The Cozy Mystery List Blog

Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV

Lorna Barrett: Booktown Mystery Series

Murder Is Binding (A Booktown Mystery Book 1) Lately I’ve been going through some of the most recommended Cozy Mystery series among this site’s visitors. Some of the earlier posts on these topics covered the Kate Carlisle Bibliophile Series and the League of Literary Ladies Series by Kylie Logan. This time I’m focusing on Lorna Barrett‘s Booktown Mystery Series. As long time visitors might know, I’ve been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to interview Lorraine Bartlett (aka Lorna Barrett & L.L. Bartlett). (It was a WOW occasion in my life!)

So I finally got around to rereading Murder is Binding, the first book in Lorna Barrett’s Booktown series. This book is the introduction to Tricia Miles, owner of the Haven’t Got a Clue mystery bookstore, in the town of Stoneham, New Hampshire. Tricia is a big city former upper class woman who has moved to Stoneham following her amicable divorce >>> to start-up her dream shop, a mystery bookstore. (Something I’m sure a lot of us would love doing!)

Tricia opened her store on the main street area of small town Stoneham as part of an effort to revitalize the town’s flagging economy to help develop the town as a stop for local tour buses. She wasn’t the only one, though. There were others who follow suit and opened book-related shops as well. Unfortunately, not all the locals are pleased to have so many out of towners coming in to take over prominent real estate area >>> and this conflict is an important part of some of these early books, and part of the reason Tricia finds local law enforcement less than cooperative when she finds an unpleasant neighbor dead.

Tricia’s problems aren’t limited to dying neighbors though, as she also has to contend with her sister (Angelica) coming to town. Tricia and Angelica never got along terribly well as children, so Tricia is less than completely happy when Angelica’s stay turns out to be a more or less indefinite duration. Fortunately Angelica does turn out to give some helpful advice and help in getting to the bottom of the recent murder >>> including suggesting actually getting a lawyer, a completely reasonable step to consider when potentially faced with a serious murder charge!

Another interesting touch to this particular series is that since the protagonist is an unabashed fan of mystery novels, she also does often bring up other mystery authors that the reader might already read – or might be interested in reading afterward! And from the names that she lists, it does sound like Tricia might be a fan of Cozy Mysteries in particular…

If you’re interested in reading more of these brief revisits of some of the more popular Cozy Mystery Series that I’ve written in the past, you can find them at the Most Recommended Cozy Mystery Series page on my site.

One New Cozy Mystery Holiday Book Coming July 2016

In addition to three new great looking mystery Series, July looks like it will start the “Cozy Holiday Book Season” >>> even if it will only be one new holiday Cozy coming out. Still it is always a welcome change to see the holidays starting in July! (You’ve heard of the expression “Christmas in July”, haven’t you?)

Allyson K. Abbott will be releasing Shots in the Dark, the fourth book in her Mack’s Bar Mystery Series, and it’s a Christmas themed Cozy Mystery. When bouncer Gary Gunderson turns up dead a week before Christmas, Mackenzie “Mack” Dalton knows she just won’t be able to enjoy the holiday properly unless she can shed some light on the unfortunate death. Unfortunately her bouncer appears to have had something of a troubled past, so it’s going to be difficult >>> even with her extra perception and the help of her regular clientele of faithful bar patrons! Abbott also writes the Mattie Winston Series under the name Annelise Ryan, starring an ex-nurse and current coroner in Wisconsin, and a number of stand alone novels under the name Beth Amos.

If you’re interested in more Christmas-themed Holiday Cozy Mystery novels (and there are many, many, many of them!) please be sure to check the Christmas section of my Cozy Mystery List.

Three New Cozy Mystery Series Coming July 2016

July looks like it will be another packed Cozy Mystery month >>> we’ll have three new series starting up in July by established Cozy Mystery site authors!

First up will be Julia Buckley‘s Writer’s Apprentice Mystery Series, which will debut with A Dark and Stormy Murder. Lena London has just landed her dream job as a writer’s assistant in Blue Lake, Indiana, to bestselling suspense novelist Camilla Graham. Unfortunately, as is often the case with new jobs, this one comes with a most unfortunate corpse, which has turned up on Camilla’s property. Lena will need to figure out “who dunnit” – and fast – if she wants to keep this fabulous new opportunity – and keep her employer out of jail! Julia Buckley also writes the Undercover Dish Mystery Series, starring the owner of a catering company where clients can claim to have prepared the meals themselves, and the Madeline Mann Mystery Series, starring a reporter.

Next will be Elizabeth Kane Buzelli‘s A Most Curious Murder, the first book in her new Little Library Mystery Series. This series will be our introduction to Jenny Weston, who returns to her hometown of Bear Falls, Michigan, to rebuild her life, only to find murder and intrigue waiting for her. Buzelli also writes the Emily Kincaid Mystery Series, starring a reporter in Michigan, and the Nut House Mystery Series (as Elizabeth Lee), starring a plant biologist and pecan farm employee in Texas.

Last will be Little Girl Gone by Laura Childs, written under her real name, Gerry Schmitt, as part of the new Afton Tangler Thriller Series. Though this series isn’t Cozy, I’m including it here because it is written by a familiar author who many of us enjoy. This series will star Afton Tangler, a Minnesota family liaison officer, who will need to brave the harsh Minneapolis winters if she wants to track down a missing child. Laura Childs also writes the Tea Shop Mystery Series, starring the owner of a Charleston Tea Shop, the Scrapbooking Mystery Series, and the Cackleberry Club Mystery Series, set in a cozy café with a knitting and reading area.

As always, if you’re looking for these or many more new series, they can be found on the New Cozy Mystery Book Series page, as well as the Soon to Be Released Mysteries page of my Cozy Mystery site.

July 2016 Mystery Book New Releases

Allyson K. Abbott (aka Annelise Ryan & Beth Amos): Shots in the Dark (This will be the 4th in the Mack’s Bar Mystery Series.) (This is a Christmas themed mystery.)

Christy Barritt: Random Acts of Greed (This will be the 4th in the Holly Anna Paladin Mystery Series.)

Mike Befeler: Court Trouble (This will be a Stand Alone Mystery novel.)

Laurien Berenson: Live and Let Growl (This will be the 19th in the Melanie Travis Mystery Series.)

Juliet Blackwell (aka Hailey Lind): A Toxic Trousseau (This will be the 8th in the Witchcraft Mystery Series.)

Susan M. Boyer: Lowcountry Book Club (This will be the 5th in the Liz Talbot Mystery Series.)

Julia Buckley: A Dark and Stormy Murder (This will be the 1st in the NEW Writer’s Apprentice Mystery Series.)

Elizabeth Kane Buzelli (aka Elizabeth Lee): Most Curious Murder (This will be the 1st in the NEW Little Library Mystery Series.)

Bailey Cates (aka Cricket McRae & Bailey Cattrell): Spells and Scones (This will be the 6th in the Magical Bakery Mystery Series.)

Nancy Coco (aka Nancy J. Parra): All You Need is Fudge (This will be the 5th in the Candy-Coated Mystery Series.)

Kathi Daley: The Great Catsby (This will be the 8th in the Whales and Tails Mystery Series.)

Lindsey Davis: The Graveyard of the Hesperides (This will be the 4th in the Flavia Albia Mystery Series.)

Kaitlyn Dunnett (aka Kathy Lynn Casey): Kilt at the Highland Games (This will be the 10th in the Liss MacCrimmon Mystery Series.)

Linda Fairstein: Killer Look (This will be the 18th in the Alexandra Cooper Mystery Series.)

Joanne Fluke: Wicked (This will be a Stand Alone Mystery.)

G.M. Ford: Salvation Lake (This will be the 9th in the Leo Waterman Mystery Series.)

Susanna Gregory: A Grave Concern (This will be the 22th in the Chronicle of Matthew Bartholomew Mystery Series.)

Betty Hechtman: Gone with the Wool (This will be the 4th in the Yarn Retreat Mystery Series.)

Joan Hess: Caveat Emptor and Other Stories (This will be a Stand Alone non mystery.)

Anna Lee Huber: As Death Draws Near (This will be the 5th in the Lady Darby Mystery Series.)

Judith K. Ivie: Swan Song (This will be the 8th in the Kate Lawrence Mystery Series.)

J.A. Jance: Random Acts (This will be a Joanna Brady & Ali Reynolds novella.)

Iris Johansen: Night and Day (This will be an Eve Duncan omnibus, containing books # 7 – 10.)

Tonya Kappes: A Charming Hex (This will be the 9th in the Magical Cures Mystery Series.)

William Kent Krueger: The World of Cork O’Connor: A Look Behind the Pages of the Beloved Mystery Series (The writing of this series)

Victoria Laurie: A Grave Prediction (This will be the 14th in the Psychic Eye Mystery Series.)

M. Louisa Locke: Pilfered Promises (This will be the 5th in the Victorian San Francisco Mystery Series.) (This is a Thanksgiving themed mystery.)

Julie Moffett: No Strings Attached (This will be the 8th in the Lexi Carmichael Mystery Series.)

Terrie Farley Moran: Read to Death (This will be the 3rd in the Read Em and Eat Mystery Series.)

Laura Morrigan: Take the Monkey and Run (This will be the 4th in the Call of the Wilde Mystery Series.)

Marcia Muller: Someone Always Knows (This will be the in the 32nd in the Sharon McCone Mystery Series.)

Amy Myers: Classic at Bay (This will be the 8th in the Car Detective Mystery Series.)

James Patterson & Maxine Paetro: The Trial (This will be a Women’s Murder Club Mystery Series “BookShot” – Amazon describes these as “Novels you can devour in a few hours”)

Elizabeth Peters: The Painted Queen (This will be the 20th in the Amelia Peabody Mystery Series.) (This book has been scheduled to release for a while. We’ll see if it is!)

Hannah Reed (aka Deb Baker): Dressed to Kilt (This will be the 3rd in the Scottish Highlands Mystery Series.)

David Rosenfelt: Outfoxed (This will be the 14th in the Andy Carpenter Series.)

Gerry Schmitt (aka Laura Childs): Little Girl Gone (This will be the 1st in the NEW Afton Tangler Thriller Mystery Series. Not Cozy)

Jeff Shelby (aka Jeffrey Allen): Thread of Danger (This will be the 7th in the Joe Tyler Mystery Series.)

Alexander McCall Smith: Chance Developments (This will be a non-mystery short story collection.)

Wendy Corsi Staub: Blue Moon (This will be the 2nd in the Mundy’s Landing Series.)

If you want to see this month’s releases: June 2016 Mystery Book New Releases.

These Cozies (and of course many more) that are scheduled for release soon are on the Soon to be Released Mysteries page on my site.

(These are the mysteries by authors who are currently on the Cozy Mystery site.)

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