Where to Start with Amita Murray
Amita Murray is a British-Indian author who writes across two very distinct styles: contemporary cozy mysteries with a dark, humorous twist, and vibrant, diverse Regency romance-mysteries. Because her work is neatly divided into separate series and standalones, deciding where to start depends entirely on your preferred genre.
If you love historical romance, sparking banter, and diverse 19th-century high society, start with Unladylike Lessons in Love, the first book in the Marleigh Sisters series. If you prefer quirky contemporary mysteries with eccentric characters, start with Arya Winters and the Tiramisu of Death. For readers interested in early standalone work, her contemporary and historical standalones offer a great look into her evolving style.
The Marleigh Sisters Series
This series transports readers to Regency London, offering a fresh, inclusive perspective on historical romance. Following the lives, loves, and mysteries of the half-Indian Marleigh sisters, these books should be read in order of publication as the characters' relationships and overarching subplots develop across the novels:
- Unladylike Lessons in Love (2023) – Introduces Lila Marleigh as she navigates scandalous society and high-stakes secrets.
- Unladylike Rules of Attraction (2024) – Follows the second sister as she balances the rules of society with intense romantic tension.
- An Unladylike Secret (2025) – The third and final installment of the trilogy, resolving the sisters' overarching mysteries.
The Arya Winters Cozy Mysteries
For fans of contemporary mysteries, this series follows Arya Winters, a socially anxious baker in a quaint English village who solves murders using macabre desserts. Critics and readers alike appreciate the series' balance of cozy elements with dark, witty humor. Read these in chronological/publication order:
- Arya Winters and the Tiramisu of Death (2021) – Arya is suspected of murder when a poisoned dessert takes out a local resident, forcing her to find the real killer.
- Arya Winters and the Cupcakes of Doom (2022) – Arya returns to investigate a new set of suspicious deaths, dealing with quirky neighbors and baking disasters.
Standalone Novels and Short Stories
Amita Murray has also published several standalones and collections that can be read in any order. Notable works include:
- Confessions of a Reluctant Embalmer (2014) – A contemporary mystery centered around the Patel family and their struggling funeral home business in London.
- The Pre-Raphaelite Seamstress (2014) – A historical mystery set in 1860s London, following an Anglo-Indian seamstress caught up in an artistic murder investigation.
- Marmite and Mango Chutney (2016) – A award-winning collection of short stories exploring the comedy and tragedy of cultural encounters.
- The Trouble with Rose (2019) – A comedic contemporary novel focusing on family dysfunction and self-discovery.
Note: Her manuscript Thirteenth Night won the Exeter Novel Prize in 2022. It is often listed in her bibliography, but it has not been commercially published as a standalone novel.
What to Know Before You Start
Amita Murray's writing is highly inspired by her multicultural background, spanning Delhi, California, and London. Her historical romances are inspired by Georgette Heyer, but intentionally feature diverse casts and underrepresented voices that were historically present in Regency-era London but are often excluded from traditional romance novels. Whether you are reading her cozy baking mysteries or her steamy Regency series, expect a delightful cocktail of humor, suspense, and deep emotional resonance.