If normal is way to real to you, check out something more paranormal. There are a ton of series available focusing on creatures of the dark side including shape shifters, witches, fairies, psychics and vampires. No matter what your taste, there is something for everyone. With genre-bending grace, a number of these series unite the classic elements of science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, thriller, mystery and classic fiction. Love a good romance? Some of those bloodsuckers can really heat up the page… not bad for a dead guy! Want to laugh? Those furry weres are full of good clean fun and a snarky dose of sass. You can mix and match each element to find the perfect series for you! And you might even surprise yourself… think you hate romance? Maybe with the right characters and plenty of adventure, you will find a love story that sets your heart ablaze.
Looking for humor? Christopher Moore and Mario Acevedo deal with vampires, demons, and other nocturnal beings with a touch of snarky fun and good humor. This is definitely NOT chick lit, but it is way too much fun!
Check out Charlaine Harris’ Harper Connolly series for great plots, lots of suspense, and a heroine with the uncanny ability to see the final moments of the dead. In addition, the entire series toys with a personal mystery that is eventually resolved in the final book in a shocking way. Well written and full of atmosphere, this is by far her best series to date.
Are ghosts more your speed? There are a ton of fabulous series in this field. The Ghost Hunters Mysteries by Victoria Laurie introduces MJ and Gilley, sure to be your new best friends while the Ghost Dusters Mysteries by Wendy Roberts feature crime scene cleaner and ameteur medium Sadie Novak. Both are loaded with spine chilling hauntings and plenty of laughs. The Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries by E.J. Copperman is a fun new series to watch for, featuring a divorcee and her young daughter while the Nicki Styx series by Terri Garey is perfect for the more modern girl. If you enjoy this super strong character, you might also enjoy the Pepper Martin Series by Casey Daniels and Pat Montello Series by Elena Santangelo.
If something more magical is more your speed, you may enjoy mysteries that focus on witchcraft and wizardry. These series run the gamut from traditional white vs black magic to modern green magic. The Witchcraft Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell centers on witch and vintage clothing shop owner Lily Ivory who can read things from people’s clothing. The Bewitching Mysteries by Madelyn Alt are classic examples of the paranormal romance genre and are a great way into the scene for reluctant readers. The Ophelia and Abby Mysteries by Shirley Dasgaard is a great mix of magic and psychics as a 70-something witch and her psychic granddaughter team up to solve the crime, while the Vintage Magic Mysteries by Annette Blair take a slightly more traditional approach and focuses on a vintage dress shop full of surprises. The Southern Witch Series by Kimberly Frost is perfect for the modern pagan and follows as our heroine discovers that perhaps the family trait of magic hasn’t skipped her afterall. The Linda Wisdom Hex series is so full of sexy, sassy fun that Blair is a witch in lust with a were.
If you think being a psychic makes everything easier, you definitely need to read the Psychic Eye Mysteries by Victoria Laurie. While using her intuition helps her solve crimes, it gets Abby Cooper into tons of trouble too. This series is good for a giggle, full of high-jinx, and throws in a good story to boot. The Myrtle Drinkwater Astrological Investigator Mysteries by Linda G. Shelnutt and the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit Mysteries by Kay Hooper take a more narrow focus. Hooper, in particular, tends to eschew the humor for spine chilling suspense.
If you don’t mind a little fur, you may enjoy tales of shape shifters. For a hilarious and modern take on the classic thread, try the Tales of an Urban Werewolf Series by Karen MacInerney. For a more traditional and dark atmosphere, you may enjoy The World of the Lupi series by Eileen Wilks which introduces us to a world on edge with magic. A good intro to this genre is the Shifters Series by Rachel Vincent which reads like pulp fiction but with more humor and more heart.
Our sign for all things that go bump in the night?
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