Welcome to the What to Read Next podcast, the podcast that topples your TBR with new book recommendations every other day. In this episode, Victoria's here to talk about mysteries featuring autistic in the neurodivergent spectrum. And so we got a couple cozy mysteries. We got actually like a thriller, domestic thriller on set in and all are set in British or Scotland, so they're perfect, atmospheric readings. So if you, let's go to the show. Sorry for the lighting. If you're watching this on YouTube. It's been a day, lots of meetings, but it's been fun. So if you enjoyed this podcast, please consider leave a read or review or subscribe. If you're watching this on YouTube, please make sure to like it, comment, and let us know. Some recommendations for your favorite amateur sleuth or psychological thrillers are the feature autistic characters. Thank you so much for listening. Have a great day.

So the trio is here and we're really excited to share some book recommendations in Celebration of World Autism Month. Now, I think it was the second, that's World Autism Day, but the month of April is autism month and we're gonna be sharing some books, some feature main characters who are autistic. Some are written by authors who are also autistic as well. Some are neurodivergent and on the spectrum in, you know, different ways. My books are really fun mysteries that feature autistic characters. I was really excited to kind of bring this list to you. So let's get into it. So these mysteries blend suspense. We're gonna have some rich character journeys in there as well. And again, I can't wait to share with you three mystery books that feature autistic characters. So the first book I'm gonna share with you. The Framed women of Ardour House by Brandy Schlenz. Now for this one, the setting is an abandoned English manner. It's steeped with secrets. There's a missing portrait and a murder that turns this quiet estate into the center of a mystery. Now our main character is Joe. Joe is neuro divergent. Joe is a book editor. Who has also recently divorced. Now she's a New Yorker who is a transplant in the English countryside, and obviously life is anything but quiet there. After losing her job, losing her mom and her marriage all in one year, this is a lot going on for her. She finally decides to claim this unwanted family estate, and it happens to be in North Yorkshire now. While there, there is this groundskeeper who's kind of a bit, you know, moody and stuff. However, his body is found on the estate. There are three bullets and everything of course, in her life changes. So there's also a portrait that has vanished from a secret room. So anyway, our main character Joe now, 'cause again, we have someone who's murdered, we have a missing portrait. Her herself ends up in a whole bunch of danger. She even becomes a potential suspect. But we see her getting help and I love the supporting cast. We have an antiques dealer in the mix. We have a local detective as well. We even have an Innkeeper's wife, so we see her on a mission to clear her name. First of all, recover the missing painting, and of course, solve the murder. It's very cozy. It's a fun, clever mystery, and I think it will have you questioning like all the secrets happening around the estate. And of course, along the way you'll get to know or Ming character Joe. Who I think she was great. She was really brilliant, but also her quirky journey that she's on, and we also get to see her learn to trust herself. So first book is The Framed Women of Ardour House by Brandi Shill. Okay, the next book on my list, the next mystery that features an autistic character is entitled Dark Island by Daniel Arbery. Now for this setting, I want you to picture mid-winter in ney. Now, in case you're not familiar, this is a group of islands north of Scotland. There are a few hours of day daylight there. So, 'cause again, you know, you're very north. So there are only six hours of daylight there. The landscape very unforgiving. Okay. But it's also very beautiful, but it can be a bit rough. So anyways, we have our main character, Freya, who's a reporter now. She has always known that she was different and we see her deciding to uproot her life 'cause she is original from Ney, but she moved to Glasgow, so she's in Glasgow and she decides to kind of uproot her life there. And return to her childhood home. In the backdrop, she's also waiting on her autism assessment, so as she moves back home to her childhood home, she's seeking a quieter life, which of course you will definitely get in ney. However, her plans are shattered when there's this brutal winter storm that comes through. And with that winter storm comes some human remains that just kind of, you know, appear from the Atlantic, which clearly the Atlantic is a bit wild itself, especially during winter. So we see her in a race against time. She's trying to find out who is this person, you know, where did these bones come from? While she's doing that, it also stirs up some old history and some old wounds. Again, this is her childhood home. This is where she's from. And seeing her like on this obsessive journey just turns into a whole cat and mouse game. Every twist, everything she's uncovering is threatening herself. Threatening her job, threatening her family. And it even is putting new victims in danger. This is a nailbiting mystery thriller, I have to tell you. It's very emotional. There's complex twist, but again, I love our main character, just very brilliant. Also, like I said, newer, divergent and we see her just. You know, handling this mystery in this very remote location. So again, that's Dark Island by Daniel Aubrey. Now the third mystery featuring an autistic character that I love to share with you is Poisoned Primrose by Dalia Donovan. Now in this one, again we're in the uk. This is set in Cornwall. This is the next setting. And I feel like this book has all the hallmarks of just a cozy, quintessential British mystery. So it's anything but ordinary. Lots of fun. Now we have all main character pineapple, but called affectionately mo. Who is an autistic woman in her late thirties who decides to flee the chaos of London. She takes her cat, she takes her turtle, and she goes to this little cottage in Cornwall. Now, again, perfect place. You know you're leaving busy bustling London, you're going to Cornwall. You're hoping for some peace and quiet. However, there is a body that turns up buried in her garden. So of course, this whole idea of peace and quiet is. Absolutely derailed. So she ends up in this mystery one trying to figure out. How did this body get there? Who is it? And she just ends up in this mess of just clues and danger and all kinds of things. Now, of course, the best part about this is the supporting cast. So, there's a detective in town that comes into the you know, the whole thing. We also see her, which I forgot to mention, she has a small business on the detective has a small business on the side, so keeping up with that investigation as well. And it's just a lot of suspicion, lots of. Threats naturally. Without spoiling it, just know it's fun. We also get a, you know, it's a very fun romp. We get a bit of, you know, romance in there as well, but that's very minor. I just love the quirky characters. Again, unexpected twist and a lot of danger to just kind of really keep you guessing. Again, this one is quintessential British mystery. So yeah, those are my three mysteries. I think they're very captivating. They'll deliver the suspense, give you those clever twists. But of course we have autistic characters at the center, which also gives us that added insight into a unique way to solve murder. So we get some unique journeys as well. So I'd love to know in the comments, let me know which books resonate with you. But I'd also love to hear from my friends on these three mysteries that feature autistic characters. Think so. I have to say, I think the, oh, go ahead. I have to say the British cozy mystery, I'm like, oh, I'm near for it. I'm like, oh, this is a perfect character. 'cause I feel like it's an amateur sleuth. You're trying to, you neurotypicals may look one way, but Neurodivergence may look at a different clues. And different approach and may take them to a different level. So I'm actually looking forward to that. And I feel like we should have more near divergents, you know, doing amateur clothing. I'm like, yes.

Sorry for the lighting. If you're watching this on YouTube. It's been a day, lots of meetings, but it's been fun. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider leave a review or subscribe. If you're watching this on YouTube, please make sure to like it, comment, and let us know. Some recommendations for your favorite amateur sleuth or psychological thrillers are the feature autistic characters. Thank you so much for listening. Have a great day.