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Also included in the “S” list of mysteries are Rex Stout and Dorothy L. Sayers. Both Stout and Sayers are mystery authors who are considered staples of the genre. The “S” list of cozy mystery book authors isn’t complete without them! Arlene Sachitano Sachitano worked in the world of high tech industries, but is now enjoying the world of quilting. What better sleuths to have than a quilt shop owner and a high tech supervisor? Medora Sale (aka Caroline Roe) Roe holds her Ph. D. in Medieval Studies, so it is no small wonder that she writes the Isaac from Girona Mystery Series, which features a blind doctor in Spain during the mid 1300s. As Sale she writes the John Sanders/Harriet Jeffries Mystery Series which features a Canadian police detective. Cyndy Salzmann Salzmann writes the Friday Afternoon Club Mystery Series which features a group of stay-at-home mothers who are good friends, and great sleuths! (Salzmann bases her novels on her Christian faith.) Cindy Sample Sample has her degree in History, and was at one time the CEO of a mortgage company. She writes the Laurel McKay Mystery Series, which features a newly divorced, single soccer mom in California. Lawrence Sanders Sanders wrote the Archibald McNally Mystery Series, among MANY other best sellers… (Not Cozy) (On the Mystery Writers of America Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time) Eve K. Sandstrom aka JoAnna Carl… Her more recent novels have been written as Joanna Carl. I love how this ex-journalist came up with that pseudonym… Apparently, when her editor asked her to come up with a “new name” for herself, she blended her three children’s middle names: Jo, Anna, and…. Carl! C.J. Sansom Sansom, a lawyer with both his BA and PhD in History, writes the historical Matthew Shardlake Mystery Series. While these are not Cozy, the person who recommended that he be added to the site said his mysteries are amazing. Ian Sansom Sansom writes the Mobile Library Mystery Series which features a librarian (who happens to be a vegetarian) of a mobile library in Northern Ireland. The series is supposed to be very funny. Sansom also writes the County Guides Mystery Series. Susan Santangelo Santangelo, previously a copy editor and freelance journalist, writes the Baby Boomer Mystery Series. The series features Carol and Jim Andrews, recently retired boomers who happen to sleuth. Walter Satterthwait Satterthwait has two mystery series and several stand alone novels that are based on historical mysteries. He can be found on the Agatha Award page. Mary Saums Saums has a degree in Commercial Music, and has been able to incorporate her musical background by writing the Willi Taft Mystery Series about a backup singer in Nashville. Her newer series is about two 60s something, widowed best friends… Corinne Holt Sawyer Two California widow sleuths and a retirement community with lots of “goings on” to investigate… Dorothy L. Sayers The wonderful Lord Peter Wimsey series, which of course, includes the wonderful Harriet Vane. (On the Crime Writers’ Association Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time) (On the Mystery Writers of America Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time) Maria E. Schneider Some of you may recognize Maria’s name from the comments she has posted on the blog… which have been great additions. She has written three mystery novels, and I believe is in the process of writing more… Aileen Schumacher Schumacher is a Civil Engineer who writes a mystery series, set in Texas, that features an engineer… Christina Schwartz Not Mysteries…. Mark Schweizer Schweizer writes the Liturgical Mystery Series which features a small town police chief who also happens to be the choir director and organist at his Episcopalian church… Sandra Scoppettone aka Jack Early… Two series to pick from, the more recent one is set in 1940s New York… Jack S. Scott Very British…. Michele Scott Scott writes two mystery series: the Wine Lover’s Mystery Series and the Horse Lover’s Mystery Series… Willard Scott Scott, the weatherman of a national morning show, known for his very cheerful personality, writes the Stanley Waters Mystery Series -with Bill Crider. Lisa Scottoline Scottoline, previously a trial lawyer, is a New York Time’s bestselling author. She is the author of the Rosato and Associates Mystery series, and is (also) currently writing bestsellers that are stand-alones. Margaret Searles An ex-teacher, Margaret Searles writes the Mrs. Millet & Mrs. Hark Mystery Series, which features two senior sleuths. Secrets of Blue Hill Library Mystery Series This Guideposts mystery series features a young widow named Anne Gibson as its sleuth. Anne inherits her great-aunts Victorian home and decides to turn it into a library. (Anne has a son.) Secrets of the Castleton Manor Library Mystery Series is published by the Annie’s Crafts Company. They are mysteries without profanity, and each book is written by a different author. Secrets of Mary’s Bookshop This series is published by Guideposts, and will have sixteen books in it. (Guideposts is a Christian publishing company.) The Secrets of Mary’s Bookshop mystery books are written by different authors, but they all follow Mary Fisher. Mary has just moved back to Ivy Bay. Mary has retired, and now owns Mary’s Mystery Bookshop in this quaint Cape Cod village. Kate Sedley Sedley writes the Roger the Chapman Mystery Series. I had to look up the word “chapman”… It’s a peddler! The series is set in medieval England… Maggie Sefton Sefton’s first series is the Knitting Mystery Series, which takes place in the House of Lambspun. Kelly Flynn teaches knitting at the House of Lambspun and, also sleuths. Sefton also writes the Kate Doyle Mystery Series, which features a realtor in Colorado. Her Molly Malone Mystery Series is set in Washington, D.C., and features the daughter of a senator who is also the widow of a congressman. Sefton also writes the Widow an the Rogue Mystery Series, which is a historical mystery series. Amanda Duncan is a young widow and clairvoyant who sleuths with Devlin Burke, an English investor in 1890s Washington, D.C. Dianne Setterfield Setterfield became a bestselling author when The Thirteenth Tale (her first novel) was published. She has been compared to the likes of Charlotte Brontë and Daphne du Maurier… classic/gothic mystery… Sarah R. Shaber Shaber is a Duke University history graduate with a passion for writing…. and mysteries! She writes the historical Louise Pearlie Mystery Series which has, as its sleuth, a woman who works for the Office of Strategic Services (the organization before the CIA) in Washington, DC during the 1940s. Shaber also writes the Professor Simon Shaw Mystery Series which is set in North Carolina, and features a professor of history. Laurence Shames aka Gary Troup….. As Shames, he writes a series set in Key West. Sarah Shankman Pick between a singer/songwriter series or a crime reporter series… Dell Shannon aka Leslie Egan, Elizabeth Linington, & Anne Blaisdell….. A lot of series to choose from… Deborah Sharp Armed with her Ph.D. in Journalism, Sharp decided to leave the life of reporting (USA Today, among others) to write funny mysteries set in the south (Florida.) Catherine Shaw Shaw writes the historical Vanessa Duncan Cambridge Mystery Series which features a teacher/sleuth… Jeff Shelby (aka Jeffrey Allen) Shelby is a high school English teacher, and the author of the Moose River Mystery Series, the Noah Braddock Mystery Series, and the Joe Tyler Mystery Series. The Moose River Mystery Series features a rather unique sleuth: Daisy Savage is a married mom of a blended family who homeschools her children. Moose River is located in Minnesota. As Jeffrey Allen, he writes the popular Stay at Home Dad Mystery Series. Jana Lynn Shellman Shellman is an ex-paralegal who currently is writing a mystery featuring a psychic paralegal. Shellman’s series is the Poppy Hannah Mystery Series. Connie Shelton Shelton writes the Charlie Parker series. Charlie is a CPA who solves crimes when she’s not too busy filing income tax returns! Shelton also writes the Samantha Sweet Mystery Series which features, as its sleuth, the owner of a pastry shop in New Mexico. Paige Shelton Shelton, a journalism major in college, worked in advertising before writing the Farmers’ Market Mystery Series, which features the owner of a farm who makes jams and preserves… when she’s not solving crimes! Shelton also writes the Country Cooking School Mystery Series – a ghost paranormal mystery series, featuring Gram and Betts, who run a cooking school in Missouri. Paige Shelton also writes two more popular series: The Scottish Bookshop Mystery Series, which features North American Delaney, who works in a rare book and manuscript shop in Edinburgh. The other series is the Dangerous Type Mystery Series, which stars Clare Henry and her grandfather, who live (and sleuth!) in Utah, with Baskerville, their Calico cat. Beth Sherman Sherman is the author of the Jersey Shore Mystery Series which features a New Jersey ghostwriter… Steve Sherman It sounds to me like Steve Sherman comes from the exact setting he uses in his series… He writes the New England Cozy Mystery Series! (Sherman is also the author of country-roads guides, as well…) John Sherwood Celia Grant is Sherwood’s main character in this series set in London. Celia happens to be a botanist… Sharon Short Short writes the Stain-Busting Mystery Series, which I just discovered. I have yet to read them, but plan to, since I enjoy humor with my mysteries. Celestine Sibley Sibley’s series is set in Atlanta, Georgia and features a woman journalist. Roz Siegel Siegel, previously a senior editor at Simon & Schuster, Crown, and The Literary Guild, is the author of the Emily’s Place Mystery Series. The sleuth in this series owns a shoe store in Manhattan which is a meeting place of sorts to all who love designer shoes. Unfortunately stilettos are very sharp… Georges Simenon If you have seen (and liked) the Maigret television series, you will like these books. I loved the Maigret shows (and plan to do a blog on them in the near future.) Clea Simon Simon graduated Harvard with a degree in English and American Language and Literature. Her published works are both in fiction and non-fiction. She writes the Theda Krakow Mystery Series which features “Musetta,” both her fictitious and “real life” cat. And, Simon also pens the Dulcie Schwartz Mystery Series which features a deceased cat who helps his owner solve crimes. Simon also writes the Pru Marlowe, Pet Noir Mystery Series – which features an animal behaviorist/psychic, and the Blackie and Care Mystery Series, starring Blackie the cat (and narrator) and Care, a pink-haired homeless teen. Dorothy Simpson Police Inspector Luke Thanet series, set in England….. Rosemary Simpson Simpson lives near Tucson, Arizona, and was educated in both France and the United States. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, the International Thriller Writers, and the Historical Novel Society. Her Cozy series is the Gilded Age Mystery Series. Nicola Slade Slade writes the Harriet Quigley Mystery Series which follows Harriet and Canon Sam Hathaway – her cousin who is a clergyman at historic Winchester Cathedral. Slade also writes the Charlotte Richmond Investigates Mystery Series – which is an historical Cozy Mystery… Joanna Campbell Slan Slan’s Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-N-Craft Mystery Series will be sure to please all of the cozy mystery readers with a passion for scrapbooking. (She has published several non-fiction scrapbooking books as well.) Slan also writes the Jane Eyre Chronicles Mystery Series, which features Charlotte Brontë’s Jane, wife of Edward Rochester and young mother, in mid 1800s England. Another of Slan’s mystery series is the Cara Mia Delgatto series which features a recent empty-nester, single mom in Florida. Slan started writing as Lila Dare on the fourth of that series’ mysteries. As Dare, she writes the Southern Beauty Shop Mystery Series. The series features five sleuths of all ages who happen to be beauticians in the same Georgia beauty shop. Susan Sleeman Sleeman has her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, post graduate work in both Accounting and Project Management. She writes the Garden Gate Mystery Series and is an advocate for Christian mystery novels. Sleeman also writes the Justice Agency Mystery Seris, the First Responders Mystery Series, and is an author of several Love Inspired Suspense mystery books. Patricia Smiley With titles like ” False Profits, Cover Your Assets, and Short Change, can this series’ sleuth be anything but a financial adviser? Susan Smily Smily writes the Ariel Quigley mystery series with Honora Finkelstein. Smily is an ex-teacher, who has been involved in creating educational materials. The Smily/Finkelstein series is unusual in that each mystery novel has a recipe book that features the recipes described/used in the novel. Alexander McCall Smith Alexander McCall Smith is a professor of medical law, with a passion for music. I am a fan of both of his “mystery” series: the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency and the Isabel Dalhousie (Sunday Philosophy Club) series. He is also the author of the Professor Doctor Moritz-Maria Von Igelfeld trilogy, as well as the author of the the 44 Scotland Street goings-on…. both of which I am a fan. His No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series is the closest to being a mystery series, although I’m not sure if it would truly qualify as that… To me, it is more like a delightful work of fiction which happens to take place in a detective agency. Barbara Burnett Smith Purple Sage series & a Beading series… Cynthia Smith Smith writes the Emma Rhodes Mystery Series, which takes place in England. Emma is a private investigator for the very wealthy. As a matter of fact, she prefers the label “Private Resolver”. Emma charges $20,000 per case, but guarantees the job will be done in two weeks. Earl H. Smith Smith, an ex professor and Dean at a college in Maine, has written a humorous murder mystery that is set in a small town in Maine. Julie Smith Rebecca Schwartz, Skip Langdon, & Paul McDonald series… Karen Rose Smith Smith, an ex teacher, started her fiction-writing career as an author of romance novels, winning several awards in that genre. Smith writes the Caprice De Luca Mystery Series, which takes place in a town called Quiet Kismet (in Pennsylvania). Caprice was an interior decorator who decided it was time to change careers, which she did >>> to home stager. She has rich clients whose houses she stages so that they look terrific while on the market to sell. Beth Solheim Solheim writes the Sadie Witt Mystery Series which is a paranormal mystery series. Both Sadie and Belly LaGossa (Sadie’s dog) are able to see the dead… Walter Sorrells (aka Ruth Birmingham & Lynn Abercrombie) Sorrells is an Edgar Award winning author who writes suspense novels for both adults and young adults. He is an expert in the martial arts and is a bladesmith of modern swords. Katherine Spencer (aka Anne Canadeo) Spencer writes both the non-mystery Thomas Kinkade’s Cape Light Series and the non-mystery Thomas Kinkade’s Angel Island Series. (She co-authored both of the series with Thomas Kinkade before he passed on in 2012. She is now continuing both of the series on her own.) As Canadeo writes the Black Sheep Knitting Mystery Series which features Maggie Messina, owner of the Black Sheep Knitting Shop in Massachusetts. Suzy Spencer True Crime….. Julia Spencer-Fleming Spencer-Fleming, and ex-lawyer, writes a series set in the Adirondacks which features an Episcopal priest. Some of Spencer-Fleming’s work can be found on the Agatha Award pages. Robert Spiller Spiller has taught math at the college level, all the way down to the elementary school level. It is no wonder that his Bonnie Pinkwater Mystery Series features a math teacher/sleuth… Patricia Sprinkle Sprinkle has two established series,: the Sheila Travis Mystery series set in Georgia, and the MacLaren Yarbrough Thoroughly Southern Mystery series. She is currently starting a new Family Tree Genealogy Mystery series which her readers are sure to enjoy. Elizabeth Daniels Squire Squire, previously a reporter, created the Peaches Dann Mystery Series which revolves around an absent-minded “mature” sleuth. Joyce St. Anthony (aka Joyce Tremel) – Joyce St. Anthony is a pseudonym for Joyce Tremel. Joyce Tremel was a police secretary for ten years, experience that she now uses in writing. She’s also a Pittsburgh native, so it’s no surprise that her Cozy Mystery series, the Brewing Trouble Mystery Series, is set in the Steel City. Maxine “Max” O’Hara, the sleuth, is a certified brewmaster and owner of the Allegheny Brew House. Dorothy St. James St. James has her BS in Wildlife Biology and her Master’s in Public Administration & Urban Planning. St. James writes the White House Gardener Mystery Series which features, as its sleuth, a gardener at the White House. Morgan St. James & Phyllice Bradner These sister novelists write the Silver Sisters Mystery series which features two “curvy” sister sleuths. With names like Goldie Silver and Godiva Olivia Dubois, how can they not be a zany duo?!? Dana Stabenow Stabenow writes two series that are set in Alaska. The first book in the Kate Shugak series won an Edgar. Veronica Stallwood Stallwood lives near Oxford, so what better place to set her series featuring an historical novelist? J.B. Stanley(aka Jennifer Stanley, Ellery Adams, & 1/2 of Lucy Arlington) With a Master’s in English Literature, it is no wonder that Stanley decided to write novels. She has two cozy mystery series… One is the Collectible Mystery Series – which features a reporter who solves mysteries in and out of antique shows. The other is her Supper Club Mystery Series which features a “retired” English Literature Professor (James Henry) who gets together with four friends (“The Flab Five”) to sup and solve crimes! Stanley also writes the Hope Street Church Mystery Series as Jennifer Stanley. And, as Ellery Adams she writes the Books by the Bay Mystery Series and the Charmed Pie Shop Mystery Series. As 1/2 of Lucy Arlington (co written with Sylvia May) she writes the A Novel Idea Mystery Series. Jennifer Stanley (aka J. B. Stanley, Ellery Adams, & 1/2 of Lucy Arlington) Stanley has her Master’s in English Literature and writes the Hope Street Church Mystery Series, which features a repairwoman of office machines in Richmond, Virginia. After being away from the church for many years, she decides to join a church bible study group, which turns out to be full of willing sleuth-helpers. As J. B. Stanley she writes two cozy mystery series: the Collectible Mystery Series and the Supper Club Mystery Series. And, as Ellery Adams she writes the Books by the Bay Mystery Series and the Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery Series. As 1/2 of Lucy Arlington (co written with Sylvia May) she writes the A Novel Idea Mystery Series. Mary Stanton (aka Claudia Bishop) Bishop’s very popular Hemlock Falls Mystery Series was a great beginning, and was followed by her popular Casebook of Dr. McKenzie Mystery Series. What a treat to find out that in 2008 Stanton/Bishop began the paranormal Beaufort & Company Mystery Series! Wendy Corsi Staub Not Cozy. Staub is a New York Times Best Selling author, and is known for her psychological mysteries… mystery/thrillers. Debbie Steever Steever writes Stand Alone mysteries. “Family Secrets or Lies” features two brothers who return to their hometown when their single father dies and leaves them a journal. “Dead at 30” tells about a group of 30 year old women at their high school reunion, one of them ends up dead (at 30!) and one of them is a suspect… Rosemary Stevens aka Rosemary Martin…As Stevens, the author writes a mystery series which takes place during the Regency period (1790-1820) in London. Her Martin’s series is quite different, with a name like Murder A-Go-Go, it could only take place during the 1960s in a very groovy New York. Fran Stewart Stewart writes the Biscuit McKee & Marmalade Series which features a librarian and her tabby cat in Georgia. Stewart also writes the ScotShop Mystery Series, which features Peggy Winn, a Scottish shop owner and her specter, a 14th century Scot. Mary Stewart A British novelist and one of the earliest popular authors of the “romantic mystery” genre, Mary Stewart wrote works in several genres, including mysteries. Though her education was originally set back by World War II, she earned her degree in English from Durham University before the war and would later go on to earn a master’s degree. Her novels are largely stand-alone in the mystery genre, with two of the most popular being her first work, Madam, Will You Talk?, as well as The Moon-Spinners, which would eventually be developed into a Disney movie. Lane Stone Stone writes the Tiara Investigations Mystery Series, which is set in Georgia. These sleuths (Leigh, Tara, and Victoria) are middle-age women who were former Georgia beauty queens. Instead of guns, they have Standard Schnauzers. Stories from Hope Haven Series This is a series of NON mystery books from Guideposts. Hope Haven is a series which is set in the fictional Haven Hospital. The series features four nurses and their patients… Rex Stout The classic Nero Wolfe series, starring Nero Wolfe, detective extraordinaire…. Wolfe doesn’t even need to leave his apartment in order to solve crimes. Of course, with his assistant Archie Goodwin doing all of the detective legwork, Nero has plenty of time to tend his orchids! (On the Mystery Writers of America Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time) Sarah Strohmeyer Strohmeyer writes the Bubbles series, which features a hair dresser/sleuth with a penchant for gossip. Diane A. S. Stuckart (aka Ali Brandon and Anna Gerard) Stuckart writes the Leonardo da Vinci Historical Mystery Series. The series features Dino, da Vinci’s apprentice, and is set in the late 1400s. As Brandon she writes the paranormal Black Cat Bookshop Mystery Series. Jennifer Sturman Sturman’s series involves an investment banker/sleuth…. Sturman also writes a mystery series for young adults. Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries This is a chronological Guideposts’ Cozy Mystery series written be different authors. Cheryl is an ex-banker who now works for the Swiss Miss Gift Shop. She owns a Siamese cat named Beau, and lives in Amish country in Ohio. Cheryl is an “Englisher” (she’s not Amish). Winona Sullivan Sullivan’s series features a nun with a devotion to solving crimes…. Ann Summerville Summerville writes the Lowenna Mystery Series which takes place in a quaint, British coastal village. She also writes Stand Alone Cozy Mysteries that feature British sleuths as far from home as Texas! Denise Swanson Swanson’s main character is a school psychologist who lives in Illinois. She writes the Scumble River Mystery Series, which features a school psychologist as its sleuth. Swanson also pens the Devereaux’s Dime Store Mystery Series, which has, as its sleuth, the owner of a five-and-dime store in Missouri. Leann Sweeney Sweeney’s main character, Abby Rose, is a private investigator living in Houston in the Yellow Rose Mystery Series. Sweeney is also the author of the Cats in Trouble Mystery Series… Back to “R” Authors ***** ***** “T” Authors |
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The first book of the “No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” series (by
