I just finished my latest mystery book early last week, and I am having a difficult time picking out my next read. I have been trying to enjoy a non mystery book that I got several years ago that was supposed to be a lot like my very favorite author’s books, but it was nothing like them at all!
I know it seems odd that someone who has dedicated so much time to reading Cozy Mystery books, not to mention someone who actually has a site called Cozy-Mystery, would have a favorite author who is not known as a mystery author.
I have a lot of Cozy Mystery authors on my “favorite authors” list, but for some reason, which I myself can’t figure out, my very favorite of all authors is E. F. Benson, the author of (as I say on the “B” page of my site) “my absolute favorite sequence of books”. I don’t follow all of E. F. Benson’s books, just his Lucia series. (I have some of his other works, but Lucia reigns supreme for me!)
Getting back to my “Between Books” entry >>> I felt like it was finally the time to read one of my “Similar to E. F. Benson” books. I’m here to say, as far as I can see, this author is not similar in any way to Benson. What a disappointment! I tried to like this author, honest I did. But as with many things that are “talked up” >>> it fell quite short of my expectations.
So, I’m back to my Cozy Mystery books. (Yes indeed, every once in a while a stray from my beloved Cozy Mystery books, and read a non mystery!) I have decided to start reading one of the authors on my “favorite authors” list, Charlotte MacLeod. As I have said before (many times!) I try to space out my favorite authors so that I don’t run out of them. Silly as this may seem, it works for me. When I know there will be no more books in a particular series, I “save” the books so that I can sprinkle them into my reading queue. Needless to say, I am way behind with most of my favorite authors.)
Margaret M. says
I, too, like to save my favorites so I don’t run out. But sometimes I just can’t wait to get to them and have to force my self to read something else. I try to alternate between “a new to me mystery” and “an old favorite.” This forces me to try out new mysteries.
Luckily doing this I found another author to add to my favorites list and since I had her first mystery for several months before starting it, her next is out already (yes I know I should wait for the monthly recommendation post but I loved this book to much).
It is Duffy Brown’s (real name Dianne Castell) Consignment Shoppe Mysteries. I love this series. The characters are so well written I can really see in my mind what they look like. I can even imagine their voices speaking. It is also written in the first person which I love. And in this case it is perfect because it fits with Reagan’s personality. Even though I know it is a work of fiction I need the realism to keep me engaged. The characters are so colorful. The series takes place in Savannah; this is a city I am very familiar with; she writes it as it is with all of its positives and negatives. Great series and I am so glad to add this to my “favorites list.”
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Margaret M, I am guessing that a lot of us save our favorites. I totally agree with the method of alternating between a new-to-me and old favorite… it does sort of force us to try new authors.
I have had to hold myself back from talking about a brand new author who I have put on my favorite authors list. Her name is Susanna Calkins, and she writes a series set in 17th century London. Calkin’s A Murder at Rosamund’s Gate is going to be my May mystery book recommendation.
(I hope you add Duffy Brown‘s Consignment Shoppe Mystery Series to the May mystery book recommendation list.)
Diane says
I agree wholeheartedly with Margaret M. Duffy Brown is my new favorite author. Laugh out loud funny.
Beth says
The first book in her Sarah Kelling & Max Bittersohn series, The Family Vault, is $2.99 for Kindle right now.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Beth, for telling us about Charlotte MacLeod’s Kindle copy of The Family Vault being only $2.99. I love it when the first book in an author’s series is the one they choose to give a great price to…
marla says
I also like to take a break from mysteries occasionally. Now I am reading the latest miss Julia book and have the last (gasp!) Maeve binchy book and the latest blossom street book waiting.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marla, I was in the mood for some very sly wit (E. F. Benson) but decided rather than re-read a Lucia novel (again!) I would try an author who was likened to him. So much for everyone’s taste being different…
Barbara says
So many books, so little time! Between my TBR shelf, my TBR books on my Kindle, and what I reserve at the library I don’t often know what to choose next.
I try to alternate between Cozy’s and police procedurals which I also like. On those rare occasions when I can’t seem to find a book to match my mood I pick up a non-fiction or non mystery book on my shelf. The titles are usually about living in the wilds, nature, or Border Collie related.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Barbara, have you read Reginald Hill’s Dalziel & Pascoe police procedurals? Or how about R. D. Wingfield’s Inspector Frost? And then there’s Jill McGown’s Chief Insp. Lloyd & Sgt. Judy Hill. Those are just three police procedurals I truly enjoy.
marilyn says
i just read “MY LIFE” by debbie reynolds she is honest as she tells about her life
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marilyn, small world >>> I just watched Debbie Reynolds in Mother (with Albert Brooks).
MJ says
Danna, it doesn’t surprise me that you enjoy ‘non-mystery’ fiction as well as cozies. You have such eclectic and diverse reading tastes. I admire this because my reading tastes are pretty narrow. I know this isn’t the monthly recommendation blog, but I have a couple of suggestions for you when ‘in between’ cozy reads and looking for something a little different.
You mentioned you really like historical fiction/mysteries. I recommend, “City of Light” by Lauren Belfer, with confidence you’ll find it a VERY interesting read. It was released about ten years ago. It’s set in 1900 Buffalo as electricity is brought to Buffalo/Niagara Falls, with a strong female lead (especially for the early 1900s) as a headmistress. I may (??) have mentioned it on this blog, but it wouldn’t have been in the monthly recommendations because I read it so long ago. Historical fiction is not something I enjoy, but this is a gripping/complex mystery story. I believe it was on the NYT Best Sellers list. I often suggest it to book clubs because of the numerous discussion points. I lend my copy to friends who haven’t read it yet, with lots of positive comments when it is returned. There is a mix of real and fictional characters. The epilogue is particularly interesting because it follows the ‘real’ characters 30-40 years later to let the reader know what happened in their lives.
I assume you’ve read the oft recommended Shell Seekers. I’ve had the book for several years, but haven’t read it yet. However I have read, ‘Winter Solstice’ also by Rosamunde Pilcher, and it is an exceptional novel by this great storyteller. This book follows the lives of five diverse characters who find themselves in a small English village at the same time. Again, I often lend out my copy to friends who comment they really enjoyed the story.
Lastly – a really inspiring/pleasurable (sometimes sad) biography, ‘Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio – How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less’. Terry Ryan writes this story about her mother. Just when the family is at its most ‘down and out point’ the mother wins another contest to get them through some rough spots. This was made into a movie – also enjoyable.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you for all of the non mystery suggestions, MJ.
(I have not read Rosamund Pilcher’s The Shell Seekers, but did see the movie with Angela Lansbury.)
reginav says
Danna, I too like to take a break between mysteries or else I become jaded. I just finished the new Rita Mae Brown book about her cat and dog characters. It was very good, but very rushed at the end. I felt as if she thought she had to finish the story and she did so very quickly. Between times, I read “Bunker Hill” by Nathan Philbrick. He writes very readable but well researched histories. This one proved his ability to do this. I also read “The Creation of Ann Boleyn”. The author set out to debunk many previous books about Anne, and she achieves this goal with a flair. She is pretty vindictive about popular authors of books about Anne Boleyn. Lately I have been reading 2 books at a time which I do not like to do, but I tend to read my Nook and mysteries at night before and other books in the afternoon.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Regina, I think I just was in the mood to read one of the Lucia books, but since I have read them all a few times before, I thought I would try a “similar to” author.
I knew you skipped back and forth between mystery books and non mysteries. I generally keep myself busy reading new-to-me mystery authors, with a few of my favorites thrown into the mix. Every once in a while, however, I read a non mystery, which is probably good for me to do. Between all of my mystery books and the I D channel, I get my fill of murders!
Mary Joy W says
I also “save” my favorite authors’ newest books so I have something special to anticipate. That is when I tend to find new favorites.
May I recommend a non-cozy author I truly enjoy when you are looking for something different to read in between your cozies? She is Adriana Trigiani and I LIKE all of her books and LOVED several. I recommend The Big Stone Gap Trilogy and also Lucia, Lucia. They were my favorites from her. In the trilogy, the main character’s name had me hooked from the start – Ave Maria Mulligan!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Mary Joy, for the Adriana Trigiani recommendation.
(Looks like a lot of us like to save our favorite authors for special occasions!)
Kay says
Charlotte MacLeod is one of my all-time favorite authors, especially the early books. I was trying to decide which series I like best, but realized that I cannot choose one over the other. You have lots of good reading ahead of you.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kay, I’m a little past the middle in both of MacLeod’s series, but have just started her Alisa Craig books. I do have a lot of good reading ahead of me.
Patti S. says
What a very interesting post. I try to read other books besides cozies, too. I usually switch to history related books. Right now, I am reading Young Titan The Making of Winston Churchill by Michael Shelden. This is very good so far. I also like reading about the lives of the Presidents. Anything historical is always interesting to me. But, I always go back to my cozies. There were quite a few good recommendations here and I cannot wait to read some of them!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Patti S, I jut looked up Michael Shelden’s Young Titan: the Making of Winston Churchill and it looks really interesting. I recently watched a show about Churchill, and was impressed at how knowledgeable he seemed to be about almost everything.
Holly says
After seeing your comment about the Lucia books I went to Amazon to order it on Kindle. The first one Queen Lucia is free right now.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Holly, for telling us about E. F. Benson’s Kindle copy of Queen Lucia being FREE right now. I love it when the first book in a series is the one they decide to give away! (If I didn’t already own Queen Lucia in Kindle format, I’d jump to buy it today! I simply love these books!)
Julia says
I also take periodic turns away from the cozy format, usually to either ‘spy’ novels (either 1940s setting or Mrs. Pollifax) or archaeological mysteries (which usually sends me back to Elizabeth Peters when I need a cozier book).
In addition I have a set of books by an author I highly recommend, although her books can be a little hard to find (I’m pretty sure Amazon carries them, but I found mine in a little independent bookstore on Cape Cod). The author’s name is E.M. Delafied, and her books are a series of humorous diaries, set in the 1930s and early 40s (mostly in England, but one in America and one in Russia), beginning with “Diary of a Provincial Lady,” and ending with “The Provincial Lady in Wartime.” I often turn to these books when I need a break from mysteries – they offer a glimpse (somewhat farcical but with a ring of truth) of a point in time both busier and quieter than the current day which I find a restful escape.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Julia, I just looked up E. M. Delafield, and guess who came up in the “Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought” section >>> E. F. Benson! (I thought your description of her Provincial Ladies sounded very similar to his books.)
Lee Ann says
Thank you Julia, for telling about E.M. Delafield and Danna Thanks for telling us about E.F. Benson–found Queen Lucia and Miss Mapp on Kindle for free today!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Lee Ann, for telling us about E. F. Benson’s Miss Mapp (the third Mapp and Lucia novel) being FREE for the Kindle. I hope everyone who tried these books loves them as much as I do!
Kim says
Check out Tessa Harris’s Dr. Thomas Silkstone mysteries (two so far): 1. The Anatomist’s Apprentice and 2. The Dead Shall Not Rest – set in London.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Kim, for telling us about the Dr. Thomas Silkstone series by Tessa Harris.
Joshua says
I’ve honestly never been able to find anyone like Benson myself. I have definitely ended up liking authors that are described as “similar” to him, but none have really been like his work at all. They might have a similar philosophical look on life – maybe that’s the connection? – but none as fun or witty. I’ve been looking for something like his for a while now myself. Eve among his own books, the only other one I found that compares to Mapp & Lucia, for me, was Secret Lives. He really broke the mold.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Joshua, I think that is the reason I couldn’t seem to enjoy this other book. I had such great expectations of the author being very similar to E. F. Benson. When I’m in the mood for a Mapp and Lucia, nothing else seems to come close. As I’ve said many times before, that series is the only one I have read more than once…
(P.S. Thanks for the Secret Lives tip! I will keep rechecking to see when it’s available in Kindle format.)