Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Magic Chair Murder | 2018 | Diane Janes | Buy |
| 2 | The Poisoned Chalice Murder | 2022 | Diane Janes | Buy |
| 3 | The Missing Diamond Murder | 2019 | Diane Janes | Buy |
The Black and Dod series by Diane Janes is a historical mystery trilogy set in 1920s England. The books follow a pair of amateur sleuths who take on murder cases during the interwar period, a time when the golden age of detective fiction was at its height.
The Magic Chair Murder (2018) introduces the characters and their methods, blending period atmosphere with a classic whodunit structure. The Missing Diamond Murder (2019) and The Poisoned Chalice Murder (2022) continue the partnership with new cases that draw on the social world of the era. Janes uses the 1920s setting to good effect, grounding the mysteries in the customs and tensions of the period.
Readers who enjoy historical mysteries in the tradition of Agatha Christie or the Maisie Dobbs novels will find the Black and Dod series a good fit. The books are compact, plot-driven, and rooted in their time and place.