You know how it is when you just can’t remember the name of an author who writes a series you want to revisit? I sure do! Well, Libby is asking for our help in identifying her lost/misplaced/forgotten author:

Libby:

Do you know of a book that is about an American woman married to an English man (or perhaps a Scot) who travels to Orkney Islands. There is an archaeological dig going on on one of the other islands which they visit. Of course, there is contention about this and next thing you know the sponsor who is underwriting the cost is murdered. There’s lots of rain, a resident cat that is quite ferocious, the woman and her husband have a dog, she visits a knitting shop on Orkney’s mainland and gets to know some of the locals.

I read this last fall, but didn’t make a note of the title or the author (I thought I could remember – instead I have spent months racking my brain and cruising the internet for possibilities.) I know there are others in the series with this woman (who I’m ashamed to say I can’t remember the name of!) as the detective. Is it possible that this rings a bell with you?

If you think you know who the author Libby is looking for, please post a comment. Thank you!

Two days ago, Linda S asked for help (on behalf of herself and her mom) in identifying the following Cozy Mystery:

… One quick question…we both enjoyed a series where the young woman lived with her three “retired from the mob” uncles that was, I believe, set in Chicago. We haven’t read one in a while and, unfortunately, neither one of us can remember who wrote the books. Is that, by any chance, enough info for you to identify the author? I looked through your list by themes but nothing jumped out at me. Between the two of us, we have literally read hundreds of cozies & after a while, it’s difficult to remember “who’s on first” when it comes to specifics.

I appreciate your thoughts on that particular author. If she doesn’t sound familiar, I will continue to look.

Thank you …

Linda S, the Cozy Mystery readers who frequent this area usually can come up with the authors other Cozy Mystery readers are looking for.

So, to ALL of you Cozy Mystery readers, if any of you know who Linda S could be referring to, would you please post a comment? Thank you!

Patti B. sent me an email with the following entry idea:

… I was wondering if you’ve ever written a blog on the preferred age of protagonists in cozies. I loved Ann George’s southern sisters series, just wish she’d lived longer so she could have kept on writing them. I love M.C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin. I obviously love senior sleuths. Yesterday I had lunch with a friend who said she hated senior sleuths. She found them boring and didn’t know anyone who liked them… and I began to wonder—am I the only one who likes senior sleuths? (Obviously not since M.C. Beaton is making big bucks writing her books!) But I was wondering if the cozy readers who follow your blog have an opinion on this.  Do you yourself, since you’re an avid cozy reader?

I started thinking about it the day I received Patti B’s email. Hmmm… Do I have a prefered age for my amateur sleuths?

I went through all of my favorite authors and thought about their sleuths’ ages. Wow! What a span of years!

I read one particular series that has sleuths from three age groups. And, after looking at all of my favorite authors’ sleuths, I think I can safely say I don’t have a particular age bracket that I strictly adhere to.

One of my favorite authors is Margaret Grace (aka Camille Minichino & Jean Flowers).  She writes the Miniature Mystery Series which features Gerry Porter as its main sleuth. Gerry is a retired English teacher in California who has, as her side-kick sleuthing partner, her granddaughter, Maddie. Maddie is an eleven year old whiz on the computer, which helps Gerry immensely. Another (sort of) sleuthing partner of Gerry’s is her nephew, a thirty something police detective. So, with just that one series, I have the very youngest sleuth I follow, a young adult aged sleuth, and a (somewhat) older sleuth.

I have to admit, while I enjoy sleuths of all ages, I find myself drawn to senior sleuths. I have enjoyed senior sleuths for as long as I can remember. I wonder if it’s because Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple has been one of my very, very favorite amateur sleuths for years >>> going back to when I was quite young, I loved Miss Marple. No other sleuth could draw me into her world the way this clever, gray-haired lady could!

How about you? Do you have a favorite age for your amatuer sleuths? If so, why do you think you prefer that age bracket?

P.S. In case you do prefer senior sleuths, Susan* just suggested that I add these links to the Senior Sleuths lists.

SENIOR SLEUTHS:

Authors beginning with A – F

Authors beginning with G –  P

Authors beginning with Q – W

In case you prefer young sleuths:

Mystery Books with Sleuths in Their 20s

And, here is a list of sleuths who are a little older than 20 and not quite yet seniors:

Stay-at-Home Moms &/or Housewives AND Stay at Home Dads &/or Househusbands in Mysteries