The best crime novels with elderly female protagonists

Anne Wedgwood Author Of The Botanist
By Anne Wedgwood

Who am I?

I was eleven years old when my father introduced me to my first Agatha Christie mystery, and I’ve never looked back. When the time came to write a crime novel of my own, I knew that I wanted it to be set in Beverley, but I didn’t expect my plot to lead me to write about a pensioner. Perhaps it’s not surprising – older people have a vast knowledge of the world which can only make them more interesting as central characters in fiction. It has inspired me to seek out more books with a pensioner/crime theme – I hope you enjoy the ones on this list!

I wrote...

The Botanist

By Anne Wedgwood

Book cover of The Botanist

What is my book about?

Retired doctor Lilian Templeton has a dead body in her garden and there is nothing she can do to stop the gas men digging it up. DI Ronnie Twist and her sergeant, Luke Carter, are not fooled by Lilian’s apparent innocence, and a game of cat and mouse ensues as Lilian seeks to hide her murderous past and avoid detection.

What led Lilian to kill? How many murders has she committed? And will she get away with it? Set in the East Yorkshire market town of Beverley, this is the first in the Twist in the Tale series.

When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.

The Books I Picked & Why

At Bertram's Hotel: A Miss Marple Mystery

By Agatha Christie

Book cover of At Bertram's Hotel: A Miss Marple Mystery

Why this book?

It’s hard to choose a Miss Marple book – they are all so good – but I have settled on this one as it reminds me of London, where I used to live. Miss Marple is my favourite elderly female protagonist of all time, because of the means by which she takes such good advantage of people’s underestimation of her abilities. She is wise, insightful, and clever, and I find her enjoyment of her ‘treat’ visit to the hotel very endearing – who wouldn’t love a holiday in a posh hotel at someone else’s expense?

When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.

An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good

By Helene Tursten, Marlaine Delargy

Book cover of An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good

Why this book?

Maud is a riot – she’s not had the easiest of lives and she is determined to enjoy her later years. If anyone gets in her way or does something to upset her, she has no hesitation in bumping them off – whether on the spur of the moment or with detailed planning. Like me, she loves to travel, and she is a dab hand with the internet. Unlike most crime books, her story is told in short stories rather than as a novel, each perfectly formed, unexpected, and guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. 

When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.

Elizabeth Is Missing

By Emma Healey

Book cover of Elizabeth Is Missing

Why this book?

Another Maud, but this one is trying to solve a crime rather than committing them. This book lets us into the mind of an old woman with memory loss in a completely believable fashion, whilst keeping the reader hooked from the start by the mystery of a missing woman. Elizabeth is missing, but so, in her own way, is Maud, as she struggles to remember the clues that will lead her back to her friend. An absorbing and very satisfying read.

When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.

The Thursday Murder Club

By Richard Osman

Book cover of The Thursday Murder Club

Why this book?

I love connections, and anyone who has read this book will understand how it is connected to the previous one. The Thursday Murder Club has done so much to promote the ‘older’ generation in the world of crime, and although there are several narrating voices, it is Elizabeth who stands out. I think what I like best about her is her kindness towards others – she never loses patience with anyone, even though she is usually a mile ahead of them in working out what is going on. I would love to see her come up against Lilian – it’s hard to know who would come off best!

When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.

Three Things about Elsie

By Joanna Cannon

Book cover of Three Things about Elsie

Why this book?

Another story set in a care home, and my favourite of the books I've recommended – I’ve saved the best till last! Narrator Florence is beginning to suffer from dementia, but she is still sharp enough to spot a shady figure from her past when he puts in an appearance. Cannon’s turn of phrase is absolutely beautiful – she expresses the challenges and frustrations of old age with humour and poignance, without risking the temptation to sugar coat anything whilst leading us through the mystery at the heart of the book. If you only read one book from this list, pick this one!

When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.

Closely Related Book Lists

The best middle grade books with kids who feel like outsiders in their family

Jody J. Little Author Of Worse Than Weird Jody J. Little

The best novels that retell classic stories (with a fantasy twist)

John Kessel Author Of Pride and Prometheus John Kessel

The best YA books about experiments gone wrong

Aella Black Author Of Lock Down Aella Black

The best historical books to incorporate magic

Clare Langley-Hawthorne Author Of Consequences of Sin Clare Langley-Hawthorne

Distantly Related Book Lists

The best books about traders

Jack D. Schwager Author Of Unknown Market Wizards: The Best Traders You've Never Heard Of Jack D. Schwager

The best YA novels on bullying and depression

K.M. Walton Author Of Cracked K.M. Walton

The best silent or wordless books for kids

Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick Author Of Owl Bat Bat Owl Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick

The best books that made me think differently about human-animal relationships

Jessica Pierce Author Of The Last Walk: Reflections on Our Pets at the End of Their Lives Jessica Pierce