Earlier this month I posted an entry about Sofie Kelly‘s series featuring the first book in her Magical Cats Mystery Series, Curiosity Thrilled the Cat. So I thought I’d ask if you all can think of any authors who are similar to Sofie Kelly.
I have tried to remember who mentioned (in a comment) that she is reading Sofie Kelly’s Magical Cats now because she has finished Lilian Jackson Braun’s The Cat Who … series. (I meant to write it down, and as I have said many times, I have to annotate everything if I want to be able to pull it out of my memory banks!) So, I have started the list with Braun’s series.
In your recommendation, please be sure to include why you think that they are similar to Sofie Kelly! Thanks!
Authors who are similar to Sofie Kelly (aka Sofie Ryan):
Lilian Jackson Braun: The Cat Who … Mystery Series
Ali Brandon (aka Diane A.S. Stuckart): Black Cat Bookshop Mystery Series
Rita Mae Brown: Mrs. Murphy Mystery Series
Laurie Cass (aka Laura Alden): Bookmobile Mystery Series
Claire Donally: Sunny & Shadow Mystery Series
Carole Nelson Douglas: Midnight Louie Mystery Series
Kay Finch: Bad Luck Cat Mystery Series
Rebecca M. Hale: Cats and Curios Mystery Series
Delia James: Witch’s Cat Mystery Series
Miranda James (aka Jimmie Ruth Evans, Honor Hartman, & Dean James): Cat in the Stacks Mystery Series
Mulgray Twins: DJ Smith and Gorgonzola Mission Mystery Series
Shirley Rousseau Murphy: Joe Grey Cat Mystery Series
Fran Stewart: Biscuit McKee & Marmalade Mystery Series
Sofie Ryan (aka Sofie Kelly): Second Chance Cat Mystery Series
Leann Sweeney: Cats in Trouble Mystery Series
P.S. I have several other “Authors Similar to …” lists on the Cozy Mysteries by Theme page on my site.
Cindy says
I would have to add Leann Sweeney’s Cats in Trouble series to the list. The MC has three cats in her family and gives each one of them their own distinct personalities like Sofie Kelly does.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Cindy, thanks! This series is a great addition to the list.
Lisa says
I can’t remember the name of the series but it’s about a woman in San Francisco with 2 cats who inherits an antique shop from an uncle. There’s a lot of detail about San Francisco history and landmarks and the characters are quite eccentric but very funny. The cats help solve the mysteries, but they are not “magical”.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lisa, I will add Rebecca M. Hale’s Cats and Curios Mystery Series to the list. Thank you!
Marja says
Is that the series that starts with “How to Wash a Cat”?
Bev says
Another great series is the Cat in the Stacks mysteries by Miranda James.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bev, I’ve added Miranda James to the list. Thanks!
Muchie says
Leann Sweeney writes the “Cats in Trouble” series. She has 3 cats, all named after wine. I like this series although my favorite series is “Magical Cat Series”.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Muchie, thank you.
Elizabeth says
Yes the San Francisco cat books are great. I adore them.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Elizabeth, I’ve added Rebecca M. Hale’s Cats and Curios to the list. Thank you.
robin in oregon says
I also enjoy the Kay Finch Black Cat series and Delia James Witch’s Familiar series. Laurie Cass writes the Bookmobile mysteries with Eddie the cat.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Robin, thanks for the three additions to this list!
dragons3 says
There are the Biscuit McKee and her cat Marmalade by Fran Stewart; Claire Donnally’s Sunny and Shadow series; Carole Nelson Douglas’s Midnight Louie series, although those are a bit more hardboiled, because Midnight Louie talks like a 30s/40s detective like Sam Spade; Ali Brandon’s Black Cat Bookstore mysteries with Hamlet the cat; and Shirley Rousseau Murphy’s Joe Gray series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Dragons, thanks!
Susan* says
I haven’t actually come across Sofie Kelly, yet, but if you want books in which a cat or cats play a major part, there’s Ali Brandon’s ‘Black Cat Bookshop Mysteries’, with Hammy (Short for Hamlet), the Mulgray Twins’ ‘DJ Smith mysteries’, with Gorgonzola, the trained drug-sniffer cat, and one series whose name and author I can’t remember.
The series features a Maine Coon called Diesel, whose (male) owner walks him on a leash like a dog, (Not unreasonable, given that maine coons can grow to the size of a smallish dog.) and takes him to work, with him, at the library.
Hope this helps!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan*, thank you. (The last one you described is the Cat in the Stacks by Miranda James.)
Janice says
The bookmobile series by Laurie Cass is the one I find to be most similar to Sofie Kelly. Not only do both series feature librarians but the way in which they talk to the cats is much the same.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Janice, thanks for the Laurie Cass shout-out regarding authors similar to Sofie Kelly…
Grandma Addie says
I’m new to this board, but I am so thrilled with all the information. I have been looking for a couple years for a place like this. Thank you so much for all the suggestions. I have not read any of the Sofie Kelly books. I have read all of the Caroline Burnes, Black Cat Mysterys. They are about Familiar, a black cat, who has all kinds of adventures, and solves crimes. Again, thank you.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Addie, thank you.
Janet says
Sofie Ryan’s Second Chance Cats series. I think this is Sofie Kelly under another name.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Janet, thank you. It stand to reason they would be similar, doesn’t it!
Kathleen says
What about Carole Nelson Douglas’ Midnite Louis series?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kathleen, thanks!
Arlene says
I love Martha Grimes because of her quirky characters. She writes murder mysteries with a Scotland yard Superintendent. British humor. Elizabeth George is similar. I know there is p.d. James etc who are very good but I’m looking for a murder mystery with British humor. I’d really appreciate all recommendations.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Arlene, you might want to go through some of the British themed mysteries on these lists:
Authors beginning with A & B
Authors beginning with C & D
Authors beginning with E, F, G, & H
Authors beginning with I, J, K, L, M, & N
Authors beginning with P, R, & S
Authors beginning with T , U, & W
Dawn says
I can’t remember the name of the author for this series. But, it’s very similar to Sofie Kelly, with the magical cats. They talk, and usually meet in a barn trying to help the main character, Willamena AKA. Willa Chance solve murders. the series is called the Mystic Notch series and, it takes place in Mystic Notch NH. Which is a magical town. Willa moves back after a car wreck when she inherited her Grandmother’s house, bookstore, and her magical talking cat, Pandora. Before she came back to Mystic Notch, Willa was a crime reporter, which helps her in her sleuthing abilities. I bought the first one, along with another book at a 2 for 1 sale at Audible. I fell in love with the series and author by the end of it. I can’t wait to listen to another one! Elizabeth Rodgers did a great job narrating it too I think. I wish she could have done the later books. 🙁