The Cozy Mystery List Blog

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

Starting My Christmas Reading Way Too Early…

I have decided to start reading my Christmas mystery books early. I want to make it through a few of my Christmas theme mysteries this year, and as I have said before, I am finding less and less of my time is spent reading. Also, I am in the mood for frost on the windows, hot coco, and cold weather, and bodies >>> which can usually be found in mystery books.

When I start a new mystery, I usually have a “back-up book” sitting on my night table. If the author is someone who I consider a favorite author, I don’t need the back-up… but if I am trying a new-to-me author I always have a “spare mystery” ready to grab in the middle of the night.

I am going to begin reading a Christmas anthology tonight. One of the things that I really like about anthologies is that I can “try” new authors and decide if I want to add them to my list of authors who I read… I get to sample their writing by reading a mystery novella rather than a whole book.

I am not familiar with any of the authors in the book I have chosen to start with, so I have my “spare” ready to grab… just in case. The mystery book is called The Last Noel, and the authors are: Steve Brewer, Catherine Dain, Mat Coward, and Linda Berry. I am really looking forward to reading it, so that I can try out all of these new-to-me authors.

Next on the agenda: Mistletoe and Mayhem. This is another anthology, but with this one, I am already familiar with (and enjoy!) some of the authors. The authors include Katherine Hall Page, Christie Ridgway, Judi McCoy, and Joanne Pence. I’m looking forward to reading this mystery anthology right after I finish the first one… and then I’m on to a Kate Kingsbury Christmas mystery.

Enough about me! Are any of you reading a mystery book that you wouldn’t mind telling us about? (I’m always nosy and want to know what you all are reading!)

When is a Cozy Not Cozy BUT Still a Cozy?!?

I have written (more than a few times!) about the characteristics of Cozy Mystery Books. Unfortunately, there are many exceptions to the “rules”>>>

Usually a Cozy has, as its sleuth, a non-professional… an amateur, usually a woman. But more and more “professionals” are making their ways into the  Cozy Mystery books. Private investigators and police detectives are found in many cozy mystery series.

A wonderful example of this “breaking the amateur sleuth” rule can be found by just looking at Agatha Christie’s work. While Miss Marple is a prime example of following all of the Cozy “requirements,” what about our favorite Belgian detective? He not only is a private investigator in England, but he was a police detective in his pre-Great Britain days. And, let’s not forget that Hercule Poirot is also >>> a he!

Can you think of any other examples of “professional sleuths” finding themselves in Cozy Mystery Books?

Looking for a Great Cozy Mystery…

I received this comment from “Jack” a few days ago and thought that I would write a blog about it rather than let it possibly get lost as a comment:

“I’m new ’round these parts but I enjoy a good cozy mystery and have been starting to get back into them. I have a question I’d like to pose to you and your readers, if I may. What do you like better, traditional cozies or contemporary cozies? And what’s your favorite thing in a cozy? I mean, what do you look for when you’re looking for your next one in the bookstore?

It’s been so long since I’ve read one that I need recommendations as to what aspects of cozies people love best. I’m seeing so many different kinds. I didn’t realize there was still a large readership of cozies anymore! Glad to find otherwise!”

Does anyone out there want to help Jack with his quest for the very best type of cozy to read? (I guess I should say “to read FIRST”!)

Jeanne M. Dams… and then Agatha Christie!

I know that I said I was going to read Hallowe’en Party (by Agatha Christie) as soon as I finished my last novel… But, I absolutely could not resist reading this book first. The following paragraph caught my eye while I was skimming through some of my TBR books.  (TBR=> To Be Read)

"It was a wet, blustery Monday afternoon in early November, the gray sky full of scudding clouds, leaves rushing through the air and sticking to the windows as the chill wind flung them there. I sat snugly in front of my fire, drinking tea in the cozy comfort of central heating and close-fitting windows and doors."*****

Now, how could I resist this first paragraph of the cozy "Malice in Miniature" (by Jeanne M. Dams)??? Especially since it takes place in Sherebury… a cozy village in England… and it features a retired school teacher!!! How much more delicious can it get!?!

It is a balmy 89* outside, and I simply refuse to take this beautiful weather anymore! Where are the changing colors of the leaves? Where is the frost on the pumpkin? Certainly not in San Antonio! I have decided that I will now read Death in Miniature and try to pretend that I am experiencing all the fall weather and atmosphere (except for the dead bodies, mind you!) that Jeanne M. Dams is able to incorporate in this (fourth in the series) Dorothy Martin Mystery novel. I have read (and enjoyed) the first three novels of the series, so I am looking forward to this one.

A cozy mystery friend of mine introduced me to Jeanne M. Dams’ books, and I am grateful for that. Actually, she is the same person who introduced me to Ann Granger’s books…. and many others! You know the saying:  With friends like her… you need a bigger shelf unit!

***** from Malice in Miniature by Jeanne M. Dams… 1998 HarperCollins Publishers Inc.  (I sure hope I did this notation thing right… It has been many years since I last needed a footnote of sorts!)

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