As the second series of the BBC’s Ludwig comes to an end, I thought I’d make a list of some books to read if you’re a fan.
The show isn’t based on any books, but it’s a popular series that combines cosy crime fiction with a distinctive edge.
Like Professor T, Ludwig is set in Cambridge, but not so much the university. Instead, Ludwig is set in the city’s police station where DCI James Taylor (David Mitchell) goes missing. His wife Lucy (Anna Maxwell-Martin) enlists the help of his twin brother John, a solitary puzzle setter who uses the pseudonym Ludwig, to impersonate James and work out why he’s disappeared.
If you like cosy crime fiction with a bit more bite than some of the generic, sloppily-plotted shows like The Madame Blanc Mysteries or Benidorm Is Murder, Ludwig is both funny and menacing.
For Ludwig fans, here are 5 books or book series that you’ll enjoy.
5.The Marlow Murder Club By Robert Throroughgood: A cosy, engaging series, The Marlow Murder Club, which includes Death Comes To Marlow, The Queen Of Poisons, Murder On The Marlow Belle and The Mysterious Affair Of Judith Potts, has a a protagonist who sets crosswords and the plots often revolve around puzzles. As such, it’s great series for anyone who is missing Ludwig.
4. The Thursday Murder Club By Richard Osman: Another cosy, cryptic crime series, Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club series doesn’t have as much of a puzzle connection but is still an intelligent, well-written set of books. Set in a luxury old-folks home, the main characters are a former spy, a retired boxer and unionist, an ex-nurse and a psychologist who’s still practicing part-time. Several TV critics have compared Ludwig to The Thursday Murder Club, and since the film adaptation of the latter is incredibly bad, you’d be better off reading Osman’s books and watching Ludiwg.
3.The Inspector Morse Novels By Colin Dexter: While they’re set in Oxford, not Cambridge, the Inspector Morse novels by Colin Dexter are both intellectually-stimulating and connected with puzzles. The titular protagonist, DCI Morse, is an avid crossword fan, and his cases often emulate the darker side of Ludwig’s plots.
2.The Professor Eustacia Rose Mysteries by Jill Johnson: Specifically marketed for fans of Ludwig, the series, which is currently 4 books long and begins with Devil’s Breath, focuses on gardening rather than puzzles but is still a set of cosy crime capers. Professor Eustacia Rose is a botanist living alone in London who solves fiendish, gardening-themed crimes.
1.Eight Detectives By Alex Pavesi: For a chilling, intricate mystery you can’t beat Eight Detectives. A crime fiction writer, now living as a recluse in the Med, is visited by an editor looking to republish his work. As she works through the stories with him, she realises that something much darker is in play. Chilling and focused on unpicking the traditional crime fiction formula, Eight Detectives is the perfect blend of cosy crime fiction and intelligent plotting that Ludwig fans love about the show.
