Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV
Isabella asked for help locating new books by Dicey Deere:
“So can someone please comment on what Dicey Deere is doing, and whether there is a chance of her writing anymore books.
I know that there are many authors out there, but I really love her writing and how the stories take place in Ireland.”
Does anyone know if Dicey Deere is writing under another name?
Mary Joy wrote a letter to me that included the following:
“For me the sleuth is always a woman and she lives in very comfortable, if sometimes eccentric surroundings. She can live alone or with or without any combination of boyfriend, husband and children. As soon as she gets home, she tries, not always successfully, to head for a nice bath or shower followed by a favorite meal or drink – the way we wish life could always be.
One of the authors she follows is Donna Huston Murray. She would like some ideas of:
Authors Who Are Similar to Donna Huston Murray:
Kate Borden: Peggy Jean Turner Mystery Series
Jill Churchill: Jane Jeffry Mystery Series
Diane Mott Davidson: Goldy Bear (Catering) Mystery Series
Monica Ferris: Needlecraft Mystery Series
Sarah Graves: Home Repair is Homicide Mystery Series
Carolyn Hart: Death On Demand Mystery Series AND Henrie O Mystery Series
Leslie Meier: Lucy Stone Mystery Series
Ayelet Waldman: Mommy Track Mystery Series
Valerie Wolzien: Susan Henshaw Mystery Series
Please post your recommendations of authors who are similar to Donna Huston Murray, and I will add them to the list.
♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by theme click on this link.♦
At the end of last month, as MJ was recommending three authors to us, she brought up a really good point about a lot of our sleuths’ love interests. (Keep in mind that MJ liked all three of the authors.)
MJ:
Re: Author #1:
“… has some quirky characters, and the ‘requisite’ (of many cozy writers) police boyfriend love interest…”
Author #2:
“…This author ALSO follows the ‘cozy’ formula of the love interest being a police detective…”
Author #3:
“…It appears *** is utilizing the same love interest formula as the previous two – police dept. boyfriend to-be!
I know several mystery cozies have love interests with OTHER occupations. But many (if not most) love interests are detectives (police or private), which is why I jokingly call them ‘formula’.”
My answer was:
“MJ, I totally agree about the ‘requisite” detective love interest! Either that, or the detective is their niece, nephew, son, daughter, best friend, neighbor, ETC! Sure helps the sleuth gather interesting clue-solving tidbits…”
Susie followed our line of conversation by adding:
“MJ’s point both intrigues and worries me. In the series I’m developing, I don’t have a detective as a love interest in the first book, but I do for the second. But the problem is, as Danna suggests, that the detective (or in my case, constable) comes in handy when you have an amateur sleuth, especially in a time period when women couldn’t serve as police, detectives, etc (my books are set in early modern England). But I suppose he doesn’t need to be a detective, but for a series you need a reason to keep bringing them together. Do you think a lawyer as the love interest is equally formulaic? And if so, do you mind? (I can think of the Anne Perry novels, but not too many others). I would love to know your thoughts on this.”
What do you all think? Do too many sleuths have too many police/private detective significant others?
As I started working on this list, I realized that all three of my very favorite recent holiday movies were Jim Henson movies, although The Muppet Christmas Carol was under the helm of Brian Henson, his son. I realize that family memories are wrapped up with family favorites, but I am trying to be objective here – and obviously I am failing miserably! These are movies that I enjoy revisiting during the holidays simply because they bring such joy.
Now that we have worked on the Favorite Holiday Classic Movies: Old, Black & White, and A Few In Color list, let’s move on with the more recent Holiday Movies.
Here are some of my favorite, more recent holiday movies:
The Muppet Christmas Carol—–1992
A Muppet Family Christmas—–1987
Jim Henson’s The Christmas Toy—–1986
I am not sure if this one should be in the Christmas or Halloween movies:
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas—–1993
Here are the favorite more recent holiday movies from your suggestions:
An American Christmas Carol—–1979–Henry Winkler
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever—–1983–Loretta Swit
The Christmas Box—–1997–Maureen O’Hara & Richard Thomas
The Christmas Card—–1996–Ed Asner
A Christmas Carol—–1984 –George C. Scott
A Christmas Carol—–1999–Patrick Stewart
The Christmas Choir—–2008–Rhea Perlman
Christmas Hope—–2009–Madeleine Stowe & James Remar
The Christmas List—–1997–Mimi Rogers
A Christmas Memory—–1997–Patty Duke
A Christmas Story—–1983–Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin
A Christmas Visitor—–2002–Meredith Baxter & William Devane
Christmas with the Kranks—–2004–Tim Allen & Jamie Lee Curtis
Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle—–2009–Doris Roberts
Debbie Macomber’s Call Me Mrs. Miracle—–2010–Doris Roberts
A Diva’s Christmas Carol—–2000–Vanessa Williams
Elf—–2003–Will Farrell
Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas——-2014
The Family Stone—–2005–Sarah Jessica Parker & Dermot Mulroney
The Gathering—–1977–Ed Asner & Maureen Stapleton
The Holiday—–2006–Kate Winslet & Cameron Diaz
Love Actually—–2003–Hugh Grant & Emma Thompson
Mickey’s Christmas Carol—–1983–Scrooge McDuck & Mickey Mouse
Mrs. Santa Claus—–1996–Angela Lansbury
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation—–1989–Chevy Chase & Beverly D’Angelo
Noel—–2004–Penélope Cruz
November Christmas—–2010–Sam Elliott & John Corbett
One Christmas—–1994–Katherine Hepburn, Swoosie Kurtz, & Henry Winkler
One Magic Christmas—–1985–Mary Steenburgen & Harry Dean Stanton
The Polar Express—–2004
Santa Claus: The Movie—–1985
The Santa Clause trilogy—–1994, 2002, 2006–Tim Allen
The Santa Suit—–2010–Kevin Sorbo
Scrooge—–1970–Albert Finney
Scrooged—–1998–Bill Murray
Trading Places—–1983–Dan Aykroyd & Eddie Murphy
The Twelve Days of Christmas Eve—2004–Steven Webber & Molly Shannon
Undercover Christmas—–2003–Tyne Daley & Jaime Gertz
Here is the list of the Christmas: Favorite Classic Holiday Movies : Old, Black & White.
If you would like to see more TV and Movies suggestions, click here.
