Five of the best cosy mysteries

At FiveBooks, Sophie Roell talked with author M. C. Beaton about five special cozy mysteries.

One book on Beaton's list:

Topkapi: The Light of Day by Eric Ambler

This really is the funniest, best-written book ever. It’s about a wee silly man called Arthur, a sneak thief, who gets caught up in a plan to rob the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. Peter Ustinov was in the film of the same name and he did it brilliantly. The book is written in such a way that you end up rooting for this awful little man. He’s a great craftsman, Eric Ambler: I think he’s better than John le Carré.

Read about another of Beaton's picks.

--Marshal Zeringue