I posed a question to myself the other day… If I was to try to convince a non-cozy "addict" (I’m afraid that the word "addict" does indeed describe some of us!) that the cozy mystery genre is worth pursuing, what would I do? Hmmm… I could give the person the definition of a cozy mystery novel and then try to convince the person that everyone who tries one goes back for another… sort of like potato chips. OR, I could try to liken cozy mystery books to books that the person had more than likely read. OR, I could pay the person a large amount of money to make it worth his/her while to read a cozy mystery novel, knowing that, again, the analogy with the potato chips. OR, I could give the person the first novel from Anne George‘s Southern Sisters cozy mystery series.
Now, I know that a lot of people prefer the ve-dy British types of cozy mystery series, and a lot of people prefer the cozy mystery series that feature… oh, say an older spinster aunt-type, or an unmarried, cerebral bachelor-type. But, if you haven’t yet tried "Murder on a Girls’ Night Out" (#1 in the series) then you should reserve your comments!
I read the first of the eight books of Anne George’s series as a monthly pick for one of my reading groups… I think it was the (now defunct) Mystery in the Morning… It was the chosen book of the month for all of us to read.
I might have "gone into" the book thinking… hmmm… another southern cozy… just what I need! Well, let me tell you, it was just what I needed! I cannot say enough good things about the Southern Sisters series of books.
The books feature Patricia Anne "Mouse" Hollowell, and Mary Alice "Sister" Crane. You can probably tell which one of the sisters is the ex-teacher and which one is the country western tavern owner…by their nicknames… If you guessed that "Mouse" didn’t own the tavern, you are right!
These two sisters actually talk and act like sisters. There is nothing false about their relationship… and, as a sister to my sister, I can vouch for that! Anne George based Mary Alice’s character on her cousin, and Anne shared the fact that she had been a school teacher with Patricia’s character… Hmmm….
The mysteries the two sisters solve involve a whole lot of fun for the reader, and the characters really are three dimensional, not flat cardboard personalities that lay flat on the paper.
The next book in the series, Murder on a Bad Hair Day ( #2) continues with the fun… as do the rest of the books:
Murder Runs in the Family (#3)
Murder Makes Waves (#4)
Murder Gets a Life (#5)
Murder Murder Shoots the Bull (#6)
Murder Carries a Torch (#7)
Murder Boogies with Elvis (#8)
As I sit here typing this blog, I am smiling to myself as I remember how much enjoyment I got when I read these books. Also, I am thinking about a very good friend of mine who absolutely loves Anne George’s books. This particular friend found out that Anne George had been nominated for a Pulitzer for one of her poetry books. My friend wrote to Anne George and asked her where the book was available to buy. The very gracious Ms. George lost no time in sending my friend a signed copy of the particular poetry book. So, my friend and I found out that "Mouse" and Ms. George had more than just being school teachers in common… they were both very caring and generous.
Jan says
Anne George’s books are on my very favorites list too. I was so saddened when she died before her time…
Brook says
I felt the very same way. So very sad because her books are so alive you feel as if you truly know her and somehow she has become such a close friend. I have re-read her books over and over and they bring me such comfort on rainy days and otherwise. I have laughed out loud so many times in each of her books. Some new mysteries are just too silly, hers were humorous, cute and never failed to make me smile. She is missed…
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Brook, Anne George certainly has a big following, doesn’t she? It’s hard to believe she wrote the last Southern Sisters mystery over ten years ago…
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Jan, I feel the same…. way before her time…
Nancy says
I, too, love Anne George. I read her books over and over again. Does anyone know of another series similar to Mouse and Mary Alice?
chris says
try ann ross – miss julia series
Sharon says
I love the Southern Sisters mysteries, too! I just finished reading "Murder Shoots the Bull" and enjoyed every minute of it! I also have enjoyed listening to them. The person who performs these books is great. I enjoyed having a voice to associate with two of my favorite characters.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sharon,
I didn’t know that the books were out in audio. I will have to check and see who performs them… I would have loved listening to them!
kitty says
I love her books and was really saddened when she passed away. I sent her son a card and he responded to me with a very nice letter. What a wonderful read.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kitty,
It sounds like her son is as gracious as she was…
Vicky says
Nancy:
Stumbled upon your blog – did you find an answer to a series like Anne George’s “sister” series? I loved all those books.
Gina says
I loved the southern sisters books too. I wish Anne George was still with us. If anyone knows of another author similar would you please let me know?
Pat @7:55pm says
I also fell in love with Anne George’s books upon reading the first one. I will be checking back in the hopes someone does have an author to recommend with a similar style. Anne will certainly be a hard act to follow. Thanks!
Katie says
I loved these books too. I also like the Hannah Swenson series by Joanne Fluke. It is small town, family oriented, fun, and of course a murder or two.
Deborah Sharp says
I am a huge fan of the late Anne George. Her death was a great loss to the mystery world.
She’s one of the reasons I became a mystery writer after many years as a journalist. I wanted to write funny mysteries, and Anne’s success (and her wonderfully humorous stories) made it seem like that was a goal worth achieving.
I’ve been thrilled that my ”Mace Bauer Mystery” series, featuring three sisters and the mama who drives them all crazy, has been compared to Anne’s Southern Sisters books. What an honor! Check out the family relationships in MAMA DOES TIME (Midnight Ink, 2008), or the just released MAMA RIDES SHOTGUN (2009), and let me know what you think.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hi Deborah,
Thank you so much for posting in this entry’s comments area. As you can see, there are a lot of Anne George fans who are saddened that she passed away.
I can imagine how thrilling it must be to see that your Mace Bauer Mystery Series has been compared to Anne George’s Southern Sisters Mystery Series. That is a wonderful honor, indeed! I am going to have to move your new series up on my “To Be Read” list.
Thanks, again!
Greenway says
Took the link to the Mace Bauer Mysteries: The great Sue Ann Jaffarian was the one who compared them to Anne George’s Southern Sisters. What better recommendation could there be!
dolly says
My little sister (we’ll call her Mouse) had me read this book “Murder on a Girl’s Night out”. It was wonderful , it kept me on the edge of my seat, I could hardly put it down. We’d love to find more of Anne’s novels.
Maria BearMountainBooks says
I just read the first in the Anne George series–what an absolute DELIGHT!!!! I completely loved it. I have the next one sitting here. Such great characters. I enjoyed it thoroughly and I agree–it would be a great intro to “cozy.”
If I could learn to write half as well as she did…
Kara says
Hello All,
I am glad to see that others get as much pleasure reading about Anne George’s Southern Sisters as I do. I am so sad to be half-way through her last book, and have already started looking for a replacement. Though I haven’t read them, I was doing some research for a similar series, and came across Livia J. Washburn’s “Fresh Baked”. It is a culinary mystery series, but has the same southern feel as Southern Sisters and even features retired teachers too! I am looking forward to reading these! Thought I’d share…
Kathy says
I’m about to start this series. I saw one of her books at a local bookstore but they didn’t have the first book. I’m about to go to the library to get it. From what I’ve been reading, her books sound very good. I have another southern author that I like – Ann B. Ross. She has a series called Miss Julia… that have a little bit of mystery but a lot of fun!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kathy, I think you’re going to be in for a treat. I found Anne George’s books delightful to read.
Sher says
I adored her books too. I was fairly new to living in Birmingham when I read her series and I was devastated to find she’d departed this world. Her Southern Sisters is so accurate to life in the Deep South and the locations are all right here, just as she wrote. She wrote two other books besides her Southern Sisters series. Read those if you haven’t. I recommend her books to everyone.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sher, years ago, one of my Cozy Mystery loving friends wrote to Anne George, who then sent her a very nice note and an unsolicited, autographed book of poetry she had written. We were quite taken by her generosity.
Chris says
I’ve just reread the series once again and like always, want to hang out with these two sisters.
I know others have asked for similar series, but honestly, there aren’t any. The Southern Sisters series is a one of a kind and others don’t compare.
Every time I reread the series, I miss the sisters and Anne George all over again.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Chris, I totally agree! I’d love to hang out with these two!
Marion says
I am re-reading all the Southern Sisters books for at least the 3rd time. I love them so much!! I used to think the sisters were so old. Now I am 60 and realize just how young they are ๐
This is silly, but how do you picture the floor plan of Patricia Anne’s house?? I want her bay window and her den!
Greenway says
Looking forward to trying the abovementioned Mace Bauer Mysteries. As yet, none I know of is that similar to Anne George’s works, but if you jam your reading with Mary Daheim’s Bread and Breakfast series (60-ish cousins’ adventures), the pickles that Claire Malloy and company get into in Joan Hess’s series of that name, (that sometimes cross-reference with her supremely hilarious Maggody series), Bill Crider’s Sherriff Dan Rhodes series, G.A. McKevitt’s Samantha Reid series, Miranda/Dean James’s Southern Ladies Mysteries, Nancy Bell’s Biggie series, and Rita Mae Brown’s (I may get the name wrong) Hunsaker Sisters novels, it might help. There’s something about pretty-much-equal duos that make a delicious balance even when the rides get wild.