Mary Joy wrote me and mentioned a problem that has happened recently in the Cozy Mystery book arena. Several authors who seemed to be very popular are no longer being published. Because of this, Mary Joy is looking for authors who can fill the void.
Authors Who Are Similar to Jill Churchill:
Barbara Allan: Trash ‘n’ Treasures Mystery Series
Donna Andrews: Meg Langslow Mystery Series
Nancy Atherton: Aunt Dimity Mystery Series
Donald Bain & “Jessica Fletcher”: Murder, She Wrote Mystery Series
Claudia Bishop (aka Mary Stanton): Hemlock Falls Mystery Series
Kate Borden (aka Kate Grilley): Peggy Jean Turner Mystery Series
Simon Brett: Fethering Mystery Series
Rita Mae Brown: Mrs. Murphy Mystery Series
Dorothy Cannell: Ellie Haskell Mystery Series
JoAnna Carl (aka Eve K. Sandstrom): Chocoholic Mystery Series
Sheila Connelly (aka Sarah Atwell): Orchard Mystery Series AND Museum Mystery Series
Mary Daheim: Emma Lord Alpine Mystery Series
Diane Mott Davidson: Goldy Bear Mystery Series
Janet Evanovich: Stephanie Plum Mystery Series:
Monica Ferris: Needlecraft Mystery Series
Joanne Fluke: Cookie Jar Mystery Series
Sarah Graves: Home Repair Is Homicide Mystery Series
Joan Hess (aka Joan Hadley): Claire Malloy Mystery Series
Julie Hyzy: White House Chef Mystery Series AND manor of Murder Mystery Series
Rita Lakin: Gladdy Gold Mystery Series
Laura Levine: Jaine Austen Mystery Series
Nancy Martin: Blackbird Sisters Mystery Series
Leslie Meier: Lucy Stone Mystery Series
Shirley Rousseau Murphy: Joe Grey Cat Mystery Series
Emilie Richards: Ministry Is Murder Mystery Series
Cynthia Riggs: Martha’s Vineyard Mystery Series
J. B. Stanley (aka Jennifer Stanley, Ellery Adams, & 1/2 Lucy Arlington): Supper Club Mystery Series
Elaine Viets: Dead-End Job Mystery Series AND Mystery Shopper Mystery Series
Livia J. Washburn: Fresh Baked Mystery Series AND Literary Tour Mystery Series
A Cozy Mystery site reader suggested Miss Pettybone’s First Case (by Melissa Rees)
Please post your recommendations of authors who are similar to Jill Churchill, and I will add them to the list.
♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by theme click on this link.♦
Yep, just like the title of this entry indicates, I am starting to try to update my 
… Lately, I’ve found many of the cozies with a gimmick (cozies built around a hobby, special interest etc) to be really problematic. It seems the mystery plot is sacrificed for the sake of the hobby. So everything stops while we have a little lesson on quilting, or coffee making or something. The gimmick needs to move the plot along or enhance our understanding of the characters. The movement of the plot shouldn’t stop for a lecture.
Not what you asked but it’s annoying me lately! And that’s my new YUCK category.
Maria responded:
Gail, I’ve seen this a lot lately too. A little bit of instruction or hobby is okay–cooking four meals and two desserts in the first 30 pages…well, I think I better go eat something instead of read…
The balance has to be there. And it’s probably easier to take after I love the characters. Sort of like watching grandma bake (or quilt or whatever). If I already like the characters I can enjoy the atmosphere, but if it’s just some gal named Sophie discussing the pros and cons of dark brown sugar versus molasses versus white sugar there better be arsenic in the white sugar that kills the guest! (okay that was kind of mean, but you know what I’m getting at. I hope!)
I have to admit to trying a few Cozy Mystery series just because they revolved around a particular interest of mine. One of those themed series was the Needlecraft Mystery Series by Monica Ferris. Because I enjoy needlework so much, I thought I might enjoy this particular series, and I was right! Monica Ferris is now on my “favorite authors” list. The needlework theme is what caught my interest, but the actual series is what has made me a Monica Ferris fan. (Also, I don’t remember Ferris ever actually devoting pages in these Cozy Mysteries on “how to” types of instruction.)
Do you all have opinions on special interest themes?
If you enjoy a particular theme, say paranormal, do you read every paranormal author you can get your hands on?
Do you think that some authors are using gimmicks to get us to read their books by getting on the bandwagon of a popular theme? (I do! Certainly not all authors, but I think that many do!)