Last month, a Cozy Mystery reader sent me a letter asking if I had noticed any product placements appearing in some of our favorite Cozy Mystery authors’ books.
By the way, I’ve been thinking for awhile now about another possible blog topic. Do you (and others) think there is ‘product placement’ in some of the cozy mystery books? I was going to keep a list every time I saw this so I could give examples in specific books. However if I didn’t do it right away, I’d forget it (thus the list is non-existent). Just in the past couple of months, the sleuths of three different authors have mentioned ‘Hershey Kisses’.
It would be expected that an author might mention a brand name when it relates to the core of the story – teas in Child’s books, coffees in Coyle’s books, or even yarns in a book set in a craft store. Fluke always gives a certain brand name of products in her recipes. I don’t consider that product placement, I think she is just informing the reader of how she made the recipe.
It makes sense if an author is trying to emphasize wealth she/he may mention a BMW/Mercedes. But, many times an ordinary car is mentioned by brand (Prius and Civic are two that come to mind) several times throughout a story. One book I read even cited the brand name of an eye liner used.
Do you think an author gets a ‘monetary bonus’ by mentioning a certain brand of something a few times within a story? I really don’t think there is anything wrong with it because it doesn’t influence me. However since I’ve noticed it a lot, I was curious.
The Cozy Mystery reader later sent me this:
I am currently reading ‘Death Runs Adrift’. On page 77, Natalie (main character) mentions that Charlene (best friend), “had discovered Twinings Black Currant tea over the winter, and drinks gallons of it”.
I only mentioned the Twinings Black Currant tea as an example of ‘product placement’ . It’s in McInerney’s latest book that I’m currently reading. I don’t drink tea, so it wouldn’t entice me to try it.
What I don’t know is if it’s intentional ‘product placement’, or if McInerney is offering a ‘suggestion’ of something she really likes to her readers.
I’ve noticed it several times in books that I read. I’m quite sure there was something in the latest Dams book, but I don’t remember what it was (goes to show how effective it is!).
If indeed they get paid for this, I think it’s great the cozy authors we love to read can make a little extra money (as long as it’s not over done and detracts from the story).
I personally had not noticed any product placement, but I have a feeling that if one of my Cozy Mysteries has it, I will notice it from now on!
What about you all? Other than obvious things like when a culinary Cozy has a recipe in it, have you noticed any product placement? And, if you have, does it bother you or do you think it’s a great idea?
Stash Empress says
I haven’t noticed this yet, but now that you mention it, I probably will notice the next time it happens! I have noticed mention of Hershey’s Kisses, but I figured that was kind of “iconic”, not necessarily product placement, if ykwim. If it were s/o repeatedly mentioning Reese’s Pieces instead of M & M’s (like in the ET movie, any of you old enough to remember? And that *was* product placement at its finest!) — that *would* ring a bell. I have noticed lots of mentions of various model cars (most of which I have no clue what they are since I don’t drive, beyond the obvious BMW & Lexus) but figured that was to give us an idea of the economic status of the character without saying in so many words (driving a rusting old VW bug implies something as does driving a carefully maintained vintage luxury car). But I’d certainly be annoyed by constant mentions of a specific brand of tea! My son is watching lots of old Flintstones cartoons & they’re frequently mentioning drinking grape juice — which strikes everyone as funny — except I remember that “back in the olden days” their show sponsor was Welch’s Grape Juice & in those days shows were deliberately written with mention of the show sponsor’s product!
Btw, can anyone tell me if its possible to get email notification of comments *without* having made a comment first? Because I don’t *always* have any comment to make but do like to read everyone else’s comments LOL!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash Empress, I just asked my techno-guy (my husband) and he said there isn’t a way to see all of the comments. I’m sorry. The best I can suggest is that the five last comments that have posted on the site are on the left margin of the blog.
Stash Empress says
Thank your husband for me & I guess you’ll just have to put up with my two cents worth on each post… sometimes only 1 1/2cents worth…
😉
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash Empress, we’ll take your 1 1/2¢!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash Empress, I think you’re totally correct about the cars showing economic status.
I have started watching old black and white shows – some of which were on TV even before I was born. (YouTube via PLEX) Anyway, there was one particular I’ve Got a Secret that had Garry Moore warning the viewers that the stores would be closed over a holiday weekend, so they had better go get their cases of the sponsor’s cigarettes before the holiday weekend. Now that was product placement at its… finest! (Hmmm, not so sure it was “fine” but it was pretty odd to see right in the middle of the show.)
Stash Empress says
Oh the “Old Time” radio & TV shows *always* worked their sponsors products into the middle of the show — it was expected! In fact I remember one old Bob Hope Thanksgiving special where he said, “When the pilgrims landed on Chrylser Rock…” and someone called from the audience, “You mean Plymouth Rock!” and Bob Hope answered, “You take care of your sponsor, I’ll take care of mine..” ROFLOL!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash Empress, I’d welcome something that clever in some of the shows they are airing these days!
Pamela Frost Dennis says
I think mentioning products and places from real life gives the readers a connection to the characters in the book. I especially like to read an English Cozy and learn about the protagonist’s favorite biscuits and jam. Then I go to Amazon and try to order them. Fun.
Sue Grafton’s character, Kinsey Millhone, loves quarter-pounders and eats them in all her books. In my book, “Dead Girls Don’t Blog”, Katy McKenna’s favorite tea is Murchie’s No. Ten blend and she shops at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. I would never use a real product name if Katy was dissing it.
Lately, I have noticed more product placement in TV shows now. Little 5-10 second commercials built into the script, but I don’t blame them since so many people record their shows and then speed through the advertising. It is the advertising that pays for those shows and without it, we wind up with more and more Reality shows, instead of good quality scripted shows.
As a writer—I will never be compensated for mentioning products, so anything that Katy likes means I really like it.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Pamela, what a nice idea to try to track down certain products like biscuits and jam. I’ll have to start to watch for mini-commercials in TV shows. I have mentioned before that I don’t watch live TV ever. So, I am one of the people I am guessing the in-show ads are aimed at…
Carol says
If it’s ostentatious, we should get the book for nearly free, per the principles that make TV & radio free. I’m not sure Prises are an example of brand placement so much as a way of using a stereotype about the owners to broadly sketch character. My husband & I own 1 each & people assume we’re liberal, demi hippies, tree huggers etc. The flip side of being an SUV owner. Until recently, there weren’t that many hybrids sold & Prises have been the market leaders. So I would be surprised if it meant more than that.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Carol, I’m afraid you’re right about the stereotyping of a character.
susy says
As a little girl, I remember watching “The FBI” starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr. I loved that show! But all the cars were Fords — something a child of a devoted Chevrolet family took notice of. Then I read, in the end credits, the phrase “vehicles supplied by Ford Motor Company”. And this little capitalist began her lifelong love affair with advertising. My favorite ad of all time is Apple’s Orwellian homage in 1984. I buy the Fall Vogue issue just to look at the glossy, outrageous print ads. And I only watch the Superbowl to see the new commercials. A well placed, well considered, well executed product placed in a clever, witty manner is welcome in all my cozies!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susy, that must have been the beginning of why our movies now have ten to fifteen minutes of credits at the end. From something as innocent as “vehicles supplied by Ford Motor Company” to what happens today at the ends of movies with the listing of caterers, assistants to the assistant interns, chauffeurs, everyone ever associated with the movie. (Hope that makes sense!)
susy says
I usually stay and read all those credits! Hard to get them all sometimes, but I find I learn new stuff. And I am ALWAYS curious about the filming location. I like to read dictionaries, too. Silly me.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susy, well, at least with the price of movie tickets these days, you’re getting your money’s worth! (I get Reader’s Digest every month, and I must say I enjoy the Word Power section.)
Wakar says
Well having read lots o’ writing books I’ll say that one thing that is always stressed is being specific rather than general. Tho examples were usually more like saying”elm” rather than just “tree.” I think the same might apply here. If someone wrote”cookie” and another wrote “Oreo with chocolate chip cookie dough filling” I know which one would make my mouth water….okay, water *more.* 🙂
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Wakar, I’m with you! The Oreo sounds pretty good, but so does the “cookie”! I guess there is a question of the degrees…
Michele Lynn Seigfried says
In Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, they always mention TastyKakes. Makes me hungry! lol.
I wouldn’t be surprised if a big-time author does get some kind of kickback for using products, but in my novels, I do mention regular products, but I don’t receive anything for using them. I like giving readers a real item to picture in their heads while reading. It seems to make the story more realistic to me.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Michele, welcome to the Cozy Mystery site!
Tomi says
I have noticed the mention of specific products in cozies but can’t recall if it’s a new phenomenon. As a reader, I appreciate when the author specifies the brand or model. It makes it easier for me to know what they’re writing about without having to do the mental gymnastics of trying to visualize.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Tomi, I think, especially after reading the comments above, that mentioned a specific brand certainly does make it easier for the reader to know a little about the character’s background. Using the example of the rusty, old Volkswagon VS the BMW certainly lets us know a little – actually a lot – about our character.
Bookwoman says
I am always surprised at how many characters shop at WalMart. I doubt they are getting paid for the placement but I wish they would not mention the big stores by name. I enjoy cozies with cute little stores and no Big Box Stores. I prefer cozies without Brand Names. I am also one who does not enjoy commercials.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bookwoman, I’m going to have to start watching for the WalMart references. (I don’t watch ads unless I happen to see the last few seconds after I fast forward/jump through them.)
Susan L says
I guess, as far as Walmart goes, they are trying to make the book and characters easier to relate to. Lots of people shop at Walmart. It sets up characterization and setting. My feeling about product placement: if any other (print or digital) receives any money from placing the product, they are supposed to disclose it. I’ve seen several legal disclosures on blogs to that effect. I think if a book becomes one long commercial, it (and this is going to sound mean) cheapens the final product. If I wanted one long advertisement, I would watch QVC or HSN (which I used to do a lot when I was younger). If a product is placed creatively to provide characterization or setting (without compensation), that’s different. And I don’t have a problem with it. I’m perfectly okay with Joanne Fluke making a TV commercial talking about Hannah Swensen uses Baker’s semi-sweet chocolate in her recipes. I am not okay with her receiving a kickback from the manufacturer for plopping a mention of it in her books, if that makes any sense.
Nick says
I think the author may be trying to set a specific mood with a specific product. For instance, “she ate the M & M’s one by one on the way home crunching each one as the facts of the case reverberated through her mind” is effective. Now substitute Wal-mart candy covered chocolate discs in and you see what i mean.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Nick, hmmm… M & Ms VS “Walmart candy covered chocolate discs”!
Suzanne says
I guess I never paid much attention to product placement except in the tea shop and coffee shop mysteries, but I do notice book and author titles in the Death on Demand series because I then go to your blog, see if they are listed and if they sound interesting
Stash Empress says
Oh I love the mentions of books in Death on Demand series! I particularly love the descriptions of the paintings she puts up that her customers have to guess what books they represent and that she gives the answers at the end of the story. I’m always so thrilled when I guess some of them! This is one case where “product placement” is good — like this blog, it gives me ideas for more books to read LOL!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash Empress, congratulations on being able to guess the answers!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Suzanne, in a tea shop or coffee shop series, I often find myself writing down the teas and coffees so I can check them out, so I actually appreciate it. I am guessing that a lot of us do that… (But, I could be wrong.)
Charlene says
This isn’t really about product placement, but was wondering why baseball cozies are not found on your list. Crabbe Evers and Troy Soos both write cozies set at ballparks: Fenway, Wrigley, etc.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Charlene, I’m sorry, but I don’t know of any other authors who write baseball Cozy Mysteries.
Susan* says
Not trying to tell you what to do (Or ‘teach my grandmother to suck eggs’ as my mother would put it!) but perhaps a general ‘sports cozies’ list, alongside the golf one?
Just something to feature all those odd sports that only have one or two authors. (Apologies if you already have this theme. I did look but I couldn’t see it.)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan*, I’ll see what I can do. The problem I see is the two authors who were suggested in these comments don’t write Cozy Mystery books, and I try to start all of my themes with Cozy Mysteries…
MJ says
I know it’s off-topic, but to follow this thread…….. Isleib wrote the Golf Lovers Mystery series and the Lavenes wrote 2 books in a Car Racing mystery series. I don’t know if Diana Killian’s Yoga Mysteries would be considered a ‘sport’. A sports theme in a cozy series seems to be sparse.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, I think sports Cozies are pretty scarce. I know that at times my themes end up with some non-Cozy Mystery authors, but I like to start them with Cozy authors first and foremost.
Charlene says
The two I mentioned are the only two I know of. Troy Soos just released a new one in the Mickey Rawlings series. Crabbe Evers’ were written in the 90’s. I don’t think there are any new ones.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Charlene.
Susan* says
It’s been a while, but I think I’d class Troy Soos as a cozy, (Light, non-sexual, not explicitly violent mystery) and there’s also Alina Adams’ ice-skating mysteries.
Tori Carrington’s ‘Foul Play’ is also centred around baseball.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan*, thanks. I’ll go ahead and start a sports theme.
Susan* says
Welcome. 🙂
Maybe other people can come up with others?
Stash Empress says
I just started reading a new (to me) book this morning & in the first scene noticed mention of the brand name of mac & cheese that the sleuth has coupons for — now if were Kraft, I’d say — that’s “iconic” — but this wasn’t Kraft — another major brand. I found that just plain annoying. Was also treated to brand name of sandwich cookies she bought — now again — “Oreo” is iconic — it tells you something about who she was & what she was feeling — but in this case it WASN’T Oreo — was another brand (which I’m not familiar with) – so tells me nothing to forward the story — I just found it an annoying “commercial” for a brand I’m not about to purchase. Now when she mentioned Sara Lee about 3 times in the same scene… well once would be fine — again, give us a statement about how she’s feeling (planning to have a pity party catered by Sara Lee) — but 3x? Really?????? Its getting on my nerves because though I’m liking the story (and to me its first of a series I’ve never read), I’m really annoyed & distracted by all the “commercials”!!!!
I think certain brand names are iconic & just give insight into what a person is thinking/feeling at the time, or some other info about their status. Some brand names are almost generic (kleenex, scotch tape) so they just slide by without being annoying.
So if a character “picks up a bottle of windex to clean her display case” that doesn’t bother me. If it would say she “picked up her bottle of Meguiar’s G8224 Perfect Clarity Glass Cleaner” — that would be seriously annoying! (I just picked that name off of Amazon as an example of glass cleaner that’s NOT windex LOL).
You see what I mean?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash Empress, I just put a meat loaf in the oven, and after all the chopping and dicing, I needed a good laugh. Thank you!
Nicole says
I cant image that authors were paid for integrating the name of products. But if or if not for me its helpful because i live in germany and i dont know a lot of products. So if there is a recipy i can google the brand and look if i find a substitute product.
My best example is jell-o. Was amazing to see the product portfolio in usa. We dont have the brand here.
Also hershy kisses are not available. But i can see the picture and the declaration and can look what is like it.
On the other hand its funny if i read a book and the person in it wants sooo much german chocolate for baking. Or want to bake german bread.
Like that a lot.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Nicole, I had not thought about that. What in the world would you substitute for Jello? That would be a real difficult product to replicate!
Stash Empress says
You do know there are other brands of “gelatin desserts” right?
😉
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash Empress, yes, but I only want to see it referred to as Jello in my Cozy Mysteries!
Bookwoman says
The book The Bulgari Connection by Fay Weldon was the first case of an author who was paid to mention the store. You may read more about it at the link below. Since I was familiar with it I do wonder if some of the authors are being paid to mention products it is just not making front page news any more.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/03/business/media/03BOOK.html
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bookwoman, thank you for telling us about this aritcle. I wonder if, in the 13 years since this book was published, if there are any other instances of this type of product advertisement.
Bookwoman says
I do not know but I do wonder if there are some back room deals made. Esp for some of the more popular authors. I also wonder why authors or their agents would not ask for payment. Movies do it all the time.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bookwoman, if that’s the case, I think they ought to be careful. There’s a reason people fast forward through ads on television…
reginav says
Danna, I don’t give it much thought when reading a book or watching TV about products being mentioned. Some products no matter the original manufacturer have become part of our standard English. Take for example Kleenex, Jello, Clorox, and Windex. I still capitalize them, but they are more common nouns than proper nouns. One product identification that has stayed with me was Radar in “Mash” always ordered a grape Nehi..
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Regina, I will start to try to catch product placements in Cozies, but so far, if I have seen any, they haven’t registered with me.
Stash Empress says
I remember Radar with the grape Nehi — but I always thought that was to “position” who he was — you know — when everyone else is drinking alcohol — he’s the guy who orders a grape Nehi… (and sleeps with a teddy bear). Could have said “give me a root beer”, but it wouldn’t have been the same. Also, I think that in movies/TV you have to have the character talking like they talk in the real world at that time — so today you’d have a character say “gimme a Coke” — not “gimme a cola flavored beverage”… right? (This discussion is making me thirsty… think I’ll go have a Coke.. to wash down the Oreos & Hershey’s Kisses previously mentioned, as I drive off into the sunset in my new Lexus…) (Ok, guess what single part of the last sentence is true 😉
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash Empress, let’s see >>> I’m guessing the having a coke… (Sorry, as great as a Lexus sounds, you have already told us you don’t drive…)
Stash Empress says
Wow you are a good sleuth! You were right of course — the Coke it was! (didn’t have the creme filled sandwich cookies nor the distinctively shaped, foil wrapped chocolate pieces either 😉
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash Empress, when you put it that way, I guess product placement is a really good thing!
Nicole says
Uhm… We have something like jell-o but i think in usa the brand jell-o is like a synonym for gelatine desserts. Here not but we have a funny name for it: wackelpudding (wobbly jelly; btw my dictonary said also its jell-o, so the brandname is really a synonym) and also götterspeise (god food or meal, dont ask me why). But we have not so much different tastes, i think most is waldmeister (the green one, dictionary said its woodruff?), cherry, raspberry and citrus (but i am really no heavy user 😉 The first brand came to mind is Dr. Oetker.
Hershy kisses is more difficult to substitute. I think i would choose ferrero küsschen (kisses) but its a little hard or a soft chocolate piece from a 100g bar.
More difficult is pie crust and filling. I dont know where to buy but there is a very good german page with information for substitute and recipes to make it by yourself. But i have to say in usa is more use of convenience products than here (if i use my knowledge regarding the books). The trend in germany goes there too i think.
The page also translate the weights and the temperatures for backing. Very helpful.
Dont know if its allowed to but pages here? But its in german so it would be only for interest.
My most funny recipe was peach cobbler. First i read it i looked, what
Cobbler? A shoemaker? 😉
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Nicole, thanks for pointing these different examples out. It’s so easy for us to take things for granted…
marion says
Hi, Nicole! I understand from an old cookbook of mine that ‘cobble’ comes from ‘cobble up’ which was an old term meaning to hurry. Apparently cobblers were considered quick to prepare. I suppose they are relatively quick. I think the different names for products and foods from different countries and regions are fascinating. I met a woman from England once and we were talking about various types of candy. We were both enchanted that what she calls ‘gummy sweets’, I call ‘gumdrops’. By the way, I would never have thought of woodruff for a gelatin flavor! What does that taste like? I only know of woodruff as an herb grown for scent. Incidentally, I believe that the British refer to gelatin dishes as ‘jellies’.
Christine says
One of my favorite authors uses product placement and I think it really adds flavor to her books. Janet Evanovich mentions Rangers Porsche Cayenne, his Bulgari Shower gel, Stephanie’s various cars (too numerous to list) and the Grand Union which I didn’t think was real until one opened in my town. When Stephanie is hungover she heads to McDonalds, in fact, a murder takes place at a McDonalds in one of her books.
On the other hand, I have read several bad cozies that seemed to depend on the designer label names to carry the story and they didn’t. I think it depends on the author and how she uses the product.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Christine, I’m not sure about the restorative powers of fries and a Coke…
Marja says
Stephen King, Sue Grafton, Robert Parker and many other of my fave mystery authors use specific brand names. Spenser has a love for Dunkin’ Donuts. For me this places him in the Northeast US [and indicates a weakness his diet-conscious lady love does not share].
I’m going to use the example of cars: an old rusted out Toyota might mean the sleuth is on thin ice financially but likes cars whose engines run forever. It might mean she likes driving a car till it dies forever. It might mean she uses the car for surveillance. Honda Civics and Accords are so ubiquitous they blend in with lots of other cars. A widowed sleuth driving her husband’s lovingly restored 1967 Mercedes 280 SC would say she likes being reminded of his craftsmanship. A divorced woman driving the same car would say a lot about her disrespect for her ex, nyeah, nyeah, I got your Big Project, and by the way it gets me lots of appreciative glances. A conservative gun expert driving a Prius might be amused at defying the stereotype or find it useful.
A sleuth who stops by Starbuck’s every morning is doing pretty well financially. A sleuth who treats herself to McDonald’s is not, necessarily, or is going for comfort food.
Dell Milk is a New York Brand. Cloverdale is a Northern California brand. And so on.
These things color in the background to me, and can speak a lot to character, what kind of choices s/he makes and why.
By the way when I read some British mysteries I have to remind myself that the Aga is the stove almost everyone uses, and that Brits don’t find instant coffee repulsive. These are interesting details too!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marja, Wow! Your examples really do paint pictures for the reader. However, if they were to mention Cloverdale or Dell, I would have absolutely no idea where the author was trying to depict…
When we’re on the road, we always get our coffee at McDonald’s. I guess that sums my husband and me up pretty well!
Marja says
Me too Danna — McD’s makes really good, strong coffee!
Donna Mc says
Is this a fairly new phenomenon? I’ve noticed it too, and wondered about the legality of it. A few years back I took (yet another) writing course and at that time, writers were not encouraged to mention products by brand name for legal reasons. And while submitting a manuscript to a publisher for “possible” publication, I had to sign a long form that detailed what could and could not be done with product names! So I’m thinking that somewhere along the way the laws have changed and writers are now allowed to do something that was previously frowned upon. However, I seriously doubt that they are being paid for it. The writer seems to be the last one to be paid, unfortunately, after the publisher, agent, editor, cover artist, marketing department, etc gets their cut. 🙂
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Donna Mc, it looks like quite a few people have been noticing this product placement thing happening in Cozies. Shows how much I’m out to lunch!
Donna Mc says
I’ve seen it before but not to the extent that seems to be happening now. In fact, just last month I began reading a new cozy series and the product placement was so extensive – one or two brand names on every page – that I kinda lost interest in the book. It was just too intrusive. So a little bit is okay, but too much is too much already!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Donna Mc, I just stopped reading a new-to-me author, also. And I wish it had been because of product placement!
susy says
Was it the 50 page rule? Danna, how often do you – or anyone out there, for that matter – give up on a series after you have read several/many of the books? I was 7 or 8 books into one, a series in a setting that I find very attractive, and I cannot abide the sleuth’s husband! To me he is a chauvinistic jerk and I want the sleuth to divorce him. Her kids aren’t especially nice, either. Makes me think less of the heroine. Has this ever happened to you?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susy, I hate to say this, since I know you have invested time in this particular series, but if I found myself not liking both the sleuth’s husband and children, I probably would drop that series. There are just too many series out there that I enjoy reading, and having something as major as these problems, I wouldn’t stick with it…
Marja says
Well, I do have to say that one author’s “caterer” series got on my nerves at first. I don’t remember how many books it took before the main character learned to respect herself enough to get rid of the terrible, abusive husband she was separated from. I liked the mysteries, the setting, the surrounding characters, but hoped her situation would improve, and it did, vastly.
Sometimes characters have a few too many self-effacing or self-despising characteristics for me to read, but I’m glad I hung in with the caterer.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marja, I know exactly which caterer you’re talking about. I had a different take on that whole jerk-y character. I thought he was a good addition to the series, and was sorry when
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he left. I thought he provided a lot of good situations for our sleuth and her best friend to deal with. Don’t get me wrong! I didn’t like him, but I thought he added to the “fleshing-out” of our sleuth’s character.
(Of course, I could have the wrong caterer in mind, in which case, please disregard my entire comment!)
susy says
I agree Marja! That series gave me pause, too, and for the same reasons. But like you and Danna, it wasn’t a deal breaker. The series I had to give up, takes place in the far northeast – or is that “downeast” – and if I knew that the sleuth divorced her husband in some future book, I’d probably keep reading. Oh well, like Danna says, there is a slew of good stuff out there!
Susan says
The Absolute Best Conversations About Cozies and Life in General
Are Here Danna:) I happen to like Product Placement.. Especially visual for me… And developing a character for writers, we get to know them.., And become part of our Family of Cozies.Author Susan M. Boyer “Lowcountry Boil” Lowcountry Bombshell” Liz Talbot carries her Sig9 in her Kate Spade Handbag etc… Liz is a P.I. When I see a Kate Spade online (A New Color) I save it and post it for Susan.:) Great Series… And Thank You All… Great info!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan, you list some good examples of when product placement can help us get to know a Cozy Mystery character.