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

Cozy Mystery Villages, Towns, Communities We Would Love to Live In…

July 16, 2016

friendsAbout a week ago, WJ made a comment right here on the blog that got me thinking about all of the Cozy villages/towns/communities that we have been introduced to by some of our favorite Cozy Mystery authors. WJ’s comment referred to Leslie Meier’s Lucy Stone mysteries setting. Here is WJ’s comment:

I love her books and want to move to Tinkers Cove, Maine!!

So, naturally I started thinking about some of the Cozy Mystery fictional places seem (almost) real to me.  The characters have become like friends >>> no matter how long it has been since I was last with them, things go back as if no time has passed. The locations have taken on brick and mortar realities to me, so much so that when the characters in the Cozies talk about their shops or cafés (etc.), I feel like I have been in them, too!

I have a few Cozy Mystery places I would love to live in, with characters I would love to hang out with. Let’s see, right off the top of my head I can think of four: Gerry Porter’s Lincoln Point (by Margaret Grace), Hannah Swensen’s Lake Eden (by Joanne Fluke), Jessica Fletcher’s Cabot Cove (by Donald Bain & “Jessica Fletcher”), and Peggy Jean Turner’s Cobb’s Landing (by Kate Borden).

How about you? Are there any Cozy Mystery towns you would love to move to? (Without all the murders, of course!) If so, please post a comment with the town, series, and author. Thank you!

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Christmas in July? Winter Cozies in Summer?

July 10, 2016

So having just finished re-reading a Christmas-themed Cozy (Leslie Meier‘s Mistletoe Murder – if you want to read that blog entry, go here), it’s gotten me in a bit of a “holiday” sort of mood >>> despite the fact that it is more than 100 degrees outside pretty much every day!

Normally I don’t read holiday themed Cozies “out of season” >>> I tend to read a lot of holiday themed Cozies but only when the actual holiday rolls around. While I was re-reading this Christmas themed Cozy during a rather hot spell here in San Antonio, I started thinking about Christmas in July Cozy Mystery reading. About two years ago, MJ wrote a comment about just this:

BeachSanta… Oft discussed on this blog are the ‘seasonal/theme’ cozies. Danna, too, has said she enjoys reading Christmas cozies in Nov/Dec., winter cozies in Jan/Feb, etc., etc. In addition, many of us have talked about how we enjoy the characters in our favorite series. I’m always looking forward (generally waiting for a year) to the next book in an enjoyable on-going series.

HERE’S THE DILEMMA …….what if a book in a series you enjoy is released with a Christmas theme in June?? Do you read it now because you’ve been waiting for the next ‘installment’? OR, do you wait for 6 months to enjoy the ambiance of the Christmas season?

That’s exactly what happened when I automatically picked up ‘The Diva Wraps It Up’ (released 6/3), by Krista Davis. Since it’s a series I follow, I didn’t even bother reading the story description. When I started reading the first page, I realized it has a Christmas theme! What’s with that?

I haven’t read it yet. But whether one does or doesn’t read it in the summer, probably will depend on how much patience one has. I’m thinking about a ‘Christmas in July’ read (perhaps around the 7/22, 7/23, 7/24 time frame). Since in the last book there was some ‘relationship’ uncertainty in a subplot, I assume this will be a continuing storyline in the new book. We’ll see………………..I’m not a real patient person.

And then just last month, “HookedOnCozyMysteries” wrote this:

beachsanta1Just finished a crazy Donna Andrews mystery: The Nightingale Before Christmas. She’s always good for a laugh, and she came through again; reading something that is set during chilly weather at least makes me feel a little cooler. Now I’m onto A Cherry Cheesecake Murder by Joanna Fluke. It’s March in Lake Eden, Minnesota … still chilly and Hannah Swenson is sure to bake up something yummy

I know we have discussed reading holiday/seasonal Cozies out of their corresponding season, but I’m wondering (again) when the rest of you Cozy Mystery lovers read holiday Cozies. Do you do what I normally do >>> read holiday mysteries in the “proper” season? (This is sort of a drag if you have to wait several months for the specific holiday.) Or do you read your favorite authors’ Cozies when they are released (or when they are the next books in your TBR pile), regardless of the holiday/season they take place in? Please leave a comment below. Thank you!

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Who Would You Cast In This Cozy Mystery Movie?

April 20, 2016

We’ve gotten a few comments recently that got me to thinking, Who would I cast?

KG:

… I think Lucy Stone Mysteries would be a great movie series on the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Channel. I wonder who could be cast as Lucy?

Esmeralda:

Maybe just me, but doesn’t Gladdy look/remind anyone of Beatrice Arthur ?

Lucky for me I wrote both of these comments down! Now I’d like to know if any of you have someone in mind who could play the following parts:

Beth Kennedy from Laura Alden‘s (aka Laurie Cass) PTA Mystery Series
Kellie Martin

Meg Langslow from Donna Andrews‘ Meg Langslow Mystery Series
Melissa McCarthy

Mrs. Jeffries from Emily Brightwell‘s Mrs. Jeffries Mystery Series
Kathy Bates
Roma Downey
Cheryl Ladd
Angela Lansbury
Susan Sarandon
Emma Thompson

Theodosia Browning from Laura Childs‘ Tea Shop Mystery Series
Andi MacDowell
Lea Thompson

Desiree Shapiro from Selma Eichler’s Desiree Shapiro Mystery Series
Melissa McCarthy

Stephanie Plum from Janet Evanovich‘s Stephanie Plum Mystery Series
Martha Plimpton

Kinsey Millhone from Sue Grafton‘s Kinsey Millhone Mystery Series
Sandra Bullock
Jennifer Garner
Anne Hathaway
Martha Plimpton

Gladdy Gold from Rita Lakin‘s Gladdy Gold Mystery Series
Bea Arthur

Lucy Stone from Leslie Meier’s Lucy Stone Mystery Series
Lacy Chabert
Patricia Heaton
Kellie Martin
Martha Plimpton
Lea Thompson

Sharon McCone from Marcia Muller‘s Sharon McCone Mystery Series
Martha Plimpton

Faith Fairchild from Katherine Hall Page‘s Faith Fairchild Mystery Series
Jennifer Aniston
Alyson Hannigan

Remember that actresses wear wigs all of the time, although in the case of a new mystery movie series, the blonde actress isn’t wearing a curly, red wig which so many of us had expected her to wear. One actress that always comes to my mind when I read a mystery book with a strong sleuth is Martha Plimpton. Ever since I saw her in a movie way back in 1994, I’ve thought of her as the perfect Kinsey Millhone, Joanna Brady, or Stephanie Plum. As for Gladdy Gold, I totally agree with Esmerlada. I think Bea Arthur would have made a delightful and strong Gladdy Gold.

How about you? Can you imagine who you would cast as these sleuths? If you have any ideas, please post a comment. Thank you!

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Some More Cozy Mystery News – March 23, 2016

March 23, 2016

authorTwo days ago Linda MH posted a comment that might have some of us wondering “What’s going on?”

Linda:

I was just reading about the shakeup that took place at Berkley/Penguin/NAL publishing company. Seems that mass market paperback books (our beloved cozies!) have taken a real hit. A lot of authors have been told the company won’t continue to publish their books. (Examples: Melissa Bourbon, Janet Bolin, & Rosie Genova, and one site mentioned Krista Davis–to name a few.) I’m hoping some of these authors (if they own the rights to their series) will continue to write books and self-publish. I read LOTS of books on my iPad using the Kindle app, but I still buy the majority of my cozies in the paper format. I’m really sad that some of these series will just end. Do you have any information on this?

First off, here’s some terrific news:

Krista Davis >>> Neither of her two series (Domestic Diva Mystery Series and Paws & Claws Mystery Series) have been cancelled! So, let’s squelch those bad thoughts!

As you may remember, I already told you about this bad news: Avery Aames‘ Cheese Shop Mystery Series and Julie Hyzy’s White House Chef Mystery Series have been cancelled. Now for some more really bad Cozy Mystery news:

Janet Bolin >>> Bad news in Threadville! Unfortunately, the Threadville Mystery Series has been cancelled. However, Janet has some good tidings: “And those poor folks in Threadville can finally settle down and live their lives without a murder to solve every year.” Even better, at the end of her letter she told me that she is still writing. So we’ll have to watch for some new Cozies from her!

Melissa Bourbon >>> Her publisher has decided to end the series, however, the good news is that she has a new contract with another company and will be writing a new Cozy series. And, she may even self-publish a 7th book in her Magical Dressmaking series!

Peg Cochran is currently writing the Cranberry Cove Mystery Series, the Farmer’s Daughter Mystery Series, and the Lucille Mystery Series. Unfortunately she will no longer be writing either her Gourmet De-Lite series nor her Sweet Nothings Lingerie series (written as Meg London). So, although it’s bad news for those two series, it’s great news that she is now writing three Cozy Mystery series!

Barbara Early (aka Beverly Allen – Bridal Bouquet Shop Mystery Series) will be starting a new Cozy Mystery series soon. The Vintage Toy Shop Mystery Series will start with a Christmas Cozy called Death of a Toy Soldier.

Christina York has been writing as Christy Evans and Christy Fifield. As Christy Fifield she writes the Haunted Gift Shop Mystery Series, which although it has been cancelled, she owns the rights! So she will be writing more of the Haunted Gift Shop mysteries. Great news!

I have several other Cozy Mystery authors who I have “heard” have been cancelled, however, I want to verify it with them before I post the news. I hope to get back to you all shortly. (I normally don’t post information about authors whose series have been dropped/cancelled by their publishers until I verify the information.)

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