I have gotten quite a few letters and comments asking for me to add a Cozy Mystery theme that includes Romantic Cozy Mysteries. I have thought quite a bit about how long this list of romantic mysteries could end up being.
Should this list include every series of mysteries that has two characters who are clearly made for each other?
Should this list include only the mysteries you think of when you think of the Gothic romance mysteries?
Should this list include all authors who have a sleuth who just can’t seem to make up her mind between two (or more!) suitors?
Should this list include mysteries that have sleuths who are married couples?
Should this list include mysteries that I think are romantic, but that perhaps you wouldn’t?
I just keep coming back to the fact that romance is so subjective. Clearly some authors make it very easy to identify. Daphne du Maurier and Victoria Holt are two such examples. But they are both Gothic Romance Mystery authors, making it very easy to label them as Romantic Cozy Mystery authors.
However, how about a series like the Leigh Koslow mysteries by Edie Claire? I think of those as romantic. Yep, Leigh and Warren may not be as “romantic” as a Charlotte Brontë’s Jane and Rochester, but they are a very interesting couple to me.
I started to have this discussion with my husband because I told him I was at a loss as to how to proceed and he suggested that I ask you all. So I’m left with this dilemma: How would we define Romantic Cozy Mysteries when making up a list, keeping in mind that the list has to have some reasonable boundaries or else it won’t be a useful list for anyone?
If you have any ideas on how to define Romantic Cozy Mysteries for the purpose of this list, please post a comment. At this point I’m not asking for you to provide authors for inclusion to this hypothetical list. If you need to mention an author as an example for the point you are making, that would be fine. Once we determine if this list is even feasible (i.e. doesn’t include almost every author under the sun) then we’ll proceed to making the list.
C.A. Larmer says
Hi there,
I would define it as a cozy mystery with a splash of romance on the side BUT the mystery has to come first and the romance has to serve the mystery, not detract from it, which is tricky to do. I write what I guess you’re defining as ‘Romantic Cozy Mysteries’ and have found a few readers not happy with any addition of romance in a cozy (sacrilege!) but most love it when it assists or embellishes without distracting. Hope that helps.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
C. A., I totally agree with you about the romance having to be on the side. But that seems to put way too many Cozy Mystery authors on the Romantic Cozy Mysteries list.
Anita J says
For what it’s worth, I think a romance cozy would be one where there is a secondary romance arc that is complete either in a single book (can’t think of an eg off the top of my head), or over a series (eg Daisy Dalrymple or Jenn McKinlay’s cupcake and library series). The mystery still has to be the major plotline.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Anita J, my problem with this is that when I was writing this post, I could have put most of the authors I follow into this Romantic Mysteries category: Camille Minichino’s Periodic Table mysteries, Joan Hess’s Claire Malloy mysteries, Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen mysteries, the list just seems to go on and on, doesn’t it?
Susan* says
Not sure if this will help or not, but… Here goes!
Personally, I would say that a lot of the ‘Romantic Suspense’ genre could be crossed off the list, to start with.
This genre, in my experience, is often a lot more ‘gritty’ than most cozies. Ie: violent / profane / explicit, or just not as gentle in tone as the cozies that I enjoy most.
Not all of them are this way, but a lot of them tend towards Mills & Boon (Harlequin) novels crossed with Dan Brown or Tom Clancy.
People like Sandra Brown, Meg O’Brien and Rebecca York are excellent writers, but I’m afraid I just can’t think of them as ‘cozy’.
Just my opinion, please feel free to disagree.
Cheers!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan*, I don’t read any of the authors you mention, so I can’t comment on them. But I will say that I agree with you about “explicit” situations. I personally don’t see that they would really belong in Cozy mysteries.
linda c says
Amen Danna!! The two just don’t always go together.
PamB says
I’m in the process of reading all the blog posts since the beginning of this blog and in July, 2011, there was a post on mystery/romance. It was mentioned that sometimes the romance overtakes the mystery….in my opinion, then this type of book ceases to be a cozy. I just can’t imagine the work it would entail for Danna to compile another list of mystery/romance as she does so much for us cozy book lovers now.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
PamB, I get a whole lot of help from Cozy Mystery readers when I compile themes. However, with this particular theme (Romantic Cozy Mysteries) I wonder how many authors we would have to include on the list. Since character development is so crucial in our Cozy Mysteries, I am guessing that at least one out of every five series would be considered romantic in some sort of way to some of us.
Linda says
I don’t have a description either, but series that come to mind are Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swenson, Carolyn G Hart’s “Death on Demand’. Probably more Hannah Swenson than the other. Donna Andrews “Meg Lanslow”; Carolyn Haines “Sarah Booth Delaney”; Margaret Maron- “Deborah Knott”; Nancy Martin- “Blackbird Sisters”.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda, if we decide to make up the list, please make sure to remind us of these authors and their series!
Ann says
From what I could find online categorizing romance it seems that a romance must be romantic love between two people and have an optimistic and satisfying ending. So I would think those where it’s an on again off again relationship would be out.
Ann
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ann, you have a good point. This is where the subjective comes into play: I would have thought that the Claire Malloy mysteries would have qualified as Romantic Cozy Mysteries, but Claire and Peter’s relationship was on again/off again. So would that be out? It’s just so subjective…
linda c says
Oh no, Danna. Don’t take Claire and Peter off your list. To me, that relationship is the kind I like to read about. I just hope Peter isn’t killed off like some spouses are in some of the series.
I think I can put up with a family member or a love interest being killed off in the mystery series that aren’t Cozies but not a Cozy. I read cozies because of the characters as well as the mystery.
Angela says
What an interesting topic to discuss! I see your dilemma. The idea of romance is different for everyone so I think it would be futile to try to compose a list of mystery series that are “romantic” as you could potentially include every book that features any kind of couple!
I am one of those readers who find myself really drawn to the series’ that include a lot of the main characters personal life. I do like a little love triangle, to a point, but I also like the series where the main couple meet in book 1 and we then get to see the evolution of their relationship through the rest of the series. If I were to make a list I would probably only include those series that make the romantic relationship(s) of the main character a main secondary plot line for the series. I would probably not include series where the sleuth is married/in a relationship that is only mentioned in passing or a few scenes here or there. To use an example of what I mean, Nancy Atherton’s Aunt Dimity series has the main sleuth Lori married with kids. In book one we got the love story of how Lori and her husband met and fell in love leading to their current life together but their relationship doesn’t take much of the stage in the rest of the books, it’s very much background noise. I love this series but it’s because of the mysteries and the secondary characters not any romantic entanglements. On the other hand I can use Kate Collins flower shop series to show what I consider a romantic mystery. In that series, our main sleuth and her beau meet in book 1 and of course fall for each other, now 12 books later they are finally tying the knot and we as the readers have been through their relationship right with them. The relationship has been as much a storyline of every book as the mysteries have been. I hope this helps you to narrow down the scope of what you are trying to accomplish. I look forward to seeing the list you come up with!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Angela, I am getting the same impression. It doesn’t look like it would be very feasible to have a Romantic Cozy Mysteries list. I might start one up and see how things progress. I’m afraid, though, that it will get out of hand. Everybody has different opinions of romance.
linda c says
Maybe Danna, that could be a topic for sometime in the future: what our opinion of a romance is!!??
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I don’t know, Linda C. I got a letter from someone who told me how much she disliked that I was focusing on the romance theme. She said she wanted the focus of my site to be Cozy Mysteries, not romance. So this, too, is subjective!
linda c says
Just maybe Danna, the difference of opinions concerns what each of us think a Cozy mystery is?? I love Sue Grafton’s books and she has almost no romance in her books. Stuart Woods has a lot of mystery as well as a lot of sexual encounters but no way would I consider his books to be Cozies.
M.C Beaton, both series have a lot of romance along side the mystery and I would definitely say these were Cozies.
I guess you are right when you say this subject is just too subjective.
Donna says
The mystery should come first and the romance should be one that continues throughout the series. Tommy and Tuppence come to mind immediately! I agree with Susan* regarding the modern Romantic Suspense stories. They tend to be more romance than suspense, and since they already have a category anyway, perhaps you could exclude those books. On the other hand, Victoria Holt’s books were stand alones, so that creates another problem! Should there be a Cozy Romance category exclusively for those books that feature a continuing story arc between two characters? Maybe that’s what we are all searching for when we want a romantic cozy mystery.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Donna, you’re so right about Stand Alone mysteries vs. mystery series that have a progressive romantic arc in them.
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
It would be easier to list cozies that DON’T have a romance — shorter list! My favorite cozies all have a romantic subplot: Elizabeth Peters, (both Amelia Peabody and Vicky Bliss), Julie Moffett (although we don’t know if she will pick a guy…she has options), Karen Cantwell (her main is already married, but it manages to be romantic), Elisabeth Cosin, Frank Tuttle (paranormal and didn’t even introduce a romance until book 3 or 4).
I do agree the mystery must come first. And of my favorites listed above I think every single one of them has a nice mystery in each book with a romance that happens over several books. That is part of the character development and makes the whole series much more enjoyable!
Karen says
I agree with Maria. It would so much easier to make a list of cozies without a romantic element than to make a list of cozies with a romance. This will be a tremendous undertaking. Good Luck with this venture.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Karen, I’m going to attempt it, but we’ll see if every author is suggested as an author of Romantic Cozy Mysteries…
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I think so too, Maria. A list of Cozy Mysteries that don’t have a romance would probably be a lot shorter!
Ksenija says
I totally understand your dilemma. So far, I haven’t came across a cozy mystery that did not have a romance twist. It seems to be the spice in all of them regardless the period setting.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ksenija, exactly! Almost all of our Cozy Mysteries have some element of romance in them.
Moonlight says
Sometimes a definition for something like romantic mysteries reveals itself when you simply ask people to suggest some titles. So when I first read the phrase “romantic mystery” what did I think of:
The Thin Man by Dashiel Hammett
MacMillian and Wife (tv movies)
Psychic Eye series by Victoria Laurie (just finished these)
Just about any novel by Mary Stewart
Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters (there is always a star crossed couple lurking somewhere in her novels)
I have to admit though, I like a little romance with mystery. I don’t really care for a little mystery with my romance. I read for the mystery and consider a good romantic subplot a bonus.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Moonlight, for your recommendations.
Marja says
Well, I immediately flashed to Diane Mott Davidson’s Goldy Bear [Schultz] mysteries and Margaret Maron’s Deborah Knott mysteries. Both feature heroines going through not-so-successful romances in the early books [Davidson’s heroine endured a violent marriage and nasty divorce in the first few] – and they find their true loves to marry later in each series. I think of the comfortable love between Tom and Goldy Schultz and their mutual love of cooking; I think of Deborah and Dwight moving among Deborah’s huge family and solidifying their marriage. I also thought of the Magical Cats mystery series [by Sofie Kelly?] in which the heroine is very slowly moving toward a romance with the local police detective. The Vintage Magic mystery series by Annette Blair also springs to mind – a little hotter romance, but non-specific, probably aimed at readers still into the “heat” of romance. And yes, the mystery is prime in each book, but the romances of the heroines add depth and warmth. There are many such books, so it would be hard to list them all.
What I’d suggest is that you find a way to categorize such books first [GRs, Gradual Romance, series] [RFBs, Romance first book, continuing] and so on. Continute to solicit suggestions before “classifying” – there are librarians and bookstore owners among us, I know, and their input would be most helpful. Exclude the novels with “specific” sex scenes *or* delineate them [say, RfbNC17] so those who dislike reading the details of intimate personal contact can avoid them [maybe the movie rating system would be useful, as above, NC-17, for novels that describe this]. Use us to help you classify these books!
Then *append* those classifications or notes to each series you list. Ask us to tell you – that’ll save days and days for you!
Tell your husband he’s brilliant and have a romantic evening! 🙂
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marja, I think a list of the Romantic Cozy Mysteries would be difficult enough to try to get together, I’m not sure about trying to rate each book. That would probably be very subjective, also…
MJ says
Another daunting task – what a dilemma! I think it would be easier to comprise a list of cozy books that contain no romance!
I enjoy/prefer a cozy with a romance as a secondary story line. Sometimes an author will add in a romance story line for other characters in later books – also enjoyable. However, several authors have a romance story line in the first book or two, then send the boyfriend/significant other off on ‘assignments’ for the duration of the series with only a few phone calls in each book. Frankly, I am disappointed in these books. I think there are creative ways to keep the boyfriend/significant other part of the story without overpowering the protagonist. Some authors ‘break up’ a romance in order to start another one, perhaps because the author was bored (or had no where to go) with the current romance line.
One frustrating romance storyline was in the Lavenes’ Sharyn Howard series. This series has great, really creative ‘mystery’ storylines, but it took forever (in the last book or two) for the romance angle to take hold, which I found exasperating. I prefer the romance angle gel by book three or four. So I’m not sure how cozies like this would be classified. Tough choices!
Some authors (or, perhaps publishers) are classifying their books as Romantic Suspense, as Susan mentioned in her post. However, the ones I’ve read are definitely cozies, but I don’t know where publishers (or, if they do) draw the line. I’d think if a series was classified ‘Romantic Suspense’ then it would definitely have to carry the romance angle throughout each and every book in the series.
I also agree with Angela about the Kate Collins series. This series is a great example of how to keep the boyfriend an integral part of each book, yet maintaining an exciting romance storyline. I think Earlene Fowler, Avery Aames, and Joanna Carl are a few other authors that have also accomplished this.
Good luck, Danna!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, that’s exactly what Maria said! I’m sure that a lot of people don’t think the Claire Malloy series would qualify as a Romantic Cozy Mystery, while others might think it does. And how about Anne George’s Southern Sisters. Sister is always finding a new romantic interest, while Mouse has one of the best marriages ever. Would that series qualify? I think it would, but probably others would disagree.
linda c says
Danna, I think the Southern Series is an exact example of what a Cozy Romantic Mystery would be, to me anyway. This was a wonderful series.
M. Burns says
I prefer mystery first and foremost with romance adding an edge to the plot or storyline. I finished Annette Blair’s, Tulle Death Do Us Part, and the romance added to the mystery. I also agree with others, in that I enjoy the romantic angle to be developed within several books.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
M. Burns, I’ll remember to add Annette Blair’s Vintage Magic mysteries to the list.
Christi H. says
I think Agatha Christie often had secondary characters – usually the assistant sleuth – experience some romance during her stories. Sadly, I can’t recall any titles right now, but will post again if I do!
I agree with the Elizabeth Peters recommendation, and would like to also suggest her pseudonym, Barbara Michaels, be added to the list. I think while Michael’s books are usually classified as “suspense” with some supernatural elements, I feel that they often read far more “cozy” than many of today’s cozies! Stitches In Time, Patriot’s Dream, and the Dancing Floor are some of my favorite featuring an engaging plot and a romance subplot.
I also recently read the Calamity Jane series by Kathleen Bacus, and that series had a very strong “will they/won’t they” between two of the main characters that was pretty entertaining.
Good luck with your list – I think you’re right, it will be easier to write a list of romance-free cozies. 🙂
Danna - cozy mystery list says
You are so right, Christi H, about Agatha Christie’s mysteries usually having a couple just starting to fall in love. I didn’t know exactly how to add this to the Romantic Cozy Mysteries list until just now. Thanks!
Julia says
I see the difference between a romantic mystery and a mystery with romance as a question of whether the plot needs the romance to hold it together. In a Victoria Holt, or a Phyllis Whitney or a Barbara Michaels, the romance is a big piece of the plot – it helps to advance the action, it motivates the characters to respond to the developing mystery in certain ways and to the main characters the ‘will they/won’t they’ is every bit as important as whodunnit by the end of the book. That, to me, is a romantic mystery.
In, say, a Sally Goldenbaum or a Rhys Bowen or a Laura Childs, however, the romance is the B story. It’s important to the main character and to the reader, but it doesn’t move the story along. And that, to me, is what makes them mysteries with romance.
I love both types of books, and all the authors I mentioned above, by the way; I just love them at different times and to suit different moods.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
That’s exactly the problem as I see it, Julia, it’s just so doggone subjective.
Marie says
I do most of my reading in the evenings. There have been times when the book I’m reading has been recommended by a friend who’s taste is different than mine. When I come to hot & heavy scenes, it spoils the book. Since I have always liked the old movies where the scene stops as they walk into the bedroom–leave those moments to your imagination, types. If that makes sense. I love a good mystery with a touch of “Love”.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I totally agree with you, Marie. An author has lots of ways to let the reader know what is going on without having to get “technical”. The two people can share a cup of coffee in the morning, they can each drive to work the next day, well, I’m sure most of us would get the drift with those hints.
linda c says
Another one of your better topics, Danna!! I do read all of them and I like about 99% of those.
I haven’t responded as much lately because somehow my internet access and my email was compromised. When I contacted Yahoo (I was on hold for almost an hour. One time the prompter wouldn’t even put me on hold because of the claim that they were too busy!!) the person I talked to said that my password was changed without me knowing it!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Well, Linda C, welcome back. I’m glad you were able to fix your computer problems. People with too little to do are usually those who get a kick out of changing peoples’ passwords and creating havoc. It’s too bad they can’t put their talents to good uses and teach computer classes at their libraries instead of hacking into peoples’ computers!
linda c says
With all the big money making jobs there are in computers and the internet and other devises such as these if I had the talent some of these people who seem to delight in just trying to see how many people they can aggravate I sure could put my talent to better uses. Some people are just silly!!