The world of cozy mysteries is vast and deep. A reader could easily spend all of his or her time in this genre alone and never get through the catalog. It seems there’s a cozy mystery story for just about every mystery reader, and yet Erica Ruth Neubauer has crafted her own niche with the first in what I hope is a long series of Jane Wunderly mysteries.

Widowed after the first world war, Jane is traveling with her aunt in Egypt. As Jane acclimates to the heat of the desert, she also finds herself involved with a handsome man and a murder mystery. The scenes, settings, and plot are reminiscent of a “Murder She Wrote” episode, which may be why I enjoyed this story so much! Murder at the Mena House is well-paced and filled with original and interesting characters who are a joy to spend time with. I can’t wait for the next in the series and am currently trying to think up excuses to avoid returning my borrowed copy to my sister!

My favorite new cozy series of the year!