Mary Joy wrote a letter to me that included the following:
“For me the sleuth is always a woman and she lives in very comfortable, if sometimes eccentric surroundings. She can live alone or with or without any combination of boyfriend, husband and children. As soon as she gets home, she tries, not always successfully, to head for a nice bath or shower followed by a favorite meal or drink – the way we wish life could always be.
One of the authors she follows is Donna Huston Murray. She would like some ideas of:
Authors Who Are Similar to Donna Huston Murray:
Kate Borden: Peggy Jean Turner Mystery Series
Jill Churchill: Jane Jeffry Mystery Series
Diane Mott Davidson: Goldy Bear (Catering) Mystery Series
Monica Ferris: Needlecraft Mystery Series
Sarah Graves: Home Repair is Homicide Mystery Series
Carolyn Hart: Death On Demand Mystery Series AND Henrie O Mystery Series
Leslie Meier: Lucy Stone Mystery Series
Ayelet Waldman: Mommy Track Mystery Series
Valerie Wolzien: Susan Henshaw Mystery Series
Please post your recommendations of authors who are similar to Donna Huston Murray, and I will add them to the list.
♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by theme click on this link.♦
Martine says
I don’t have any recommendations – but the Amazon reviews for the first Donna Huston Murray, “THE MAIN LINE IS MURDER” indicate it is very good.
Also, if you have a Kindle and a Prime membership, the first book is available for free! Think I might try it.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Martine, for the information about Donna Huston Murray’s first book in the series (The Main Line is Murder). I’m an Amazon Prime member, so I will definitely borrow it for free.
Barbara Thompson says
Ayelet Waldman’s Juliet Applebaum series. She is a public defender who decided to be a stay-at-home mom in her Mommy Track mystery series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Barbara, for mentioning Ayelet Waldman’s series. I’ll go add her to the list.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I meant to add that the Kindle versions of Donna Huston Murray’s first three books in her Ginger Barnes Main Line Mystery Series are super cheap right now. (The first two are $2.99 and the third is $.99.)
Deb says
Thanks for the heads up on Donna Huston Murray’s books – I don’t know how I missed them – or Kate Borden, for that matter. I was able to order most of Donna Huston Murray’s books from statewide public libraries, but nobody has Main Line is Murder. School of Hard Knocks is $0.99 on NOOK.
On another note, I just finished the new China Bayles, Cat’s Claw, which is actually the new Pecan Springs Mystery. It’s a little less cozy now because it’s more about Police Chief Sheila Dawson than about China, but I still loved it. If you haven’t read the previous books by Susan Wittig Albert, you might want to read at least some to get the flavor before reading this latest.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Deb, for telling us about the newest Susan Wittig Albert mystery. I went ahead and corrected my page for her to include her new Pecan Springs Mystery Series. I thought it was a China Bayles mystery, and have actually left it in that series, as well as the new one.
I’m happy to hear good things about Cat’s Claw!
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
Maybe Sarah Graves? But that series turns a bit dark. The first 3 are pretty cozy though.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Maria. I’ll go add Sarah Graves to the list of Authors Similar to Donna Huston Murray.
Mary Joy says
Thanks Danna, for posting about one of my earliest cozy authors. She helped get me into the genre along with Lee Harris, Valerie Wolzien, Jill Churchill, Leslie Meier, Jonnie Jacobs and others I have mentioned to you previously.
On your (and the list’s recommendation), I read all the Kate Bordens. Loved them, but sadly, there are only 3. I’ve read at least 7 of the Sarah Graves, (still have a few unread, they seemed not to keep me as interested as they used to).I tried Diane Mott Davidson once, didn’t love her, BUT might be worth another try. Have to try Carolyn Hart and Ayelet Waldman.
At the moment, I’m almost half way through Fatal Fixer Upper by Jennie Bentley on my ipad. It’s pretty good. There’s a love interest, but I don’t feel like that is taking over the mystery side of the book. So far, I am saying it definitely qualifies as a cozy – very light, no brainer, curl up in a chair type. Thanks for more personal recommendations for me Danna. The Kate Bordens were perfect for me and I’ll try the others also.
Mary Joy
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary Joy, I’m glad I finally posted your question!
I have heard from several people who have read Kate Borden’s Peggy Jean Mystery Series, who have loved it. I just don’t get why there are only three in the series!
Thanks for telling us about your enjoyment of Jennie Bentley‘s Do It Yourself Mystery Series. (I think it helps when someone writes about liking an author.)
Commenter77 says
The Laura Childs series are interesting reads in their respective venues. They take one into a charming world with overall well drawn central characters. In addition, they actually serve as a good resource on their topics. However, if you are into tight plots, you may be very frustrated with the handling of the actual “mysteries.” Are there other specific tea related series to be recommended? Thanks.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Commenter77, Yasemin Galehorn (aka India Ink) writes the Chintz ‘n China Mystery Series, which features Emerald O’ Brien, the owner of the Chintz ‘n China Tea Shop.
Donna Huston Murray says
Dear Danna: A friend just showed me your site–what a nice surprise! I’m glad to know of other authors for ME to read.
Also, FYI, I am gradually reissuing the series online; NO BONES ABOUT IT should be ready by early July. CURED, a completely new woman-in-jeopardy, will be available online and POD in October. The character is a cancer survivor and an ex-cop who sort of resembles Gin, except she’s much more heroic. Links, etc., on my website.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I’m glad your friend knew about us, Donna. I’ll be watching for the reissuing of your Ginger Barnes Mystery Series. Also, thanks for telling us about your new Lauren Beck suspense mystery series.