I have decided to start reading my Christmas mystery books early. I want to make it through a few of my Christmas theme mysteries this year, and as I have said before, I am finding less and less of my time is spent reading. Also, I am in the mood for frost on the windows, hot coco, and cold weather, and bodies >>> which can usually be found in mystery books.
When I start a new mystery, I usually have a “back-up book” sitting on my night table. If the author is someone who I consider a favorite author, I don’t need the back-up… but if I am trying a new-to-me author I always have a “spare mystery” ready to grab in the middle of the night.
I am going to begin reading a Christmas anthology tonight. One of the things that I really like about anthologies is that I can “try” new authors and decide if I want to add them to my list of authors who I read… I get to sample their writing by reading a mystery novella rather than a whole book.
I am not familiar with any of the authors in the book I have chosen to start with, so I have my “spare” ready to grab… just in case. The mystery book is called The Last Noel, and the authors are: Steve Brewer, Catherine Dain, Mat Coward, and Linda Berry. I am really looking forward to reading it, so that I can try out all of these new-to-me authors.
Next on the agenda: Mistletoe and Mayhem. This is another anthology, but with this one, I am already familiar with (and enjoy!) some of the authors. The authors include Katherine Hall Page, Christie Ridgway, Judi McCoy, and Joanne Pence. I’m looking forward to reading this mystery anthology right after I finish the first one… and then I’m on to a Kate Kingsbury Christmas mystery.
Enough about me! Are any of you reading a mystery book that you wouldn’t mind telling us about? (I’m always nosy and want to know what you all are reading!)
Ann says
I have a stack of Christmas books ready to read too. I can’t believe the season is just around the corner.
Ann
linda says
Anna, I can remember when I was about 5 or 6 years old my grandma would say something is “just around the corner” and I would think I could go down the street and see a band with clowns and elephants, and all kinds of things “just around that corner”. But my little sister and I weren’t allowed out of the yard. Grandma wouldn’t let us go see!
Laura says
Danna: I am reading “The Winter of Her Discontent” (a Rosie Winter mystery) by Cathryn Miller Haines and “Decaffeinated Corpse” (a coffeehouse mystery) by Cleo Coyle. I have started my Christmas reading with a non-mystery, but I have “Decked with Folly” by Kate Kingsbury ready to go. Her special Pennyfoot Hotel mysteries are fun reads.
Alfred says
Hi Danna and all Just got our computer back up and running was without it for 3 days got a new computer cabinet to put it in and then had trouble getting it hooked up back the way it was. I am not reading any Christmas mysteries at this time but did just get done reading Amanda Lee’s Thread Reckoning – really like her series alot. I am also reading Mind Over Murder by Allison Kingsley have 72 pages to go to finish. I didn’t think I would like this type of series but I do – can’t wait for the next one. Haven’t decided what I will read next.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Welcome back, Alfred! I’m glad you have your new computer up and running!
We are sort of on the same track with our selection of authors: You’re reading an Allison Kingsley, and I am going to be reading a Kate Kingsbury…
Patti says
I just finished reading the new M C Beaton book “As the Pig Turns.” That was really good, I read it in a day and a half. I just love her books. I am now reading Rhys Bowen’s, “Death in Nice”. I wasn’t sure about this series after the second book, but this one is really good. So many books, so little time!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Patti, don’t you just love it when you find a new mystery series that you like? It sounds like you had a very pleasant surprise with Rhys Bowen’s Lady Georgiana Mystery Series. Happy reading!
linda says
Danna, I am trying to read “Caught” by Harlan Coben. I like some of Harlen Coben’s books but am having a hard time getting through this one. Since I paid 20 bucks for this book, I am going to finish it. It has been a rainy chilly week here in Ohio. A just right week for reading. If I can’t get into this book I intend to start reading “Folly Beach” by Dorothea Benton Frank. I love her books! It’s really getting to be “Book reading” season here in Ohio, even though we here in Ohio got a black eye this week. Terrible week here with the wild animals having to be shot! Horrible event!.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
It’s funny, Linda… I used to absolutely love the rain. But, when Sprite was young, she was afraid of thunder and lightning. We would try to console her, but she would absolutely shake until she finally was able to fall asleep. Also, she didn’t like going outside in the rain (obviously she wouldn’t… since she was afraid of the bad storms)>>> so I stopped loving the rain. I am hoping that I will go back to loving it… once we have it! We have had so little rain since Sprite left us that I don’t quite know how I feel about it, other than I know it is good for the gardens, and to replenish our aquifer, etc…
(I still miss Sprite an awful lot!)
It sounds like you are really hunkering down for a week of rainy reading!
linda says
Danna, one of my granddaughter’s gave me our little half dachshund (close enough) on the 1st anniversary of my son’s death. When I retired my co-workers gave us our little toy fox terrier (Toby & Cadyanne). These little dogs are our “children.” I have a hard time living life without my son. I can’t think of living life without Toby and Cadyanne.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda, your granddaughter’s gift to you was wonderful and thoughtful. I am sure that Toby and Cadyanne bring you a lot of comfort.
Julia says
Danna, one of my cats, Hobbes by name, used to be terrified of high winds. Whenever it got windy out he would cower under the futon until one of us pulled him out and cuddled him. He died about 5 years ago (at the age of 14) and I still think of him during wind storms, remembering not only the way they scared him but also the way he let us comfort him and make him feel safer. I’m sure even though Sprite shook during the storms she was still deeply comforted by your presence and attention.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
It’s the pits to lose a pet, isn’t it, Julia? Hobbes was lucky to have a family who could comfort him and make him feel safe.
David Anderson says
Before the Poison by Peter Robinson, and the third Stieg Larsson book, which I still haven’t read. (It’s not really a mystery, though, and certainly not cozy!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
David, Stieg Larsson sure has a large audience. I haven’t tried his books, but I did see a documentary about him, and thought his books sound quite interesting.
Angela says
I am currently finishing the year out with the last of the Aunt Dimity series (love it!), Fowler’s Benni Harper series (Love it!), Blair’s Vintage clothing series and Lutz’s Spellman Files series (both enjoyable). As for the holidays I have a few on deck to read. The pile includes a few new to me authors as well as favorites, “Rest Ye Merry” by Macleod (new to me), “Merry Merry Ghost” by Hart, “Holly Blues” by S.W. Albert, and kicking it all off “The Diva runs out of Thyme” by Davis (new to me). Bring on the holidays!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Angela, when I read Charlotte MacLeod‘s Rest You Merry, I bumped her Peter Shandy Mystery Series up over her Sarah Kelling Mystery Series. That was at a time when I didn’t think anything could be better than her Kelling series… I loved that book… I loved the Peter Shandy character…
Angela says
I haven’t read anything by Macleod but I have heard and read such great things about her that I am really looking forward to trying this one. Glad to hear another positive comment about her work!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I hope you enjoy Charlotte MacLeod as much as I did, Angela…
Julia says
I enjoy the Pete Shandy ones as well, definitely better than the Sarah Kelling ones (I always felt a sneaking sadness for Sarah’s first husband Alexander and how quickly she got over him). Her books as Alisa Craig are good as well – I particularly enjoy rereading “The Wrong Rite” in the early spring. Doesn’t look like many of these are still in print (judging by Amazon), but a library might have them.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Julia, I started with the Sarah Kelling series, and sort of put off reading the Peter Shandy. I read Rest You Merry as a holiday mystery one year, and became hooked – to the point of then putting off the Sarah Kelling series!
Martha says
Danna, I love Mary Higgns Clark and daughter with their Christmas mysteries. Don’t believe they did one last year. Do you know if they have a new one this year?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Martha, I just looked around to see what I could come up with on Mary Higgins Clark’s possible Christmas mystery for this year. I came up with The Magical Christmas Horse which will be our October 25, 2011. It looks like it is a Christmas book for children (and their families)… and it looks like it is absolutely beautifully illustrated with paintings by Wendell Minor.
(I couldn’t find a Christmas mystery for adult readers… sorry!)
Andie says
I’ve pre-ordered Alan Bradley’s new book that will be released 11/1.
I’ve become a big fan of Flavia de Luce and the other quirky characters in this series and I have a suspicion that this Christmas offer is going to be a good one.
Currently I am reading two collections of short stories by Barbara Miller – not exactly mysteries but there is a bit of wonderment in all these regency stories. Cotillion Christmas Spirits and A Cotillion Country Christmas.
Marja says
I love Regency stories!
There are a lot of Regency mysteries out there — I hope you’ve discovered them.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I am wondering if Alan Bradley‘s Flavia de Luce series is anything like a combination of Alexander McCall Smith‘s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Mystery Series and Bertie’s 44 Scotland Street series… Does anyone know?
Andie says
Not really. Flavia is an extremely precocious child who thinks like an adult, has extensive knowledge of chemistry and a sense of psychological currents in others that is far beyond her years.
If I had to think of a combination that would fit Flavia’s talents it would require:
Nancy Drew, Barnaby Jones and Veronica Mars.
I can’t say more without creating a spoiler.
The first book may seem to start slow, but pay attention. I had to go back and reread the first few chapters after I was well into the book and then I “got it!”
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Andie.
Marja says
I’ve been reading Anne Perry’s ‘Treason at Lisson Grove’ — it got off to a bit of a strange start, then slowed down, but I stuck with it and now plots are thickening, the action is moving, and a deep and dangerous mystery is unfolding. Hooray for Anne Perry, because I love her mysteries and her characters!
I’ve also been savoring ‘The Big Tent Wedding Party’, the latest of Alexander McCall Smith’s ‘No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency’, one of my absolute favorite cozy series.
Recently read Lisa Scottoline’s ‘Everywhere that Mary Went’, a rewarding read, not only for the suspenseful legal thriller aspects of the story, but because every time Mary DeNunzio visits her Southeast Philadelphia Italian mom and dad, it feels like I’m right there in the kitchen with them all.
There are many other books I’ve recently enjoyed, but these are the top three that occur right now.
As to Christmas cozies, I’ll probably pick up Anne Perry’s Christmas mystery from last year to read — I didn’t get around to it last year. And the older I get, the more I find that time FLIES!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marja, “savoring” is a great word to use when describing Alexander McCall Smith’s books! That’s how I feel about his No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series. I hate it when they end!
Grace says
Hi, I’m new here and have thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone’s book thoughts. I’ve just finished The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (for the third time) and have started Murder at the Vicarage. I also am looking forward to quiet moments on a cold day with a hot cup of tea and a favorite book.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Welcome to the site, Grace. Agatha Christie’s Murder at the Vicarage certainly lends itself to “quiet moments on a cold day” type of reading!
And, thank you for telling us about Elizabeth Kostova’s The Historian.
Andie says
In my first post I neglected to mention that I have developed a sort of tradition of rereading some of my old favorite holiday mysteries when the season rolls around. I usually begin when I start my holiday baking.
I also have a set of holiday films for the same purpose, including every version of A Christmas Carol/Scrooge.
The books on my holiday shelf are:
The Christmas Crimes at Puzzle Manor by Simon Brett
Who Killed the Curate by Joan Coggin
Murder Under the Mistletoe by Jennifer Jordan
All three of Leslie Meier’s holiday themed books; Christmas Cookie Murder, Mail Order Murder, Mistletoe Murder
A Season for Murder by Ann Granger
Murder Can Be Fun by Frederic Brown
Mistletoe Man by Susan Wittig Albert
The Christmas Garden Affair by Ann Ripley
and last, but not least,
Murder at the Old Vicarage by Jill McGown.
I have many more but these are my favorites and don’t become stale with repetitive reading.
I can always suspend disbelief while reading them.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
This is quite a Christmas theme mystery book list, Andie. I have read several of them, but am going to have to make a note of those that I haven’t read.
I see that you have “every version of a Christmas Carol”>>> I hope that includes the one with Michael Caine and the Muppets! We love that movie!
Andie says
Oh yes. It’s also one of my favorites. And I have a tape of Mr. McGoo’s Christmas Carol broadcast in 1962. It was released on DVD in 2007.
I also have a 3-record set (old 78s) of the Lionel Barrymore radio broadcast in 1947.
He first did the radio broadcast in 1934 and repeated it 17 times until the last, in 1953, a few months before he died.
When I was a child this was one of the books that was read aloud during the Christmas season. We had radios but I didn’t see a TV set until I was twelve. There was no TV station near enough to the rural area where I grew up.
Almost everyone in my family was an avid reader.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Good grief, Andie! I haven’t thought of Mr. McGoo for years!
Julia says
I haven’t read “The Christmas Crimes at Puzzle Manor” in ages but you’ve inspired me to dig it out! I too reread my favorite Christmas mysteries each year, foremost of them being Valerie Wolzien’s “We Wish You a Merry Murder” (my favorite of all her books). And Nancy Atherton’s “Aunt Dimity’s Christmas”, of course, to get a good dose of the true holiday spirit.
Dayna says
I am reading “The Herring in the Library” by LC Tyler. It is highly enjoyable! I love the relationship between the central characters and the dialogue is truly witty.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Dayna, for telling us about L. C. Tyler. I just peeked at his books on Amazon, and they look quite funny.
Margaret says
I am still reading my Halloween/Fall Books. I just finished “Diva Haunts the House”. It was actually the first one in the Domestic Diva series I have read. But I loved it so much I am buying the rest of the series. I will read the “Diva Runs Out of Tyme” and then closer to December I will get to “Diva Cooks a Goose”. I will get to the others in the new year. Right now I just discovered a new series by Amy Patricia Meade (A Pret’ Near Perfect Mystery) “Well-Offed in Vermont” is the first. It is so fun. But I will definitly continue with my Halloween books for a while. Fall is my favorite season and I like to enjoy Halloween and Thanks Giving for as long as I can. Last Winter stressed me out so much I am in no rush for this Winter. I actually found a great book in a Used Book Shop called “Christmas Spirits-Twenty Other-Worldly Tales” it is a series of short Ghost Stories. I thought it might be fun to read them at night infront of the fire.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Margaret, thanks for all of the Halloween/fall mystery book recommendations. (I love the cover of Meade’s Well-Offed in Vermont.)
Also, thank you for telling us about the Christmas ghost stories book…
Suzie says
I’m trying to hold off, because I’ll devour them, and have nothing left during that lull. .but I know that I’ll succumb before too long. I’m having to head back to the Mayo Clinic with my hubby, and since I spend long hours in waiting rooms, I’ll be making more than one trip to the attached bookstore!
I’ve been away from home, more than I’ve been here, for the past couple of months, due to my Mom’s stroke, so maybe you have already talked about this. .but does anyone know when Madelyn Alt’s new book, In Charm’s Way is supposed to be released? I pre-ordered it, then got a notice that it was going to be late, and now today, I got an e-mail that the order has been cancelled because they don’t have the book. .I tried another source, and was told that it isn’t available, although there is a picture of it. Is it just delayed for some reason? I do hope that they aren’t cancelling the series! Thanks for your help!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Suzie, I hope that someone can tell us what is going on with Madelyn Alt’s In Charm’s Way.
My dad had a stroke years ago, so I know how much work it is. I hope that everything is going well for her (and you!)
Go get your hubby better! You are certainly going to the right place… You can’t get any better than the Mayo Clinic.