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I have also included the chronological list of Jan Karon‘s “feel good” books about life in a small town with people who, despite their many differences, get along with each other. It may take a while for them to come to the conclusion that they care about each other, but rarely do they fail to help their neighbors in times of troubles. Julie Kaewert What a wonderful name for a series: “Booklover’s” says it all! This series features a publisher in England. Sharon Kahn A rabbi’s wife, attorney Kahn writes about what she knows…. her series revolves around “Ruby, the Rabbi’s Wife,” which also happens to be the name of the series, even though Ruby is really the Rabbi’s Widow. Lucille Kallen Kallen was a writer for the “Show of Shows” years ago. Kallen’s C. B. Greenfield Mystery Series features the editor and a reporter of a newspaper in Connecticut. Stuart M. Kaminsky Kaminsky started writing his Toby Peters Mystery Series in the late 1970s. Toby is a private detective who works in Hollywood during its Golden era. Toby is hired by the production companies to straighten out problems the 1940s stars have. The first mystery in the series revolves around Errol Flynn, and his fascination with young women. Some of the other Toby Peters books include stars like Betty Davis, Mae West, Judy Garland, and Joan Crawford. (Supposedly not Cozy.) Susan Kandel Kandel (an ex-editor of an art magazine and an ex-teacher of college-level art theory and history) writes the Cece Caruso Mystery Series which has, as its sleuth, an author who writes biographies of mystery writers… dead mystery writers, that is! Tonya Kappes (aka Maymee Bell) Kappes writes the Divorced Divas Mystery Series, which takes place in Kentucky. Holly Harper is the owner of the Beaded Dragonfly bead store, and a member of the Divorced Divas club. Kappes also writes the Magical Cures Mystery Series, the Olivia Davis Paranormal Mystery Series, the Laurel London Mystery Series, and the Beyond the Grave Series. As Maymee Bell she writes the Southern Cake Baker Mystery Series which features Sophia Cummings a pastry chef and owner of the For Goodness Cakes bakery in Kentucky. The books in this series include recipes. Jan Karon Her Mitford series is very cozy, but isn’t a mystery series. Leslie Karst Though she now spends most of her time in California, Leslie Karst has lived in areas as varied as Ohio, South America, Mexico, and Oxford, England. An attorney for twenty years, she also has a degree in culinary arts. She writes the Sally Solari Mystery Series, starring the manager of the front of an old-style Italian eatery owned by her family, and likewise an ex-lawyer, living in Santa Cruz, California. Oh, and recipes are included! Tina Kashian Kashian is an attorney and former mechanical engineer, and has worked in diverse roles such as patent attorney and New Jersey Deputy Attorney General. She grew up in New Jersey. She is the author of the Kebab Kitchen Mystery Series, starring an ex-lawyer who works at a family Mediterranean restaurant on the Jersey shore. Jon Katz His mystery series is about an ex-Wall Streeter who becomes a private investigator. Katz has also written several books about dogs, and has an impressive journalism background. Brian Kavanagh Kavanagh contacted me and told me about his cozy mystery series featuring an Australian who goes to visit her great aunt in Bath (England) and who ends up inheriting a cottage. M.M. Kaye (aka Mollie Kaye) M. M. Kaye wrote (among many books) the two bestselling historical novels: The Far Pavilions and Shadow of the Moon. She writes the Death in ***** Mystery Series as well as children’s stories. Abigail Keam Keam writes the Josiah Reynolds, Beekeeper Mystery Series. The series has, as its sleuth, a retired history professor who not only solves mysteries but she is also a beekeeper who sells her honey at the farmer’s market. Abigail also writes the 1930s Mona Moon Mystery Series which features an extremely rich ex map maker during the Depression. Sean Keefer Keefer, an attorney in South Carolina, writes Stand Alone mysteries. His first mystery, The Trust, features an attorney in South Carolina. Faye Kellerman Rina Lazarus and Peter Decker series… Jonathan Kellerman Not Cozy… He is a child psychologist who writes a series featuring a child psychologist. Lee Charles Kelley Kelley writes the Continuing Adventures of Jack & Jamie Mystery Series, which features a dog trainer/dog kennel owner/ex-NYPD detective. Kelley is a a dog trainer, voice-over actor, songwriter, and of course, author! (His best selling Christmas mystery can be found on the Christmas “K” page.) Marne Davis Kellogg Kellogg writes both the Kick Keswick Mystery Series and the Lilly Bennett Mystery Series. Kick Keswick is a retired jewel thief… which means she can use her inside knowledge to catch the culprits. Diane Kelly Kelly, formerly a lawyer and tax accountant, writes the Tara Holloway Death and Taxes Mystery Series, which is set in Dallas. Tara is a Criminal Investigations Division Agent for the IRS, where she not only crunches numbers, but also crime. Kelly also write the Paw Enforcement Luz Mystery Series. This series features Megan, a police officer, and her K-9 partner Brigit. It is set in Texas. Mitzi Kelly Kelly writes the Silver Sleuths Mystery Series. The three Silver Sleuths are: the continuously dieting Trish, the rather bossy Millie, and Edna – the sweetie of the group. These three senior sleuths make it their business to solve the mysteries at hand. Sofie Kelly (aka Sofie Ryan & Darlene Ryan for Young Adult) Kelly writes the Magical Cats Mystery Series. This series, which is set in Minnesota, features a librarian who never intended having cats as pets… until she meets up with Owen and Hercules, stray cats who happen to be (as the series titles says) magical cats. As Ryan she writes the Second Chance Cat Mystery Series, which features Elvis, the cat, at a second-hand shop. Toni L. P. Kelner (aka Leigh Perry) Kelner has the Laura Fleming series that features a computer programmer. Kelner also writes the Where Are They Now? Mystery Series, which features a journalist/sleuth named Tilda Harper. Kelner has co-edited several anthologies with Charlaine Harris. As Perry, she writes the Family Skeleton Mystery Series which features Georgia, an English professor and her ghost, Sid. Harry Kemelman Kemelman was a professor of English and had his M. A. from Harvard. He wrote the very successful Rabbi Small series…….. Ellen Edwards Kennedy Kennedy penned her first cozy mystery novel and is currently working on its sequel. Her high school English teacher/sleuth and I have something in common… the annoyance at the use of the word “irregardless!” Mary Kennedy Kennedy, a psychologist who was at one time a radio copywriter, writes the Talk Radio Mystery Series, which features an ex-psychologist turned talk show radio hostess as its sleuth. She is also an ex-New Yorker (the sleuth/heroine, that is!) who gives up the cold winters for the more enjoyable southern Florida climate. Kennedy also writes the Dream Club Mystery Series. This series features Taylor Blake, a business consultant and member of a dream analyzing club in Savannah, Georgia. Shirley Kennett Kennett’s series features a psychologist who is also a computer specialist, so she is able to profile criminals and recreate their crimes on the computer. And, with Kennett’s “real life” background in computer science/applied mathematics, it is no wonder that her heroine (PJ Gray) is so computer-literate! Rebecca Kent (aka Kate Kingsbury & Allison Kingsley) As Kent, we are treated to the Bellehaven House Mystery Series. The Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery Series and the World War II Manor House Mystery Series are written under the Kingsbury name. Cornelia Kidd aka Lea Wait… Cornelia Kidd is a pseudonym for Lea Wait. She not only writes a mystery series for adults, but she also writes historical novels for children. As Kidd, she writes the Maine Murder Mystery Series. This series stars Anna Winslow as its sleuth, a wife on Quarry Island, Maine. As Wait she writes the very popular Mainely Needlepoint Mystery Series and the Shadows Antique Print Mystery Series. Tracy Kiely Kiely puts her English degree to good use writing the Elizabeth Parker Mystery Series, which combines her love for Jane Austen with the very British Cozies, setting her books in the Cape Cod area. She has received praise from such noted Cozy Mystery Authors as Carolyn Hart, Denise Swanson, and Elaine Viets. Kiely also writes the Nic & Nigel Mystery Series which features Nigel Martini, a former detective, and Nic Martini. William X. Kienzle Father Robert Koesler series… Karen Kijewski Kijewski, an ex-English teacher, writes the very popular Kat Colorado series. Nina Killham The beginning of a series revolving around an author of cookbooks… Diana Killian The Poetic Death Mystery series features Grace Hollister, a teacher from the USA who goes to England to fulfill her passion for poets of romance… Josi S. Kilpack Kilpack just started her Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series, which includes recipes. Alice Kimberly aka Cleo Coyle Both Kimberly and Coyle are pseudonyms for a husband and wife team (Marc Cerasini and Alice Alfonsi) who write cozy mysteries together. They write the Coffeehouse Mystery series as Coyle, and the Haunted Bookshop Mystery series as Kimberly. Laurie R. King Her very popular series features Mary Russell, a protégé of Sherlock Holmes. King also write a series that features homicide inspector Kate Martinelli. Maggie King King writes the the Book Group Mystery Series, starring sleuth Hazel Rose, a romance writer and one of the leaders of a mystery book group – who sometimes is called upon to help solve local crimes. Peter King King writes the Gourmet Detective Mystery Series, a series that features the author Jack London, and even a series that revolves around an 1870s hansom cab driver! Kate Kingsbury (aka Rebecca Kent & Allison Kingsley) A World War II series (World War II Manor House) and an Edwardian period series (Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery Series) that takes place between 1901 and 1910… Also, writing as Rebecca Kent, the Bellehaven House Mystery Series, and as Allison Kingsley, the Raven’s Nest Bookstore Mystery Series… Allison Kingsley (aka Kate Kingsbury & Rebecca Kent – see above) Kingsley writes the Raven’s Nest Bookstore Mystery Series. This series is set in Maine, and features two cousins: Stephanie Quinn Dowd, owner of the bookstore, and Clara Quinn, her cousin and a psychic. Mary Lou Kirwin Kirwin writes the Librarian Mystery Series. This series features Karen Nash, a Minnesota librarian who also Libby Klein Klein grew up in New Jersey in the ’80s, was a stay-at-home-mom, and is now a grandmother. She is also the vice president of a technology company, and now lives in northern Virginia. Klein is the author of the Poppy McAllister Mystery Series, which stars Poppy McAllister, owner of a gluten-free baking business in Cape May, New Jersey. Lisa Kleinholz A series about an ex-Rolling Stone reporter who becomes a reporter in a small New England town… Kathryn Lasky Knight Knight writes a series involving a children’s books illustrator. Annie Knox (aka Wendy Lyn Watson) Watson teaches American Government and Constitutional Law at the college level and writes the Mystery à la Mode Mystery Series which is set in Texas and has, as its sleuth, the owner of an ice cream parlor. As Annie Knox she writes a series which is set in Minnesota. Her sleuth, Izzy McHale, owns the Trendy Tails Pet Boutique. Izzy’s companions are Jinx and Packer, her resident cat and dog. Leslie Kohler Kohler writes Stand Alone mysteries, one of which highlights the problem of illegal immigration. Sins of the Border takes place in Scottsdale, Arizona, and features a mom from the suburbs who uses her skills she honed as a reporter… Harley Jane Kozak Kozak’s first novel in her Wollie Shelley Mystery series won the very prestigious Anthony Award for Best First Novel in 2005. The series features an artist of greeting cards who also has the talent to solve mysteries… Kathy Krevat (aka Kathy Aarons) Krevat writes the Gourmet Cat Mystery Series, starring Colbie Summers, single mom and gourmet cat food entrepreneur in Summerside, California. As Kathy Aarons, she writes the Chocolate Covered Mystery Series, which is set in Maryland. Michelle Serrano is the co-owner of Chocolates and Chapters, a combination bookstore and chocolate shop. (What a dream-like shop combination!) Her best friend, Erica Russell is the co-owner of the shop. Rochelle Krich aka Rochelle Majer Krich Krich has her master’s degree in English from U.C.L.A., and like the heroine of one of her cozy mystery series, she is an avid player of mah-jongg. Several of her works are on the Agatha Award pages! Joyce Krieg Krieg started out as a newspaper journalist, moved on to radio, then television, back to radio, and then to writing a mystery series about a talk show radio host(ess.) William Kent Krueger Krueger writes the Cork O’Connor Mystery Series which features an ex-sheriff in Minnesota. Mary Kruger Kruger, a librarian and author, writes two series, one of which is a cozy set in the world of knitting. She also writes historical romance novels as Mary Kingsley. Cynthia Kuhn Kuhn is a teacher of literature, writing, and film at Metropolitan State University of Denver and the president of the Colorado branch of Sisters in Crime. Originally from New York, she now lives in Denver. She is the author of the Lila Maclean Academic Mystery Series, starring an English professor in Colorado. Back to “J” Authors ***** ***** “L” Authors |
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“K” is for Kiss…. of death, that is! The “K” list of mystery book authors includes sleuths who are private investigators, psychologists, computer experts, ex-sheriffs, and even book publishers, housekeepers, and hotel/inn owners!
