Looking back over the last year, I discovered that my favorite reads from this year were either written in the Golden Age of mystery fiction or have a Golden Age flavor to them.
I’d always wanted to read more classic mysteries, and in 2015 I delved into them, reading books from Dorothy Sayers, Dashiell Hammett, Ngaio Marsh, Georgette Heyer, Margery Allingham, and John Dickson Carr.
Here are my favorite mysteries of the year:
Cards on the Table – I’d already read several Agatha Christie mysteries (Murder at the Vicarage and Murder on the Orient Express) and Murder on the Orient Express) and admire how deftly she writes dialogue and how cleverly she constructs her puzzles. I think she had great fun with Cards on the Table, using the theme of cards and gaming throughout the book. If you’re not into bridge (which plays a big part in the book) it is still worth a read for the character of Ariadne Oliver, which Christie uses to poke fun at herself and authors in general.
The Lord Peter Wimsey books by Dorothy L. Sayers
I read Strong Poison and profiled it on the Mystery Books Podcast. Lord Peter and the cast of characters were so compelling that I went back and have worked by way through the whole series, greatly enjoying it. Sayers is a bit of an acquired taste. I found the first book in the series, Whose Body?, a little difficult to get through, but I loved the characters and plowed on. So glad I did. While Christie sparkles with intricate plots, Sayers created a set of characters who change and grow through the series, something that was unusual for Golden Age mysteries. If you’re interested in reading Sayers, start with Strong Poison or one of these:
Murder Must Advertise – Light and humorous. Intriguing to see how little has changed in advertising since the 1920s.
Cards on the Table – The issues with PTSD and financial instability made it seem almost contemporary at times.
Gaudy Night – Very different from a contemporary mystery. More psychological and introspective than the rest of the series. Loved it.
And a few more books that I enjoyed:
The Thin Man – Really enjoyed the snappy dialogue and the relationship between Nick and Nora as well as the streamlined narrative.
Murder with a Twist – A modern take on The Thin Man with another husband/wife sleuthing team.
Come Hell or Highball – I always love to find a new author and this mystery set in 1920s New York just hit the spot for me. 
I profiled a couple of these books on the Mystery Books Podcast: Strong Poison, The Thin Man, and Come Hell or Highball. The podcast is on hiatus until 2016, but I’m looking forward to getting back to podcasting as soon as my writing schedule calms down.
Will I read more classic mysteries in 2016? Yes—they’re quite addictive!
Sara Rosett is the author of the High Society Lady Detective series, which is set in 1920s England. The first book is Murder at Archly Manor.
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