As I have said several times, there seems to be an abundance of culinary theme cozy mystery series. This is great for us, the cozy mystery readers…. In case we don’t particularly care for one of the series, not to worry… there are plenty more culinary cozy mysteries to pick from…
Connie Shelton writes the Samantha Sweet Mystery Series. Samantha owns the Sweet’s Sweet bakery in Taos, New Mexico. She is able to use her magical powers to help her solve mysteries, as well as have a wonderful bakery.
Karen Rose Smith: Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery Series stars Daisy Swanson as a mom and widow who has a tea house in Amish country in Pennsylvania.
J. B. Stanley‘s Supper Club Mystery Series features a retired English Literature Professor who belongs to the Flab Five Supper Club with four of his friends. They get together to commiserate about their weight issues and to take issue with crime. The books have recipes which are tasty, yet at the same time healthy fare.
Lou Jane Temple writes two series: Heaven Lee and Spice Box Mystery Series. Aha! The Spice Box Mystery Series is the second culinary mystery series that I have included that is historical in its nature…. Both of the books in this series feature a different time in history and, obviously, different characters. Temple’s Heaven Lee Mystery Series is a present day culinary mystery series.
Joyce Tremel writes the Brewing Trouble Mystery Series, which stars a certified brewmaster and pub owner.
Gayle Trent writes the Daphne Martin Mystery Series which features a cake decorator who has a taste for solving mysteries.
Livia J. Washburn writes the Fresh Baked Mystery Series whose sleuth is an ex-teacher/turned baker who solves more than the mystery of a soufflé. Washburn’s second book in the series is a Halloween cozy, and her upcoming third book is a Christmas cozy mystery. I am hoping that we have a new holiday cozy mystery series!
Kirsten Weiss: Pie Town Mystery Series – Valentine Harris is the owner of Pie Town, a pie shop in San Nicholas, California.
Christine Wenger writes the Comfort Food Mystery Series. The sleuth, Trixie Matkowski, manages a diner in a small town in upstate New York.
Linda Wiken (aka Erika Chase) writes the Dinner Club Mystery Series. J.J. Tanner, the sleuth is an even planner and member of the Culinary Capers Dinner Club
Nan & Ivan Lyons wrote two culinary mysteries: Someone is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe & Someone is Killing the Great Chefs of America.
When trying to get my list together for this culinary (cozy) theme of mystery books, an author who I kept coming across was Cathy Pickens…. with her Southern Fried Mystery Series… Now, I know that the title of her series and the covers of her books make it look and sound like the Southern Fried Mystery Series is going to have all sorts of delicious, deep-fried recipes and culinary references, but when I went on the author’s website to check it out…. nope, this series is a fun time, but not culinary in nature!
Here are some more of my CULINARY – COOKING THEMES:
Mysteries with Recipes AND Recipe Books by Mystery Authors
Cozy Mystery Authors with Culinary Themes: A – D
Cozy Mystery Authors with Culinary Themes: F – K
Cozy Mystery Authors with Culinary Themes: L – R
Cozy Mystery Authors with Culinary Themes: Even More!
Where to Start with Culinary Cozy Mystery Series…
♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦
Rochelle says
Hi I just found a new series, I think it would go under culinary because the theme is Ice Cream. It’s by Wendy Lyn Watson and takes place in an ice cream shop in Texas. so far that’s the only book in her series, just came out this month (Oct of 2009)
Rabia says
Wendy Lyn Watson is coming out with a new book in this series called A Parfait Murder on June 7, 2011.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Rabia. I have annotated it on my June 2011 New Mystery Book Releases (working copy) page.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hi Rochelle,
Thanks for reminding us about Wendy Lyn Watson‘s new Mystery à la Mode mystery book series.
Anne says
Oh, I just bought that book. It looks like fun…
Nina says
I am an avid reader of the culinary book mystries. Diane Mott Davidson is one of my favorite, right along with Jessica Beck, Chris Cavender. Janet Dailey, G. A. McKevett. Also a real tea with cookie read are the Savannah Reed Mysteries and the Angie Amalfi Mystries. I hope I added interest for cozy reading enjoyment. The Donut Shop Mystries are simply delightful =) !!!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Nina, for reminding us about some of those authors… I haven’t yet tried the Jessica Beck’s Donut Shop Mystery Series…
Nina from PA says
I am obsessed with reading cozy culinary mysteries. I totally love the Savannah Reed mysteries, Diane Mott Davidson ~ (with her cute son, Arch, lol) The Donut Shoppe mysteries, Cleo Coyle’s fantastic books, Sammi Carter, Jessica Beck. G.A. Mckevett….. and many too much to list. How can anyone not picture the small town where Lucy Stone lives with her family? Hey where did Josie Pigeon go? It seems I am always enthralled with the authors as they dish up the delightful recipes that leave me wishing I had them as I read them with my cup of tea. “YEA!!! Savannah and Dirk finally got married!” Angie Amalfi reminds me of my own Italian family…. loud, funny and always eating. Italians don’t believe in left-overs…. ha,ha! I also enjoy reading all cozy holiday cuinary mystery books, Enjoy all and happy reading!!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Nina from PA, the culinary theme Cozy Mystery series seem to be extremely popular. Tomorrow I will be posting an entry about these.
I’m not Italian, but I concur with your idea of left-overs!
Nina says
I am a totally absorbed while reading culinary mysteries. Diane Mott Davidson heads the list. All of her books won’t let you put them down. The “cute” murders that she runs into and delightful food mentioned in all of her books make my mouth water. Of course, Angie Amalfi is another great culinary mystery to read. I can relate to Angie and her bickering and quirky Italian family making the read doubly enjoyable. Jessica Beck, Cleo Coyle, G.A. McKevett, The Donut Shoppe Mysteries and of course, the Candy Shoppe series are all of my favorites. I hope Diane Mott Davidson will show her new book soon. Also, not to be left out are Leslie Meier and Valerie Wolzein. I hope I find “new culinary themed mysteries for Christmas”, which are my favorite. Enjoy your reading with a cup of tea and cookies….
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Nina, you have listed some of the very same authors I read!
Monica says
Is there a list available of culinary mysteries that have questions available for book club discussions?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Monica, I see from your comment that you have discovered the Culinary Theme Mysteries entries. My suggestion would be to figure out which authors’ series you want to read, and then visit their individual websites. Some of them probably have book club discussion questions available.
Julie says
Connie Shelton writes a wonderful series around the character Samantha Sweet who owns Sweet’s Sweets, a fabulous bakery with a magical touch. I’ve only read the first 2 so far, but can’t wait to read them all. The details on the cakes and bakery items she makes is incredible! I can almost taste the goodies as she describes then. And the mysteries are not predictable. The characters are easy to like and it takes place in Taos NM with it’s rich heritage. Very good cozy reads.
Cathy H says
Hi!
I just started reading a new cozy culinary series by Christine Wenger titled, Do or Diner. Her next installment comes out in April from Obsidian. Recipes sound great. It will be called : A Comfort Food Mystery Series and the next book title is :A Second Helping of Murder.
Rob says
Hi all: I wanted to add two authors off the top of my head, Maggie Sefton and Sally Goldenbaum that add recipes to their books. If I run across more, I’ll for sure let you all know.
Are any of you aware also that Anne Perry doesn’t just have her two or more mystery series but the Christmas novellas that are also done from characters in her two Victorian and Edwardian mystery series.
The newest coming out is Christmas Escape. All of them are great and I’ve read them all except the Escape which is not out yet.
Knowing Anne Perry, that one will be stellar as well.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Rob, all of Anne Perry‘s Christmas novels are listed on her page on my site…
Edithe knighton says
Help! Am I crazy ? I was sure I read a fun cozy about a girl /gal whatever the term someone younger than my 60yrs…. anyway , she bought a restaurant and renovated it, she got it cuz the very “crusty” woman who owned it died. There were issues with the mayor trying to get the property and of course maybe she killed her to get it and issues with the woman’s son, etc,,,
Anyone familiar or am I making it up???
I was to read more from this author but…..
Thanks !
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Edithe, I was going to try to find this one so I held off on posting it, but it sounds like you found it already!
Dawn says
Denise Swanson has a culinary series that’s quite unique. It’s called the Chef-To-Go mystery series. It’s based in the college town of Normalton IL. and the first book is called Tart of darkness. The main character, a former HR. employee for an insurance company, inherits a house-in-progress from her estranged grandmother, and decides to start a catering/personal chef service/lunch to-go service. I wish there were more than 4 books in the series though. 🙁 While she makes references to her Scumble River series, you don’t have to read that series before you read Chef-To-Go. Plus, the perspectives jump from chapter to chapter, and sometimes mid-chapter. Because of that, I wouldn’t recommend reading this book in audio form. I’d never heard of Denise Swanson before so she’s new to me.
I intend to read the rest of this series, as well as her Scumble River series, and her Deverux Dime Store mystery series!