The Cozy Mystery List Blog

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

Mary Higgins Clark Passed at the Age of 92

Unfortunately, we have lost another pillar of the mystery community. Mary Higgins Clark, the author of over 50 novels over a career spanning more than five decades, passed away last week at the age of 92. She will be missed by many. According to a post on her home page, her death was a result of complications of old age.

Though Mary Higgins Clark was best known for her many individual stand-alone novels, she was also the author or co-author of three series, the Under Suspicion Mystery Series with co-author Alafair Burke, as well as the Regan Reilly Mystery Series and Alvirah and Willy Mystery Series with her daughter, Carol Higgins Clark.

Rest in Peace, Mary. Our sympathies go out to Mary’s family and friends.

Marion Chesney Gibbons (aka M.C. Beaton) Will Be Missed By Many

It feels like every year there are a few sad deaths to mention after the holiday season… this year, we all will miss Marion Chesney Gibbons, likely better known here as M.C. Beaton. According to a brief entry on her website, Marion Chesney Gibbons passed away after a brief illness in late December, at the age of 83.

A very prolific romance author in the 1980’s and 1990’s under the name Marion Chesney, under the Beaton name she eventually moved to releasing more and more mysteries in both the Hamish Macbeth Mystery Series and the Agatha Raisin Mystery Series. One of the shapers of the modern Cozy sub-genre, she will be missed by the community and remembered for her many beautiful stories.

Rest in Peace, Marion. Our sympathies go out to Marion’s family and friends.

Happy Holidays!

Hello everyone – I just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy New Year, or any other assorted Happy Holiday!

Once again my personal close family has managed to reunite this year – myself and husband, son who lives in town, and daughter who visits from Washington D.C. This year, we’re also joined by our son-in-law, who is likewise visiting from D.C. And of course our own darling three year old puppy, Cocoa.

I’ll be back in a few days, so, Happy Holidays!

Oh-oh! I Already Know Who…

A couple of weeks ago I read a Cozy Mystery by a new-to-me author. I really enjoyed this author’s writing style. However I’m not sure if I’ll continue reading the rest of the Cozies in her series. I know this sounds a little like an oxymoron… I liked the book but don’t want to read more…

The dilemma is this: I absolutely knew who the murderer was the minute he was introduced to the first-person sleuth narrator. The subtle clue was so absolutely obvious.

I’m still on the fence about this author/series.  I mean, since you are absolutely 100% sure who the culprit is as soon as the character is introduced, do you still stick with the author? I mean, isn’t a big part of the Cozy Mystery reading enjoyment being able to watch as the sleuth finds clues? As I keep on thinking about whether or not to read the next book in the series, I’ll ask you all:

If an author has a sleuth you like, writes in a style you enjoy, and has an otherwise good book, but you can figure out who the culprit is very early in the book, without naming specific authors or book titles – do you read more Cozies by this author?

Again, I will not put up posts that include specific authors and book titles. Please post a comment below. Thank you!

PS: Wow, lots of comments on this one! I think there are a few main points of view – either “I would continue if I’m enjoying the book for other reasons” and “I mostly come to mystery books for the mystery, so I wouldn’t read more.” I can certainly understand both views – it just depends on what you’re coming to Cozies for!

Other people have mentioned that it might be worth trying another entry, since it could be a starting author’s early work or just a bad example of their work.

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