I just finished a mystery by one of my favorite Cozy Mystery authors: Hazel Holt. It is such a joy to read a book by an author who I love to read. I not only enjoy Hazel Holt’s writing style, but I also like that she writes her mysteries in a way that, if you didn’t know the publication dates, you might think they were written at the same time as Agatha Christie’s mysteries.

By this I do not mean that Mrs. Malory lives without the modern conveniences that we all take for granted. I mean that Hazel Holt’s mysteries are very much in line with the classic Cozy Mystery authors. Mrs. Malory is an amateur sleuth who lives in a quaint and Cozy village where everyone seems to know everyone else, the criminal action takes place “off stage”, there is no profanity/swearing, no gratuitous sex or violence, and strong character development. (I hope I didn’t skip any other characteristics!)

I know I have written about how much I enjoy the Mrs. Malory Mystery Series before, but I hope it’s been long enough so as not to seem too repetitive. I strongly recommend Hazel Holt‘s Mrs. Malory Mystery Series.

Please tell us about a Cozy Mystery series (or a few!) that you read this past month that you think the rest of us should try reading, if we don’t already. And, please tell us why. These should only be the Cozy Mysteries that you think stood out as being even better than the other Cozies you read during the month.

[As usual, I ask that you don’t tell us about the mystery books you read that you didn’t like.]

What Cozy Mystery book (or author) have you read during July 2014, and why did you enjoy it (or him/her)?

Here are the current recommended authors who some of you have read this past month:

Victoria Abbott (aka Mary Jane Maffini & Victoria Maffini): Book Collectors Mystery Series

Susan Wittig Albert (aka Robin Paige): China Bayles Mystery Series

Margaret Addison: Rose Simpson Mystery Series (book #1 is Murder at Ashgrove House)

Tasha Alexander: Lady Emily Mystery Series

Barbara Allan: Trash ‘n’ Treasures Mystery Series

Beverly Allen (aka Barbara Early): Bridal Bouquet Shop Mystery Series

Donna Andrews: Meg Langslow Mystery Series

Nancy Atherton: Aunt Dimity Mystery Series

M.C. Beaton (aka Marion Chesney): Agatha Raisin Mystery Series

Heather Blake (aka Heather Webber): Wishcraft Mystery Series

Rhys Bowen: Molly Murphy Mystery Series

Rhys Bowen: Royal Highness Mystery Series

Simon Brett: Blotto and Twinks Mystery Series

Emily Brightwell: Mrs. Jeffries Mystery Series

Leslie Budewitz: Food Lovers’ Village Mystery Series

JoAnna Carl (aka Eve K. Sandstrom): Chocoholic Mystery Series

Kate Carlisle: Bibliophile Mystery Series

Alyse Carlson: Garden Society Mystery Series

Agatha Christie: Hercule Poirot Mystery Series

Agatha Christie: Superintendent Battle Mystery Series

Agatha Christie: Why Didn’t They Ask Evans (Stand Alone mystery)

V.C. Clinton Baddeley: Only a Matter of Time

Sheila Connolly (akaSarah Atwell): Orchard Mystery Series

Shelley Costa: Miracolo Mystery Series

Krista Davis: Domestic Diva Mystery Series

Dawn Eastman: Family Fortune Mystery Series

Kate Ellis: Wesley Peterson Mystery Series

Female Sleuths Megapack Lady Molly of Scotland Yard Loveday Brooke and Amelia Butterworth

Daryl Wood Gerber (aka Avery Aames): Cookbook Nook Mystery Series

Dorothy Gilman: Mrs. Pollifax Mystery Series

Sally Goldenbaum: Seaside Knitters Mystery Series

Celine Grace: Death at the Manor (book # 1 in the Asharton Manor Mystery Series – novella length)

Victoria Hamilton (aka Amanda Cooper & Donna Lea Simpson): Merry Muffin Mystery Series

David Handler: Berger & Mitry Mystery Series

Betty Hechtman:Yarn Retreat Mystery Series

Joan Hess (aka Joan Hadley): Claire Malloy Mystery Series

Lee Hollis: Hailey Powell Food & Cocktail Mystery Series

Hazel Holt: Mrs. Malory Mystery Series

Dorothy Howell: Haley Randolph Mystery Series

Julie Hyzy: White House Chef Mystery Series

Julie Hyzy: Manor of Murder Mystery Series

Sue Ann Jaffarian: Ghost of Granny Apples Mystery Series

Joyce & Jim Lavene (aka J.J. Cook & Ellie Grant): Renaissance  Faire Mystery Series

Donna Leon: Guido Brunetti Mystery Series

Kylie Logan (aka Miranda Bliss & Casey Daniels): League of Literary Ladies Mystery Series

Rhett MacPherson: Torie O’shea Mystery Series

Molly MacRae: Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery Series

Edith Maxwell (aka Tace Baker): Local Foods Mystery Series

Jennifer McAndrews: Ill-Gotten Panes (book # 1 in Stained Glass Mystery Series)

Sharyn McCrumb: Ballad Mystery Series

Jenn McKinlay (aka Josie Belle & Lucy Lawrence): Hat Shop Mystery Series

Karen Musser Nortman: Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mystery Series (book #1 is Bats and Bones)

Nancy J. Parra (aka Nancy Coco): Perfect Proposals Mystery Series

Ann Purser: Ivy Beasley Mystery Series

Heather Webber (aka Heather Blake): Lucy Valentine Mystery Series

[If you click on the author’s name (blue) link, it will take you to his/her page on the Cozy Mystery site. The pages have all of the authors’ books listed chronologically.]

♦To access more Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations, click on this link♦

P.S. While I try to respond to all of the comments that are made on the Cozy Mystery blog, I generally don’t respond to the comments on these monthly recommendation entries. I do, however, list the recommended books that come via the Cozy Mystery blog’s comments!