Books like 'Back to School Murder'
Readers who enjoyed Back to School Murder by Leslie Meier also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary mystery cozy amateur-sleuth crime investigator female-mc humor
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Clue Krewe by Jana Deleon
Rated: 4.75 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsBeckett Rousseau is the firstborn son of one of New Orleans’ most prominent families. He’s the quintessential golden boy—great looks, money, and a political career in his future—until his wife murders him. Or at least that’s what everyone thinks.Athena Durand is still reeling from her murder conviction but now that it’s overturned, she’s at a loss on how to proceed with her life... -
Charmed Forces by Camilla Chafer
Rated: 4.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsPrivate Investigator Lexi Graves is pleased to clear up her latest assignment. It’s a simple case of misguided suspicion after all.Then her brother, Detective Daniel Graves, turns up on her doorstep, alone, blood-spattered, and almost entirely incoherent... -
Just A Happy Camper by Jinx Schwartz
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHetta Coffey is a sassy Texan with a snazzy yacht, and she's not afraid to use it. She's cruising Mexico's hauntingly beautiful Sea of Cortez when she gets a job offer she can't refuse. Not only is the project located in her old stomping grounds in Texas Hill Country, but comes with an RV for living quarters. She has no problem driving a forty-five foot yacht, but RVing is new to her... -
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Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls by Rima Ray
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAmazon Bestseller. A quirky off-beat comedy wrapped up in a mystery with a relatable and reluctant amateur female sleuth of color you’ll fall in love with.Dr. Ruby Roy is a goofy, warm, and absent-minded professor in her third year at Baron University, located a few miles from the Falls... -
Just Pardon My French by Jinx Schwartz
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsHetta Coffey is a sassy Texan with a snazzy yacht, and she’s not afraid to use it! She’s living aboard her forty-five foot boat in Mexico’s spectacular Sea of Cortez, taking work where she can get it and, characteristically, she isn’t all that concerned about any pesky legalities involved... -
Dogcatcher in the Rye by Ellen Riggs
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsTurning a hobby farm into a quaint country inn is a piece of cake compared to solving a murder.Ivy Galloway may not know an alpaca from a llama, but nothing’s going to stop her from pursuing her dream of opening a farm-themed inn in her hometown of Clover Grove. Not after what she went through to rescue Keats, her brilliant border collie, and flee the big city... -
An Embarrassment of Itches by M.K. Dean
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIt's Diagnosis Murder meets All Creatures Great and Small...As a house-call vet, Ginny Reese has seen her share of the weird and wacky. But nothing in her previous experience could have prepared her to find one of her clients floating in her own swimming pool.Local artist Amanda Kelly was extremely wealthy with her share of secrets... -
Murder Al Dente by Nancy Skopin
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratings“An intuitive detective, a kidnapped child, and an assassin with a heart of gold …”In Murder Al Dente, PI Nicoli “Nikki” Hunter once again gets herself in hot water when she’s hired by a multimillionaire boat owner, (and sex toy manufacturer,) to find out who’s trying to kill him. Nikki has barely begun her investigation when he’s found dead aboard his mega yacht... -
Just Different Devils by Jinx Schwartz
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHetta Coffey is a sassy Texan with a snazzy yacht, and she's not afraid to use it—most of the time. She's an intrepid cruiser, but wild rumors of marauding gangs of flesh-shredding giant Humboldt squid on a rampage in the Sea of Cortez could keep even Hetta tied to an expensive dock... -
Revenge in Paradise by Deborah Brown
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhen a man of questionable character’s corpse is found at The Cottages, beaten to death with Madison’s own gardening tools, she and her partner, Fab, set out to prove that the man’s abused girlfriend did not kill him. Along the way, Madison finds herself behind bars twice, held hostage in a mansion, and running from flying bullets... -
Murder in the Family by Paula Bernstein
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsHannah Kline is a successful Los Angeles obstetrician and the recently widowed mother of a young daughter. She is barely managing to hold it all together, when her life is shattered once again by the brutal murder of her beautiful, bright, zany and recently divorced sister-in-law Beth. Hannah is determined to do whatever she can to assist the police in finding the murderer... -
Knifed In Nice by Zara Keane
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“I hadn’t planned on a trip to the French Riviera, but then, I hadn’t planned on shooting a London crime lord in his well-padded derrière.”Meet Angel Doyle, a semi-reformed thief and accidental P.I.During an unfortunate incident at her first legit job in years, Angel fires a ketamine dart into one of London’s most notorious gangsters. Now she’s in disguise and on the run... -
Murder at the Pumpkin Patch by London Lovett
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSunni Taylor's sisters, through their power of sisterly persuasion, have convinced her to host a Halloween costume party at Cider Ridge Inn. She's a little reluctant about the whole event and rightly worried about the actual ghost, who will, no doubt, be in attendance, but she decides to just relax and enjoy it... -
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A Crafty Killing by London Lovett
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSunni Taylor is looking forward to an easy and sweetheart filled month of February. After a few blissful months as lead reporter for the Junction Times, an unexpected shake-up at the newspaper leaves her reeling and frustrated. She finds herself once again having to cover mundane stories, like the Firefly Junction Craft Fair... -
Scottsdale Sizzle by B.A. Trimmer
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratings"This time, Laura Black may be in over her head! " Scottsdale’s favorite investigator, Laura Black, returns in a new thrilling romantic mystery. This time around, she’s hot on the trail of a treasure chest full of priceless jewelry. Unfortunately so are both the bad guys and the FBI. The client’s a guy in from Chicago and he seems to have more secrets than answers... -
The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking by Leigh Perry
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratings"Mirth and murder blend beautifully" in this tale of an amateur sleuth and her bony best friend (Publishers Weekly, starred review).Dr. Georgia Thackery is back home with her parents after finding a new adjunct position at Bostock College. Everyone is excited for their first family Christmas with nothing to hide... -
Death and Wedding Cake by Nova Walsh
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA small town with big secrets. A caterer turned amateur detective. A wedding weekend plagued by murder and mystery. Home is where the heart is for Abby Hirsch, a chef returning to her small Texas hometown to cater a wedding at her aunt's charming bed and breakfast. But homecoming turns deadly when Abby finds the body of the bride's rival dumped on the grounds... -
Picture Perfect Murder by Jenna St. James
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsRyli Sinclair had no idea moonlighting as the forensic photographer for the Granville Police Department would put her in the direct path of a crazed killer. Determined to capture the murderer before she's next in line, Ryli enlists the help of her best friend, Paige, and her elderly great-aunt Shirley, a former private investigator... -
Humpty Bumpkin by Sam Cheever
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsShe's just a country girl who loves her dog. But her life is about to get less countrified and more...erm...homicide. Deer Hollow is a small community built in a verdant, rolling countryside. The nearest big city is over an hour away and big city ways are rejected at the Hollow. Unfortunately, the big city isn’t the only place where bad things can happen... -
Lost Kitten in Las Vegas by A.R. Winters, Erin Moon
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA Cupcakes-and-Crime CaperWhen cupcake-loving croupier and private investigator Tiffany Black meets an adorable lost kitten, she never imagines it will lead her straight to a murder investigation.But when she is asked to investigate the death of architect-turned-poker-addict Max Langton, she stumbles upon a group of unpleasant neighbors, who also happen to be potential murderers... -
The Fox and O'Hare Series 3-Book Bundle: The Heist, The Chase, The Job by Janet Evanovich, Lee Goldberg
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFrom Janet Evanovich, the acclaimed creator of Stephanie Plum, and Lee Goldberg, author and television writer for Monk, comes a series of New York Times bestselling novels that “mix the humor from Evanovich and Goldberg’s books with the intricate cons seen in the best episodes of Mission: Impossible” (Library Journal)... -
Dying for a Donut by Cindy Sample
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTo Laurel McKay, there's nothing better than spending an autumn afternoon munching on caramel apples and cinnamon donuts. It's a good thing her daughter Jenna has landed a seasonal job at Apple Tree Farm and Bakery. Then Laurel stumbles over the bakery owner coated in powdered sugar. Axel Thorson was a well-respected member of the community... -
Two Weddings and a Fugitive by Donna Joy Usher
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAnother Novel by the Multi-Award-Winning Author, Donna Joy Usher. It’s been three months since Chanel returned from Las Vegas and she’s done everything in her power to forget about Billy. All that changes the day he shows up asking for her help. Boris Tolokonsky, head of the Las Vegas-Russian Mafia, has escaped, and Intel says he is heading for Australia…and for Matt King... -
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Lucky Ce Soir by Deborah Coonts
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings"Evanovich...with a dash of CSI." - Publishers Weekly (review of Lucky Stiff) Death by future mother-in-law. It’s a thing. Lucky O’Toole is sure of it. What she isn’t sure of is how to deal with it. In Paris, far away from her Vegas home, Lucky is out of her element and out of ideas... -
Trick or Trouble by London Lovett
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSunni Taylor is moving forward on the remodel of the Cider Ridge Inn. She is anxious to start her bed and breakfast business. Unfortunately, the inn is not cooperating. It seems she is hit with one catastrophe after another. This time it's the plumbing... -
Artistic License to Kill by Paula Darnell
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIn this cozy mystery, artist Amanda Trent, accompanied by her beloved golden retriever Laddie and her persnickety calico cat Mona Lisa, is determined to start a new life after her husband divorces her to marry a younger woman, but it isn't easy... -
A Dealer Dead Ahead by Scarlett Moss
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAll she can see is grief until a friend offers her a coastal view. But this seaside adventure could have her drowning in danger.Carter Cash struggles with starting over. Widowed for a year and looking for direction, the mystery-TV-show fanatic agrees to assist a pal refurbishing an old yacht… and makes fast friends with a retired police dog... -
Murder Flambé by Susan Kiernan-Lewis
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA charming Parisian brasserie, a buried secret and a winding labyrinth of clues come together to form a terrifying triumvirate of mystery and shocking desire in the seventh An American in Paris Mystery . The American owner of a popular Left Bank eatery is arrested for his wife’s murder... -
Accidental Lawyer: A humorous peek into Baltimore's legal Community by Kim Hamilton
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSet in the brilliant and diverse city of Baltimore, Accidental Lawyer, is a humorous, often irreverent portrayal of the dubious practice of personal injury law.Jessica Snow has a crisp new law degree, a grinding ambition, and a pesky moral compass that is often at odds with her new job as an ambulance chaser... -
The Harbor of Lies, a Romantic Suspense Novel by Debra Burroughs
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom NY Times bestselling author Debra Burroughs comes Book 6 in the wildly popular Paradise Valley Mystery series. The captivating romance between sassy private-eye Emily Parker and sexy police detective Colin Andrews has been filled with mystery, danger, and intrigue. He’s finally convinced her to marry him—if only they can make it to the altar unscathed... -
Wine Tastings Are Murder by Libby Klein
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIt's vintage Poppy McAllister when the gluten-free baker and B&B owner tries to solve a murder at a Cape May winery . . . When Poppy and Aunt Ginny agreed to host a Wine and Cheese Happy Hour for a tour group at their Butterfly House Bed and Breakfast on the Jersey Shore, they never anticipated such a sour bunch... -
Death in Darkness by Nell Goddin
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA disturbed wife. A nanny. And a pack of cowardly, lying friends.Simon Valette, a cultured and successful Parisian, moves his family to Castillac looking for peace and quiet. Before they've had a chance to settle in, someone is found murdered in their library. Molly and Ben work double-time to disentangle all the lies--including those told by their own friends... -
Dead Even by Annelise Ryan
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIn Sorenson, Wisconsin, a local bigshot is found with a pool cue through the heart—and Mattie Winston must untangle a web of lies to sink a killer . . . In her previous career as a nurse, Mattie Winston’s job was to keep death at bay. Now, as a medicolegal investigator, she’s required to study death intimately—to figure out causes and timing, and help deduce whether it was natural or suspicious... -
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Banana Chiffon and Bad Deeds by London Lovett
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMeet London's newest amateur sleuth, Scottie Ramone, in Banana Chiffon and Bad Deeds—A prequel novella to the Scottie Ramone Cozy Mystery series.A missing grandmother, a murdered neighbor and a crush from the past are just a few of the surprises waiting for Scottie in the heart of the Rocky Mountains... -
Murder à la Mode by Susan Kiernan-Lewis
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWith the wine harvest behind them, things had just started to calm down for Maggie and Laurent in their French village of Saint-Buvard when a team of food industry entrepreneurs and celebrity judges arrives to put on a contest to decide in a blind taste test which country makes the best chocolate éclairs—the Brits, the Americans, the Germans or the French... -
Enchanted Bones by Carolyn Haines
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIn Carolyn Haines's Enchanted Bones, PI Sarah Booth Delaney comes to the rescue in a short mystery set in Zinnia, Mississippi, that will delight fans and new readers alike... -
Family Case of Murder by Vanessa Gray Bartal, Rebecca Tocheff
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLacy Steele has been dispatched to the Hamptons with the tall order to make amends with her estranged sister, Riley, and her ex-fiancé, Robert. The time has come to decide which of her friends to take as her date: Tosh or Jason. As if to add to her already high stress level, she'll be spending the weekend with Robert's certifiable family, and his aunt has declared a ban on dessert... -
Cat Got Your Cash by Julie Chase
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWith a killer prowling New Orleans’ Garden District, pet boutique owner Lucy Marie Crocker must protect two endangered Siamese before another cat-astrophe strikes Lacy Marie Crocker’s whimsical pet couture has gained a following in New Orleans’ cozy Garden District, and word of mouth has traveled all the way to her favorite fashion designer, Annie Lane... -
Just Deserts by Jinx Schwartz
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHetta Coffey is a woman with a yacht, and she's not afraid to use it. As a self employed engineering consultant with a penchant of oddball-read: shady- projects, she has a way of attracting trouble. With her floating home drydocked for repairs in Mexico, Hetta needs a place to live and a job to pay the boatyard... -
Pesky Politicians in Las Vegas by A.R. Winters, Erin Moon
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA Cupcakes-and-Crime CaperWhen a much-despised politician is murdered, Tiffany Black and her friend, Ian, must uncover the truth about his death.But when the investigation keeps turning up dead ends, Nanna, who's visiting Las Vegas for a few days, insists on "helping" Tiffany and Ian, with surprising results... -
From Garden To Grave by Rickie Blair
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMurder. It’s a perennial problem. Verity Hawkes is a shut-in. After two years bunkered in her apartment, the only thing that gets her out is the disappearance of her beloved but eccentric aunt. As she takes over her aunt’s landscaping shop, she’ll need to go from hoarder to horticulturist in a hurry…Her new home of Leafy Hollow is quaint, except for her most obnoxious client... -
The Dead Girl's Stilettos by Quinn Avery
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAfter a Jane Doe is murdered in journalist Bexley Squires's hometown, she's hired by one of Hollywood’s brightest stars to clear his name as a suspect. But her skills as an amateur sleuth weren’t enough to find her missing sister... -
A Wedding to Die For by Heather Haven
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA wedding without a groom leaves a lot to be desired. So when the wedding of Lee’s best friend is threatened by the arrest of the groom for murder, thirty-four-year old Lee Alvarez -- a combination of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone and Janet Evanovitch’s Stephanie Plum - heads south of the border in search of the real killer... -
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Plain Dead by Emma Miller
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen a newspaperman is murdered in the Amish community of Stone Mill, Pennsylvania, Rachel Mast digs up the dirt to find out who wanted to bury the lead… Although she left her Old Order Amish ways in her youth, Rachel discovered corporate life in the English world to be complicated and unfulfilling. Having returned to Stone Mill, she’s happy to be running her own B&B... -
Tess's Tale by Donna Joy Usher
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAnother book by the multi-award-winning author Donna Joy Usher. Please note - this is a light-hearted, humorous, chicklit, female sleuth novel. If you are looking for a literary masterpiece with a deep meaning this is probably not the book for you... -
Death by the Finish Line by Alexis Morgan
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen a dead body turns up on a race route, Abby McCree hits the ground running to catch a killer... Overcommitted Abby has once again been drafted to use her organizing superpowers--this time for a 5k charity run that's part of the Founder's Day Celebration in Snowberry Creek, Washington...Categorized as:
cozy amateur-sleuth female-mc investigator mystery fiction contemporary female-author -
Too Far to Fall by Shane Sawyer
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA pretty little townAn inheritanceA break-inA bodyEdie Doyle may be new in town, but she’s about to uncover long-held secrets. Secrets someone will do anything to protect.When her Great Aunt Jane dies, Edie inherits her house—and a load of trouble. The frozen corpse is just the beginning... -
Sprinkles of Suspicion by Kim Davis
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOne glass of cheap California chardonnay cost Emory Gosser Martinez her husband, her job, and her best friend. Unfortunately, that was only the beginning of her troubles.Distraught after discovering the betrayal by her husband and best friend, Tori, cupcake caterer Emory Martinez allows her temper to flare. Several people witness her very public altercation with her ex-friend... -
Miz Scarlet and the Vanishing Visitor by Sara M. Barton
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA pleasant night in Bay Head, NJ, unexpectedly turns dangerous as Scarlet Wilson heads for home after a delightful weekend at the Jersey Shore with boyfriend Kenny "Captain Peacock" Tolliver. A terrified teenager, chased by a homicidal maniac, clings to her car, refusing to let go of the moon roof...
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