As I said in my entry from two days ago, I will highlight a few of the other “prolific” authors who are on the March 2012 Mystery Book New Releases list. Today I thought we could help the “newbie” to Cozy Mystery books hear from those of us who read another tremendously popular mystery author, Susan Wittig Albert.

So again, we have the hypothetical “newbie” person who (this time) has never read one of Susan Wittig Albert‘s mystery books. Yes, I know this sounds virtually impossible… since almost every Cozy Mystery reader has read at least one mystery book by this New York Times bestselling author!

China Bayles Mystery Series stars China Bayles, an ex-lawyer who now owns her own herbal shop in Texas.

Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter Mystery Series has, as its sleuth, early 1900s Beatrix Potter – the wonderful British author and illustrator.

Darling Dahlias Mystery Series features a group of garden club ladies during the Depression.

Victorian Kate Ardleigh Sheridan & Sir Charles Sheridan Mystery Series was written by Susan and her husband, Bill Albert.

Which one of Susan Wittig Albert’s four series would you recommend  a newbie to the Cozy Mystery genre to begin with? (And, would you mind telling us why?)

I started thinking about a comment Susie made two days ago. The comment was about how some of the authors on the March 2012 Mystery Book New Releases list are so prolific. It’s especially gratifying when one of your favorite authors is highly productive. When I finally “catch up” with a favorite author, I wonder what is taking them so long to write the next mystery in their series.

That started me thinking about the “newbies” amongst  us. When a newbie hears that a mystery writer is really, really good at his/her craft, how does the newbie decide which one of the author’s several mystery series he/she should start with.

So, I decided to take a look at the March release list, pick out a few authors, and see what we can come up with to help all of the newbies decide which series to begin with?

This entry will only be about Laura Childs. In the following days I will highlight some of the other mystery authors from the list.

Laura Childs is one of the most popular (bestselling New York Times) Cozy Mystery authors today. She has been writing the following three mystery series since the very early 2ooos.

Tea Shop Mystery Series features the owner of a Charleston Tea Shop.
Scrapbooking Mystery Series stars the owner of a scrapbooking shop in New Orleans.
Cackleberry Club Mystery Series is set in a midwestern cafe that specializes in food, knitting, and even has a book section.

I will start the ball rolling: I think I would recommend the Tea Shop Mystery Series to a newbie Cozy Mystery reader. It not only was Childs’ first mystery series, but it is also my favorite.

Which one of Laura Childs‘ three series would you recommend  a newbie to the Cozy Mystery genre to begin with? (And, would you mind telling us why?)

When I started getting the information together to make up the February 2012 Mystery Book New Releases list, I was VERY happy to see that Claire Malloy is “coming back” after a four year hiatus. Yahoo!

I have “been with” Claire since… some time in the 1980s. That’s a doggone long time! I started thinking about just how much time I’ve been a follower of Joan Hess… Good grief! Almost thirty years!!!

I started with Joan Hess when she was known as Joan Hadley. I read both of her Theo Bloomer mystery books. I then jumped over to her Maggody Mystery Series. I enjoyed Arly, Ruby Bee, Delia, Kevin Buchanan, Jim-Bob Buchanan and his wife (who happens to be a Buchanan-Buchanan!) so much that I started recommending them to my Cozy Mystery friends.

I “felt at home” in the small Arkansas town, and loved its citizens. (I don’t know what that says about me!) Arly seemed to be the only voice of reason in the entire town of Maggody. As the sheriff, Arly had to contend with moon shine, an interfering mother, a mayor who was shady (at best!) a mayor’s wife who thought of herself as blue-blood royalty, and a slew of other rather UNconventional characters.

Let me take a moment to remind some of you of something I have found to be true for me most of the time. I have talked before about how I usually like only one series by an author. I usually find that I’ll like an author’s one series so much that their second or third (even fourth and fifth series!) will  usually seem lacking to me… weak. So, it took me a while to finally try Joan Hess’ Claire Malloy Mystery Series. I didn’t think there was any way I could enjoy Claire as much as I enjoyed reading about Arly’s adventures in Maggody. Boy, was I wrong! Not only did I like the Claire Malloy Mystery Series as much as the Maggody Mystery Series, I actually grew to like it even more!

So, while I was glad in 2010 when the next of Joan Hess’ Maggody mystery books was published (The Merry Wives of Maggody) after four long years  – I have been made even happier becoming aware of the fact that Joan Hess is finally publishing the  new Claire Malloy mystery book next month – Deader Homes & Gardens – after a long four year absence.

So to all of you I say Yahoo! Those of us who follow both of Joan Hess’ Cozy Mystery series have some really good reading ahead of us, and… if anyone knows Joan Hess… please pass on my sentiments: I love your mystery books, but I sure do wish you would write ’em faster!