# Asking for help finding mystery novel for a shut-in **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 4, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-help-finding-mystery-novel-for-a-shut-in/523555 "2010-01-04T00:13:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alfonzos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alfonzos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alfonzos)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-help-finding-mystery-novel-for-a-shut-in/523555/1 "2010-01-04T00:13:37Z")
Large print a must! African American characters a plus! ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-help-finding-mystery-novel-for-a-shut-in/523555/2 "2010-01-04T00:31:35Z")
Jeffrey Deaver comes to mind for your African American character, but large print, I don’t know. Sounds like your friend might like a Kindle [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015T963C/?tag=yahhyd-20&hvadid=27929676013&ref=pd\_sl\_37lk889lju\_e](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015T963C/?tag=yahhyd-20&hvadid=27929676013&ref=pd_sl_37lk889lju_e) At $259.00, they’re still kinda expensive, but maybe if y’all went in together on it? HTH Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-help-finding-mystery-novel-for-a-shut-in/523555/3 "2010-01-04T14:18:41Z")
_The Last Juror_ by Grisham has an African-American main character. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-help-finding-mystery-novel-for-a-shut-in/523555/4 "2010-01-04T14:19:59Z")
Ed McBain’s 87 Precient mysteries have an African-American detective named Arthur Brown. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-help-finding-mystery-novel-for-a-shut-in/523555/5 "2010-01-04T14:34:08Z")
> **[The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Book 1): Smith, Alexander McCall:...](https://www.amazon.com/No-Ladies-Detective-Agency-Book/dp/1400034779)** > > The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Book 1) \[Smith, Alexander McCall\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Book 1) How about the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency? Set in South Africa, and all that. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-help-finding-mystery-novel-for-a-shut-in/523555/6 "2010-01-04T16:51:27Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > [The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Book 1): Smith, Alexander McCall: 9781400034772: Amazon.com: Books](http://www.amazon.com/No-Ladies-Detective-Agency-Book/dp/1400034779) > How about the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency? Set in South Africa, and all that. Botswana, actually. Walter Mosley’s Easy Rollins series might be right up her alley, and I’d be amazed if they’re not available in large print: [Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easy_Rollins) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-help-finding-mystery-novel-for-a-shut-in/523555/7 "2010-01-04T19:39:11Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > [The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Book 1): Smith, Alexander McCall: 9781400034772: Amazon.com: Books](http://www.amazon.com/No-Ladies-Detective-Agency-Book/dp/1400034779) > How about the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency? Set in South Africa, and all that. But they’re not African-_American_, of course. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-help-finding-mystery-novel-for-a-shut-in/523555/8 "2010-01-04T23:58:23Z")
Janet Evanovich’s “Stephanie Plum” series of novels are hysterical. They feature Lula the African American sidekick of Stephanie as well as “Ranger” a Cuban-American. They mysteries aren’t hard to figure but the first seven of them are very good. They are all on books on tape and large print, and popular enough to get them at most libraries. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-help-finding-mystery-novel-for-a-shut-in/523555/9 "2010-01-05T03:46:57Z")
James Patterson’s Alex Cross series all star an African-American detective. Here’s a small blurb from Wiki: > [@](#): > > Cross is an African-American detective and psychologist living and working in the Southeast quadrant of Washington, D.C. He works in the homicide division of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPD), but eventually becomes a Senior Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). After his stint with the FBI, Alex returns to private psychology practice, but continues to consult for the MPD and the FBI as needed, ultimately rejoining the MPD as a special consultant to the Major Case Squad. > > Patterson portrays Dr. Cross as a lonely individual, yet he is a model father and is quite empathetic in dealing with the public. Despite the fact that he is well educated and makes a decent living, he chooses to continue residing in the Southeast quadrant of D.C. He is very involved in the community, most notably volunteering at St. Anthony’s Parish in his neighborhood. These are best-selling books which should be easily available. StG ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-help-finding-mystery-novel-for-a-shut-in/523555/10 "2010-01-06T00:01:07Z")
I second Walter Mosley. The Easy Rawlins series or the Socrates Fortlow ones. For historical mysteries, Barbara Hambly writes a good series set in New Orleans with a character named Benjamin January. Julie Smith writes about two characters in New Orleans, Skip Langdon (tough white female cop) and Talba Wallis (African-American female cybersleuth). ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-help-finding-mystery-novel-for-a-shut-in/523555/11 "2010-01-06T01:09:42Z")
You might try Grace Edwards [http://authors.aalbc.com/mali.htm](http://authors.aalbc.com/mali.htm) or Chassie West [http://www.chassiewest.com/](http://www.chassiewest.com/) . I’m not sure that either is available in large print, but likely some of their works are available on audio books. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-help-finding-mystery-novel-for-a-shut-in/523555/12 "2010-01-07T21:36:30Z")
I find when I am in a shut-in situation, stories that take me a ways away (both in time and location) help. Three shined in dealing with this. Dorothy Sayers’ Lord Peter Whimsey mysteries (sorry no Afro-American characters). It takes place in Britain in the 1920s. The Judge Dee mysteries (once again no Afro-American characters) They take place in ancient China (Basically an all Chinese cast - with a couple of Monguls thrown in). Finally, Upton’s Napolean Boneparte mysteries. No, they are not French, they are Australian in the 20s and 30s with the main character being a half Aborigine (Not Afro-American, but the main character does deal with many racial problems). ---
**Author:** ![alfonzos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alfonzos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alfonzos)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asking-for-help-finding-mystery-novel-for-a-shut-in/523555/13 "2010-01-09T20:35:48Z")
Thank you for your suggestions.