I used to adore reading the Nancy Drew books and the Hardy Boys books when I was younger. Are there any series similar, but more chartered to adults? Thanks so much!
Dennis Lehane has a series with Patrick Kenzie / Angela Gennaro. Private investigators. Good, but dark — certainly compared to Nancy Drew.
OldLadyProbs on
Janet Evancovich(?) first book is One for the Money. Cute, funny and easy reads. Agatha Christie books are always a good time. The Sookie Stackhouse books are cool. True Blood is based off of them.
BrightFirelyt on
Agatha Christie. You might like the Miss Marple books if you want something with a little more wit. Not that Poirot isn’t witty, it’s just that Miss Marple is a gossipy old lady with sass and common sense.
ModernNancyDrew on
Truly Devious series
One of Us is Lying series
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
Tuesday Moody Talks to Ghosts
Maidenonwarpath on
In Death series by J D Robb? I love this series. Has over 50 books.
Kokoburn on
I adore Agatha Raisin by MC Beaton
Dulcinea_Ida3 on
Still Life With Crows by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
spitefullysane1971 on
A great series is the Mary Russell series by Laurie R King or the Flavia De Luce series by Alan Bradley. Both series are amazing!! Mary Russell meets Sherlock Holmes when she is 15 and they strike up a friendship and the game is afoot! Flavia De Luce is a precocious little girl, youngest of three daughters, who is obsessed with chemistry and gets into all kinds of trouble. For adults but not dumbed down. Very intelligent!
13thsword on
The Amelia Peabody series. There are close to thirty of them and they are all great mysteries with tons of charm
Mama_Ghanoush on
I didn’t read Nancy Drew when I was a kid, so I’m not sure if my recommendation will resonate, but I have really enjoyed the Jackson Brodie series by Kate Atkinson. It was made into a show called Case Histories, starring Jason Isaacs.
cursetea on
Agatha Christie novels! Her Mrs. Marple and Hercule Poirot books 🙂
dalownerx3 on
The characters in Thursday Murder Club would be on the other side of the age spectrum
FatedPages on
The Flavia de Luce Series. The main character is a preteen girl but it’s definitely aimed at adult readers, very entertaining to watch her sleuth!
phroggers on
The Evans series by Rhys Bowen is fun, but a few instances are dated. The audiobooks have a great narrator.
Flavia DeLuce series as others recommend ed, these also have a great narrator.
I am working through the Elizabeth Peters books now and they are historical mysteries and in the same spirit.
zombimaster on
Those were my introduction to mystery books when I was in elementary school (and I will include Encyclopedia Brown in that list as well). I would recommend the Miss Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood and possibly the Maggie Hope series by Susan MacNeal.
MartianTrinkets on
I really enjoyed the Detective Morgan Brookes series by Helen Phifer! They feel like a more adult version of Nancy Drew. I would compare them to some British crime drama TV shows like Broadchurch, C.B. Strike, or Luther. They’re fun to read with great characters.
MiaHavero on
Sue Grafton’s alphabet mysteries, starting with *A is for Alibi.*
ari_j on
I love the No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith! Set in Botswana, a woman opens the first female-owned detective agency in her area. Lots of books in the series, great mysteries, nothing too gruesome!
Coops17 on
The No 1. Ladies Detectivehas agency series by Alexander McCall Smith
Hello_There666 on
Daisy Dalrymple! Same kinds of vibes all the way and good mysteries
macdawg2020 on
I read about every teenage mystery series as a kid and moved on to “The Cat Who” series by Lillian Jackson Braun and “The Burgler” series by Lawrence Block
Connect_Office8072 on
The Marcus Didius Falco books by Lindsey Davis. They are set in the Rome of Vespasian/Titus/Nero. Pretty funny and extremely fun.
TheOneAndOnlySelf on
If you like Star Wars you might like the Thrawn books.
jadedgnome on
Thank you all so much for the suggestions! I’m so excited 🙂
Tacoma__Crow on
The Miss Fisher Investigates series. Admittedly, I haven’t read them but if they’re as good as the TV series, you’re in for a fun ride.
Tacoma__Crow on
The Kate Shugak series by Dana Stabenow and the Anna Pigeon series by Nevada Barr are very good. The first is set in Alaska and the second is set in or near various national parks in the U.S.
auntfuthie on
The Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn. The first is: A Curious Beginning.
L0ath on
J.D. Robb
Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton series and A Rip Through Time series
AdventurousSleep5461 on
I really enjoyed the Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn
Disastrous_Narwhal46 on
Veronica Speedwell series is one of my favorites!
OhWhyMeNoSleep on
Sherlock Holmes has a lot of good stories.
Intelligent-Corgi624 on
Cordelia Gray fits that too me.
mauigirl16 on
You might like the Lady Georgie and/or the Molly Murphy series by Rhys Bowen. LG is set in 1930s England and MM is 1910s New York.
Heliotrope88 on
Do you like cozy mysteries? (I guess that’s what Nancy Drew books remind me of.) I liked the Mainly Needlepoint series. And right now I’m reading the Poppy Lewis mystery books.
Ok_Coast_5028 on
Danielle Collins writes a few cozy mystery series. They are super quick reads and very cozy indeed. Also small enough to stick in your purse so you can read anywhere. Side note, I collect Nancy Drew books and grew up reading them. I’m so glad you asked about this because now I have a bunch of new books to read!
magpte29 on
I liked the Mrs. Pollifax books by Dorothy Gilman back in the day. Kind of like an American Miss Marple.
magpte29 on
In addition to Nancy Drew, I loved the Dana Girls mysteries, about two sisters who lived at boarding school and were amateur sleuths. I’m blanking on the sisters’ names.
SavesNine9 on
You may enjoy the Elly Griffiths series with the forensic archaeologist professor Ruth Galloway protagonist. I didn’t technically read these because the audio book narrations were very good.
PD James Adam Dalgleish mysteries; but my very favorite sleuth is Cordelia Gray. Unfortunately there are only two of these books. My favorite of all of her books is _An Unsuitable Job for a Woman_
briskt on
OP, I hope you read this. A lot of great books have been mentioned here. But I want to recommend you watch the Peacock series “Poker Face”. If you love Nancy Drew I think you’ll really enjoy it.
Braveslady on
I love the Maggody series by Joan Hess. You might like Cozy mysteries. The books in this subgenre are endless. For something on the grittier side try the Kate Shugak series by Dana Stabenow.
Mr_Kuchikopi on
Amanda Quicks Burning Cove series. The Girl Who Knew Too much is my fave so far, a little slow at first but I enjoyed it alot.
KindraTheElfOrc on
you might like the Myrtle Clover Cozy Mystery series by Elizabeth Spann Craig, the main character is an older (60s or 70s) woman named Myrtle and her supporting character friend Miles, i only read a dash of murder but really enjoyed it
Mama_Claus on
Laurie R. King…she writes about Mrs. Sherlock. It’s a really good series.
confabulatrix on
Sue Grafton A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar etc…
ToTwoTooToo on
Anne George wrote a series of mysteries that feature two southern sisters. They’re pretty fun.
Loftyjojo on
I liked the Aurora Teagarden mysteries by Charlaine Harris who also wrote the Sookie Stackhouse series
Infamous_Dress_8563 on
Louise Penny’s mysteries are fantastic.
ThatsNot_Mine on
Might be adultier than you’re looking for, but you might try the Women’s Murder Club books by James Patterson. The first book is 1st to Die.
50 Comments
James Patterson Women’s Murder Club series
Maudie Dobbs
Dennis Lehane has a series with Patrick Kenzie / Angela Gennaro. Private investigators. Good, but dark — certainly compared to Nancy Drew.
Janet Evancovich(?) first book is One for the Money. Cute, funny and easy reads. Agatha Christie books are always a good time. The Sookie Stackhouse books are cool. True Blood is based off of them.
Agatha Christie. You might like the Miss Marple books if you want something with a little more wit. Not that Poirot isn’t witty, it’s just that Miss Marple is a gossipy old lady with sass and common sense.
Truly Devious series
One of Us is Lying series
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
Tuesday Moody Talks to Ghosts
In Death series by J D Robb? I love this series. Has over 50 books.
I adore Agatha Raisin by MC Beaton
Still Life With Crows by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
A great series is the Mary Russell series by Laurie R King or the Flavia De Luce series by Alan Bradley. Both series are amazing!! Mary Russell meets Sherlock Holmes when she is 15 and they strike up a friendship and the game is afoot! Flavia De Luce is a precocious little girl, youngest of three daughters, who is obsessed with chemistry and gets into all kinds of trouble. For adults but not dumbed down. Very intelligent!
The Amelia Peabody series. There are close to thirty of them and they are all great mysteries with tons of charm
I didn’t read Nancy Drew when I was a kid, so I’m not sure if my recommendation will resonate, but I have really enjoyed the Jackson Brodie series by Kate Atkinson. It was made into a show called Case Histories, starring Jason Isaacs.
Agatha Christie novels! Her Mrs. Marple and Hercule Poirot books 🙂
The characters in Thursday Murder Club would be on the other side of the age spectrum
The Flavia de Luce Series. The main character is a preteen girl but it’s definitely aimed at adult readers, very entertaining to watch her sleuth!
The Evans series by Rhys Bowen is fun, but a few instances are dated. The audiobooks have a great narrator.
Flavia DeLuce series as others recommend ed, these also have a great narrator.
I am working through the Elizabeth Peters books now and they are historical mysteries and in the same spirit.
Those were my introduction to mystery books when I was in elementary school (and I will include Encyclopedia Brown in that list as well). I would recommend the Miss Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood and possibly the Maggie Hope series by Susan MacNeal.
I really enjoyed the Detective Morgan Brookes series by Helen Phifer! They feel like a more adult version of Nancy Drew. I would compare them to some British crime drama TV shows like Broadchurch, C.B. Strike, or Luther. They’re fun to read with great characters.
Sue Grafton’s alphabet mysteries, starting with *A is for Alibi.*
I love the No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith! Set in Botswana, a woman opens the first female-owned detective agency in her area. Lots of books in the series, great mysteries, nothing too gruesome!
The No 1. Ladies Detectivehas agency series by Alexander McCall Smith
Daisy Dalrymple! Same kinds of vibes all the way and good mysteries
I read about every teenage mystery series as a kid and moved on to “The Cat Who” series by Lillian Jackson Braun and “The Burgler” series by Lawrence Block
The Marcus Didius Falco books by Lindsey Davis. They are set in the Rome of Vespasian/Titus/Nero. Pretty funny and extremely fun.
If you like Star Wars you might like the Thrawn books.
Thank you all so much for the suggestions! I’m so excited 🙂
The Miss Fisher Investigates series. Admittedly, I haven’t read them but if they’re as good as the TV series, you’re in for a fun ride.
The Kate Shugak series by Dana Stabenow and the Anna Pigeon series by Nevada Barr are very good. The first is set in Alaska and the second is set in or near various national parks in the U.S.
The Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn. The first is: A Curious Beginning.
J.D. Robb
Kelley Armstrong’s Rockton series and A Rip Through Time series
I really enjoyed the Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn
Veronica Speedwell series is one of my favorites!
Sherlock Holmes has a lot of good stories.
Cordelia Gray fits that too me.
You might like the Lady Georgie and/or the Molly Murphy series by Rhys Bowen. LG is set in 1930s England and MM is 1910s New York.
Do you like cozy mysteries? (I guess that’s what Nancy Drew books remind me of.) I liked the Mainly Needlepoint series. And right now I’m reading the Poppy Lewis mystery books.
Danielle Collins writes a few cozy mystery series. They are super quick reads and very cozy indeed. Also small enough to stick in your purse so you can read anywhere. Side note, I collect Nancy Drew books and grew up reading them. I’m so glad you asked about this because now I have a bunch of new books to read!
I liked the Mrs. Pollifax books by Dorothy Gilman back in the day. Kind of like an American Miss Marple.
In addition to Nancy Drew, I loved the Dana Girls mysteries, about two sisters who lived at boarding school and were amateur sleuths. I’m blanking on the sisters’ names.
You may enjoy the Elly Griffiths series with the forensic archaeologist professor Ruth Galloway protagonist. I didn’t technically read these because the audio book narrations were very good.
PD James Adam Dalgleish mysteries; but my very favorite sleuth is Cordelia Gray. Unfortunately there are only two of these books. My favorite of all of her books is _An Unsuitable Job for a Woman_
OP, I hope you read this. A lot of great books have been mentioned here. But I want to recommend you watch the Peacock series “Poker Face”. If you love Nancy Drew I think you’ll really enjoy it.
I love the Maggody series by Joan Hess. You might like Cozy mysteries. The books in this subgenre are endless. For something on the grittier side try the Kate Shugak series by Dana Stabenow.
Amanda Quicks Burning Cove series. The Girl Who Knew Too much is my fave so far, a little slow at first but I enjoyed it alot.
you might like the Myrtle Clover Cozy Mystery series by Elizabeth Spann Craig, the main character is an older (60s or 70s) woman named Myrtle and her supporting character friend Miles, i only read a dash of murder but really enjoyed it
Laurie R. King…she writes about Mrs. Sherlock. It’s a really good series.
Sue Grafton A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar etc…
Anne George wrote a series of mysteries that feature two southern sisters. They’re pretty fun.
I liked the Aurora Teagarden mysteries by Charlaine Harris who also wrote the Sookie Stackhouse series
Louise Penny’s mysteries are fantastic.
Might be adultier than you’re looking for, but you might try the Women’s Murder Club books by James Patterson. The first book is 1st to Die.