In this episode, I’m sharing five detective series I’ve loved recently and reflecting on what draws us back to this genre again and again. From the quiet tension of village secrets to the slow unfurling of a case, these books offer more than clever plots — they feel like coming home.

I also talk about the emotional roots of crime fiction for me personally, including a few thoughts on my mum, which I first shared in Chapter 4 (Why Books Can Be a Time Machine).

Whether you’re a lifelong mystery reader or just curious about what makes British whodunnits so timeless, I hope this chapter gives you a moment of reflection — and a few new books to add to your list.

🕵️‍♀️ Mentioned in this episode:

• The Magpie Murders Series by Anthony Horowitz
• The Thursday Murder Club Series by Richard Osman
• The Gabriel Ward Mysteries by Sally Smith
• The Castle Knoll Series by Kristen Perrin
• The Hawthorne and Horowitz Series by Anthony Horowitz

📚 What’s your own comfort genre? I’d love to hear it.

✨ Join me on Patreon for monthly reflections, journaling prompts, and our gentle book club: 👉 patreon.com/alifeinchapters

You can find the shownotes here: alifeinchapters.com/podcast