If you enjoy reading books by Rhys Bowen then you might also like the following authors:
Readers who enjoy Rhys Bowen’s mysteries might find Charles Todd’s novels equally enjoyable. Charles Todd is actually a mother-and-son writing team (Caroline and Charles Todd) who create atmospheric historical mysteries set around World War I.
In their novel “A Test of Wills,” Inspector Ian Rutledge returns from the Great War haunted by his past and faces his first difficult case.
Rutledge investigates the murder of a decorated war hero, but the small English village holds secrets and old grudges that complicate the case.
Todd’s ability to weave historical detail, psychological depth, and intricate plotting may appeal to fans of Bowen’s style and narrative approach.
Books by Tasha Alexander offer intriguing historical mysteries with vivid settings and strong female characters.
Fans of Rhys Bowen will likely enjoy Alexander’s “And Only to Deceive,” which follows Lady Emily Ashton, a young widow navigating societal expectations while uncovering hidden truths about her late husband.
Set in Victorian-era London and Paris, the story blends romance, suspense, and meticulous historical detail.
Lady Emily’s investigation reveals fascinating secrets about stolen artifacts and museum intrigues, pulling readers deep into the atmosphere of high society and ancient art.
Alexander creates characters readers care deeply about, paired with suspenseful plots that keep pages turning.
Readers who enjoy Rhys Bowen’s cozy mysteries filled with charming small towns and intriguing puzzles may find Julia Spencer-Fleming equally captivating. Spencer-Fleming skillfully mixes compelling mysteries with personal and emotional depth in small-town settings.
Her novel “In the Bleak Midwinter” introduces Clare Fergusson, a tough-minded Episcopal priest newly arrived in Millers Kill, New York, and local police chief Russ Van Alstyne.
When an abandoned baby is found at the church doorstep, Clare and Russ team up to search for the missing mother, discovering secrets that affect the entire close-knit community.
The story balances suspenseful mystery with characters readers will care about, wrapped in a snowy winter atmosphere that keeps the pages turning.
Readers who enjoy Rhys Bowen’s blend of historical intrigue and strong female characters will find a similar appeal in Jacqueline Winspear’s writing. Winspear is best known for her thoughtful Maisie Dobbs series set in England between the wars.
In “Maisie Dobbs,” the first novel of the series, readers meet Maisie, a resourceful young woman who starts as a maid but soon becomes a private investigator. Her first case seems ordinary, a simple infidelity investigation.
But before long, Maisie uncovers layers connected to the traumatic aftermath of World War I. Winspear weaves in powerful glimpses of life during a turbulent period, as her heroine confronts complex truths about society and herself.
For anyone fascinated by how ordinary people navigate extraordinary times, Jacqueline Winspear provides stories filled with depth, warmth, and memorable characters.
Anne Perry is a British author known for historical mysteries filled with vivid Victorian settings and well-drawn characters. Her book “The Face of a Stranger” introduces William Monk, a detective suffering from amnesia after a serious accident.
As Monk investigates a brutal murder, his own past is a puzzling mystery he needs to solve. Slowly, clues surface, and Monk wonders if his forgotten life has a darker side.
Fans of Rhys Bowen’s historical detective stories with intricate plots and richly detailed eras may enjoy Anne Perry’s intriguing puzzle of memory, morality, and murder.
Louise Penny is a Canadian author famous for her charming and atmospheric mysteries set in the fictional town of Three Pines, Quebec. Her stories blend cozy village life with intriguing crime puzzles, centered around the thoughtful and compassionate Inspector Armand Gamache.
In “Still Life,” the first of her delightful Inspector Gamache series, the quiet peace of Three Pines shatters when beloved local artist Jane Neal is found dead. The event seems accidental at first, but Gamache quickly senses something darker below the peaceful town’s surface.
The engaging characters, gentle humor, and beautifully crafted mystery will appeal to fans of Rhys Bowen’s well-drawn heroines and vivid settings.
Books by Catherine Lloyd offer cozy historical mysteries filled with rich period details, charming settings, and clever storytelling. If you’re a fan of Rhys Bowen’s “Her Royal Spyness” series, you’ll likely enjoy Lloyd’s “Death Comes to the Village,” set in Regency-era England.
The story introduces Major Robert Kurland, recovering at home from injuries sustained at Waterloo, and Lucy Harrington, the local rector’s insightful, intelligent daughter.
Together, they investigate unexplained occurrences in their quaint village—including a puzzling disappearance—while navigating the social etiquette and intricately woven relationships of a small English community.
Lloyd skillfully combines gentle humor, engaging characters, and well-hidden secrets, capturing the charm and intrigue readers appreciate from Bowen’s mysteries.
Readers who enjoy Rhys Bowen’s intriguing mysteries might also appreciate author Elly Griffiths. Griffiths crafts absorbing mysteries set against British landscapes rich in atmosphere and history.
In “The Crossing Places,” archaeologist Ruth Galloway lives a quiet life on the Norfolk coast. But when bones are discovered nearby, Ruth gets pulled into a mystery connected to a decade-old case of a missing child.
The wet marshes and haunting coastline add layers of suspense and intrigue as Ruth must determine whether the bones belong to an ancient burial site or a recent murder victim.
Griffiths combines archaeological detail, thoughtful character development, and engaging storytelling that immerse readers deeply into her mysteries.
M.C. Beaton is an author who crafts cozy mysteries with charm and wit. Readers who enjoyed Rhys Bowen’s entertaining mysteries filled with humor and engaging characters will appreciate Beaton’s lively storytelling.
In “Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death,” the reader meets Agatha Raisin, who moves from her London public relations career to a peaceful village in the English countryside.
But peace doesn’t last when Agatha enters a baking competition, and her quiche ends up poisoning a local judge. To clear her name—and to satisfy her curiosity—Agatha embarks on her own amateur investigation.
The book delivers humorous characters, village gossip, and a sharply observed view of village life.
Readers who enjoy Rhys Bowen may also appreciate Victoria Thompson’s historical mysteries set in turn-of-the-century New York. Her Gaslight Mystery series opens with “Murder on Astor Place,” introducing Sarah Brandt, a midwife with a knack for solving crimes.
Sarah partners with Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy to unravel the death of a wealthy young woman whose family harbors some dark secrets.
Thompson skillfully captures the atmosphere of the city’s diverse neighborhoods and touches on the sharp contrasts between upper-class society and the lives of ordinary citizens.
Fans of Bowen’s engaging characters and detailed historical settings will find much to enjoy in Thompson’s storytelling.
Leslie Meier writes cozy mysteries set in charming small towns. Her Lucy Stone series features a relatable amateur sleuth named Lucy, who balances daily life, her family, and crime-solving in the picturesque village of Tinker’s Cove, Maine.
In “Mistletoe Murder,” Lucy juggles preparations for Christmas holidays and her family duties while working part-time at a busy mail-order company. Her routine holiday rush turns dramatic when she finds her boss dead.
As suspicion hovers over friends and neighbors alike, Lucy must unravel tangled secrets hidden beneath festive cheer to solve the murder.
Readers who enjoy Rhys Bowen’s lively characters and small-town mysteries filled with warmth and humor might find themselves right at home in Meier’s engaging stories.
Readers who enjoy the historical flair and vivid characters of Rhys Bowen might also appreciate Heather Graham. Graham is known for crafting suspenseful mysteries with atmospheric settings and engaging storylines.
Her novel, “The Unseen,” is set in San Antonio, Texas, and cleverly mixes historical intrigue with a contemporary plot.
In this story, historian Kelsey Donovan teams up with Texas Ranger Logan Raintree to unravel a century-old murder mystery linked to the historic Galveston hurricane of 1900.
Together they dig into long-buried secrets, confront ghostly legends, and find surprising truths hidden beneath the city’s colorful surface. Heather Graham’s storytelling offers readers a satisfying blend of mystery, history, romance, and suspense.
Sujata Massey is an author known for historical mysteries set in vividly portrayed locations, with strong female characters leading the way. Readers who enjoy Rhys Bowen’s engaging blend of history and mystery could find Massey’s works equally enjoyable.
A good place to start is her book “The Widows of Malabar Hill,” the first in the Perveen Mistry series. Set in 1920s India, the novel introduces Perveen, Bombay’s first female lawyer.
When she uncovers suspicious details surrounding the wills of three women living in a secluded household, Perveen tackles traditions, secrets, and danger to protect those who have no voice in society.
The story moves smoothly between courtroom drama and the private lives of the characters, making it a captivating read for fans of historical detective fiction.
Books by Alison Weir are perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen who enjoy historical depth blended with storytelling flair. Weir seamlessly combines historical accuracy with vivid narratives that bring England’s past alive.
In her novel “The Lady Elizabeth,” she portrays Elizabeth I in her younger years before she became queen. The story focuses on Elizabeth’s resilience amid political turmoil, family betrayal, and scandal at the royal court.
Through Weir’s eye for rich detail and engaging dialogue, readers experience the early struggles and triumphs of one of history’s unforgettable monarchs.
Margaret Maron was an American mystery author known for creating stories filled with authentic small-town settings and sharp insights into human relationships. If you enjoy mysteries by Rhys Bowen, you may appreciate Maron’s down-to-earth style and smart, engaging heroines.
Her novel “Bootlegger’s Daughter” introduces Deborah Knott, a smart and determined attorney who decides to run for district judge in her hometown in North Carolina. While campaigning, Deborah becomes drawn into a decades-old murder case that still remains unsolved.
As she digs deeper into the case, tensions rise among the locals, uncovering hidden family secrets and buried resentment. Maron weaves suspense, local color, and memorable characters into a satisfying mystery that’s hard to put down.