Mystery Books Set in the 1920s

by Jillian Cantor
Setting: 1922, Long Island

With alternating viewpoints from three female suspects, Beautiful Little Fools is a retelling of Great Gatsby focused on the deaths of George Wilson & Jay Gatsby and what really happened.

Daisy thought she might marry Gatsby, but a tragedy led her to the arms of Tom.

Jordan holds a secret that ruined her golf career and threatens her relationship with her best friend, Daisy.

Catherine is a suffragette, fighting for the rights of all women, but also for her sister, who is in a miserable marriage.

The lives of all three women are independently unraveling as they’re pulled into Jay Gatsby’s life during the summer of 1922.

by Katharine Schellman
Setting: 1924, New York

Vivian lives in a dreary tenement building in New York City and spends long days sewing for a dress shop. However, her world comes alive at night in The Nightingale, an underground dance hall. When she’s there, the dangers of Prohibition-era New York drift away into the music.

But when Vivian is caught in a police raid after a body is discovered behind the club, people assume she knows more about the crime than she does. Vivian is thrust into a world where the poor (like her) are considered disposable, and the wealthy use money to hide their sins.

by Harini Nagendra
Setting: 1920s, Bangalore

The protagonist Kaveri is a new bride and recently moved to Bangalore to be with her husband, a doctor. She has no plans to be a typical housewife and is studying advanced mathematics and hopes to attend college. Thankfully, her husband, Ramu, adores her and supports her dreams, even if his mother believes women should cook, clean, and center their lives around their husbands.

During a party one evening, Kaveri notices an uninvited guest lurking in the shadows. A short time later, someone is murdered, and a vulnerable woman has been identified as a suspect. Kaveri isn’t willing to stand by and let this woman pay for someone else’s crime, so she launches an investigation that takes her from a brothel to a mansion.

The Book Girls Say… In the 1920s, India was under British colonial rule. Political protests were growing over the exploitation of the Indian people. This book addresses those issues and creates a delightful main character ready to move her country forward. You’ll find detailed descriptions of the food and culture, along with fun references to classic mystery leads like Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie's Poirot, and Lady Molly.

The second book in this new series is scheduled for publication in 2023.

by Dorothy L. Sayers
Setting: 1923, England
Book 1 of 11 in the Lord Peter Wimsey series

When a naked body is discovered dead in a bathtub, the police assume the victim is a prominent financier. However, there are some odd aspects to this crime beyond the tub. For example, the victim's face was shaved AFTER he was killed.

Lord Peter Wimsey does a bit of amateur sleuthing as a hobby. He has never encountered a murder, but takes up the case when he believes the police are wrong about the victim's identity.

The Books Girls Say…The first book in this classic mystery series was published in 1923 but is available in both Kindle and audiobook forms. It’s on the shorter side at 212 pages, so perfect for dipping your toes into the series. We hope you enjoy Lord Wimsey as much as others have over the past century.

by Kate Khavari
Setting: 1923, London

Saffron is a rare female research assistant with a vast knowledge of poisons. While at a dinner party, her professor’s wife drops to the floor. She expected to spend the night talking about an upcoming expedition to the Amazon, but now her mentor, Dr. Maxwell, is the main suspect. He’s always been more supportive of her than others in the all-male, very old-school department, so she wants to help.

Saffron must work to clear his name before the departure date to Brazil. She’ll need her extensive knowledge of botany as she partners with fellow researcher Alexander to investigate greenhouses and dark gardens looking for the deadly poison.

The Books Girls Say… This book has been described as a cross between a historical thriller and a cozy mystery, so it’s perfect if you’re looking for something a bit deeper and more detailed than the typical cozy mystery, but still enjoy amateur sleuth stories. Also, be aware that there is a lot of talk about botany/plants, so it’s perfect if that’s your thing, but it may be distracting if you’re less into scientific details.

by Sujata Massey
Setting: 1922, Western India
Book 1 of 3 in the Perveen Mistry Novel Series

Perveen Mistry is one of the first female lawyers in India, complete with an Oxford education and a passion for protecting women's rights. After joining her father's law firm in the 1920s, she's assigned oversight of a wealthy man's will with three widows.

Perveen becomes suspicious when all three women sign their inheritances to a charity, leaving themselves no money to live on. When Perveen investigates, things quickly escalate to involve murder. She has to figure out what happened behind the closed doors of Malabar Hill before someone else is hurt.

The Book Girls Say... If you enjoyed this book, consider picking up the sequel, The Satapur Moonstone, also set in 1922.

by Marlowe Benn
Setting: 1924, Manhattan
Book 1 of 2 in the Julia Kydd series

Julia Kydd is a sophisticated book lover living in Manhattan with aspirations to launch a new private press. She views women's suffrage as old news and believes life is too short for politics, but as a woman, she still must fight for what is hers, including the inheritance that her estranged half-brother, Philip, is challenging.

Julia is skeptical when another woman, Naomi, an ardent suffragist from a wealthy family, dies of an apparent suicide. Philip is unsure but proposes a wager - if Julia can prove that Naomi was murdered, he'll drop his claims to Julia's inheritance. However, Julia soon discovers just how turbulent Naomi's life was, and as she gets closer to the truth, she realizes there is much more at stake than her inheritance.

Relative Fortunes is currently included with Kindle Unlimited as of 8/4/22.

by Agatha Christie
Setting: 1917, England*
Book 1 of 33 in the Hercule Poirot Series

The debut book in the beloved Hercule Poirot series introduces us to the eccentric Belgian detective. He’s a refugee from the Great War and lives on the country estate of wealthy Emily Inglethorp.

When she is poisoned, Poirot must figure out which of the many suspects is the murderer. From a much younger husband and resentful step-sons to the London specialist on poison who just happens to be in town, every suspect has a secret.

True to Christie’s style, red herrings and plot twists fill the pages as you investigate with Poirot.

The Book Girls Say… Books 2-5 in this series take place in the 1920s.

*After publishing this post, we realized that while this book was published in 1921, it is actually set while WW1 is still ongoing in 1917. The next 4 books in the series do flow into the 1920s.

by Karen Baugh Menuhin
Setting: 1920, England
Book 1 of 9 in the Heathcliff Lennox Series

This cozy mystery series set in the 1920s is described as Downton Abbey meets Agatha Christie, with just the right amount of humor.

Major Heathcliff Lennox is a WWI veteran pilot visiting his uncle's manor for Christmas when he finds himself suspected of murder. When a snowstorm prevents the police from investigating, Lennox does some sleuthing to discover the real murderer.

The Book Girls Say… Readers praise the well-developed, colorful characters and the vivid descriptions of the setting. Reviewers also say that the audiobook narrator is excellent.

The first seven books in this cozy mystery series are included with Kindle Unlimited as of 8/4/22.

by Verity Bright
Setting: 1920, England
Book 1 of 11 in the Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Series

After spending the last few years adventuring around the world, Eleanor Swift just endured a chaotic 45-day trip from South Africa to England. It’s 1920, and twenty-something Eleanor (or “Lady Eleanor” as she is now known) has reluctantly returned to Henley Hall after inheriting it from her late uncle.

First on the agenda is befriending the household dog. Second, she has to figure out who she saw shoot a man in the distance and why the killer now seems to have her in their sights.

The Book Girls Say… Book #5 in this series, Mystery By the Sea, is included on our Summer Cozy Mystery book list.

All the books in this cozy mystery series are included with Kindle Unlimited as of 8/4/22.

by Kerry Greenwood
Setting: 1920s, Australia
Short Story Collection from the Miss Fisher's Murder series

This recently released collection of short stories features Phryne Fisher, the star of the 21-book cozy mystery series published over the last 30 years, beginning with Cocaine Blues. Phryne’s passions include food, sleep, intellectual puzzles, clothes, men, and solving mysteries, of course.

The fifteen 1920s-era stories in this collection are set in Melbourne, Australia. They include four previously unpublished stories and eleven others curated from novels throughout the series, making it the perfect read for those who don’t want to dive into the entire series. This story collection is said to add character depth and provide a richer historical context of the 1920s.

The Book Girls Say... After reading, check out the Netflix series, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, inspired by the books.

by Benedict Brown
Setting: 1925, England
Book 1 of 6 in the Lord Edgington Investigates series

The year is 1925, and Lord Edgington of Cranley Hall, England, has planned a grand ball to celebrate his 75th birthday. There will be a little music, a little dancing, and - as it turns out - a little murder.

Lord Edgington, a retired Scotland Yard inspector, enlists the help of his teenage grandson to help him find the killer before any other family members turn up dead.

All the books in this cozy mystery series are included with Kindle Unlimited as of 8/4/22.

by Maia Chance
Setting: 1923, New York City
Book 1 of 4 in the Discreet Retrieval Series

Lola is a 31-year-old recently widowed society matron in the era of Prohibition. Desperate for rent money in NYC, Lola has agreed to recover a stolen film reel to its rightful owner. But before she can retrieve it, the man who had it in his possession is killed, and the reel disappears. Now she has to try to recover the reel and solve the murder before becoming the killer's next victim.

The Book Girls Say… The first book in this series has a slightly lower rating than other books on this list. However, each subsequent book in the series has a higher rating than the next, so we decided to include it anyway.

by Lee Strauss
Setting: 1923, Cross-Atlantic journey from Boston to London
Book 1 of 22 in the Ginger Gold Mystery Series

This short, 168-page novella is the kick-off to the Ginger Gold series of 1920s cozy mysteries. Ginger is stylish, a war widow, and a former British Secret Service Agent!

As she travels from Boston to London with her dog and a good friend, the captain of their ship is found dead. Soon, she’s entangled in the case and must outwit the murderer before becoming a victim. There are 17 books in the series, all set in the 1920s!

This entire book series is currently included with Kindle Unlimited as of 8/6/22.

by Karen Abbot
Setting: 1921, Cincinnati

George Remus was a lawyer before prohibition but quit law to begin trafficking whiskey. In two short years, he not only became a millionaire but owned 35% of all liquor in the United States. The press called him "King of the Bootleggers," and routinely wrote about the lavish parties at his mansion.

Prosecutor Mabel Walker Willebrandt makes it her mission to bring him down. Her bosses have a cozy relationship with Remus and assume that female, new grad Mabel wouldn’t pose a threat to Remus. But they were wrong.

Things get even more complicated when her investigator, Franklin Dodge, begins an affair with Imogen, Remus’ wife.

The Book Girls Say… This award-winning non-fiction saga has some insane twists and turns along the way. Readers say it feels more like a literary, legal thriller than a work of non-fiction.

by Jennifer Latham
Setting: 1921 & Present Day, Oklahoma

This YA dual timeline read is a fictionalized account of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Rowan is a present-day 17-year-old about to start her important summer internship when workers discover a skeleton on her property while renovating a building.

Her story alternates with William Tillman, a 17-year-old in 1921, whose misguided attempt to "protect" a girl he had a crush on triggers more death, destruction, and division than he could have predicted.

The Book Girls Say... Melissa recommends Hannibal B. Johnson's Black Wall Street if you'd like a well-researched non-fiction read.

by David Grann
Setting: 1920s Oklahoma

This is a true-life murder mystery about one of the most monstrous crimes in American history.

In the 1920s, thanks to oil discovered beneath their land, the members of the Osage Indian Nation in Oklahoma were the wealthiest people per capita in the world. The Osage rode in chauffeured cars, built mansions, and sent their children to study in Europe. But then, one by one, the Osage began to die under mysterious circumstances, and virtually anyone who dared to investigate the killings was murdered.

As the death toll continued to rise, the newly created FBI took up the case as their first major homicide investigation. But even the bureau was then notoriously corrupt and initially bungled the case. Finally, the young director, J. Edgar Hoover, turned to a former Texas Ranger named Tom White to unravel the mystery with the help of an undercover team that included one of the only Native American agents in the bureau.

The Book Girls Say... This is a non-fiction read. While many sections will have you turning pages like you're reading a best-selling novel, others are slower-paced. It's a perfect pick for those who love little-known US history!

by Marie Benedict
Setting: England 1912, 1926

On a frigid night in December 1926, mystery writer Agatha Christie went missing for 11 days. An extensive search was launched after investigators found her car, which only contained her fur coat, near a pond. The only clues were some tire tracks nearby. Her husband and daughter were questioned but claimed not to know her whereabouts.

The questions about where she went and what she was doing have persisted for nearly a century. In this historical fiction novel, Benedict imagines what may have occurred in a story filled with twists fitting a Christie mystery.

The Book Girls Say... While the average rating of this book from our readers was a little lower than we expected at 3 1/2 stars, 100% said they would recommend the book to a friend. The Christie Affair, by Nina de Gramont, is another fictional account of Agatha Christie’s short disappearance, but it received a slightly lower overall rating from our readers.

This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 8/4/2022.

by Lisa Jewell
Setting: 1920s + 1990s, Guernsey + London

1990s: Betty gave up a lot - universities, parties, boyfriends, and summer jobs - to care for her grandmother, Arlette. Arlette lives in a dilapidated, yet charming, home on the British isle of Guernsey. When her grandmother passes away, Betty discovers that her will includes a beneficiary named Clara, whom no one in the family knows. So Betty travels to London to seek out Clara.

1920s: In the years after WW1, Arlette is starting a new life in bohemian London when she gets drawn into the hedonistic world of the Bright Young People. A couple of years later, tragedy strikes, and Arlette flees back to her home in Guernsey for good. 

This rich detective story will transport you to London in the 1920s and 1990s. As Betty investigates her grandmother's life, she’ll uncover secrets that might also help her find happiness in her own life.

by Fiona Davis
Setting: 1928 & 1974, New York City

For most New Yorkers, Grand Central Terminal is a masterpiece of architectural design, but it represents something entirely different for Clara and Virginia.

For Clara, in 1928, teaching at the Grand Central School of Art was the stepping stone to her future. In a time when there was public disdain for a "woman artist," Clara is determined to succeed in her dream of creating cover art for Vogue. But she and her friends will soon be blindsided by the looming Great Depression that may destroy the entire art scene.

By 1974, Grand Central had declined to a dangerous place full of pickpockets and drug dealers, and it was at the center of a lawsuit that would decide if the terminal should be preserved or demolished. Virginia, who had recently taken a job in the Grand Central information booth, stumbles upon an abandoned art school within the terminal and discovers a striking watercolor that opens her eyes to the elegance beneath the decay. She sets out to find the artist and finds herself drawn into the battle to save Grand Central.

The Book Girls Say... We both LOVE New York City, the beauty of Grand Central Station, and art, so it's like Fiona Davis wrote this book for us. Melissa read it and enjoyed the combination of history, mystery, and even a little romance. The characters are based on real people, and it was interesting to walk in the shoes of a female artist in the 20s. We think those who enjoy reading about art history, 20s Manhattan, or women's equality will all love this one.