I have read many good Cozy Mystery books this year. I have also read some not-so-good Cozy Mysteries. (Haven’t we all?!?) I have mentioned several of the authors who are on my Favorite Authors list. But who wrote my very favorite mystery read of the year?
When I was talking to my husband about this entry, I asked him how I could ever pick just one mystery book and say it was my very favorite of the year. I have enjoyed so many, how would I be able to pick just one? I then told him about several of my favorite authors who I have read this year. Since this list is not comprised of just brand new authors who started being published this year, it includes ALL Cozy Mystery authors. Hmmm… That’s a whole lot of authors! He then asked me who I thought is my very favorite Cozy Mystery author, to which I responded, Agatha Christie.
Christie is one of the very few authors who I have read, re-read, and plan to re-read again. She was a formidable story-teller. Her characters always ring true to me. There’s a reason her books are still so popular; although written many years ago, they seem almost ageless. She is able to describe/depict the very nature of people and their quirks. Her writing style is flawless and flows so easily. Her mysteries are perfect.
So, I will nominate Agatha Christie’s (1957) What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw (aka 4:50 from Paddington) since it is the last Miss Marple mystery I have read by this phenomenal author.
So please tell us about your Favorite Cozy Mystery Read for 2013, and why you are picking this book or author. Thank you!
As usual with these types of entries, I will add the books/authors who you all comment about to the list:
Favorite Cozy Mystery Reads for 2013:
Ellery Adams (aka Jennifer Stanley, J.B. Stanley, & 1/2 of Lucy Arlington: Poisoned Prose
Nancy Atherton: Aunt Dimnity and the Lost Prince
Josie Belle (aka Jenn McKinlay & Lucy Lawrence): Buried in Bargains
Agatha Christie: 4:50 from Paddington (aka What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw)
Agatha Christie: By the Pricking of My Thumbs
Sheila Connolly: Buried in a Bog
Amanda Flower (aka Isabella Alan): A Plain Scandal
Mary Lou Kirwin: Killer Librarian
Joyce and Jim Lavene (aka J.J. Cook & Ellie Grant): Harrowing Hats
Jenn McKinlay (aka Josie Belle & Lucy Lawrence): Cloche and Dagger
Louise Penny: How the Light Comes In
Heather Webber (aka Heather Blake): The Root of All Trouble
If you’re interested in seeing a whole lot more recommendations made by Cozy Mystery readers, click here: Monthly Cozy Mystery Recommendations.
As it will soon be 2014, I want to hurry up and get your recommendations for the month of December 2013. I don’t know if any of you remember, but last year was the first year that we made a Favorite Cozy Mystery Books list for that particular year. I will be asking for those books pretty soon, but for now, let’s focus on just the month of December 2013.
I have been keeping myself pretty busy lately, which is why I forgot to post this Cozy Mysteries Recommendations for November 2013 entry earlier. I have been working on going through our garage in the hopes of clearing up some space. It has just gotten too crowded out there. I have also been getting our Thanksgiving organized, and am trying to get our Christmas decorations up. (Yes, I know it’s odd to be working on Christmas before Thanksgiving, but our daughter comes home for such a short time that I like to have the house holiday-ed up for her.)
Oh, I love this time of year. It is almost the end of October, and I have actually worn my light-weight jacket (once)! I have the best “autumn scents” going on my coffee warmer (Better Homes and Gardens Mulberry Plum Spice and Cranberry Mandarin Splash). I also have loaded up on my seasonal teas (caffeine-free Celestial Cranberry Apple and Cinnamon Apple Spice, as well as Bigelow’s caffeine-free Cranberry Apple). (I found my scents at Walmart, but had to order the teas.)