So, what have you been reading that you can recommend in April? Please be sure to tell us why you liked these Cozies so much. I know we’re all always on the lookout for more particularly good Cozy Mystery authors! (If you have a lot of Cozies you think are great, please post the ones you like the most at the top of the list.)
As always, please do not tell us about the Cozy Mysteries you did not like.
What really good Cozy Mystery did you read during April 2017 that you want the rest of us to know about, and why did you enjoy it?
Here are the current recommended authors who some of you have read and recommended this past month:
Cathy Ace: WISE Inquiries Agency Mystery Series
Ellery Adams (aka J. B. Stanley, Jennifer Stanley, & 1/2 of Lucy Arlington): Supper Club Mystery Series
Susan Wittig Albert: China Bayles Herbal Mystery Series
Lorraine Bartlett (aka L. L. Bartlett & Lorna Barrett): Victoria Square Mystery Series
Rhys Bowen: In Farleigh Field (stand alone non-Cozy by a normally Cozy author)
Emily Brightwell: Mrs. Jeffries Mystery Series
Blaize Clement: Dixie Hemmingway Mystery Series
E.J. Copperman (aka Jeffrey Cohen): Haunted Guesthouse Mystery Series
Vicki Delany (aka Eva Gates): Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery Series
Andrea Frazer: Falconer Files Mystery Series (first book Death of an Old Git)
Kitty French: Chapelwick Mystery Series (first book The Skeletons of Scarborough House – Note: contains profanity and “adult” themes)
Agatha Frost: Peridale Cafe Cozy Mystery Series (first book Pancakes and Corpses)
Anne George: Southern Sisters Mystery Series
H. Y. Hanna: Oxford Tearoom Mystery Series (first book A Scone To Die For)
Susannah Hardy (aka Sadie Hartwell): Greek to Me Mystery Series
Sherry Harris: Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery Series
Chautona Havig: Hartfield Mystery Series (first book Manuscript for Murder)
Heather Horrocks: Who-Dun-Him Inn Mystery Series
Sue Ann Jaffarian: Ghost of Granny Apples Mystery Series
P. D. James: The Mistletoe Murder (short story collection)
T E Kinsey: Lady Hardcastle Mystery Series (first book A Quiet Life in the Country)
Amanda Lee (aka Gayle Trent & Gayle Leeson): Embroidery Mystery Series
Gayle Leeson (aka Gayle Trent & Amanda Lee): Down South Cafe Mystery Series
Jenn McKinlay (aka Josie Belle & Lucy Lawrence): Cupcake Baker Mystery Series
Marcia Muller & Bill Pronzini: Carpenter & Quincannon, Professional Detective Services Mystery Series
Linda Reilly: Deep Fried Mystery Series (first book Fillet of Murder)
David Rosenfelt: Andy Carpenter Mystery Series
Kate Saunders: Laetitia Rodd Mystery Series (first book The Secrets of Wishtide)
Paige Shelton: Dangerous Type Mystery Series
Fran Stewart: Scotshop Mystery Series
Diane Vallere: Material Witness Mystery Series
Lea Wait: Mainely Needlepoint Mystery Series
Jacqueline Winspear: Maisie Dobbs Mystery Series
Diane Xarissa: Isle of Man Mystery Series (first book Aunt Bessie Assumes)
[If you click on the author’s name (blue) link, it will take you to his/her page on the Cozy Mystery site. The pages have all of the authors’ books listed chronologically.]
I will list the authors and series that have been recommended, but I urge you to read the comments below so you can see the reasons other Cozy Mystery readers thought these were their best reads of the month.
♦To access more Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations, click on this link♦
P.S. I usually don’t comment on your recommendations since they speak for themselves.
KG says
I decided to read Tagged for Death by Sherry Harris (Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries #1).
Sarah Winston was married to CJ for about 20 years when he had an affair with a woman who became pregnant. Both were in the Air Force at the time. Sarah divorces CJ and stays in the area where CJ is now the Chief of Police.
Sarah goes to a garage sale and finds 2 bloody shirts that she recognizes as her ex-husband’s. Then the woman who had the affair with CJ goes missing. Sarah does not believe her ex husband is a murderer and seeks the truth.
I liked this book because I can see room for growth for the characters. The best part is that I thought I had everything figured out, but the ending proved I didn’t. I like it when I am wrong! I already have the next book in the series on my kindle.
MJ says
April Recommendations – 2017
Elementary, She Read – Vicki Delany
This is the first book in a new series and I loved it!! It says a LOT if I put it ahead of an Albert book! Set aside a block of time to read it because if you’re like me you won’t want to put it down…………..reading well into the wee hours of the morning. And, it’s not because the mystery is so gripping, but because the characters are so engaging.
Gemma Doyle moved to this Cape Cod community five years ago from London. She became part owner of a Sherlock Homes bookstore with her great Uncle Arthur (almost 90 years old). Arthur loves to travel so he isn’t part of the story. Jayne grew up in this community but left for several years to run a bakery in Boston. She returned a year ago and became business partners with Gemma and Arthur in a tea house adjacent to the bookstore.
A woman from Boston visits the bookstore and hides a valuable magazine in the stacks. She is later found dead in her hotel room (by Gemma and Jayne). As is the ‘usual formula’ (I say facetiously) for the first book in a cozy series, Gemma is considered the main suspect in the murder. Never mind that she has an alibi because she was with Jayne the entire time when the murder could have taken place. The lead detective decides Jayne is lying. Of course, Gemma with Jayne’s help investigates to prove her innocence. There is a second murder which intensifies the situation.
Gemma is a fantastic lead character — extremely bright, focusing a lot on attention to detail and a very concentrated thought process. You gotta LOVE this character!! Her former detective boyfriend just returned to town after a several year stint with the Boston police dept. The characters are developed with depth, and their interactions are compelling. There’s great dialogue oftentimes expressed with humor.
Delany gets high marks for great pacing (not always easily accomplished) and a very unexpected ending. Who would’ve ‘thunk’ he/she was the guilty person? Not me.
The best compliment to give a new series?? “I can’t wait for the next book!!” (It’s Body on Baker Street – to be released 9/12/17.)
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Last Chance Olive Ranch — Susan Wittig Albert
Usually I prefer a lighter cozy with some humor. In this book, Albert writes a more intense mystery. So much so, that by page 26 I just had to peak at the last couple of pages……………something I rarely do!
There are two separate mysteries in this book. One involves McQuaid and a prison escape. The man who escaped is on a vengeance trail for all those that had anything to do with his conviction. McQuaid was the lead detective in his case. As the culprit goes on a killing spree, McQuaid plans his capture.
The other mystery involves China and Ruby. They are to conduct a seminar on an olive oil tree ranch. China finds plenty of conflict at this ranch, since the owner may lose it to a will dispute. China also meets up with an old boyfriend from law school who now operates a winery in the area. The complexity of characters is written well with some interesting dynamics.
There isn’t any connection between these two mysteries, written with alternating chapters. Albert always writes very descriptive books and she doesn’t disappoint this time. In most of her books she usually focuses on an issue, but doesn’t do so with this story.
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Caramel Crush – Jenn McKinlay
I’ll reiterate what I said the last time I recommended a McKinlay book. “I have yet to read a McKinlay book I haven’t liked!” I’ll keep it brief since many of us like her series and often recommend her books. McKinlay writes exceptional character driven stories in her three current series. It looks like she is em’bark’ing on a fourth series (about a dog!) Clever, huh? 🙂
In this book, Angie and Tate are planning their wedding and Angie is turning into ‘bridezilla’. This dynamic certainly makes it a fun read. In the mystery story aspect, Mel’s college roommate is accused of murder because her fiancé was murdered on the day she was breaking up with him. Mel doesn’t like this roommate but owes her a favor. So she investigates. The personality intensities and clashes of these two characters makes this story particularly spirited. The last chapter is particularly amusing (in an unrelated way). It’s a quick and enjoyable read.
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Wee Homicide in the Hotel – Fran Stewart
This is the third book in this series and I had a very difficult time remembering the characters from the past two books.
Peggy Winn owns a Scottish shop in Vermont. The community is hosting a Scottish games event. Several politicians are attending the event, including the president. However, he is shot at. The first part of the story focuses on finding this assailant. A well-known participant in the games makes an appearance after a four year absence. He is later found murdered in his hotel room.
The author writes this story from several characters narrative. It is unusual way to read a story, and it does get bewildering. However, this way the reader understands each character more fully. One of the dogs in the story even gets her own narrative.
The two distinctly different mystery story lines really don’t intersect. They’re interesting, but somewhat confusing. At least the first mystery is resolved before the second mystery is started.
This book keeps the reader engaged, moving along at an even pace. A ghost from the 1400s does have a prominent role in this series. Usually if a story involves a ghost I don’t read it. But I’ve continued with the series, so I guess I’m not objecting to it!
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Bookman Dead Style Paige Shelton
This series is set in a Utah ski community. Clare Henry (protagonist) manages ‘Rescued Word’ with her grandfather – a book renovation and typewriter store. It’s the middle of winter and a film festival (involving famous people) takes place, creating an enjoyable setting. The sister of a famous actor is murdered and he is accused of the crime.
The plot moves along with several twists and complications. The characters are especially appealing, developed with humor and depth. Please don’t mistake my brevity of this analysis for lack of enthusiasm — by the fourth/fifth review, I’ pretty ‘all-written out’! 🙁 It’s a quick and entertaining read, as are most of Shelton’s books. She embodies ‘cozy’!
Cathi says
I really enjoyed In This Grave Hour by J. Winspear. This is a wonderful series and this newest is one of her best. It captures the feeling of The English just before WWII. I am now reading Miss Julia Weathers the Storm by Ann B Ross. I love this series and all the crazy going ons that Miss Julia gets into. Also read Man Overboard JAJance. She is a wonderful author of several different series.
Cathy says
I love the Dixie Hemingway series by Blaize Clement. I just finished #7 in the series “The Cat Sitter’s Pajamas” and loved it. She is a professional pet sitter living in Sarasota, Florida. I love the characters, and she is a great storyteller. I would recommend this series to anyone.
Marty Knox says
I’ve been reading the cozy mystery series Aunt Bessie that takes place on the isle of Man by Diana Xarissa.I love the descriptions of the places. The main character is a woman who is down to earth, intelligent, and kind-hearted. I love her friends. I really like all her descriptions of the little tea shops, cafes and historical places. The conversations are like you would have with your best friends. It makes me want to visit the isle of Man.
If you are looking for violence, car chases, and all the other stereotypical Hollywood dreck forget it.
The Aunt Bessie series is a classic cozy genre mystery. An intelligent sleuth who use her knowledge of human behavior, logic and common sense to solve murders. Her lifetime experience leads her to her solve the mystery.
Chris says
I started H Y Hanna’s Oxford Tearoom Mysteries series. The one I read in April was the first: A Scone To Die For. Loved it and I am now on to the second one: Tea With Milk and Murder. I love the main character–escaped the world of corporate to come back home to Oxford and start up a tea room. Sounds like something I’d like to do.
Donna says
I have been absorbed in the Maisie Dobbs series .
Jo Anne says
Jessica Beck, Paige Shelton, Julie Hyzy, Jenn McKinlay, Lorraine Bartlett are just a few of my favorite cozy mystery authors.
Susy says
Jo Anne, since I love three of the five authors you recommend, I guess I better pick up something by each of the others so I can see if I love them as well. Thanks.
Paula Catherine says
I love the series by David Rosenfelt: featuring Andy Carpenter, an attorney who is very selective in accepting clients, his associates , Tara and the love of his life Laurie. The writing is crisp, very witty and the characters are engaging. He is a generous soul, kind to most. There is a lot of details but they are essential to the storyline of the novel.
Marianne says
I loved In This Grave Hour also. Maisie Dobbs just keeps growing as a character, and I was happy with the reintroduction of some favorite old characters like Eddie.
But what really hooked me this month, and maybe it’s just the need for spring trying to lighten my mood, has been a series by Agatha Frost, the Peridale Café mysteries. I raced through the first three books in a week and am now starting the fourth (Chocolate Cake and Chaos) which just came out. It’s a standard cozy set in a small English village centered around a bakery. There’s a hunky detective for romance, too.
Patti B. says
Just finished the first in “The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries” series by Emily Brightwell. Huge thanks to all the people who recommended this series. The first book was an absolute delight! I love how Mrs. Jeffries, housekeeper to Scotland Yard Inspector Gerald Witherspoon, comes to the inspector’s aid when crimes need to be solved. Mrs. Jeffries, along with the cook, Mrs. Goodge, maid Betsy, hansom driver Smythe, and other staff in the Victorian household, are so totally devoted to their employer that they’d do anything for him. Inspector Witherspoon, a lovely gentleman, isn’t quite as adept at solving mysteries as he should be, but Mrs. Jeffries and gang work behind the scenes–without his knowledge–to come up with clues, and nudge the inspector in the right direction, happily celebrating when the inspector solves nearly impossible crimes “all on his own!” I’m thrilled that there are so many books in this series. I plan to read each and every one!
Rusti says
I loved “Snowed In” by Heather Horrocks. It had all of the features that make a great cozy mystery for me! A blizzard, an Inn and interesting characters.
A good cozy read!
Kim says
My favorites this past month were Killer Kebab by Susannah Hardy and Tightening the Threads by Lea Wait. I really enjoyed Killer Kebab way more than the other titles in the series because most of supporting characters were not in this title and it focused mostly on the main character. I enjoyed getting to know her better. I love all the Mainely Needlepoint books. I think all the characters are interesting and I love the geographical setting. The main character isn’t crafty (like me) and I love that about her.
Janice says
I’ve read a lot this month – I’m trying to get my full use out of the Kindle Unlimited that I signed up for recently while still reading the print books that I buy. Silence of the Jams, Gayle Leeson’s second book in her new series, lived up to the promise of the first book. The characters are engaging and the setting of a small Southern cafe makes for some mouthwatering reading and a surprise murderer.
The newest entry in another food related series is A Frying Shame by Linda Reilly. The main character is competing in a cooking contest in addition to running her fish and chips shop. When the winner of the contest is found murdered secrets dating back many years are revealed. I like the mix of characters in this series from the teenage skateboarder who works in the shop to a father who is in the early stages of dementia.
I didn’t intend to have a theme for this month’s recommendations but the third one is also food related. I previously recommended the Peridale Cafe series by Agatha Frost and the third book Doughnuts and Deception was excellent. The main character, Julia, is delivering doughnuts and coffee to the homeless encampment where her teenage foster child previously lived. They discover that a number of homeless men have died under mysterious circumstances so they set out to investigate. The fourth book in the series was released yesterday so I’m looking forward to reading it. These books are available on Kindle Unlimited but only cost .99 to buy
Valerie says
This month I finished Black Beans and Vice the last in the Supper Club Mysteries series by Ellery Adams. It’s my all time favorite series and I’m going to miss the Flab Five so much.
The next book was The Skeletons of Scarborough House by Kitty French. This book was a bit of a departure for me and has a fair amount of swearing and sex and I almost gave up on it very early on for other reasons. I’m so glad I didn’t. I had many laugh out loud moments which surprised me, great characters and plot. The main character is Melody Bittersweet and she along with her mother and grandmother see dead people. For all her bravado she is really quite a sensitive person. I thoroughly enjoyed it and downloaded the second in the series Mystery At Maplemead Castle.
Just started Music to Die For by Andrea Frazer the 6th in the Falconer Files. I love this series, great writing and characters, lovely English villages with just the right amount of mayhem and humor.
A Quiet Life in the Country by T.E. Kinsey was one I listened to on Audible. Hope that’s not a bad word on this site!
MJ says
To clarify, (in case anyone is looking for the Supper Club series at libraries, some bookstores, etc.) it originally was released under the author’s name — J. B. Stanley.
If I remember right (and perhaps I don’t) Ellery Adams is her pseudonym and has re-released this series under this name.
I think we had this discussion a month or two ago, but just in case anyone is confused ……………….. 🙂
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, I believe that is correct… Ellery Adams is one of those authors with enough pseudonyms that it can be hard to keep track of what books were originally published under each individual name!
Hanna says
Read P. D. James “The Mistletoe Murder.” A collection of four short stories that are… different from what I am used to. Not a tidy ending or denouement when the detective pieces all the items together, often in front of the suspects. Still, James was such a good writer that she kept my interest until the end. The forward, by Val McDermid, insists that James was “anything but cozy.” Oh well..
Margaret StashEmpress says
My life has been crazy these last few months & as a result have had almost no reading time (now that is SERIOUS!!!!) — so in fact this meager list is actually my list for the LAST 2 MONTHS — how pathetic is that? (And I even missed the last month’s post!)
Among other things my son just got married on Tuesday & to add to the fun, my younger son’s (medically fragile, trach, etc.) nurse took off 2 weeks w/o warning — so its just me & my husband trying to juggle his (constant day & night) care & all the other stuff going on…..
So here were some good books, my comments brief though, since to be honest I actually can’t remember what I read yesterday, let alone 2 months ago…
Sue Ann Jaffarian — The Ghosts of Misty Hollow (Ghost Of Granny Apples series) — This I do remember — love the great granny ghost & now she & Emma (the ghost whisperer) are supposed to be consulting on a “haunted house” — and a whole family of ghosts waiting for them to solve a century old murder so that they can go on in peace.
E.J. Copperman — Spouse on Haunted Hill (Haunted Guesthouse series) — Another one with resident ghosts, in this case the guesthouse owner Allison (whose name I had to look up on Amazon cuz I couldn’t remember anymore LOL) has to solve a murder to clear her louse of an ex from suspicion — not so much that she wants to clear him, but not wanting her daughter to have to visit a father in prison….
Lorraine Bartlett — Dead, Bath, and Beyond (Victoria Square series) — the newest in this series been a long time coming — sorry but all I can remember was that I liked it (LOL).
Rhys Bowen — In Farleigh Field (stand alone?) — OK IF YOU’RE GOING TO READ ONE BOOK THIS YEAR — THIS ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stand alone by beloved author Rhys Bowen, already the fans (myself included) clamoring for her to make it a series. Set in the British countryside in WW2, lots of great spy stuff, lots of great characters — just an AMAZING BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!! JUST READ IT!
Cathy Ace — The Case of the Curious Cook (WISE Enquiries Agency series) — Fun series, I always imagine the Dowager speaking in Maggie Smith’s voice (modern day Violet Crawley). This time the WISE women have to solve the curious case of the books that are appearing in bookshops…. and one valuable one in particular leads to an old murder with a surprising conclusion (ok, not really surprising if you read a lot of mysteries… just surprising to the police & characters in the book who probably don’t read as much as I do 😉
Amanda Lee — Better Off Thread (Embroidery Mystery series) — Another good book, love the series.
Marcia Muller & Bill Pronzini — The Dangerous Ladies Affair (Carpenter & Quincannon series) — New to me series, historical setting, loved it & ordered all the others I could get my hands on.
Kate Saunders — The Secrets of Wishtide (Laetitia Rodd series) — New series or stand alone, not sure which. Very good, hope there will be more — sleuth is victorian widow lady of reduced circumstances who makes her living by pursuing “discreet enquiries” for those in society who can’t afford to have any scandal (ie. she’s a detective, but very very private).
Diane Vallere — Silk Stalkings & Crushed Velvet (Material Witness series) — Next 2 in the series — don’t know if this is the end of the series or not, hope not, as I do love fabric… (you wonder where I got the name “Stash Empress” eh?)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Margaret StashEmpress, I’m really sorry about your nurse taking off time with no notice. Even with a notice it sounds like it is precisely the time when you most needed help with your younger son’s care. It sounds like you have the worse luck getting nurses who are committed to their jobs.
Finally, congratulations on your other son’s wedding.
Margaret StashEmpress says
Oh yeah its been a doozy of a ride! During the period of the engagement (from end of December till now) we had no nurses for a period of almost 3 months — so I did nights and days — with a couple hour early morning nap & an hour evening nap — and besides all the wedding preps, also had 3 new grandchildren born during that time — meaning a variety of other grandchildren moving in here for varying lengths of time while their moms recuperated — like I say — its been a doozy of a ride! When I do get some downtime — I’m too tired to read!!!!!! (Anyone who knows me knows that means its time to check me into a secure facility somewhere LOL!)
Sharon S says
In April, I read Murder On A Girls’ Night Out by Anne George. This is the first in her Southern Sisters series. I thought it was great, and I do want to continue with the series. The writing is witty and comical, but at the same there is a crime to solve.