OK, I know that most of us don’t like this particular subject matter… Who likes to clean? Isn’t it nice that it is possible to pay someone to do the cleaning for you? Not everyone has a cleaning service, but I am guessing that all of us would like one. (I know that I would love to have someone who came in and did all of the chores I don’t particularly like doing… We can all dream, though, can’t we?!?)

Here is a list of sleuths who work in the cleaning arena:

Christy Barritt: Squeaky Clean Mystery Series… Gabby St. Claire has almost completed her college degree in forensic science. Since she is the owner of a crime scene cleaning service, she has opportunities to look at the evidence first-hand.

C.C. Benison: Her Majesty Investigates Mystery Series… Jane Bee is a Canadian housemaid who works at Buckingham Palace in London, and sleuths with Her Majesty.

Emily Brightwell: Mrs. Jeffries Mystery Series… Mrs. Jeffries works as the housekeeper for Inspector Witherspoon in Victorian London.

Barry S. Brown: Mrs. Hudson of Baker Street Mystery Series… Yes, the housekeeper of Sherlock Holmes!

Fiona Buckley: Ursula Blanchard Mystery Series… In this historical mystery series, Ursula happens to be a Lady-in-Waiting for Queen Elizabeth I.

Susanna Calkins: Lucy Campion Mystery Series… Lucy is a chambermaid in 17th century London.

Dorothy Cannell: Florence Norris Mystery Series… Florence is the housekeeper of the Stodmarch family in their country house during the 1930s.

Barbara Colley: Charlotte LaRue Mystery Series… Charlotte runs a maid service in New Orleans and is kept busy cleaning and solving.

Jeanne M. Dams: Hilda Johansson Mystery Series… In this historical mystery series, Hilda moves from Sweden and becomes a maid in Indiana during the early 1900s.

Celina Grace: Miss Hart and Miss Hunter Investigate Mystery Series  – Set in the 1930s and features the head kitchen maid and the lady’s maid at an estate.

Charlaine Harris: Lily Bard Mystery Series… Lily is a house cleaner who works in different houses while sleuthing in Shakespeare, Arkansas.

Susan S. James: Solace Glen Mystery Series… Flip (Felicity Ann) Paxton is a cleaning lady in Maryland who sleuths while cleaning.

Dolores Johnson: Mandy Dyer Mystery Series… Mandy owns a dry cleaning business in Denver.

Kate Kingsbury: WW II Manor House Mystery Series… Lady Elizabeth Compton owns the manor and is in charge of making sure that all of the housekeeping is done, while she solves mysteries.

Barbara Neely: Blanche White Mystery Series: Blanche is a housekeeper in North Carolina.

Suzanne Price: Grime Solvers Mystery Series… Sky Taylor is the cleaning lady to book if you have a mystery that needs to be solved.

Ann Purser: Days of the Week Mystery Series… Lois Meade cleans houses in her English village every day of the week.

Ann Purser: Lois Meade Mystery Series… Lois owns a cleaning service and solves mysteries in her English Village.

Cyndy Salzman: Friday Afternoon Club Mystery Series… a group of stay-at-home mothers who are good friends ar also great sleuths! (Salzmann bases her novels on her Christian faith.)

Sharon Short: Stain-Busting Mystery Series… Josie Toadfern owns a laundromat in Ohio and sleuths between the cycles.

Kathy Hogan Trocheck: Julia Callahan Garrity Mystery Series… Julia owns the House Mouse cleaning service in Atlanta, and she does a great job ferreting out solutions to mysteries.

If there are any other Cozy Mystery Authors from the site who you think belong on this list, please let me know.

♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦

Here are some fun facts about Minnesota:
Minnesota is an Indian word that means “sky-tinted water.” St. Paul is the capital, Minneapolis is the largest city. State Motto: The Star of the North. State Flower: Minnesota Pink and White Lady’s-Slipper. Minnesota was named for the sky blue waters.

Authors who are found on the Cozy Mystery Site and who feature Minnesota locations in their books:

John L. Betcher: James Becker Mystery Series

Janet Cantrell (aka Kaye George): Fat Cat Mystery Series

Jessie Chandler: Shay O’Hanlon’ Caper Series

Carole Nelson Douglas: Kevin Blake Mystery Series

Jan Dunlap: Bob White Birder Murder Mystery Series

J.C. Eaton: Sophie Kimball Mystery Series

Monica Ferris: Needlecraft Mystery Series

Joanne Fluke: Cookie Jar Mystery Series

Ellen Hart: Sophie Greenway Mystery Series AND Jane Lawless Mystery Series

Tami Hoag: Sam Kovac Mystery Series

Christine Husom: Snow Globe Shop Mystery Series

Sofie Kelly: Magical Cats Mystery Series

Mary Lou Kirwin: Librarian Mystery Series

William Kent Krueger: Cork O’Connor Mystery Series

M.D. Lake: Peggy O’Neill Mystery Series

Jess Lourey: Murder by the Month Mystery Series

Diane Morlan: Jennifer Penny Mystery Series

Annie Knox (aka Wendy Lyn Watson): Pet Boutique Mystery Series

Beth Solheim: Sadie Witt Mystery Series

Please feel free to contact me if you see an author from the Cozy Mystery Site who belongs on this list, or if you have any comments.

♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦

I just received this letter from a Cozy Mystery Site reader:

“Subject: Help with Author List
Dear Danna: I mostly read Christian fiction because it is clean and glorifies Christ. I read your web page definition of a cozy mystery and it said  that “cozy mysteries are considered “gentle” books… no graphic violence, no profanity, and no explicit sex”. I tried a few books from your list and within the first chapter there was profanity. I guess not all authors follow the guidelines for a cozy mystery. If you know of any that are a good clean read please send me a list of the authors that do follow the guidelines.
I appreciate any help you can give me.
Thank you, Tina”

Here is my (+/-) answer:

I know exactly what you are talking about… I recently finished a book by one of my favorite cozy authors, and had that very same problem! I wonder if their publishers tell them to “spice things up” these days…

I just went through the site and found these authors who might be of interest to you. Also, since I initially posted this entry, I have received suggested authors (from Cozy Mystery readers just like you and me!) who I have also included to this entry. (*So, I have not read every book by every author on this list.*)

Hannah Alexander is a writing husband/wife team who write the Hideaway Mystery Series. This Christy award-winning team mixes medical suspence with romance.

Donald Bain & “Jessica Fletcher” write the Murder, She Wrote Mystery Series.

Christy Barritt writes the Squeaky Clean Mystery Series which features the owner of a very unusual business: a crime scene cleaning service. The amateur sleuth almost completed her college degree in forensic science, which comes in very handy while being able to get a first hand view of the evidence!

Ron & Janet Benrey: the Pippa Hunnechurch Mystery Series features an executive recruiter AND the Royal Tunbridge Wells Mystery Series which is set in England and, along with the “real” people features Lapsang & Souchong (2 British Shorthair cats), Cha-Cha (a Shiba Inu… dog) and Earl, an African Grey Parrot. The Benreys also write the Glory, North Carolina Mystery Series, which also belongs on this list.

Susan Bernhardt: Kay Driscoll Mystery Series

Laura Bradford: Amish Mystery Series

Emily Brightwell: Mrs. Jeffries Mystery Series

Lynn Bulock pens the Steeple Hill Cafe Mystery Series. I have not read any of the books yet, but from what I could find, it is a mystery series with a Christian theme.

Anne Canadeo: Black Sheep Knitting Mystery Series (Also co-authors the fiction series “Cape Light” with Thomas Kinkade, as Katherine Spencer.)

JoAnna Carl: Chocoholic Mystery Series

Laurie Cass (aka Laura Alden): Bookmobile Cat Mystery Series

Lynne E. Chandler: Mrs. Baul Investigates: Bishop Kidnapped in Egypt

G. K. Chesterton writes the Father Brown Mystery Series.

Agatha Christie (aka The Queen of Cozy Mysteries!): Miss Marple Mystery Series and Hercule Poirot Mystery Series, Superintendent Battles, and Tommy & Tuppence Mystery Series.

Mary Higgins Clark has written many stand alone mysteries and is one of the authors on the Mystery Writers of America – Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time.

Mindy Starns Clark: the Million Dollar Mystery Series AND the Smart Chick Mystery Series.

Christine E. Collier:  the Writer’s Club Mystery Series has four women who make up the club and not only write, but “right” mysteries.

Sheila Connolly: Orchard Mystery Series AND Museum Mystery Series

Alisa Craig (aka Charlotte MacLeod): Inspector Madoc Rhys Mystery Series AND Grub-and-Stakers Mystery Series

Jeanne M. Dams: Dorothy Martin Mystery Series AND Hilda Johansson Mystery Series

Kathie Deviny: Grace Church Mystery Series

Elizabeth J. Duncan: Penny Brannigan Mystery Series

Sharon Dunn writes the Bargain Hunters Mystery Series, as well as the Ruby Taylor Mystery Series. Dunn describes herself as a “Christian author” who mixes the mystery genre with some of  the humor you find in “Chick-Lit”.

Monica Ferris: Needlecraft Shop Mystery Series

“Jessica Fletcher” & Donald Bain write the Murder, She Wrote Mystery Series.

Amanda Flower: Appleseed Creek Mystery Series

Joanne Fluke writes the exceptionally popular Hannah Swenson/Cookie Jar Mystery Series. Hannah manages to sleuth while managing her Minnesota bakery, the Cookie Jar.

Dorothy Gilman writes the Mrs. Pollifax Mystery Series which features Emily Pollifax, a woman you would absolutely never think is a CIA agent. Emily is a senior citizen with a penchant for hats.

Sally Goldenbaum: Seaside Knitters Mystery Series

Margaret Grace (aka Camille Minichino): As Camille Minichino she writes the Periodic Table Mystery Series. As Margaret Grace she writes the Miniature Mystery Series. I am making my way (2009) through both of the series and enjoying them immensely.

Hazel Holt: Mrs.Malory Mystery Series

Jan Karon is on the Cozy Mystery Site even though she does not write mysteries. The Mitford Series AND the Father Tim’s Novels belong to her.

Josi S. Kilpack writes the Culinary Mystery Series, which features a stay-at-home mom/sleuth.

Charlotte MacLeod (aka Alisa Craig): Peter Shandy Mystery Series AND Sarah Kelling & Max Bittersohn Mystery Series

Blanche Day Manos & Barbara Burgess write the Darcy/Flora Mystery Series which feature a mother and daughter sleuthing duo.

Blanche Day Manos also writes the Ned McNeil Mystery Series, set in Oklahoma.

Edith Maxwell (aka Maddie Day & Tace Baker) writes the Quaker Midwife Mystery Series, which features a Quaker wife in 1880s Massachusetts.

Lorena McCourtney, armed with a college degree in agriculture, is listed under “Christian Mysteries” on her site… She writes the Ivy Malone Mystery Series (which features senior citizen sleuths), the Andi McConnell Mystery Series, the Sparrow Island Mystery Series (which features a bird watcher) and the Julesburg Mystery Series…

K. D. McCrite: Eastgate Mystery Series: Carrie Jean Lockwood is an Assistant Pastor in Arkansas.

Camille Minichino (aka Margaret Grace): As Camille Minichino she writes the Periodic Table Mystery Series. As Margaret Grace she writes the Miniature Mystery Series. I am making my way (2009) through both of the series and enjoying them immensely.

Tyora Moody: Eugeena Patterson Mystery Series – Eugeena is a recently widowed, Diabetic, retired social studies teacher in South Carolina.

Gilbert Morris was a pastor for ten years and has written many different novels, including three mystery series: the Jacques & Cleo, Cat Detective Mystery Series, the Lady Trent Mystery Series, and the Danielle Ross Mystery Series (which sometimes is refered to as the Dani Ross Mystery Series).

Katherine Hall Page has a BA from Wellesley, an MA from Tufts, and a Doctorate from Harvard… She is the first person to ever receive Best First Novel, Best Novel, and Best Short Story Agatha Awards (Malice Domestic), and writes the Faith Fairchild Mystery Series, which features a caterer/sleuth who is married to a minister.

Dani Pettrey is a homeschool teacher from Maryland who writes the Alaskan Courage Mystery Series, starring a family living in small town Yancey, Alaska.

Cyndy Salzmann writes the Friday Afternoon Club Mystery Series which features a group of stay-at-home mothers who are good friends, and great sleuths! (Salzmann bases her novels on her Christian faith.)

Susan Sleeman pens the Garden Gate Mystery Series which features a landscaper in Oregon. (Sleeman is an advocate for Christian suspense.)

Alexander McCall Smith writes The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Mystery Series.

Patricia Sprinkle has two established series: the Sheila Travis Mystery Series is set in Georgia, AND the MacLaren Yarbrough Thoroughly Southern Mystery Series. She is currently starting a new Family Tree Genealogy Mystery Series which her readers are sure to enjoy.

Jennifer Stanley (aka J.B. Stanley & Ellery Adams) writes the Hope Street Church Mystery Series.

Nancy Jill Thames writes the Jillian Bradley Mystery Series which features a gardening  columnist and her Yorkie.

Janice A. Thompson writes the Bridal Mayhem Mystery Series. She describes herself as a Christian author. She home-schooled her four daughters and has done her part in planning several weddings.

Debbie Viguié writes the Psalms 23 Mystery Series. The series features a church secretary and a Reformed Rabii as its sleuths.

Chris Well writes Christian crime thrillers with a lot of humor thrown into the mysteries. His Kentucky Geezers Trilogy will be hitting the bookstores soon. Well also includes both writing and/or editing for such publications as the Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine.

Patricia Wentworth: Miss Maude Silver Mystery Series

Valerie Wolzien: Susan Henshaw Mystery Series

Here are a few Series:

Annie’s Attic Mystery Series : This series follows a woman who, upon cleaning out her grandmother’s attic, finds some very baffling items. These puzzling items are the starting points of the mysteries she and her friends solve.

Annie’s Mysteries Unraveled Mystery Series: This series is an Annie’s Crafts Company series. Each mystery book is written by a different author, and they star Kate Stevens, a single mom. She works as a crochet designer in Texas.

Annie’s Quilted Mystery Series: This is another Annie’s Crafts Company series. Like the other (currently three) series from this publisher, the books are written by different authors. They follow Emma Cotton and Kelly Grace, both members of the Nimble Thimbles quilting group in Mystic Harbor, Massachusetts.

Annie’s Secrets of the Quilt Mystery Series

I just found the Church Choir Mysteries which also include many different authors of mystery books.

Creative Woman Mystery Series is a series of mysteries that feature Shannon McClain, a crafter who makes one-of-a-kind beaded jewelry. Shannon is a Scottish widowed mother of twins who has moved to Apple Grove, Oregon. These mysteries are published by the same company that publishes the Annie’s Attic Mysteries.

Also, Heartsong Presents Mystery Series is a series which includes many authors who have mystery series of their own. I have a detailed list on their own page.

Hometown Mystery Series is a series of mystery books that are put out by Barbour Publishing. Several of the (Christian) authors write more than one mystery book in the series, but the books are not meant to be read in any particular order.

Miss Read Mysteries is a series which features a school teacher in very Cozy, British villages. They are not mysteries.

Mysteries of Sparrow Island Series  is a Guideposts mystery series which has several authors who contribute to the book list. They feature Abigail Stanton, an ornithologist (bird specialist) who moves to Sparrow Island in Washington. Mary (her sister) and Finnegan (her service dog) move with her.  This is a Christian theme mystery series.

Mystery and the Minister’s Wife mysteries. This series is unique in that each book is written by different authors (some of the authors pen more than one book in the series.) I was told by one of the authors of the series that you can read the books out of order, but she did suggest reading the first one or two msyteries before reading the others… This is one time when chronological order is not important! It is an inspirational mystery series.

Patchwork Mystery Series is a Guidepost series which will revolve around a very crafty quilter who solves mysteries.

Secrets of Mary’s Bookshop is a Guidepost mystery series that takes place in Mary’s Mystery Bookshop.

Stories from Hope Haven is another non-mystery series from Guidepost which takes place in a fictional hospital, and revolves around four nurses and their patients.

Tales from Grace Chapel Inn Series is a series of books which follow three sisters who inherit a Victorian style Bed and Breakfast from their father. The series is written by several Christian authors and is not a mystery series, but I think that it falls in well with the above-listed authors and series.

Texas K-9 Mystery Series features a Texas K-9 police dog and his/her police (person) handler. Each book in the series features a different K-9 dog, and is written by a different mystery author.

Vineyard Quilt Mystery Series

Between all of the above authors and series, you should be able to find a good starting point for your search… Hope that these help…

Here is a Previous Entry about this very same subject.

And, here’s a follow-up entry:

Cozy Mystery Authors with No Profanity/Swearing, Please…

If you have any authors who you think belong on this list… Please drop me a comment or contact me through the website.

***To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.***

Here are some Fun Michigan Facts:
Michigan gets its name from the Indian word “Michigana” (great lake).
Lansing is the state capital.
State Motto: “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.”
State Flower: Apple Blossom.
Michigan is sometimes referred to as the “Great Lakes State.” (It was once called the Wolverine State, although there are no longer any wolverines in that state.)
If you love lighthouses, Michigan is the state for you! It has (+/-) 110 of them.

Authors who are found on the Cozy Mystery Site and who feature Michigan locations in their books:

Deb Baker: Yooper Mystery Series

Lilian Jackson Braun: The Cat Who *** Mystery Series (There is some speculation that Moose County actually is situated in Upper Michigan.)

V.M. Burns: Samantha Washington Bookshop Mystery Series– Samantha is an aspiring Cozy Mystery author who owns a book store on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli (aka Elizabeth Lee): Emily Kincaid Mystery Series

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

Laurie Cass: Bookmobile Cat Mystery Series

Peg Cochran (aka Meg London): Cranberry Cove Mystery Series

Nancy Coco (aka Nancy J. Parra): Candy-Coated Mystery Series

Jo Dereske: Ruby Crane Mystery Series

Dawn Eastman: Family Fortune Mystery Series

Sharon Farrow: Berry Basket Mystery Series

Debra H. Goldstein: Denney Silber Mystery Series

Paula Gosling: Blackwater Bay Mystery Series AND Stryker & Trevorne Mystery Series

Victoria Hamilton: Vintage Kitchen Mystery Series

Susan Holtzer: Anneke Haagen Mystery Series

Madison Johns: Agnes Barton Senior Sleuth Mystery Series

William X. Kienzle: Father Koesler Mystery Series

Victoria Laurie: Psychic Eye Mystery Series

Meg Macy (aka 1/2 of D.E. Ireland): Teddy Bear Mystery Series – sleuth Sasha Silvermanis the manager of a teddy bear shop and factory.

Nina Wright: Whiskey Mattimoe Mystery Series

Please feel free to contact me if you see an author from the Cozy Mystery Site who belongs on this list, or if you have any comments.

♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦