How to Read E.J. Lamprey’s Books
E.J. Lamprey (the pen name of Elizabeth Eyles) is best known for her lighthearted, breezy cozy mystery series set in the quirky Scottish retirement community of Grasshopper Lawns. Her books are praised for their sharp wit, relatable older protagonists, and gore-free, PG-rated puzzles. If you are looking to dive into her charming world, here is the ultimate reading guide to keep your detective notes in order.
The Recommended Reading Order
For the best reading experience, we highly recommend reading the Grasshopper Lawns series in publication order. While each novella is structured to work as a standalone mystery, the personal relationships, background stories, and quirky dynamics between the core residents develop significantly from one book to the next.
The Grasshopper Lawns Series in Order
- One Two Buckle My Shoe (2013) – The mystery that starts it all. We meet Edge Cameron as she settles into Grasshopper Lawns and gets caught up in a local murder investigation.
- Three Four Knock on My Door (2013) – The sleuthing continues as Edge and Vivian team up to solve another puzzling death.
- Five Six Pick Up Sticks (2013) – Edge dips her toes into the world of online dating to flush out a killer.
- Seven Eight Play It Straight (2014) – Tensions rise at the retirement village as a new puzzle demands the resident detectives' attention.
- Nine Ten Begin Again (2014) – A character-driven installment that deepens the bonds among the core four residents.
- Eleven Twelve Dig And Delve (2014) – Secrets from the past are unearthed in this dig into local history.
- Thirteen Fourteen Maids A-Courting (2015) – Romantic themes and subtle, humorous mysteries take center stage.
- Fifteen Sixteen Maids In The Kitchen (2016) – Domestic troubles turn deadly in this lighthearted whodunit.
- Seventeen Eighteen Past Lies Waiting (2017) – Long-buried secrets catch up to the residents, leading to one of the series' more intricate puzzles.
- Nineteen Twenty My Plate Is Empty (2018) – The grand finale of the series, which takes the gang across Europe on the trail of an embezzler.
Note on Book 4: You might notice a gap in the numbering. The entry titled One to Six, Buckle to Sticks (2013) is not a standalone novel, but rather an omnibus edition collecting the first three novellas in the series. If you want to jumpstart your collection, this is a practical and budget-friendly starting point.
What to Know Before You Start
The charm of the Grasshopper Lawns series lies in its unique setting. Grasshopper Lawns is a fictional retirement village tucked away in the scenic Scottish countryside. The village has a few peculiar entrance rules: residents must be over the age of 55 and must not have any close family or children. This ensures that the residents rely entirely on one another, creating a close-knit, found-family dynamic that makes the series so endearing.
The series features a recurring cast of amateur sleuths:
- Beulah Edgington "Edge" Cameron: A semi-retired, moderately successful scriptwriter and widow who serves as the primary perspective.
- Vivian Oliver: Edge's vivacious, lifelong friend who is always ready for an adventure.
- William and Donald: Two fellow residents who provide logic, humor, and occasional romantic tension to the mix.
- Sergeant Kirsty Cameron: Edge's niece on the local police force, who serves as the perfect bridge between amateur sleuthing and official investigations.
Standalone Novels and Short Stories
Outside of Grasshopper Lawns, the author has written several standalone works that explore different themes, from romance to thrillers:
- The Passing Of Mrs Parker Woodburn (2013) – A short story set in the same universe, offering a quick, delightful bite of Lamprey's mystery style.
- A Second Rainbow (2016) – A heartwarming novel focused on mature singles finding love later in life. The characters are playfully inspired by archetypes from The Wizard of Oz.
- Do-Over (2019) – A departure from cozy mysteries, this fast-paced thriller features a protagonist who wakes up with amnesia in Spain, fleeing danger alongside two strangers.
Writing Under Pen Names
Elizabeth Eyles has also published books under alternate personas to keep her different genres distinct for readers:
Joanna Lamprey
Under this name, the author explores soft science fiction. If you want to sample her sci-fi writing, look for the novellas Time After Time and No Place Like Place.
Clarissa Rodgers-Briskleigh
This pen name was created specifically for mature singles romance and lighthearted guides, such as Looking for Mr Will-do-nicely. The tone is more focused on late-life dating and relationship humor rather than mystery solving.