• Follow us on:
• Parents & Kids
• More...
  • Local News
  • Pets
  • Wedding Planner
  • Gay & Lesbian Weddings
  • eCape, Inc.

• lodging & rentals
• things to do
• towns & travel info
• wedding planning
• photos & more

Who-Dunit on Cape Cod

The crowds have thinned. It's warm and cozy in front of the fireplace. The wind is blowing outside. Why not take advantage of the slower pace of the off-season and curl up with a good mystery. Cape Cod is home to many talented mystery authors including the "grand dame" of suspense, Mary Higgins Clark.

Whether you are a local, wash-a-shore or visitor, there is surely a mystery that will appeal to you. All of the authors on this page have penned Cape Cod mysteries filled with suspense, twists, turns and the obligatory red herring. Some of the main characters are professional detectives while others are thrown into the role of part-time sleuth. Who knew there was this much murder and mayhem on our lovely little sandbar?

All are set in real or fictional towns on the Cape and Islands. In fact, half the fun of reading these books is trying to figure out which town the author has fictionalized. Pay close attention to the clues; you won't find Eastport, Belltown or Nashtoba Island on the maps.

Doctors, fishermen, brothers, retired teachers and anthropologists find themselves caught up in the whirlwind of murder Cape Cod style.

Kids, do not despair. You too can join in on the intrigue with teen-oriented mysteries by T. M. Murphy and John Prophet. We're not sure if Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys ever vacationed on the Cape, but these kids are sure to be fast on the trail looking for clues.

Check out our CapeCodToday directory for a list of Cape Cod bookstores carrying these books and many others:

• "The Cape Cod Mystery" by Phoebe Taylor Atwood.
  From the series featuring Asey Mayo, former sailor and car race driver.
• "The Curious Cape Cod Skull" by Marie Lee.
  From the series featuring Marguerite Smith, retired science teacher.
• "A Matter of Roses" by David Manuel.
  Book featuring main character: Brother Bartholomew.
• "Death in the Off Season" by Francine Matthews.
  From the Nantucket based series featuring detective Meredith Folger.
• "Bluefin Blues" by Paul Kemprecos.
  From the series featuring Aristotle "Soc" Socarides, fisherman/private investigator.
• "Hot Water" by Sally Gunning.
  From the series featuring Peter Bartholomew, owner of a company that does odd jobs.
• "Billingsgate Shoal" by Rick Boyer.
  From the series featuring Charle "Doc" Adams, a dental surgeon in Woods Hole.
• "The Cape Cod Conundrum" by Margot Arnold.
  From the series featuring 60ish year old anthropologist, Penny Spring and her 60ish year old archaeologist side-kick, Sir Toby Glendower.
• "Remember Me" by Mary Higgins Clark.
  Suspense set in Chatham.
• "A Fatal Vineyard Season" by Philip R. Craig.
  From the Martha's Vineyard series featuring ex-Boston cop, J.W. Jackson.
• "The Secret of Cranberry Beach" by T.M. Murphy.
  From the kid's mystery series (ages 10-14) featuring the young Orville Jacques.
• "Mystery at Salt Marsh Bridge: A Casey Miller Mystery" by John M. Prophet.
  First in a series featuring teen Casey Miller.