A little while ago, Donna wrote me a letter asking me about romance in our Cozy Mystery series. Hmmm… I know there is some romance in most of the series I read, but note, I said some. I find that in the series I follow, there may be a possibility of a romance evolving (usually between the sleuth and a person who is in a law enforcement line of work – sheriff, detective, lawyer, judge, ETC.) However, in some of my series there is a definite couple. But the series I read don’t dwell a lot on the couple or the courting/possibility. Let me get to Donna’s question.

Donna:

I would love to know if any of the other readers enjoy when there is romance involved with the main characters. I have been reading one series for several years but the last book I read I felt like I was reading a romance book. In fact, I forgot someone had been murdered. The theme seemed to be more on if the main character and her boyfriend were going to get back together and if they had sex yet. Needless to say as much as I enjoyed the series at the beginning I will most likely not continue with it. There is another series I read and the focus seems to be more on their relationship instead of the mystery. Does anyone else feel this way?

Here is a comment Jan posted trying to locate an author/book.

Jan writes:

I recently read a mystery that took place in New Orleans about a young woman from, I think, Boston,who inherited a house on the coast of Louisiana from her best friend who died of cancer. She was also made guardian of her friend’s daughter. I can’t remember the name of the author. Does anyone know?

Jan actually posted this on an entry’s comment area, but at the time, none of us could help her, so I am guessing it might be a little difficult to come up with an answer. I am hoping that someone out there today may know who this author/book could possibly be.

If you think you know, please post a comment. Thank you!

I get quite a few letters from Cozy Mystery readers who need help identifying either an author or an author’s series. Some of the time I am able to go ahead and provide an answer. But as many of you know, a lot of the time I ask for your help.

Here is a letter with which I need your help. A little while back, I received this letter from Tom:

…I am looking for what must qualify as a very obscure book because I cannot find it anywhere — in stores or on line. It was written by a local mystery writer in the late 80s or early 90s. It is set on Capitol Hill and features, as I recall, a female police investigator. Also as I recall, the guilty party is a high level aide (maybe chief of staff) to the Speaker. I served as a technical adviser to the author (on the workings of Congress) and received an acknowledgment. Unfortunately, my copy of the book got away in a book donation frenzy and I would love to get another copy. If I had to guess, Id say the author’s name is Carol — but I really don’t remember.

Does this ring any bells?…

At first I wondered if he could be thinking about Margaret Truman‘s Capital Crimes Mystery Series, or Elliot Roosevelt‘s Eleanor Roosevelt Mystery Series, but since both of those are series, I doubt Tom is looking for either of them. I sure hope that one of you knows the answer that Tom is looking for.

Thank you!