Ballard is best known for her warm-hearted mysteries filled with quirky characters and Southern charm.
In her book “Angel at Troublesome Creek,” readers meet Augusta Goodnight, a cheerful guardian angel dispatched to help Mary George Murphy through a difficult time.
After returning to her childhood home in Troublesome Creek, Mary George faces unexpected challenges and a puzzling local mystery. With Augusta’s gentle guidance and lively personality, the two uncover truths about family, friendship, and hidden pasts.
Ballard brings gentle humor and engaging plots to life, creating an inviting mystery full of Southern warmth that fans of Carolyn Haines’ style will likely find familiar and enjoyable.