It’s time for our monthly Cozy Mystery book recommendations. If you are new to the Cozy Mystery site, this is the time when we (Cozy Mystery readers) tell each other about our very favorite of favorite Cozy Mystery books that we have read during the month.

For those of you who visit the Cozy Mystery page on Facebook, you already know that I have been reading (listening to) the fourteenth book in Alexander McCall Smith‘s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon. I absolutely love this series. It is amongst the very gentlest of Cozy Mystery series. You won’t catch Precious Ramotswe (the main sleuth) walking into a dark, abandoned apartment building in the middle of the night, only to meet the killer, who has been waiting for her. Precious won’t be tailing a red herring character in her hot-rod car, nor will she running away from a knife-wielding crazed culprit.

These mysteries by Alexander McCall Smith don’t involve murder. The mysteries are more “real life” type of mysteries: tracking down a loved-one, proving someone is not who he/she claims to be, checking on beauty pageant contestants’ values; those type of “real life” mysteries.

The series takes place in Botswana and is a delightful introduction to what life in its capital (Gaborone) is like. Mma Ramotswe opens the detective agency and bases all of her detecting techniques on a book written by Clovis Andersen: The Principals of Private Detection. This book explains all of the ins and outs that Mma Ramotswe and her very capable associate detective, Mma Makutsi, employ.

The characters and relationships are the most integral part of these “mystery books.” The reader truly gets to know the people and the country, and Alexander McCall Smith is a tremendously gifted story-teller. So, I am going to start the April Mystery Book Recommendations List with him.

[As usual, I ask that you don’t tell us about the mystery books you read that you didn’t like.]

What Cozy Mystery book (or author) have you read during April 2014, and why did you enjoy it (or him/her)?

Here are the current recommended authors who some of you have read this past month:

Isabella Alan (aka Amanda Flower): Amish Quilt Shop Mystery Series

Susan Wittig Albert: China Bayles Mystery Series

Beverly Allen (aka Barbara Early): Bridal Bouquet Shop Mystery Series

Donna Andrews: Meg Langslow Mystery Series

Nancy Atherton: Aunt Dimity Mystery Series

Donald Bain & “Jessica Fletcher”: Murder, She Wrote Mystery Series

JoAnn Bassett: Islands of Aloha Mystery Series (Livin’ Lahainia Loca, book #2)

M.C. Beaton (aka Marion Chesney): Hamish Macbeth Mystery Series

Melissa Bourbon (aka Misa Ramirez): Magical Dressmaking Mystery Series

Emily Brightwell: Mrs. Jeffries Mystery Series

Lynn Cahoon: Tourist Trap Mystery Series (Guidebook to Murder, book #1)

Joelle Charbonneau: Glee Club Mystery Series

Laura Childs: Tea Shop Mystery Series

Mary Higgins Clark: I’ve Got You Under My Skin

Peg Cochran (aka Meg London): Lucille Mystery Series

Peter Conradi: Hot Dogs and Cocktails: When FDR Met King George VI at Hyde Park on Hudson (not a mystery)

J.J. Cook (aka Joyce and Jim Lavene & Ellie Grant): Biscuit Bowl Food Truck Mystery Series

J.J. Cook (aka Joyce and Jim Lavene & Ellie Grant: Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery Series

Philip R. Craig & William G. Tapply: Brady Coyne & J.W. Jackson Mystery Series (not Cozy)

Cheryl Crane: Nikki Harper Mystery Series (The Bad Always Die Twice, book #1)

Jessie Crockett: Sugar Grove Mystery Series

Mary Daheim: Emma Lord Alpine Mystery Series

Kathi Daley: T J Jensen Mystery Series

Diane Mott Davidson: Goldy Bear Mystery Series

Vicky Delany: Constable Molly Smith Mystery Series (Under Cold Stone, book #7)

Nancy DeMarco: Saving Gracie (not Cozy)

Carola Dunn: Daisy Dalrymple Mystery Series

Dawn Eastman: Family Fortune Mystery Series

Monica Ferris: Needlecraft Mystery Series

Joanne Fluke: Hannah Swensen Cookie Jar Mystery Series

Ann Granger: Markby & Mitchell Village Whodunit Mystery Series

Ellie Grant (aka Joyce and Jim Lavene & J.J. Cook): Pie in the Sky Mystery Series

Joan Hadley (aka Joan Hess): Theo Bloomer Mystery Series

Parnell Hall: Puzzle Lady Mystery Series

Victoria Hamilton (aka Amanda Cooper): Merry Muffin Mystery Series

Julie Hyzy: White House Chef Mystery Series

Julie Hyzy: Manor House Mystery Series

Sharon Ricklin Jones: River of Time (not Cozy)

Shirley Kennedy: Looking for Lucky (not Cozy)

Sherry Lewis: Senior Sleuth Fred Vickery Mystery Series

Dixie Lyle: Whiskey, Tango, and Foxtrot Mystery Series

Charlotte MacLeod (aka Alisa Craig): Peter Shandy Mystery Series

Charlotte MacLeod (aka Alisa Craig): Sarah Kelling Mystery Series

Molly MacRae: Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery Series

Ngaio Marsh: Inspector Roderick Alleyn Mystery Series

Jenn McKinlay (aka Josie Belle & Lucy Lawrence): Cupcake Bakery Mystery Series

Camille Minichino (aka Margaret Grace & Ada Madison): Periodic Table Mystery Series

Gail Oust: Piper Prescott Mystery Series

Ann Purser: Ivy Beasley Mystery Series

Sara Rosett: On the Run Mystery Series

M.L. Rowland: Search and Rescue Mystery Series (Zero-Degree Murder, book #1)

Sofie Ryan (aka Sofie Kelly): Second Chance Cat Mystery Series

Susan Santangelo: Baby Boomer Mystery Series

Julia Spencer-Fleming: Adirondack Mystery Series

Alexander McCall Smith: The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency

Kathy Hogan Trocheck (aka Mary Kay Andrews): Callahan Garrity Mystery Series

Christine Wenger: Comfort Food Mystery Series

[If you click on the author’s name (blue) link, it will take you to his/her page on the Cozy Mystery site. The pages have all of the authors’ books listed chronologically.]

♦To access more Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations, click on this link♦

P.S. While I try to respond to all of the comments that are made on the Cozy Mystery blog, I generally don’t respond to the comments on these monthly recommendation entries. I do, however, list the recommended books!

I got an email two days ago from my best friend (college roommate) who lives in Iowa. She mentioned just how tired she is of winter. While reading her letter, I was able to look outside and watch the birds (and squirrels) in our back yard as they flitted about enjoying the sunshine. What a drastic difference!

As March is finishing up, I am reminded that it is time for me to ask you all about the Cozy Mystery book(s) that you have read during March that stand out as really good Cozy Mysteries. Please tell us why you are recommending the book(s) so that by reading your reasons, we can see if we might be interested in it (them), also.

I am going to start by telling you about the Cozy Mystery author I am currently reading. I started reading her a short while back when I kept seeing her being recommended in these monthly recommendation entries. Some of you kept talking about Joanne Fluke. So, better late than never, bada-beem, bada-bum, I tried her. Boy am I glad I did!

Fluke’s Hannah Swensen mysteries have become my go-to books when I’m looking for a comfy-cozy read. I find the writing very easy to read, and I love the interaction Hannah has with her sister, niece, brother-in-law, and mother. The relationships she has with her loved ones rings very true to me. The books are a nice escape-type of reading. And I love experiencing the cold of Minnesota, as well as its beauty. I enjoy Hannah’s small, close-knit community, as well.

[As usual, I ask that you don’t tell us about the mystery books you read that you didn’t like.]

[If you click on the author’s name (blue) link, it will take you to their page on the Cozy Mystery site. Their page has all of the author’s books listed chronologically.]

What Cozy Mystery book (or author) have you read during March 2014, and why did you enjoy it (or him/her)?

Here are the current recommended authors who some of you have read this past month:

Victoria Abbott (aka Mary Jane Maffini & Victoria Maffini): Book Collectors Mystery Series

Susan Wittig Albert: China Bayles Mystery Series

Donna Andrews: Meg Langslow Mystery Series

Alex Archer: Rogue Angel (fantasy series?)

Mignon F. Ballard: Augusta Goodnight Mystery Series

C. J. Box: Joe Picket Mystery Series: Breaking Point  (not Cozy)

Laura Bradford (aka Elizabeth Lynn Casey): Amish Mystery Series

Duffy Brown: Consignment Shop Mystery Series

Laurie Cass: Bookmobile Cat Mystery Series

Laura Childs: Tea Shop Mystery Series

Alys Clare: Hawkenlye Mystery Series

Shelley Costa: Miracolo Mystery Series

Mary Daheim: Emma Lord Alpine Mystery Series

Krista Davis: Domestic Diva Mystery Series

Jo Dereske: Miss Zukas Mystery Series

Carola Dunn: Daisy Dalrymple Mystery Series

Dawn Eastman: Family Fortune Mystery Series

Chrystle Fiedler: Natural Remedies Mystery Series

Joanne Fluke: Hannah Swensen Cookie Jar Mystery Series

Sally Goldenbaum: Seaside Knitters Mystery Series

Kerry Greenwood: Corinna Chapman Mystery Series

Leslie Meier: Lucy Stone Mystery Series

Laura Morrigan: Woof at the Door (1st in the Call of the Wilde Mystery Series)

Kate Parker: Victorian Bookshop Mystery Series

Perri O’Shaughnessy: Nina Reilly Mystery Series (not Cozy)

Gail Oust: Piper Prescott Mystery Series

Patricia Rockwell: Essie Cobb, Senior Sleuth Mystery Series

Denise Swanson: Devereaux’s Dime Store Mystery Series

Victoria Thompson: Gaslight Mystery Series

Christine Wenger: Comfort Food Mystery Series

♦To access more Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations, click on this link♦

So, is it spring yet? I’m looking out my window watching what looks like parent birds teaching their fledglings how to fly from one side of our yard to the other (we planted Red Tip bushes all along the periphery of our yard twenty years ago) and I’m also watching one of our more persistent squirrels chewing some of our oak tree’s buds. If those aren’t signs of springtime in Texas, I don’t know what is!

Down here in San Antonio we still can’t decide whether it’s winter or spring. Yesterday morning I took my walk in 60º weather, a few hours later is was 74º,  and they are predicting that tomorrow our high will be 50º! Good grief! It’s that time of year that pretty much dictates the necessity of checking the daily forecast in order to decide whether to wear a long sleeve shirt or not. (I know I sound totally spoiled by our beautiful weather, but there’s a price we have to pay for this mild winter/spring confusion. Remind me to talk about the weather during our summer and early fall/late spring!)

Back to Cozy Mystery books, which is what I actually was going to write about…

It’s that time of month when I ask you all to tell us about a Cozy Mystery book/author who you read during this month (February 2014) who you thought the rest of us absolutely, positively NEED to know about. Your recommendations should be Cozy Mystery books (that you read this month) that are, in your opinion, really, really, good reads. (Of course, if you were lucky enough to read several really good mystery books, then by all means, tell us about those books, also.) Please tell us why you are recommending the book(s). Your reasons for liking the book(s) are what get the rest of us enthused about reading it/them.

I’m going to start off by mentioning Conrad Allen. I was so excited about his Murder on the Lusitania that I couldn’t wait until now to tell you about it. So, rather that tell you all the very same things that I wrote about on February 9, I’m going to refer you to my entry: What I’m Reading Now >>> Conrad Allen is a New-to-Me Author Who I Just Added to My “Favorite Authors” List

[As usual, I ask that you don’t tell us about the mystery books you read that you didn’t like.]

[If you click on the author’s name (blue) link, it will take you to their page on the Cozy Mystery site. Their page has all of the author’s books listed chronologically.]

What Cozy Mystery book (or author) have you read during February 2014, and why did you enjoy it (or him/her)?

Here are the current recommended authors who some of you have read this past month:

Conrad Allen (aka Edward Marston & Keith Miles): Dillman Mystery Series

Jeffrey Archer: Clifton Chronicles Mystery Series (not Cozy)

Lucy Arlington (aka Jennifer Stanley & Sylvia May): Novel Idea Mystery Series

M.C. Beaton (aka Marion Chesney): Hamish Macbeth Mystery Series

Cindy Blackburn: Cue Ball Mystery Series (book #1 Playing with Poison)

Rhys Bowen: Royal Spyness Mystery Series

Alan Bradley: Flavia de Luce Mystery Series

Duffy Brown: Consignment Shop Mystery Series

Leslie Budewitz: Food Lovers’ Village Mystery Series

Lucy Burdette (aka Roberta Isleib): Key West Food Critic Mystery Series

Kate Collins: Flower Shop Mystery Series

Sheila Connolly (aka Sarah Atwell): County Cork Mystery Series

Krista Davis: Paws and Claws Mystery Series

Jana DeLeon: Miss Fortune Mystery Series

Janet Evanovich: Stephanie Plum Mystery Series

Monica Ferris: Needlecraft Mystery Series

Christy Fifield (aka Christy Evans): Haunted Souvenir Shop Mystery Series

Joanna Fluke: Hannah Swensen Cookie Jar Mystery Series

Sally Goldenbaum: Seaside Knitters Mystery Series

John Grisham: Jake Brigance Mystery Series (not Cozy)

Carolyn Haines: Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery Series

Veronica Heley: Ellie Quick Mystery Series

Anna Lee Huber: Lady Darby Mystery Series (book #1 The Anatomist’s Wife)

Julie Hyzy: White House Chef Mystery Series

Miranda James (aka Honor Hartman, Jimmie Ruth Evans, & Dean James: Cat in the Stacks Mystery Series

Joyce and Jim Lavene (aka J.J. Cook & Ellie Grant): Renaissance Faire Mystery Series

Gypsy Rose Lee: The G-String Murders (Craig Rice, ghostwriter)

Kylie Logan (aka Miranda Bliss & Casey Daniels): League of Literary Ladies Mystery Series

Meg London (aka Peg Cochran): Sweet Nothings Vintage Lingerie Mystery Series

Nancy J. Parra (aka Nancy Coco): Baker’s Treat Mystery Series

Mark Schweizer: Liturgical Mystery Series

Ian Rankin: Inspector Rebus Mystery Series (not Cozy)

Sheri Cobb South: In Milady’s Chamber

Arthur Upfield: The Bachelors of Broken Hill

Roy Vickers: The Department of Dead Ends

♦To access more Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations, click on this link♦

I am sorry, but I absolutely cannot believe that the first month in 2014 is coming to a close! It seems like it was just yesterday that we were all getting ready for Halloween yet, looking at my calendar, I can see that January is almost over.

So, being the end of January, it is the perfect time for me to ask you ALL if there is a Cozy Mystery book (or two, three, or even four!) that you read this past month, which you think the rest of us have absolutely, without a question, got to know about.  Also, would you tell us why you enjoyed that particular Cozy Mystery? (The reasons you like the book are what make the rest of us interested in your Cozy Mystery book recommendations.)

I am going to start with a Cozy Mystery book which I read this past month that made me add yet another author to my favorite authors list. The book I am talking about is by Mary V. Welk. I had been toying with the idea of reading her series for a while, but the thing that held me back was the fact that her last mystery was published in 2004. When I “try” authors, I prefer it if they are currently writing mysteries. (With all of the author cuts the publishers seemed to make a few years back, it has made me hesitant to start with an author I know is no longer writing. I prefer getting to know characters that have the possibility of continuing.)

When I saw that Mary V. Welk was again publishing her Rhodes to Murder Mystery Series (Criminal Mischief was published in October 2013) I decided to finally “try” her. Boy am I glad I did! (And boy, am I glad she’s publishing more Cozy Mysteries!) I usually don’t read Christmas theme mysteries after Christmas, but I decided that I would make this exception, since I had been wanting to read Welk’s books for a while.

I read Welk’s A Merry Little Murder (aka A Deadly Little Christmas), the first mystery in the Rhodes to Murder series. This series features Caroline Rhodes, a nurse who has relocated to a small Illinois college town so that she can be close to her son and daughter in law. Caroline has recently lost her husband, and is trying to start her life without him. It hasn’t been an easy road for her. Caroline befriends Professor Carl Atwater (or more accurately, he befriends her) and together they try to solve the mystery of a rather dangerous Christmas tree.

I enjoyed the setting of Welk’s A Merry Little Murder. The little college town is very Cozy, and of course, being Illinois at Christmas time, it was cold and snowy… exactly what I enjoy reading during our 70º winter days. Also, I liked Caroline. She is a flawed woman, but smart. She is a very believable “person”, a fleshed-out character for me. She is someone I could envision knowing and liking. Her relationships with both her son and daughter in law seem real to me. And the fact that she can have a male side-kick who is not a love interest nor a policeman/detective is an added bonus for me!

When I finished the mystery I felt like I was leaving Caroline and wanted to know what she would do next. She was that “real” to me.

[As usual, I ask that you don’t tell us about the mystery books you read that you didn’t like.]

[If you click on the author’s name (blue) link, it will take you to their page on the Cozy Mystery site. Their page has all of the author’s books listed chronologically.]

What Cozy Mystery book (or author) have you read during January 2014, and why did you enjoy it (or him/her)?

Here are the current recommended authors who some of you have read this past month:

Victoria Abbott (aka Jary Jane Maffini & Victoria Maffini): Book Collector’s Mystery Series

Robin Allen: Poppy Markham: Culinary Cop Mystery Series

Donna Andrews: Meg Langslow Mystery Series

Emily Brightwell: Mrs. Jeffries Mystery Series

Anne Canadeo: Black Sheep Knitting Mystery Series

Laurie Cass: Bookmobile Cat Mystery Series

Bailey Cates (aka Cricket McRae): Magical Bakery Mystery Series

Joelle Charbonneau: Rebecca Robbins Mystery Series

Laura Childs: Tea Shop Mystery Series

Nancy Coco (aka Nancy J. Parra): Candy-Coated Mystery Series

Hy Conrad: Mr. Monk Mystery Series

Jana DeLeon: Miss Fortune Mystery Series

Elizabeth J. Duncan: Penny Brannigan Mystery Series

Jerrilyn Farmer: Madeline Bean Mystery Series

Barbara Graham: Quilted Mystery Series

Virginia Hamilton: Vintage Kitchen Mystery Series

Betty Hectman: Crochet Mystery Series

Joan Hess: Claire Malloy Mystery Series

Ellen Elizabeth Hunter: Magnolia Mystery Series

Miranda James (aka Dean James, Honor Hartman, & Jimmie Ruth Evans): Cat in the Stacks Mystery Series

Carol Ann Martin: Weaving Mystery Series

Maggie Sefton: Molly Malone Mystery Series

Deborah Sharp: Mace Bauer Mystery Series

Livia J. Washburn: Fresh-Baked Mystery Series

Mary V. Welk: Rhodes to Murder Mystery Series

Christine Wenger: Do or Diner

Jacqueline Winspear: Maisie Dobbs Mystery Series

♦To access more Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations, click on this link♦