I happen to be someone who loves beads. I don’t actually make any wearable things out of beads, but I love to look at all types of beads. I do happen to be someone who cross stitches, and a few years ago, I started adding the little, bitty glass beads into all of my cross stitch projects. I have to admit that since I started this web site… devoted to another passion I have (cozy mysteries!)… I have not cross stitched/beaded (for a lack of a better descriptive phrase) as much as I used to.
Anyway… to get back to this blog’s purpose…. cozy mystery series with a beading theme… Who are the authors who intertwine beading into their cozy mystery books?
Tonya Kappes writes the Divorced Diva Mystery Series. Holly Harper is one of the Divorced Divas and she owns a bead shop in Kentucky.
Ada Madison (aka Camille Minichino & Margaret Grace) writes the Sophie Knowles Mystery Series which features a college professor/beader/sleuth in Massachusetts.
Karen MacInerney completed the second Kitzi Camden Beading Cozy Mystery after Barbara Burnett Smith passed away. I know that MacInerney is busy with her Gray Whale Inn Mystery Series and her soon-to-be-published Tales of an Urban Werewolf Series, but I sure hope that she can find the time to continue writing this beading cozy mystery series!
Janice Peacock writes the Glass Bead Mystery Series, starring a glass bead artist named Jax O’Connell, in Seattle, Washington.
Barbara Burnett Smith‘s Purple Sage Mystery Series is a popular cozy mystery series. In 2005, Smith put out the first book in her new beading cozy mystery series that featured Kitzi Camden, a former politician (who happens to live in my very own state of Texas) and who happens to love beads, beading, and sleuthing.
***To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.***
Verna says
Being another fan of mysteries and beads, I was tickled to come across your site. You should know about another book that probably qualifies for inclusion in your list: Mary Ellen Hughes’ "String of Lies" (2007, Berkley Prime Crime). It’s the 2nd in the Craft Corner Mystery series. This time the owner of Jo’s Craft Shop is offering a beading workshop.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Verna…
I didn’t think to add String of Lies to the beading list… I am going to do some other blogs about crafting cozy mysteries, and will definitely have the Craft Corner Mystery series on one of them…. but you’re right about the second book being listed with the beading/cozy mysteries.
Thanks, again for the helpful comment.
Priscilla says
I just found this site, great to combine two of my interests. While this is not a series, Beaded to Death by Janis Patterson is very beady for those bead people. I also hope Karen MacInerney will continue the Kitzi Camden series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Priscilla, welcome to the Cozy Mystery site and thank you for telling us about Janis Patterson’s non-mystery, Beaded to Death.
RITA S. says
About a year ago or so, I had just discovered Cozy Mysteries, So far I have read a lot of the animal mystery series. I am looking over the different series now, I am excited about reading the beading series, as I am addicted to making necklaces and earrings from beads and of course reading cozy mysteries. I also want to say that I really love this website. I look forward to looking up books galore every time you post it.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Rita S, I’m glad you are enjoying the site! I’ve spent a lot of time beading also.
Sylvia says
My daughter just forwarded this page to me and I have posted about it on my bead society FB group. Thanks for this list! It looks like a lot of fun.