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Are You a Holiday Cozy Mystery Fan? If So, When (and Which!)?

halloween1111111560780We have finally had our second cool day here in San Antonio! Of course, this doesn’t mean it will continue to be cool, which is why I am so ready for holiday Cozy Mysteries! Those of you who have been with me for a while know that I read Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Cozies only during their corresponding holidays. And since I’m a stickler for reading my Cozy Mysteries in their chronological order >>> I’m way behind with some of my favorite Cozy Mystery authors. Sometimes this means I have to wait almost a whole year to read the next book in a favorite Cozy Mystery series!

thanksgiving1111116878990-0With this in mind, I thought I would ask: How early do you start reading the holiday Cozy Mysteries in your ToBeRead pile/queue? What I mean is: Do you wait until the beginning of December, mid-December, or (if you’re an especially fast reader) the end of December to start reading your Christmas Cozies? (You can substitute Christmas/December with Halloween/October or Thanksgiving/November.)

christmas333346997Also >>> which holiday Cozy Mysteries do you prefer: Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas? And, (Good grief! I’m making this into a 3-part question which is much more complicated than it needs to be!) would you tell us about one or two favorite Cozy Mysteries that are set during that holiday?

Thank you! (I’m really looking forward to reading your comments!)

Comments

  1. I love all cozy mysteries of course, but since my favorite holiday is Halloween I really love all things related to the season! Plan on getting a few for my Nook to read.

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    • Gayle, I have to admit that Halloween was a whole lot more fun when my two children were itty-bitty. But now it’s fun on a different level >>> I enjoy seeing all of my neighborhood children going through the same excitement mine did.

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    • Danna, Gayle & All: I don’t exactly pick my next book according to the season but what’s available from my favorites and what’s available on Amazon plus whether I’m planning a trip to Little Rock’s Barnes & Noble (which has stocked a lot of my own books over the years, (Blessem!). We’re about 40 miles north of Little Rock and the added fun at Barnes and Noble is they have the chocolate bisc. to dip in my latte. LOL. Happy reading to all of us,
      Jackie

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  2. I enjoy reading Christmas cozies starting in early November. It helps me get into the spirit of the holidays. I’ve done this for many years. Some years it’s hard to find new holiday books. I have discovered many authors that I like this way.

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    • Kathleen, me, too! And, I agree with you about having a difficult time some years trying to find new Christmas theme Cozies.

      I noticed that this year there seem to be more Christmas theme Cozy Mysteries being released, and wonder if publishers aren’t telling their authors to get on the holiday bandwagon. Whichever the reason, I’m glad they’re on it!

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      • I agree….there do seem to be a lot of Christmas themed cozies this year. Last year I could only find a couple of new ones. I’ve already found several this year. Of course I am already stocking up for my holiday reading.

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  3. I enjoy both Halloween and Christmas mysteries and usually start reading Halloween cozies October 1st and Christmas cozies December 1st.

    I’ve written a Halloween cozy, “The Ginseng Conspiracy,” but I also enjoy Susan Wittig Albert’s China Bayles series. “Witches’ Bane” would be one. I love Krista Davis’ mysteries including “The Diva Haunts the House.” I am a fan of all of Susan Wittig Albert’s and Krista Davis’ mysteries.

    For Christmas, I have a cozy coming out in November, “Murder Under the Tree.” Two other favorite mysteries by other authors would be: M.C. Beaton’s “A Highland Christmas” and Krista Davis’ “The Diva Cooks a Goose.” Again, M.C. Beaton is a favorite cozy author of mine.

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    • Susan, I have to admit to jumping the gun with my Christmas Cozies. I especially like the ones where the author throws holiday-appropriate descriptions. You know the type: porches with scarecrows for Halloween and cookies and cakes with ornament-type decorations, etc.

      Also, thank you for telling us about your Halloween Cozy called The Ginseng Conspiracy.

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    • I agree about reading the cozy during the season but if I get behind, I read what I can, when able-regardless of the season. I like a non-cozy series by Anne Perry who uses characters from her Monk and Pitt series to “star” by themselves during the mystery during the Holiday.
      They are very enjoyable. But Anne would be the first to say that she is no cozy writer!

      I love Krista Davis’s Diva book for Haunts the House. Maggie Sefton writes well, with romance, humor and a cozy feel to her work and has written a good Christmas book in Felice Navidad.

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  4. Danna, It is so warm here in CT today that I am melting. I made the mistake after some very chilly weather the other day of putting my summer clothes away. Was I ever wrong, but I will survive. I cannot wait for the proper season or holiday to read a themed book. Thus I will receive Donna Andrews’ latest Christmas book next week and will promptly dive in and devour it. I think I enjoy Christmas books best of all. My all time favorite is of course Charlotte Macleod’s “Rest Ye Merry”. I could read that every Christmas and still laugh until I cry. Donna Andrews has 2 very good books but not in Macleod’s league. I always enjoyed Lee Harris themed books. Whatever happened to her?

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    • Regina, when I first started reading Charlotte MacLeod I stuck with her Sarah Kelling Mystery Series through the first five or so books. I didn’t even have an inkling to try her Peter Shandy Mystery Series >>> since it is the norm for me to only like one of an author’s series. One year I relented, and tried Rest You Merry. Why not? I reasoned I had nothing to lose. (I’ll wrap this story up very quickly.) After I tried Rest You Merry, I quickly made the Peter Shandy series my favorite Charlotte MacLeod/Alisa Craig series. What a delight!

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  5. I seem to prefer Halloween and Christmas time “cozies.”

    When read them? When the holiday mood “comes-upon me,” as it were.

    Still looking for Halloween cozy suggestions, as I haven’t really found lots of winners yet.

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  6. hello. i too love the Charlotte MacLeod/Alisa Craig series. i’m not sure if you knew that the Peter Shandy “Rest You Merry” was first written as a short story, and then later came out as a novel. interestingly, the endings are different. good, but completely different. both worth reading!

    another great Charlotte MacLeod/alisa Craig series features a lovely, demure female character from eastern canada, and her beau, an RCMP officer. (he born to a titled welsh, musical family and completely tone deaf.) not sure if technically a christmas cozy, but i best recall Murder goes Mumming. series is recommended!

    Lee Harris is another old favourite author, yes and her books are holiday-themed. the christmas book is about number 7 in the series. as to what became of her??….there were a couple of books in a different series, featuring a policewoman. very different feel. i believe she stopped at 3. nothing at all since, unfortunately.

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  7. I love a themed cozies at any time of year.
    I will admit I may prefer to read a July 4th theme during the summer months. I like to read (and reread) Kathi Daley’s books closer to their respective holidays. But Halloween is my favorite holiday and I never like to make it wait.
    And Christmas is so plentiful I would not read a fraction of the best cozies if I waited for December.
    Right now I am looking forward to Juliet Blackwells’s new releases.

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  8. I think one advantage the Christmas mystery has is that it is an international holiday – you have a lot of cultural, ethnic, religions traditions at your disposal to give the mystery “personality”.
    Actually, one of my favorite Christmas mysteries – not a cozy – is the Sherlock Holmes short story, “The Blue Carbuncle.” It was one of the best of the Granada series starring Jeremy Brett.

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  9. My favorite cozies are Halloween themed cozies, but I also like any cozie set in Autumn. I have read some set during fall festivals or other fall events, there is just something about the season that just seems right for a mystery. And since I live in the Northeast/New England, most of the cozies I read are set in the Northeast, New England or East Coast. The weather cool and crisp with the leaves swirling in the wind and the rain blowing always makes the mystery spookier. Autumn is my favorite season and Halloween my favorite holiday, and the East Coast really seems to embrace this season. And being the oldest part of the country we have more than enough spooky folklore and ghost stories to go around. And then you add a murder mystery and it all just fits.

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    • Margaret, you couldn’t have said it better! I love Cozy Mysteries set in the northeast! Because we don’t have autumn/fall down here in San Antonio, I rely on my Cozies for (as you say) “The weather cool and crisp with the leaves swirling in the wind and the rain blowing always makes the mystery spookier.” and also just to get a feel for the beauty I’m missing down here with our indigenous oaks – that look more like large shrubs!

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      • Danna, I wish I could keep Fall all year, I love Spring and Summer and I tolerate Winter, but I love the changing seasons. I start reading Fall Cozies in August just to start getting ready for my favorite season. And, this year we are having a great Fall!

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        • TO Margaret and all of you “Fall Favorite fans”. I agree, Fall is by far my best season and I love starting my Autumn TBR list early! I can get in the mood easily with discussions on best food to eat during this season. I recommend Connie Archers “Soup” selections-three books set in different places of the year and fun characters to follow and get involved with. Set in Vermont, this series is a winner. Great recipes at the end of the books also.

          Rob

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  10. I noticed that several of the newly released books last spring had a Fall/Autumn setting. I found it a bit disconcerting to read them at that time. But, I did because I like following the characters and didn’t want to wait any longer for the ‘next installment’. On the theme list there is a Halloween theme and a Thanksgiving theme, but not a specific ‘Fall/Autumn’ theme (like there is a ‘summer’ theme, which isn’t lumped in with the ‘4th of July’ theme). Several cozies set in Autumn/Fall don’t mention Thanksgiving or Halloween.

    Autumn is my favorite season, too. I live in an area where we can enjoy fall and all its glorious colors. You should see my house! I have LOTS of fall decorations. But, I believe we had this discussion a year ago………………….

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    • To clarify………. I meant we had the discussion about ‘Fall decorations in our homes’ last year (maybe the year before?), NOT the topic of this discussion about reading holiday cozies in their seasonal setting. OR, perhaps the topic started about something else and we veered into a discussion about fall decor.

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      • MJ, I remember our discussion about fall decorations. From what I recall, some of us really got our homes decked out for the changing season. Maybe I’ll go try to find that discussion >>> to help me get myself out to the garage for that Halloween/autumn bin of mine.

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        • I’m obviously veering off-topic AGAIN……….But, I put up my fall decorations right after Labor Day and leave them up until after Thanksgiving, so I can get the maximum enjoyment out of them. I even have 4 different quilts/bedspreads for the bed to ‘change’ with the seasons! I REALLY like the ‘fall’ bedroom. I probably put up more fall decor than xmas decor. Fanatic?……..perhaps.

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    • MJ, I am pretty sure that if I lived in an area of the country where we had different seasons, I probably wouldn’t feel the need to wait to read the next book in a favorite author’s series. Unfortunately, since we don’t have the glorious changing of the seasons, I find myself waiting to read the next books.

      So far, this year, I have only put out a few of my Halloween doo-dads. I haven’t even brought my Halloween/autumn bin in from the garage yet. I keep thinking “maybe tomorrow”…

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  11. I love holiday mysteries–especially Lesiie Meier and the new series by Shelley Freydont. And Donna Andrews has some great Christmas ones. I think the Christmas ones are my favorites.

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    • Lori, I just counted up all of the Leslie Meier, Shelley Freydont, and Donna Andrews Christmas Cozy Mysteries. It looks like you’ve chosen the right three authors to follow! Between the three of them, it looks like there are a dozen Christmas Cozies!

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  12. I also read holiday cozies only near their respective holiday. I have not found many that are truly Halloween inspired though. I usually start reading Christmas cozies in November especially if I don’t have many Thansgiving ones to read.

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  13. How come no one has mentioned Anne Perry and her Christmas themed mysteries? I have been a fan of hers for a very long time, but only recently began to read these and enjoy them, too.

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  14. Hi Danna, I’m a huge Halloween fan. Even though I don’t have any kids I just love the time of year. Here in upstate NY our leaves are at the peak of autumn color and there’s that crisp snap in the air at night. I love seeing all the houses and children dressed up. I give myself permission to start Halloween copies at the beginning of September. I have a great deck where I read that’s perfect for absorbing the atmosphere.

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    • Anne, oooooooh! (That’s me moaning!) Your description remind me of the time I lived in Connecticut! Loved it!!! Of course, I was quite young then, so the ice on the roads, and the shoveling of snow didn’t affect me that much!

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  15. Because I live in Tucson (today 93 degrees) I read holiday cozies anytime of the year. I love reading about ice and snow in the summer because it really does make me feel cooler. Sounds crazy but it works for me!

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    • Cyn, it’s currently 86* here in San Antonio, but hearing about your 93* makes me feel a little cooler! Your imagination is definitely better than mine! Reading about ice and snow during the summer isn’t as good as reading in our house with the air conditioning cranked up!

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  16. I’m liking cozies from all the holidays. Right now, naturally, I’m leaning towards Halloween. I love Fall and the colors that have been given to us to enjoy, watching the kids play in the leaves. Of course Trick or Treat – but living wwaaaay out in the boonies we never get any kids, so I get ALL the candy, lol! As far as a book I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this year has been Halloween Hijinks, the Anniversary Edition, by Kathi Daley! Not only are the characters very realistic, Kathi keeps you guessing right til the end as to whodunit! And was I surprised, I was all wrong on my sleuthing! At the end of the book there are some Wonderful recipes that are related to the season, yum! A new one out from Kathi is Haunted Hamlet that I will be starting this weekend!

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  17. Danna, I was just reading the blogs about the different seasons of the year. Right now we in CT are in the middle of the most beautiful one. The fall foliage is absolutely gorgeous.Our trees in the backyard seemed to have changed over night. The red maple leaves are spectacular. My daughter from CO is coming Saturday and we will have a splendid showing for her. Needless to say I also love spring as we live among many apple trees and when they drop their blossoms, the ground looks as if it is covered with snow without the cold and mess.

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    • Regina, when my family lived in Connecticut, we had an apple orchard behind our home. It was phenomenal – especially since it wasn’t ours, so we didn’t have to work it.

      Your daughter is in for a treat! Although, Colorado’s autumn are pretty spectacular, also. I remember (years ago) making autumnal trips to Cripple Creek and seeing the Aspens shimmering in the sunlight. Whew! Glorious!

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  18. I’ll read Halloween themed cozies any time of the year; but I do stick closer to actual holiday time for reading other holiday themed cozies.

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  19. I love reading holiday cozy mysteries in season. I will start reading fallish/Halloween cozies in September, Thanksgiving in late October/early November, and I will read Christmas ones as early as mid-November. Some of my favorites are Kathi Daley’s books. She writes awesome holiday cozies and I just love her covers!

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  20. I don’t particularly go for “holiday” themed mysteries in the sense of reading about them in a timely manor (and I don’t celebrate Halloween anyway) — I simply read whatever wonderful new releases I can get my hands on from my favorite authors ASAP 😉 ! That said, I did just finish reading Gossamer Ghost, the newest Scrapbooking mystery by Laura Childs & it was simply awesome!!!! (OK — the mystery part — ok — I guessed it all along, but that’s just cuz I’ve read enough cozies over the many years & by now can sort of spot the murderer a mile off – sometimes even before the murder 😉 ) — but the whole Halloween scene in New Orleans is something else — they seem to party like no other city ever — Halloween is officially celebrated a week, with multiple over-the-top parties & events every day. So if you like that kind of thing — you’ll LOVE this book.

    BTW — am I the only one on the planet who did NOT know that Laura Childs is a pseudonym????? At the back of the book was an excerpt of a new book/series to be published under her own name. (I don’t think it was a cozy).

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  21. Danna, My favorite holiday mysteries are the old English Christmas type mysteries; mainly the kind that are set back in the time of say Miss Marple’s time period or maybe Mrs.Jefferies’ time period. I also like the Halloween theme mysteries as long as the stories aren’t about vampires and the living dead. I have had enough of those two subject matters to last for quite a while.
    I have always enjoyed Jessica Fletcher’s holiday stories regardless of the holiday. Lucy Stone has some good holiday tales. Although, I don’t care very much for her new release that has Lucy and her friends traveling to Paris. I’ll be glad when the whole gang gets back to Tinker’s Cove in the next book!! I hope, I hope!!
    I try not to read any Christmas novels until after Thanksgiving but with so many new ones coming out sometimes that isn’t possible.
    One thing I will not do. If I start to read a book that is supposed to have a Christmas theme to it and if I see that the story has a lot of bad language and a lot of sexual content in it, I will not continue reading that book. I just cannot read that kind of book during that season. It just seems wrong for me to read a book like that during that time period. Just me. Not trying to judge others.

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    • Linda C, I think you have a great point about Christmas mystery books with lots of bad language and other graphic content in them. It just doesn’t seem right! (Of course, I’m not crazy about either of those in any of the Cozy Mysteries I follow >>> for any time of the year…)

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      • Danna, While visiting the library today I noticed quite a few new novels with Christmas themes on the shelves, but I am just not in the mood yet for Christmas novels. Right now I am reading “Every Trick in the Book” by Lucy Arlington, a Novel Idea Book that is set in late October with a little bit of Halloween thrown in here and there. This isn’t too bad of a series.
        I read the first book in this series “Buried in a Book” and I thought it was okay so I thought I would give this second book a try.
        While mentioning these two books Danna, do you know if some authors only publish their books in paperback instead of hardback? It seems to me that the libraries around my area are purchasing more and more books in the paperback style books than the hardback books. I suppose the paperbacks would be a lot less expensive for the libraries.
        Maybe some of the writers who frequent your blog can answer this question also??

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        • Linda C, I think Cozy Mystery authors start out in paperback format, and then when they become really, really popular their publishers move them to the hardcover format. When I was preparing for one of my author interviews, I remember finding an article in which the authors talked about how pleased she was when her publisher moved her to hardcover format at book #7 or #8.

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