The Cozy Mystery List Blog

Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV

…About the Cozy Mystery List Lady…Who, What, Where, When, How….and Why!

Perhaps, upon reading the title to this blog, you might think that I am going to introduce a new cozy mystery to you. Nope! Instead, I am going to introduce myself…I have tried to add little things about myself throughout my site… If you have read the “B” page, then you know that my ALL TIME, VERY FAVORITE AUTHOR is not even a cozy mystery author… E. F. Benson‘s Mapp and Lucia series is the only series of books of which I have well-used copies… The series is the only set of books that I have read more than once, and plan on reading again…. and again. They are Cozies without the mysteries! (As an addenda, I am now – 2014 – making my way through Agatha Christie’s mysteries again, so I should add her to my very short list of authors who I have read more than once.)

When I wrote my definition of What Makes a Cozy Just That?,   I submitted a little information about myself… (Don’t ask me why, but I made up a pseudonym for myself…. as if the people across the street might read the biography and know it was me!) Anyway, here is what I submitted as my biography:

“Erin Martin is a freelance author, an avid reader, and a fan of mysteries (of all types.) She has a master’s degree in education. Erin resides with her husband who also enjoys reading. Erin created and maintains the Cozy Mystery List, a Reader’s Guide to Cozy Mystery Books (and Other Favorite Authors).” (I used a pseudonym because at the time, I thought that I would possibly start writing articles for other sites to use… but, instead, this site has become my priority and takes up most of my computer time.) My name is Danna (as in banana… not Dana or Donna.)

So, why do I have this site?

Well, after joining several mystery reading groups, and making some very good friends who shared my love for cozies, I started branching out… and slowly started accruing all of these authors… one author “leading me” to another author through their similarities, etc.

I have been reading cozies for years, and I got very discouraged when I attempted to find new authors to try. I remember that I would go to Amazon to buy a book, and there would be all of these “come-ons” from different readers… and (at first) I would get so excited thinking that I would find new authors to try, just by clicking on the “cozy list-mania” type of lists. After clicking on many lists, I felt very discouraged to find that the person would have one or two authors he/she liked… listing the authors’ books out of sequence, and most of the time, not even listing all of the given authors’ books.

Also, after buying several books twice… (And that is no joke!) I decided that I would have to start writing down all of the authors and books that I read. I actually found that when I went to place a newly acquired book in my TBR section of my bookshelves, the identical book would already be occupying its proper space! Thus, my initiation into the world of compulsive author/book lists.

One of my cozy mystery book reading friends asked if she could have a copy of my list, and the rest is history! That is when I started to index all of my authors on my computer, trying to update whenever I found a new author or a new book for one of my “old” authors. And, after years of keeping a list on my computer, my husband suggested that I put the lists on the internet. So I made this alphabetical and chronological list of books and authors into the Cozy Mystery site that you see now… after several years (and thousands of hours!) of effort. A full disclosure about the links is here.

I sure hope that these author and book lists can be of help to you.

Comments

  1. I’ve read Lucia! I have never met another person who has read them! I read the entire original canon about six years ago. I just laughed out loud through most of it. Thanks for the heads up about the two sequels. I will have to look out for them. Ciao!

    Reply

  3. Here is another fan of Mapp and Lucia!! I too have read the books more than once–and will again I promise you. I also own the DVDs. I wore out the vhs tapes! I wish more than anything I could live in delicious Tilling, and visit with Diva and Elizabeth over the morning shopping.

    Reply

  4. Donna…
    I know I am quite “tarsome” bringing up these wonderful books as often as I do… I keep hoping that a few people will try them. I, too, wish “I could live in delicious Tilling” (to use your words.) I would even learn how to play bridge, in hopes of being invited to one of Lucia’s bridge parties… even knowing that I would have to endure endless versions of Moonlight Sonata!

    Au reservoir…

    Reply

  5. Hello there, I haven’t noticed any mention of an excellent mystery author, CLARISSA WATSON. She wrote a series of books featuring painter and art expert Persis Willum. The books are intelligent and fun, so much so that I re-read them about every 5 years! Please give them a try if you like international intrigue and a heroine who loves art. I only wish she had written more of them.

    Reply

  6. Hi Carolyn

    I am sorry to say that I have never read a Clarissa Watson novel… but they do sound good! As a matter of fact, I think that I will write a blog about her and see if anybody knows of an author who is similar to her.

    Thanks for telling us about her!

    Reply

  7. Hi, dog lovers will like the new cozy I discovered titled “Sunshine Estates: Rx for Rosedale” (was actually looking for something about Bernese Mountain Dogs, and found this cozy instead!) The protagonist is a pet sitter in a retirement development. I laughed out loud in quite a few spots, and was pleasantly surprised by some twists and turns the mystery took. A very entertaining read … and a bonus my favorite dog is a character in the novel.

    Reply

  9. Danna,

    I can’t thank you enough for the wonderful website! After graduate school and two small children, I am finally venturing back into “reading for pleasure.” Your recommendations and information are wonderful!

    Best to you,

    Ericka

    Reply

  10. Hi Ericka,

    I’m glad you finally have time to read for pleasure! I remember those days…

    I hope that you find a few authors who you want to try. When I started the site I only had the authors I had personally read, but since the site’s inception, I have added a lot of authors who site readers have recommended. (I, too, have found some new authors who I want to spend time reading!)

    Reply

  11. Ha,ha,ha. I too have had to keep a list of books I have read after duplicating some time after time. My list is 9 pages long! Only listing author and titles. Wanted to do a critique of the author, but the list would be unmanageable when I go shopping!
    Thanks for this great site! Now I have new authors to find! My favorites: Miss Seeton series and M. C. Beaton – both series. Many others as well but these are ‘gold’ to me!

    Reply

  13. Hi there, Danna

    Wow, do you know how glad I am that I stumbled upon your website!! I have read my favourite authors to pieces and was really getting desperate trying to get hold of new “cosies”.

    I am a South African reader who cannot fall asleep without a “cosy” in my hand or in my ears (Ipod). “Cosies” are not generally available over the counter and I have to have an author’s name to order them from a bookshop.

    Charlotte Macleod and Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters are two of my 10 star authors. I enjoy their tongue-in-the-cheek style very much and have read them so many times.

    With your list I now have a new problem: Where do I start? But don’t you worry… that is a lovely problem, one that I will enjoy solving.

    Thanks so much!

    Corna

    Reply

  14. Hi Corna,

    You are the first Cozy Mystery Site Reader from South Africa who has sent a note… Thank you!

    I am glad that the site (with its authors’ lists) is helping you… Some of the authors are favorites of mine, while others, I am not familiar with quite yet. But, I’m like you>>> I have gotten many new ideas of authors to read from the recommendations that I get from Site Readers.

    Thanks (again) for taking the time to write to say such nice things about the site!

    Reply

  15. Hello Danna,

    I’d like to add another oldie – the Mr. & Mrs. North series by the Lockridges. They are fun, but there were so many of them I was never able to find them all. And they don’t get republished that often.

    Also, Jane Langton’s Homer Kelly is not an 1800’s Oxford professor but a mid-1900’s retired DA, turned detective, turned professor.

    Reply

  16. Thank you so much, Arlene, for telling me about the Homer Kelly mistake. I have just corrected it.

    I have the Lockridges on the site, with the Mr. & Mrs. North series. They sure did write a lot of books!

    Thanks, again…

    Reply

  17. Danna, What a find your site is. A girl after my own heart. I just never knew they were called “cozy” books. I have been reading them for years too. I started keeping track of books I’ve read years ago in a very labor intensive way on my computer. Well several computers later I am still trying to keep track of them and as you do, I try and keep a list of what I may want to read. I also dislike jumping in in the middle of a series. So, I have started collecting them as I go along trying to get the whole series before I get started. I keep them on a site called my library thing. Very easy to use. It prints out a list of books that I can carry with me to look for. You of course have now given me more books to look for. So to that end, do you have any sites that you use to root out used books to fill your shelves? I got injured at work a year ago and have a lot of time to read now (for a while) but have limited income. I really don’t want to use ebay or amazon. I know there are some great sites out there where I could possibly find some of the older books but it is hard to ferret them out. Anyway, just wanted to thank you for this great site and all the work that goes into it. Now off to check out the rest of your site.

    Reply

  18. Hi Renee,

    I am so glad that you found the site. I have to warn you, though, that now that I am taking recommendations from site readers, I can’t vouch for the “cozy-ness” of each of the authors!

    I get all of the books in a new series before I start to read them, also. This usually works out really well for me, but there have been a few times when I don’t actually like the author, and then I have a bunch of books that I will not read.

    I’m sorry, but I buy most of my books from Amazon. I used to go to our local Half Price book stores, but for some reason I haven’t been going to them recently. I also try to get some from the paper back swapping site.

    Thank you so much for writing to me and letting me know about your enjoyment of the site…

    Reply

  19. Danna,
    I too, have just stumbled upon this website while I was looking for a specific author. I have been keeping my list for years and it is a 27 page spreadsheet at this point. Many of your authors are already on my list. I am strictly a library user since I find no need to own a book if I only intend to read it once. I also try not to start a book series in the middle and having my list is a lifesaver in keeping the books in order. Libraries do not always have all of a series or they get rid of the older books or sometimes, a book is just checked out and not available at the time I am there, so having many options is a must. I definitely will be doing some work to add more of these authors to my list.

    Thank you for doing much of the work for me.

    Reply

  21. Danna, just found your site this morning (through Louise Penny, my recent most favorite) and have sat here for hours reading and making lists of authors. I enjoyed the blog and loved the interview. Do you have a newsletter to subscribe to? I’d like to be on an automatic mailing list to receive your latest. Thanks for all of the work you have put into your website. I am now a regular reader.

    Reply

  22. Thank you, Martha. I am so glad that you are enjoying the site. I hope you find lots of authors who look interesting to you. I know that since I started the site, I have found several new authors from site readers’ recommendations.

    Sorry to say, but I don’t have a newsletter. It does, however, sound like a good idea…

    Reply

  23. I discovered the cozy mystery website a few months ago and just want to let Danna know that this absolutely fantastic list has helped me keep sane through some very personal troubles. I am reading Dana Cameron now. But I am going to go back to the “a’s” and work my way through the whole ‘aytozed’ list!
    One of my very favorites is M.C. Beaton and I have been so entertained by the Hamish series. Loved Agatha Raisin too. I saw that the Hamish series was picked up by the BBC and turned into 24 episodes. Would anyone know if they are available on DVD?
    Again, thanks to Danna and her friends for finding me wonderful ways to take my mind off my problems. The first round is on me, if we ever chance to meet!
    Best Regards,
    Dareth, M.L.S.
    Portland, Oregon

    Reply

  24. Hi Dareth,

    I first want to thank you for all of the nice things you had to say about the site. I think that it’s wonderful that you the books are helping you through “some very personal troubles.” Books are a great way to “lose ourselves” for a while, aren’t they?

    As for the M. C. Beaton Hamish series. My husband and I were fortunate to catch it while it was on the BBCA network… and we really enjoyed it. I must say, however, that I was a little surprised (at first) by their choice in actors for Hamish… not quite what I expected. But, once my initial reaction wore off, I enjoyed the actor’s portrayal. (Although, I still think that they changed Hamish quite a bit from the novels.)

    Anyway, I just looked it up, and the complete series is available on DVD… Hamish Macbeth, Series 1-3 Collection. You might even be able to track down the DVDs to rent…

    I hope that things are improving for you… Danna

    Reply

  25. I just found your site today (4/13/09) and love it! I love reading cozy mysteries and am always searching for new series to start. Thank you for giving the option to search by theme, I have not seen that on a site before.

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  27. Hi, Danna, I just discovered your site yesterday and it’s wonderful! I’ve been reading all mysteries for many years and didn’t even know that some are called cosy mysteries. I like all different types of mysteries. I’ve been keeping a booklist for probably twenty years and it started out on 3×5 cards and is now up to ten 3-column pages and is just the authors and their books. But after looking at your listings I’m probably going to add many more pages to my list. My list is a working list, books I have, ones I don’t have and ones to read are all marked with different symbols. I carry it in my purse all the time. Thanks so much for making this list as it’s something I’ve been wanting for a long, long time. Sally, Missouri

    Reply

  28. Hi, Sally, and welcome to the site!

    You sound like someone who is never fooled into buying the same book twice… like I did several times before I started keeping a detailed list of “my” authors.

    Thanks for writing and letting me know that you like the site. It’s always nice to hear nice comments!

    Reply

  29. Hi Danna,
    Just discovered your site and am thrilled. Thank you for your hard work! I’m returning to cozy mysteries in my 40’s after spending most of my 20’s and 30’s reading a lot of heavy literary fiction. I finally decided to stop torturing myself—life is too short! Like another commenter, I am going through some difficulties and just want to read books that are totally engaging and make me feel good. I started thinking about the books I enjoyed most as a young person (Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca, all of Agatha Christie, Nancy Drew, etc.) and randomly picked up Dorothy Cannell’s The Thin Woman. It was great therapy, and I’m hungry for more. The problem with diving back in 20 some odd years later is that without some kind of map, the landscape is overwhelming. Amazon is somewhat helpful, but what you’ve done is outstanding, and will make my journey so much easier. Thank you again.
    Angela

    Reply

  30. Hi Angela,

    Welcome back to Cozy Mysteries!

    My sister reads “heavy literary fiction” and self-help books>>> None of which seem to help improve her mood(s?).

    There’s nothing like returning to something that we truly enjoyed at an earlier time in our lives… Very therapeutic! I hope that your Cozies continue to help you through the challenges you are presently experiencing.

    Reply

  31. Just discovered your site and wanted to dash off a note to say thanks. I will make use of it often. I enjoy a good mystery , especially ones with Dogs and FOOD!
    Just finished a first novel by Spencer Quinn, a Chet and Bernie Mystery called Dog on it. Quite good actually. It was my excuse for not getting my weekend chores done!

    Reply

  33. Hi, Danna,
    You must know more about cozies than anyone on the planet! So of course I must ask you for recommendations. My favorite mysteries are British and a bit edgy. I love the ones written by Ruth Rendell writing as Barbara Vine, but I also like her Wexford novels. Other favorites are P.D. James and Minette Walters, and I have read Morag Joss lately. Can you suggest any other British authors who write psychological thrillers? Thanks!

    Reply

  34. Hi Kathie,

    You might want to take a look at some of the authors on these lists:

    British Authors A-B, C-D, E-H, J-N, P-S, T-W

    Right off the top of my head… How about Martha Grimes, Colin Dexter, Elizabeth George, Dorothy L. Sayers, Kathy Reichs (not British settings)… I’m not big on thrillers, as you can tell from these suggestions…

    Are there any site readers out there who might know some authors who truly write British psychological thrillers?

    Reply

  35. I realize that I am likely on the wrong site,but maybe some one would be good enough to point me as to where to go.I have just learned that several of M.C.Beatons books with Hamish McBeth as main character have been made into movies.How and where can I locate a source of these movies on DVD?I am in the U S A.Were they ever imported here?

    Reply

  36. Yes, they are offered here in the USA >>> there is a collector’s set with all three seasons of the Hamish Macbeth shows. My husband and I were lucky to have seen them when they appeared on the BBCA network… before they changed their format to include mostly cleaning, selling, and cooking reality shows.

    Reply

  37. Hi Danna-
    I’ve actually been enjoying your site for quite some time now. I, like many others have list after list of cozy mysteries that I would love to read–and ditto for the books that I have already read. I own tons of books due to a local library book sale that sells books every month for 30 cents. I’m, of course, very selective and only buy cozies. After going to these book sales( which,by the way, is a family event-we travel 50 miles) for 5 years(only missed a few),you can only imagine my stockpile of books. I have bookshelves everywhere-even two 9ft high solid oak wardrobes that my hsuband added shelves to in order to house my books. You would think that I would be happy with those, but I’m always looking for that cozy that takes place at “the old mansion” where some type of gathering takes place and, of course, a murderer is in the midst. If you could give me any direction on what authors or books deal specifically with that topic I would be extemely grateful. Again, thanks for the great site that puts everything in order—no more messy lists that get lost in my purse-just my i-phone and your website!!!
    Karen

    Reply

  38. Hi Karen,

    I’m glad you’re enjoying the site.

    I will try to post an entry that deals with your topic. Hopefully some of the site readers will be able to give you some ideas of authors whose books deal with the murderer-in-the-mansion idea.

    I read Red Christmas a few years ago by Patrick Ruell (aka Reginald Hill) and it was exactly that… a snowed-in group of people in an old estate.

    Of course, other than Red Christmas, I am coming up blank… except for some of Agatha Christie’s books.

    I will try to get an entry written that will help you with this…

    Reply

  39. Hi,
    Just wanted to leave you a note and tell you how wonderful your blog and cozy mystery website is! I read a lot of different books; sometimes a cozy mystery. I have been frustrated by starting in the middle of a series and find your site such a help!
    I know that you have spent so much time on this and wanted to tell you it is greatly appreciated!

    Reply

  40. Thank you, Cindy, for the very kind words. I know how frustrating it is to start a series in the middle. The internet sure has helped with that problem… I truly remember having to pull all of an author’s books off of the bookshelves in the library and then going through each book to find out what year was listed as the copyright, and that had to be the first copyright! Talk about frustrating! (I should add that I always returned the books to their proper location on the shelves!)

    Reply

  41. I know you are overwhelmed with suggestions for additional authors. Nevertheless, I’m pretty sure you would like this one. I just read “The Dead Wives Society” by Sharon Duncan. It is one of four in the Scotia MacKinnon series. The author’s website is scotiamysteries.com. Apparently she wrote four in this series, the last being 2004. I couldn’t find any reason that she hasn’t written more but I found them to be a cut above the average cozy.

    As always, thanks for the great work you do. I enjoy both the site and the blog immensely! Pam

    Reply

  42. Just discovered your brilliant website Danna. Thank you so much for putting together such a comprehensive authors’ list for my favourite kind of fiction. I can see I’ll have many more cosy reads to look forward to this winter.
    PS: Another fine writer you might want to consider for your list is the late Janie Bolitho whose artist-detective, Rose Trevelyan solves mysteries in the Cornish countryside.

    Reply

  44. I found your website on Stumbleupon and was I glad! I thought I was just about the only one on the planet that loved cozies. In my part of the world, Brenham, Texas, they are scarce as hensteeth. I, too, have made list after list and go to our library to find books only to be told they are not available, but can be had through interlibrary loan. Which I did for a long time, but found that our librarian was not able to keep up with my voracious appetite for books, not to mention how long one must wait for these items to be found and of course, they are not in order. I hate to read out of order. And to add insult to injury, we are now charged $3.00 a book for the privilege. I can see that a lending library is needed. Any ideas on that one?

    I am so glad to find your site and feel I have found a kindred soul. Thanks for writing the blog and keeping the lists! It great!

    Reply

  45. Hi Kathleen,
    Welcome to the site. As you can probably tell by the people who comment on the site, there are plenty of us around!
    I looked up Brenham, Texas, and see that you are located right between Austin and Houston… sort of mid-way. What a shame that they are making you pay $3.00 for inter-library loans. Have you tried seeing what the local high school has to offer? A few years ago, our crazy councilman had the great idea to make our local high school’s library into the public library. It would be a great idea for those of us who live close to the library, except for the crazy hours we are allowed into the place…

    Anyway, glad you found the site, and hope you continue to enjoy it!

    Reply

  46. Hi Danna:
    I stumbled on your site this morning after looking for some books lists of British cozy authors. What a joy to read and explore. You’ve done so much work for all of us, and when I read your pages on what makes a mystery “cozy” and why you created wonderful site, I knew I was looking at the work of a kindred soul. Thank you so much for your site and for sharing your knowledge and exceptional organizational skills with us. I will be a frequent visitor.

    Reply

  47. Hi Marcia,

    Welcome to the site. Thank you for the very kind words… There is something to be said about being too organized! The site started out as something small… for a few friends to share with me… My obsessive/compulsive tendencies have taken over since those days!

    Thanks, again…

    Reply

  48. Take a look at Ian Sansom’s Mobile Library Mystery series — There’s no one around quite like Israel Armstrong — I want to know what you think!

    Reply

  50. Danna,
    Just discovered your Website and I am thrilled to find so many new mystery writers. One name I did not see was Phillip Depoy.He writes a series about a folklorist named Fever Devilin,who is let go by a Georgia university and returns to his childhood home in a small town ( village?) in the Appalachian mountains. Great stories, wonderful feeling for atmosphere. I felt like I was there in the mountains. His characters are very interesting. Agatha Christie and Dolly Parton would both feel at home there.
    Rina

    Reply

  52. Hi Danna,

    Thank you so much for writing your blog. I love cozies and will use your lists to add to my library.

    Take care,
    Micky

    Reply

  53. Welcome, Micky…

    When I first started the Cozy Mystery site, I only included authors with whom I was familiar. Since then, I have added a whole lot of authors who come recommended by site readers and also the authors themselves. I am not familiar with all of the authors, but at least this is a good starting place for people who are looking for new authors to try.

    Thanks for taking the time to write AND good luck finding authors!

    Reply

  54. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE your site and lists! I’ve found many new authors to read and find myself coming back again and again. Keep up the awesome lists!
    Debbie

    Reply

  56. Could anyone give me any information about Jill Churchill, the author of the Jane Jeffry mysteries and the Grace and Favor Mysteries. She was suppose to have the book, “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” published but to date it has been delayed. Is she in poor health or no longer writing. Thanks for any info anyone can give me.

    Reply

  57. I know you get a lot of compliments, but I have been lurking on your site for several months now, and I wanted to let you know that I think it is an incredible site and that I use it before I begin a new series all of the time. I love it. You have done a fabulous job.

    Reply

  58. I don’t know how this blog thing really works, so I may be in the wrong place.

    Others have said the same – this is a very good site. I have a file of “Authors Lists” that are print-outs from this site of authors I wish to collect.

    Another series you might be interested in is the “Liturgical Myteries” by Mark Schweizer. They are totaly outrageous and great fun. They feature a small town police chief who is also the organist in an Episcopal church and keeps his gun under the organ bench. If you are Episcopal or Lutheran (both liturgical churches) you will be right at home – but there are plenty of mentions of Baptists, etc. Mark pokes outrageous fun at almost everyone within the church organization – but never at God. Among the titles are “The Alto Wore Tweed”, “The Mezzo Wore Mink”, etc. As you can see there is also a strong reference to classical music. They are availabe from St. James Musical Press.

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  59. The question I have been pondering and searching is this:

    Lilian Jackson Braun of the “Cat Who . . .” fame was to publish a book called “The Cat Who Smelled Smoke” last year. Yet I find no news of when this will come out – publisher things? Hallucination? She ended the last book with the barn being burned down and a new love interes for Qwilleran. Any clues?

    Reply

  61. I have never been on this site before, but it is very nice! I will start recommending it to our library patrons who are looking for mysteries to read. While I was looking over your site, I noticed that you mentioned the Jan Karon books (very nice, I really enjoyed them), and I was wondering if you realized that there is an older series by a British author with the pen-name of Miss Read. It is from the 1950’s and 60’s, and I think that Karon may have used loosely the idea of village life to write about in her books. My mom who really loved the Karon books actually likes Miss Read even better. There is a different kind of main character, the local teacher of the village school for some of the stories, and they are more like vingettes of village life in rural England right after the war (WWII), but they are charming. Keep up the good work!

    Reply

  62. Welcome to the site, Patti! I’m glad you found it.

    I have a page dedicated to Miss Read. I had several people who told me about Dora Saint’s books, so I added her… even though she doesn’t write mysteries. From what I am told, the Miss Read books are a very “Cozy” series of books.

    Thank you so much for writing… and I hope that your library patrons are able to find some new authors who they might enjoy checking out.

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  63. Danna, I love your cozy-mystery web……..
    When I need a new cozy to read….smile….I come to you…..
    this time I came across an old book author I haven’t read in a long time……..George Simenon…..The book “Maigret Afraid”
    I have read most of the French Inspector books…..so this surprised me when I found it…..
    Here are two more books that look interesting I found on Amazon….1. Maids of Misfortune….M. Louisa Locke
    (A Victorian Mystery)
    2. Dying for a Date….author Cindy Sample…..
    I haven’t read these yet but intend to buy them……..
    Thank you …..and I hope you don’t mind that I shared……………..hugs……

    Reply

  64. Hi Shirley,

    Thanks for telling us about M. Louisa Locke. Her books look like they might be a match for Cozy lovers! (I’ll take a look at Cindy Sample later on…)

    Whan I need a new Cozy author to read I also consult the Cozy Mystery site!

    Reply

  65. I was directed to your site from a discussion or humor in mysteries. Happy find – cozies are my favorite! This was my question:
    Could anyone tell me the author of a series of short stories whose successful “detective” was a terminal hypochondriac. She appeared to be working her way through a medical book of rare and often fatal diseases, and solved all her cases while in the throes of her “disease du jour”. I think I read these in Ellery Queen magazine, and have never been able to look them up since I don’t remember the author. Any help would be gratefully appreciated!

    Thanks,
    Carol

    Reply

  67. Can anyone tell me what happened to Kat Goldring? I really enjoyed her books, but there haven’t been any new ones lately. A search for her turns up nothing.

    Reply

  69. Danna,

    I am so glad I found this blog. Reading your list reminded me of the older shows that I saw years ago; now, I long to see them again.

    I don’t know if you remember the name of the show – it was a husband and wife team solving the crime. They are both young, and the wife always pulls out from her little handbag a little notebook with a matching little pen. In that little notebook she writes all her gathered information, and off they go to solve the crime. It was such a delight watching this couple go about solving a crime.

    Reply

    • Eveline, are you thinking of Tommy and Tuppence Beresford? I believe the TV show was called Partners in Crime with James Warwick and Francesca Annis playing the crime solving couple. Agatha Christie wrote the original books.

      Reply

  70. Trying to find out why Edie Claire stopped writing the Leigh Koslow mysteries, they were fun to read. Anyone know. Also any updates on The Cat Who Series that just seemed to have stopped. I realize the author is up there in years but thought there was one more in the works. Thanks

    Reply

  71. Sorry, Granice, but we have speculated about Lilian Jackson Braun, and no one seems to know what happened. I know she was due to release a book a few years ago, but it was never published.

    Here is a link to our speculation…

    As for your Edie Claire question… I just wrote to her. Hopefully I have a working address for her. I’ll keep you posted…

    Reply

  72. Thanks I had tried to find an email address for Edie Claire to ask that question but was not successful, hope you are.

    I have read the thoughts, etc on Jackson Braun, sounds like there’s a book but something is holding it up and the what is the big question.

    Reply

  74. Thanks, I finally did find her email address in one of her books and she emailed the same info. Too bad publishers do that, but with more folks reading on the web, its probably hard for them. Both my husband and I prefer books!

    Reply

  75. Thank you for letting me know about the 2009 Kat Goldring book. Every time I do a web search, it leads me to the same information which isn’t much. I can’t wait to find “Murder by Ancient Design”. She writes about so many places in Texas that are familiar and I love the paranormal and Native American lore.

    Reply

  76. Very good site – I’ve only just come across it. You might like to add Stuart Pawson to your lists. A very good writer of mysteries set in Yorkshire. He hails from Wakefield and I love his books.

    Reply

  78. Hi Danna,
    just to let you know that the fourth book in my Belinda Lawrence mysteries has been published.
    A Canterbury Crime.
    Details are on my website.
    Good to read the blog.
    Cheers,
    Brian

    Reply

  79. Thanks for adding my series. I would say the first, Thirteenth Night, is the coziest according to your definition. Some of the others take place in cities [Constantinople and Toulouse, for example], but the sex and violence are largely off-stage. And Viola becomes an equal partner to Theo in the investigations and in the narration. Enjoy!

    Reply

  80. Hello,
    You simply must give the Charles Finch stories a read. His character is Charles Lennox.

    Be sure to read them in order.

    Reply

  81. Thanks, Danna, for all your work. Your website is an informative and relaxing place to browse. How about adding Sandi Ault to your lists? Her “Wild” series has Jamaica Wild working for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management out of Taos, NM. She lives near there with her wolf, Mountain. She seems to know alot about the Pueblo/Tewa Indians…their culture, Religion, etc. Pat

    Reply

  82. I just wanted to thank you for giving me a place to find out about the writers and their books that are so very enjoyable to me! I had no idea what a “Cozy” was, until I discovered your site. You are doing an outstanding job! You are giving me just what I need to know to discover new authors. I find myself coming back again and again and printing out my favorite author’s list pages to use as a reference. Please, Please keep up the good work!

    Reply

    • Thank you, Robin, for the incredibly kind words. I hope you are able to find a whole lot of new authors you enjoy reading!

      Reply

  83. I found your site about an hour ago as I began to research my question, “Why are three authors writing the Miss Seeton series?” I’m delighted that I selected your link of those offered. It is my first trip to a blog, so it was great to see so many of my authors detailed, both old and new.

    Agatha Christie, Georgette Heyer, Dorothy L. Sayers, Earle Stanley Gardner, P.G. Wodehouse, John D. McDonald are just some of the writers I met in my grade school library. I’ve read some of those books over and over again across the span of fifty+years since, but have met so many others over that span that I have come to have a great deal of respect for, also.

    I’m a Los Angeles County Library card holder, but it took a three-month stay in a small town in Oregon to encounter an author who lived less than ten miles from me — Earlene Fowler; it was also there that I read my first Miss Seeton book. What a pleasure on both counts!

    Like you, I had to start writing down books I purchased so that I woudn’t continue to buy duplicates, and also so that I could continue to find books by authors I was just getting to know.

    What fun to find that there are others as crazy as I for books. Thank you for the great job you’ve done on this site.

    Reply

    • Welcome to the site, Pearl! You listed some really terrific authors in your letter…

      Reply

  84. Hi there, I just stumbled on your list this evening trying to find more “Cozies”. I belong to Mystery Guild and they have a Cozy Category but it is small. Most of my purchases come from Barnes and Noble but you can’t find books by looking for Cozy Mysteries. I agree with you it is very frustrating to find new Authors. Thanks so much for your list. I will add it to my Favorites and return to it for suggestions regularly.

    Reply

  85. I would like to let your Blog Readers on the upper East Coast (New England area) know about something great I recently discovered. We did not attend this past event, but will be attending (weather permitting) the one in 2012. It is called Murder 203. Lisa Forman the Co-Chair tells me it will be April 14 and 15. No Authors have been announced yet. (http://www.murder203.com/index.html). It is a fund raiser for the Easton and Westport Public Libraries. Authors such as Carolyn Hart, Leslie Meier just to name two of about sixteen were in attendance this year. It is a two day event with Author Panels, Auctions, Book Signings and Cocktail Party. It is going into it’s third year. It sounds like so much fun. I saw it on Leslie Meier’s Website. I would love to bring an event like this to our Library. Our main branch is under going a huge expansion and it would be great for the grand reopening. I hope others will check it out!

    Reply

    • Thanks, Margaret, for telling the East coast Cozy Mystery site readers about the Murder 203 symposium.

      Reply

  86. My husband and I write cozy mysteries. We currently have two in publication: “Murder… They Wrote” and “Murder in Paradise”. The latter is a finalist for the 2012 EPIC eBook Award for mystery. The winner will be announced in March at the EPIC conference.

    You might want to try one of ours! They are set in Hawaii, so you also get a virtual vacation while trying to figure out the solution along with the protagonist.

    Reply

  87. I’m on cozy-mystery overload, but very happy to have found this site. I go slightly agitated in our local library every time I finished all the books they have of yet another ‘found’ author that I have taken yet another chance to read. Your site give us a heads up on what we are wading into prior to taking that first plunge; it also lets us know what the library may have not purchased, rather than trying to figure out what is checked out.

    One thing that I so appreciate in having your list is to have all the author’s books in order AND dated. I have recently started reading Joan Hess’s “Maggody” series. I have been so annoyed that the series is not listed in the in order in any of the novels, nor is it listed AS a series in some of them. It has been impossible to figure out which ones were written in which order—meaning, I have read several out of order.

    I would like to recommend the Travis McGee novels by John D. MacDonald. No—they are NOT cozies. But if you can include the Spenser novels by Robert Parker (which I salivate over—What glorious, funny and articulate dialogue!) and Rex Stout’s Archie Goodwin (again, dialogue meant for long evenings by the fire) and all the characters that showed up in the Dick Francis novels (especially Sid Halley), then you must include Trav. I am sure, quite sure, that he is still aboard his boat, “The Busted Flush,” down there in slip F-18, Bhahia Mar, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, fixing something and waiting on someone to board her with an intriguing offer to find something no one else can.

    Trav is a “salvage consultant.” Whatever he finds, he gets 50%. It could be money, it could be a person. He’s good, and he almost always succeeds. But at a price that almost always costs him more than he wishes he has to give. But he never compromises his sense of fairness or honor and he never sacrifices friendship—especially of his best friend Meyer, the brilliant economist and owner of “The John Meynard Keynes.”

    All the novel titles are artfully ‘colorful’ like, “The Dreadful Yellow Sky,” and “The Turquoise Lament,” or “Free Fall in Crimson.” Spend some time with Travis. You won’t regret it. And you just might want to tool down to Ft Lauderdale. But if you don’t find him there, just tell me he’s out hunting for salvage. If he should have not made it back from the last ‘colorful’ adventure, I don’t want to know.

    Reply

  88. I have really loved the Donna Leon and Louise Penny series. There are so many authors listed on your website. Who do you recommend similar to Leon and Penny?

    Reply

  89. Betty Webb’s Lena Jones mysteries are not cozies, but her zoo series are delightful, quirky and funny. Just wanted to correct your site’s depiction of her.

    Reply

    • Thank you, Glennis.

      [I just checked on my site, and see that I have “(Reportedly Not Cozy)” on Betty Webb’s page.]

      Reply

  90. I had no idea this website existed. It’s exactly what I was looking for. I went to my local large bookstore and asked for a list of Minnesota mystery writers and it took two different people to tell me they could not locate that information on their computer. Wow. So I set off on my own to find what I needed and here I am. This site is beatifully set up…so easy to navigate. Thank you!
    Joan

    Reply

    • Welcome to the site, Joan. Thank you so much for the very kind words about the site. I think we have a really good group of Cozy Mystery readers here, and it’s really nice to be able to “talk” with people who share each other’s interests.

      Reply

  91. Thank you for having this WONDERFUL list…..I’m always looking for new things to read and trying to keep up with all of the authors I like. I never knew what a Cozy mystery was, but after looking at your site, that’s about all I read! Thanks for all the hard work…

    Just as a side note, I agree with the list. My husband makes fun of mine: it’s a typed, 2 page list of books alphabetized by author! Sure makes buying books easier!

    Reply

    • Welcome to the site, Christy G! I don’t know what I would do without my alphabetized favorite authors list!

      Reply

  92. Danna,
    I am a Cozy lover and this is indeed a PARADISE for me, I have gone through a number of authors and I look forward to continue down the list, from A to Z 🙂
    My suggestion to the list is Jessie Crockett from New Hampshire, she wrote “Live Free or Die”, the first book on her Granit State Mysteries series a . A second book in the series is scheduled to be released soon. She also has new series called Sugar Grove Mysteries coming up in October.

    Reply

    • Thank you, Peter, for reminding us about Jessie Crockett’s Granite State Mystery Series, and for telling us about her upcoming Sugar Grove Mystery Series.

      Reply

  93. Danna,
    I just found your site tonight. Thank you for sharing your love of the “Cozy” genre. And thank you for all of the time and effort you have put into creating this site. (Please thank your husband too for suggesting that you do it and for his generosity in sharing you with us.)
    This will be very helpful to me as I really hate reading a book in series out of order because so much usually depends upon what came before.
    When I read you bio I had to laugh when you said that prior to creating your list, you discovered that you had bought duplicates. (I had the same problem with the rubber stamps I bought for card-making. Since I have “old-heimer’s” and cannot remember all of the stamps, I own I found that when I really liked a stamp, I liked it so much that I would buy it again and sometimes again. I now have a list of the books I have read and the stamps I own.)
    Thanks again for sharing and being a blessing to us all.
    Terri

    Reply

    • Welcome to the site, Terri!

      I think that as time progresses, mystery series get more and more dependent on their previous books. I mean, take Miss Marple, although all of the Marple books are in a series, you can pretty much read them as stand alones. More current authors make it REALLY important to know the characters from the beginning of their series..

      Terri, your rubber stamp collection sounds like my cross stitching books. There were several that I had two of… You’re right about us knowing what we like >>> to the point that each time we see the items, we buy them again!

      Reply

  94. Hello,

    First of all, i am german and my english is not the best.
    But i want to thank you for this page. I looked long time for more cozy crime books and like you i searched amazon but it costs a lot of time and i have to search google or wiki to found out what is the first book of the series and so on
    In germany are not much books that are like cozy crime (from german authors). And most of the english authors are not translate (or, even more worst) only the the 3 – 4 books of a series. Thats so frustrating.
    So i have to learn to read more english language (thats very good) but have to find more and more authors for cozy crime. So like you i made a list and so on.
    And your page is soo helpful, i love it! Specially the sites where i could find authors like n.atherton, a. christie, culinary storys and so on.
    Thank you for your page and your time and passion that you put in it.
    Nico

    Reply

    • Welcome to the Cozy Mystery site, Nico. I’m glad you are finding out about different Cozy Mystery series.

      By the way: Your English is EXCELLENT!!!

      Reply

  95. I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your site. I will get addicted to a series and will go to buy the next one and will have no clue which one comes next. I have your site on my fave list and reference it before I buy. Thank you so much. I am currently reading Dixie Cash. I just finished the 3rd one of the Domestic Equalizers. I am off to buy the 4th. Again thank you.

    Reply

    • Tricia B, I’m so glad you enjoy the site and are finding authors who you enjoy reading. You’re welcome!

      Reply

  96. While reading fresh fiction.com this morning I found a contest about
    Tony Kappes | Why Cozy Mysteries Are Appealing To Readers ~ Comment to Win!
    I added my message and suggested your site.
    I said I thought I knew what a “cozy mystery” was but still searched and I found your site. I am going to put it on my blog also. Lots of work and you have done a good job.
    Leona

    Reply

  98. ok, found it under the “about” choice.

    When did the term “cozy mysteries” come into being? I’m going to my book club today and would liie to inform them. Thanks, Danna.

    Kathy

    Reply

    • Good question, Kathy. I’m not sure when it came into use, but I know that when I first started the Cozy Mystery site in 2006 it had been in use for a while, but my husband had never heard of it.

      Reply

  99. I just wanted to say THANK-YOU so much for putting this website together. I’ve been using it as a reference for years – whenever I want to find a new cozy mystery series to start – and it didn’t occur to me until now to say thanks so much!!!!! It is awesome and truly helpful for all of the reasons you mentioned in your “why” post. You are appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply

  100. Hi! I love your website; it is just what I have been looking for. I am new to the genre and never know what to read. Thank you!

    Reply

  101. Good morning, or maybe it’s afternoon or evening wherever you are. I am a teacher for English and History here in Germany and I started as a crime and mystery reader of English authors when I was 14 (Stephen King was just THE author at that time). I just loved the thrill and read heaps of Reich, Gerritsen etc. BUT: I had to devour them at night -too much work for school and keeping the family happy during the day- and you know what? Sleep somehow eluded me more and more as I just couldn’t stop reading and when I finally drifted off, my dreams often enough made me relive what I had just read (not always a very nice experience). Then I stumbled onto your website and that turned me into a cozy-maniac 🙂 I would really like to thank you for putting so much work into these pages, you make it so much easier for us “addictives” to find a relaxing and often funny page-turner. THANK YOU! And yes, I also share your sentiments towards Kindles and others. My eye-sight is still OK, but my husband is not prone to grumble about the light so much as before .-) And going on holiday without taking a second suitcase for all the books is also a pro!
    Hope to read many more of your recommendations, best regards, Steph

    Reply

    • Stephanie, welcome to the Cozy Mystery site! I am glad you found us and also that you wrote this comment.

      Even though he is one of the best story-tellers alive, Stephen King would never be my choice of authors to read right before I wanted to drift off to sleep! I’m guessing your dreams were more like nightmares!

      My husband never complained about the flashlights I used to have to use at night when I read “real books” in bed, however, I did! I had rechargeable batteries in them and often I found myself having to switch to another flashlight in the middle of the night. Invariably, I would then totally wake up, which was a rather annoying part of the “real book” situation for me.

      I hope we see more of you here…

      Reply

  102. Hi Danna,
    Just found your blog today and have not stopped smiling as I explore. I just left a comment under your Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries page. I am just so tickled and excited that I found your blog. While I have friends that enjoy reading as much as myself, I do not know anyone who shares my love for cozy mysteries in both books and tv/movies. I can’t wait to keep exploring and hope to find new authors and/or tv/movies that I have not yet been introduced to. Just wanted to introduce myself and let you know how excited I was to have found this blog. Now on to keep exploring around, I am sure you will see more comments from me soon 🙂 -Carrie

    Reply

  103. I absolutely love cozy mysteries! I stumbled upon your website early this morning. You have done an amazing job on this website!!!! It will make it so easy for me to find books that I have missed by my favorite authors and to find new favorites. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do. I really appreciate your hard work and dedication to your site!

    Reply

  104. Cozies make life bearable and more civilized. I am so excited to have stumbled on your site via a Google search. Your blog will keep me in cozy heaven for the rest of my life. Thank you.

    Reply

  105. Just found this site and have it book-marked. What a delight! Can’t wait to get started. I mostly watch my cozies (Rosemary & Thyme, Midsomer Murders, etc.) because of the needlework I do, professionally, but have wanted to branch out into audiobooks for quite some time. Hoping this will be the place for me to find my recommendations. Thanks!!

    Reply

  106. Hello Danna

    Love your site! There isn’t anything like a cozy to restore sanity after a tough day.
    I am also an author of a cozy. The title is “One Foot in the Grape,” and takes place on a central California winery. It came out May 5th and what a wonderful experience it’s been!

    Off to explore your site!

    Reply

  107. This is a wonderful site! In the past, I’ve also bought the same book twice (one I bought 3 times). I won’t be doing that anymore now that I’ve discovered this site. Thank you.

    Reply

  108. Thank-you for your website & blog 🙂 Recently I broke my hip so I’m temporary “out of commission” Honeybunny went to our local “Friends’ of the Library” paperback sale. He came home w/three Melissa Cleary “A Dog Lover’s Mystery” books. Am a dog lover and enjoying this “read!”
    Best, my ^..^ ^..^

    Reply

    • my ^..^ ^..^, welcome to the Cozy Mystery site! It sounds like you husband is taking great care of you!
      I thought for sure you were going to say you’re a cat lover! Years ago, I had a whole lot of those really neat key graphics, so seeing these made me smile!

      Reply

        • Mary/^..^ ^..^, I didn’t know what a Shiba Inus looks like, so I looked them up. (I used to watch the Westminster dog show every year, and not knowing reminded me that perhaps I should begin to watch it again!) They are beautiful! Now I can see their ears in your key graphics! The puppies I saw are absolutely adorable. Their little legs don’t look like they should be able to hold up their little puff-ball heads!

          Reply

  109. Hi, Danna,
    I found your site by accident and I am so glad I did!! I too have bought several books just to find when I am digging through my books for something to read, I already had it.
    This site is so helpful. I love that you can find the chronological order of books here because I am always starting in the middle of a series and have to back track to the beginning.
    Thank you again,
    Janie

    Reply

  110. Hi Danna,

    I found your delightful blog through Twitter but the first post I read was dated way back in 2007. I wasn’t sure it would still be up and running, but from comments here I see that it is very much alive and kicking.
    I am a huge fan of cozy mysteries, both reading and writing them. It will be a wonderful indulgence for me to explore all the information on you blog. Thank you. xx

    Reply

  111. Danna – I am 72 and an avid reader of cozy mysteries. My problem is I now have to read the Large Print books. I have disappointed more than more when I start out enjoying a cozy mystery series and find out after three or four books into the series that they stopped making them in Large Print. This is what happened with the “Shadow Series.” Is there any way that you can help me by when you list the books to also tell if they come in LP. That way I won’t be disappointed again. Thanks, Cathy May

    Reply

  113. Ciao Erin,

    my name is Gianna and I am writing from Italy. I’ve been following your blog for almost five years and I want to tell you that I’m infinitely grateful for your cataloging and promotion work.
    Without you, the beloved Cozy would not be the same, and every time I open a book you suggested I think of you and thank you, even if from a distance.

    Thank you, thank you, and thank you again.

    One of your devoted admirers.

    Gianna Antinori
    Florence, Italy

    Reply

  114. I just had to finally write and say thank you for keeping the site updated for years. I have been stopping by periodically for close to 10 years now! You have done a wonderful job with this site. I love it. Hope you are well!

    Reply

  115. Oh wow! What a treasure of treasure lists! I just started writing a blog post about Women Detective authors and in checking out Joan Hess – I found your website. Totally amazing.

    So I am definitely putting a link to your site from the post – because here is a lifetime of work compared to my puddle drip list but I am so excited to visit and will be checking in again and again.

    Here’s to Lists!

    Reply

  117. Thank you so much for doing this!!!!
    I have been using this site for almost 3 years now. It has given me great ideas and I always have such fun scrolling through.
    Thank you.

    Reply

  118. Thank you for this website! I have always loved cozies but only realized it was a genre more recently in my 20s! Can’t wait to get recommendations from this site. 🙂

    Reply

  119. Hi Danna,

    I came across your blog while creating a “genre guide” to Cozy Mysteries for one of my classes at librarian school. It has been immensely helpful and fun to poke around in this space! However, I’ve tried finding your full name so that I can properly cite you in my sources. Not sure if you have disclosed that information but wanted to check with you in case. Thanks so much for your help.

    Reply

  120. Hey there, just came across your site yesterday and wanted to say keep up the amazing work. It was exactly the kind of site I was looking for and is immensely helpful. I know it’s not easy to maintain a site like this for years, I’ve tried myself, so wanted to congratulate you on your dedication and knowledge that I”m sure helps a lot of people. Thanks!

    Reply

  121. Greetings!
    Thank you for loving cozy mysteries so much that you started and have kept up this amazing website. I keep it pinned to my Favorite menu bar and return to it often, especially when I need a pick-me-up.
    I already had dozens of cozy mysteries on my bookshelves when I discovered your site, and now I can find others to add.

    Reply

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