I asked for help in compiling a list of Cozy Mystery authors who you all (site readers) would recommend to someone who is a NEW reader of Cozy Mystery books. I knew who I would recommend, but since everyone has different ideas about who is a great Cozy Mystery author and who is NOT (unfortunately, I have more than just a few of these!) I thought I could definitely use the help in identifying authors who would be good “starting authors” for NEW readers of the genre.
Here is a list of the authors who came recommended by seasoned Cozy Mystery readers:
Susan Wittig Albert: China Bayles Herbal Mystery Series…
Nancy Atherton: Aunt Dimity Mystery Series…
Lorna Barrett (aka L. L. Bartlett): Booktown Mystery Series…
M. C. Beaton (aka Marion Chesney): Hamish Macbeth Mystery Series AND Agatha Raisin Mystery Series…
Nancy Bell: Biggie Weatherford Mystery Series…
Miranda Bliss: Cooking Class Mystery Series…
Rhys Bowen: Constable Evans Mystery Series AND Molly Murphy Mystery Series…
Laura Bradley: Hair Raising Mystery Series…
Lilian Jackson Braun: The Cat Who * * * Mystery Series….
Emily Brightwell: Mrs. Jeffries Mystery Series…
JoAnna Carl (aka Eve K. Sandstrom): Chocoholic Mystery Series…
Laura Childs: Tea Shop Mystery Series and Scrapbooking Mystery Series…
Sheila Connolly (aka Sarah Atwell): Orchard Mystery Series AND Museum Mystery Series…
Cleo Coyle (aka Alice Kimberly): Coffeehouse Mystery Series…
Alisa Craig (aka Charlotte MacLeod): Inspector Madoc Rhys Mystery Series AND Dittany & Osbert Monk Mystery Series…
Mary Daheim: Emma Lord Alpine Mystery Series…
Casey Daniels: Pepper Martin Mystery Series…
Dianne Mott Davidson: Goldy Bear Mystery Series…
Carola Dunn: Daisy Dalrymple Mystery Series…
Janet Evanovich: Stephanie Plum Mystery Series…
Monica Ferris (aka Margaret Frazer & Mary Monica Pulver): Needlecraft Mystery Series…
Joanne Fluke: Cookie Jar Mystery Series…
Sally Fredman: Brandy Alexander Mystery Series…
Erle Stanley Gardner (aka A. A. Fair): Perry Mason Mystery Series AND Doug Selby Mystery Series AND Cool Detective Agency Mystery Series…
Anne George: Southern Sisters Mystery Series…
Dorothy Gilman: Mrs. Pollifax Mystery Series…
Ann Granger: Markby & Mitchell Village Whodunit Mystery Series…
Martha Grimes: Richard Jury Mystery Series…
Joan Hess (aka Joan Hadley): Claire Malloy Mystery Series AND Maggody Mystery Series…
Hazel Holt: Mrs. Mallory Mystery Series…
Jan Karon: Mitford Series (not mysteries…)
Alice Kimberly (aka Cleo Coyle): Haunted Bookshop Mystery Series…
Kate Kingsbury: Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery Series…
Joyce & Jim Lavene: Missing Pieces Mystery Series…
Richard & Frances Lockridge: Mr. & Mrs. North Mystery Series…
Charlotte MacLeod (aka Alisa Craig): Peter & Helen Shandy Mystery Series AND Sarah Kelling & Max Bittersohn Mystery Series…
Debbie Macomber: Cedar Cove Series AND Blossom Street Series (not mysteries)
Rett MacPherson: Torie O’Shea Mystery Series…
Nancy Martin: Blackbird Sisters Mystery Series…
Jenn McKinlay (aka Lucy Lawrence): Cupcake Bakery Mystery Series…
Leslie Meier: Lucy Stone Mystery Series
Elizabeth Peters (aka Barbara Michaels): Amelia Peabody Mystery Series AND Vicky Bliss Mystery Series…
Ellis Peters: Brother Cadfael Mystery Series…
Spencer Quinn (aka Peter Abrahams): Chet and Bernie Mystery Series…
Cynthia Riggs: Martha’s Vineyard Mystery Series…
Paige Shelton: Farmer’s Market Mystery Series…
Patricia Sprinkle: Thoroughly Southern Mystery Series…
Fran Stewart: Biscuit McKee & Marmalade Mystery Series…
Sarah Strohmeyer: Bubbles Yablonsky Mystery Series…
Leann Sweeney: Cats in Trouble Mystery Series…
Victoria Thompson: Gaslight Mystery Series…
Livia J. Washburn: Fresh Baked Mystery Series AND Literary Tour Mystery Series…
Heather Webber: Lucy Valentine Mystery Series…
Patricia Wentworth: Miss Maud Silver Mystery Series…
Jacqueline Winspear: Maisie Dobbs Mystery Series…
PS>>> I wasn’t surprised to see that several of these recommended Cozy Mystery authors are some of the authors on my “Favorite Authors” list! Also, since Agatha Christie is probably the Queen of the Cozy Mystery, here is a list of authors who are similar to Agatha Christie.
Thanks, again, to all who submitted the names of their favorite Cozy authors!
♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by theme, click on this link.♦
Here are some fun New Jersey facts: