The Cozy Mystery List Blog

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

Hypochondriac Niece and Cousin from Ellery Queen or Alfred Hitchcock Magazine…

The latest question for me to post is from Deb. She would like help in remembering the author of… well, let’s let Deb tell us!

Deb:

“I have been trying to find an author I really enjoyed in either Ellery Queen or Alfred Hitchcock magazine many years ago. The hero was a hypochondriac who had a different outrageous illness in each story, using a medical manual of some sort. She solved mysteries reluctantly with her aunt and cousin, but she actually was surprisingly successful.”

If anyone has a clue as to who this particular sleuth and/or her author could possibly be, please send us a comment.

Thanks (in advance) for your help!

What Happened To: Rhys Bowen, Karen Ann Wilson, Valerie Wolzien, Lee Harris, Jill Churchill, & Jonnie Jacobs

It’s time (again!) for me to ask you for your help. I have four Cozy Mystery readers who would like to know what has happened to these authors. If any of you have any information, we certainly would appreciate hearing a comment from you.

Brian:

“… I was wondering if you or your well-informed readers know why Rhys Bowen has stopped the wonderful Evans, the Welsh policeman series. I know she has two other series, but I always liked the Evans books the best.”

Barbara:

“… I was wondering why Karen Ann Wilson stopped writing cozy mysteries.  She left her readers hanging after the 4th book.  (Samantha Holt Mystery).  Any news on her, or whether she will write again?”

Marilyn:

“… What brought me to your site was my search for some Valerie Wolzien books.  I really enjoy them and have noticed that her writing seems to have stopped somewhere around 5 years ago if I am not mistaken.
 
My question… is, is Valerie Wolzien writing anymore?  I will miss her if she isn’t. I found her about a year ago and have been working my way through her series, but have come to the end, and can’t find any more of her books.”

MJ:

“What happened to all my favorites? Valerie Wolzien, Lee Harris, Jill Churchill’s Jane Jeffry’s series? I’ve been in withdrawal!

I forgot to mention Jonnie Jacobs… Missing them for years.”

Thank you (in advance) >>> In the past you all have been so helpful in tracking information down for other Cozy Mystery readers!

Cozy Mystery Books Written in 1st OR 3rd Person…

I just received this letter from Charlotte, a site reader who will be writing a Cozy Mystery. She has “a great character in the bag, ready to go.”  Charlotte would like to know the following:

“What I’m doing at the moment is deciding whether to approach the stories in 1st person or 3rd person. I’ve read both and have no problem with either, in general.

The question I’m hoping you may have an answer to… is this:

Naturally, 1st person requires everything to be told via the protagonist’s point of view. Obviously. But I can’t, for the life of me, remember how 3rd person POV books handle other characters — do you know… if it is permissible in a cozy to allow other characters to take center stage once in a while, when the book is written in 3rd person? Giving background details to the reader that the protagonist still has to work to find out? Or is it imperative, even in 3rd person, that the protagonist’s be the only viewpoint?

…  If you have any suggestions of 3rd-person POV books you think I’d enjoy, that might illuminate my question, please free free to share.”

 If you have an opinions or preferences, please post a comment. (I am telling Charlotte about the entry so she can use your input.) Thank you!

Eating Watermelon Cookies in Winter Snow-Ins, but Not at Rainbow's End…

I have three more questions from Cozy Mystery readers, and I would love to get them answered before the year is over!

Gayle would like to find this book:

“a mystery that was not Rainbow’s End by Martha Grimes, but another one written in the 1990s that also mentions Exeter Cathedral and the Rondels – in the one I’m looking for, one of the embroiderers is killed at the beginning of the book.

I remember it is a police procedural and it opens  (or very near the beginning) with one of the embroiderers being killed in the Cathedral precincts.  It would be wonderful if someone recognizes the book.”

Brenda asks:

“I was just wondering if you knew of any winter/snowed in cozy mystery books.”

Annette would like the following recipe:

“I just read one of the Joanne Fluke’s books, Apple Turnover Murder, there was a recipe in there for “watermelon cookies”, I gave the book back to the library before I copied the recipe was wondering if anyone has the recipe.”

I’m going to begin by mentioning Cyril Hare’s An English Murder. The mystery (which is really well-written!) takes place in a mansion during snow-in conditions.

Also, Brenda, you might want to take a look at this entry (from 2009) about cold, howling wind, and snow.

OK, Cozy Mystery readers, you know the drill! Please post your responses so we can help our fellow Cozy Mystery readers.

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