Great Character-driven Mysteries
Discover the best character-driven mysteries, from A Beautiful Blue Death to A Fatal Grace. Explore gripping fiction with rich, complex protagonists in this curated book list.
Book
A Fatal Grace
by Louise Penny
Winner of the 2007 Agatha Award for Best Novel! When Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is called to investigate a woman’s death, it doesn’t take long for him to realize that no love was lost on Miss de Poitiers. But even if everyone hated her—her husband, lover, and daughter among them—how is it that no one saw her get electrocuted in the middle of a frozen lake in the center of town? Gamache digs beneath the surface of Three Pines to find where the real secrets are buried. But other troubles lie ahead for the detective. It seems he has some enemies of his own…and with the coming of the bitter winter winds, something far more chilling is in store.
Book
A Beautiful Blue Death
by Charles Finch
Equal parts Sherlock Holmes and "Gosford Park," this Victorian debut introduces a wonderfully appealing detective and his friend, the lovely Lady Jane.