I think Jamie suggested The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, M - I would second that suggestion, too. Charming book. I also enjoyed Tears of the Giraffe, which is its first sequel.

I second the recs for The Executioner's Song, In Cold Blood, Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None and/or Appointment with Death and/or Murder on the Orient Express, and The Alienist.

Re: Africa, what about The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith?

Rose wrote: "Jeane wrote: "Okay, it isn't about Africa but the scarpetta serie by Patricia Cornwell, especially the first ten (you can read them also alone) are great for the serial killer mystery part I think...."

yes and the characters keep growing and they become like friends to you. You know what they think, like...and it makes you very close to the story.

Thanks guys and gals, I'm going book shopping in the big city (Portland Or) tomorrow and I often get overwhelmed and confused when shopping for other people, it's a lot easier to follow instincts for myself. Anyway it will be good to have a list of recommendations at least as a starting point.

About Africa I would recommend The In-Between World of Vikram Lall by M Visanji - about an Indian family in Kenya in the 1950's. Very interesting. About crime I would recommend The Executioner's Song by N Mailer or The Onion Field by J Waumbaugh, both are older true crime cases.

Jeane wrote: "Okay, it isn't about Africa but the scarpetta serie by Patricia Cornwell, especially the first ten (you can read them also alone) are great for the serial killer mystery part I think."

I give my vote to this series as well. It's addictive. Good to keep her going for a loooong time. :D

Mark of the Lion A Jade Del Cameron Mystery is the first of a mystery series set in Africa. I enjoyed this one but I haven't read any of the others in the series.

Hi Anna, if your mom likes murder mysteries, Hour Game by David Baldacci is simply unputdownable. Even Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None is intriguing to the core.

I just read, and loved, Half of a Yellow Sun which "re-creates a seminal moment in modern African history: Biafra’s impassioned struggle to establish an independent republic in Nigeria in the 1960s, and the chilling violence that followed."

You can also look at all the books placed on shelves named Africa

how about In Cold Blood by Truman Capote?

If she likes serial killers - how about The Alienist, by Caleb Carr? It's set in 1896 New York.

How about Things Fall Apart or other books by Chinua Achebe for Africa?

As for serial killers... there is Patricia Cornwell's Portrait of a Killer Jack The Ripper - Case Closed - it's non-fiction, but reads like fiction, much like Devil in the White City.

The Roth Trilogy by Andrew Taylor...

Omnibus: Fallen Angel or sometimes Requiem for an Angel

Separately:

The Four Last Things
The Office of the Dead
The Judgement of Strangers

That's about a serial killer - it does start in modern day and then works it's way backwards.

The American Boy - Andrew Taylor - Victorian murder mystery, very good.

My mum loved both of the above!

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (first of series)
Power of One
Roots
Queen: The Story of an American Family
Bill Bryson's African Diary
Mistress of the Art of Death
Darkly Dreaming Dexter (first of series)

Okay, it isn't about Africa but the scarpetta serie by Patricia Cornwell, especially the first ten (you can read them also alone) are great for the serial killer mystery part I think.

What about Cry, the Beloved Country? Not one of my favorites, but I know plenty of other people who like it, and it's about Africa. I'm interested to see some other recommendations on this thread, as my little brother is moving to South Africa for two years so I've gained a renewed interest in the area!

What about Water for Elephants if she likes books about fairs? Maybe? :)

nuts... *putting on thinking cap*

Already read it...another favorite just a little farther down the list

I second Hayes' recommendation. That is a fantastic book!

Two birds with one stone!!

How about The Poisonwood Bible, which is about a (fictional) missionary family in Africa and is one of my favorites. All of Barbara Kingsolver's books are wonderful.

I'm 25 and live at home with my mom which seems kinda lame but we get along great except that she continually interrupts me while I read so I am looking for books to keep her busy. Lately I have learned that she likes serial killer mysteries, nothing too current though because they make her worry, but anything with a plot intriguing enough to make it hard to put down is good . She also loves Africa and I can usually get her to read anything with an African theme. A few of her favorite books are Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight An African Childhood, Out of Africa, The Devil in the White City Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America, Gentlemen and Players A Novel. I'm looking to find books to keep her entertained enough to leave me alone so I can read.