Book Recommendation: Murder Mystery Series

I have always loved a good mystery, beginning in first grade when I got hooked on the Boxcar Children series. My mom and I love watching British murder mystery series together (the cheesier the better), and since the pandemic, I have found a lot of comfort in reading and watching mysteries (preferably while in bed, under a weighted blanket, and eating a snack).

Many of my go-tos lately are both books and TV shows. Here are some of my favorites.

The Shetland Series by Ann Cleeves and Shetland TV show. This series takes place in a small Scottish town in the Shetland islands, between Scotland and Norway. I started with the TV show and then migrated over to the novels. Both are fantastic, but the scenery, Scottish accents, and handsome actor that plays Jimmy Perez in the show (Douglas Henshall) can’t be missed.

The William Wisting Mystery Series by Jorn Lier Horst and Wisting TV show. These books are set in Norway and I loved both the show and the books. I would suggest reading the books first as the show doesn’t always match up to the books.

The Rebecka Martinsson Series by Asa Larsson and Rebecka Martinsson TV show. This one might be my favorite. Set in northern Sweden, I think often about the scenery in this show: the sun, the snow, the dogs, the cabins—I love it all. Don’t be too shocked when in Season 2, the main character is a completely different actress. Season 1 is my favorite but both are worth watching, and all are worth reading.

The Killing Series by David Hewson and the Killing TV Show. There was a recent American remake, but I much prefer the original Danish version, Forbrydelson. It’s a bit hard to find but worth it. This one is unique in that it started as the show and then the novels were written afterwards by a different writer. It’s set in Copenhagen and the first in particular is all-engrossing and thrilling. I love the female detective Sarah Lund.

The Walt Longmire Mysteries by Craig Johnson and the Longmire TV show. This show is set in the Wild West with lots of great characters in the small Wyoming town and neighboring Native American reservation. This is one of the few where I actually prefer the show to the books, but still recommend both, especially when you need a mental escape to rural Wyoming.

And lastly, the Cork O’Connor Mysteries, by William Kent Krueger. I started this series, set in northern Minnesota at the entrance to the Boundary Waters Canoe area, while on a dogsledding trip in Ely, Minnesota. I LOVE reading novels set where I am traveling, and once I started this series, I couldn’t stop. There hasn’t been a show made (yet), but I just loved reading a book with scenery I am so familiar with, and by a Minnesotan author to boot.

I hope this list inspires you to get cozy with some great series while we continuing to find ways to endure the pandemic. Happy murdering!

Book Recommendation: Favorite Cookbooks

Like many of you I’m sure, I’ve been doing more cooking and baking than ever over the last month of being stuck at home. Other than the enormous pile of dishes and dealing with ingredients that are difficult to track down in stores right now, I have to say that my day feels very anchored by my new cooking routines. Our meals are what we most look forward to now, so they had better be worth the wait!

Here are a few cookbooks that I am loving right now:

Bread Baking for Beginners, Bonnie O’Hara

I don’t think anything makes me happier than freshly baked bread. I love to mix it, knead it, smell it as it rises and bakes, and of course, eat it. I have become quite the bread snob and currently laugh in the face of store-bought sandwich bread.

Smitten Kitchen Every Day, Deb Perelman

I mean, who doesn’t love the Smitten Kitchen? I love Deb and her commentary as well as how she approaches food. Enough said.

The Minimalist Kitchen, Melissa Coleman

Melissa Coleman is a Minneapolis local with a blog I love, the Faux Martha. Her cookbook is simple, thoughtful, and many of her recipes have become weekly staples for us.

Feeding a Family, Sarah Waldman.

This was a great recommendation by a friend. I love her approach to both cooking with and feeding kids. Last week we made corn tortillas as a family—and now I think I might be a tortilla snob, too.