Carol Shaughnessy

For decades, I’ve been a passionate fan of mystery books. As a child, I savored the adventures of Nancy Drew. Later I discovered Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple, Mary Roberts Rinehart’s heroines driven to untangle family crimes, and Dorothy Sayers’ debonair Lord Peter Wimsey.

The inaugural Key West Mystery Fest promises dastardly deeds, a world-premiere play and clues galore.

These days, I track evil-doers in turn-of-the-century Egypt with Elizabeth Peters’ archaeologist detective Amelia Peabody, and photograph crime scenes in my beloved Key West with Alex Rutledge, the protagonist of former Keys resident Tom Corcoran. When I turn on the TV, it’s to investigate criminal behavior alongside the offbeat “Monk” or shadow Sherlock Holmes through the cobblestoned streets of London.

Much to my delight, I’ve discovered that a number of really good mystery writers live in Key West. Among them are Kate Collins, whose amateur sleuth owns a flower shop, and Michael Haskins, author of the “Mad Mick” Murphy thrillers.

Even better, the Waterfront Playhouse is staging an event tailor-made for mystery lovers like me — the inaugural Key West Mystery Fest, set for May 4-13 and featuring these stellar authors and more. Its star is one of the most intriguing mystery writers alive today: Hy Conrad, writer/producer of the wonderful crime series “Monk.”

Mystery writers Michael Haskins (left) and Tom Corcoran are captured on camera at Key West Island Books, a popular literary hotspot on the island.

The festival’s centerpiece is the world premiere of Hy’s mystery play “Home Exchange” at the Waterfront Playhouse next to Mallory Square. By the way, this multi-talented Key Wester is not only a successful mystery author and the mastermind behind “Monk” — he also writes and produces the hit television series “White Collar.”

The suspenseful script of “Home Exchange” explores what happens when two Americans swap houses with a British couple, and quickly become convinced they’ve stumbled on a murder plot — and that the British husband will soon become a victim.

The delicious drama will be performed through May 26, and its Mystery Fest run includes a May 5 post-performance party at the Historic Key West Sculpture Garden beside the playhouse.

Get a “clue” at the festival’s deliciously mysterious progressive dinner.

Detective wannabes can also investigate the “Crime Scene Photographer” interactive solve-it-yourself puzzler set for May 4 at Casa Antigua — a fittingly mysterious structure that was author Ernest Hemingway’s first Key West address.

I’m definitely planning to savor the festival’s three-stage progressive dinner in the elegant Truman Annex enclave. Guests are invited to dress as their favorite character from the board game “Clue” — and the menu features a dastardly murder to solve.

On May 10, Hy Conrad and another “Monk” celebrity, creator Andy Breckman, will host “Monk Night” at the island’s Tropic Cinema. The duo plans to explain how the Emmy Award-winning show was created, written and produced — AND screen some of their favorite clips.

The world premiere of “Home Exchange” by Hy Conrad, renowned as the writer of television’s “Monk,” is the festival’s suspenseful centerpiece.

The next night, Hy will join five other mystery writers including Kate Collins, Mike Dennis and Michael Haskins for a book signing and panel discussion titled “The Power of Location.”

And on May 12, a special “Home Exchange” performance and talkback will be staged at the Waterfront Playhouse. There, through insights from Hy and the play’s cast and crew, theater-goers can solve the mysteries surrounding the intriguing production.

The festival’s puzzling proceedings also include meet-and-greet receptions, a backstage tour of the “Home Exchange” set, a classic mystery movie night, and a final brunch that spotlights the winning entries in a mystery short story contest.

Clearly, no sleuthing skills are needed to understand why it would be a “crime” to miss the inaugural Key West Mystery Fest. So don’t be clueless — make plans now to come down and join the suspects. (FYI, I’ll be the one wearing a deerstalker hat and channeling Sherlock Holmes.)