December is almost over, so it’s time to discuss our favorite Cozies that we read this month!
If you read a Cozy mystery this month and want to recommend it to the rest of us, be sure to post it here! For this month, I read the first entry of Nancy Coco’s Oregon Honeycomb Mystery Series. For the reasons I want to recommend it, be sure to check out the blog entry!
So, what have you been reading that you can recommend in December? 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 December 2023 that you want the rest of us to know about, and why did you enjoy it?
Merryn Allingham: Flora Steele Mystery Series (first entry The Murder Bookshop)
ACF Bookens: St. Marin’s Cozy Mystery Series (first entry Publishable by Death)
Catherine Bruns: Maple Syrup Mystery Series
Colleen Cambridge: Phyllida Bright Mystery Series (first entry Murder at Mallowan Hall)
Kate Carlisle: Bibliophile Mystery Series
Alice Castle: Beth Haldane Mystery Series (first entry The Murder Mystery)
Nancy Coco (aka Nancy J. Parra and Nell Hampton): Oregon Honeycomb Mystery Series
Maddie Day (aka Edith Maxwell & Tace Baker): Cece Barton Mystery Series
Vicki Delany (aka Eva Gates): Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery Series
Katie Gayle: Epiphany Bloom Mystery Series (first entry The Kensington Kidnap)
Sally Goldenbaum: Seaside Knitters Society Mystery Series
Barbara Hambly: Silver Screen Historical Mystery Series (first entry Scandal in Babylon)
Dorothy Howell: Sewing Studio Mystery Series
Catriona McPherson: Last Ditch Mystery Series
Hilary Pugh: Ian Skair Scottish Mystery Series (first entry The Laird of Drumlychtoun)
Irina Shapiro: Redmond and Haze Mystery Series (first entry Murder in the Crypt)
Ava Strong: Remi Laurent Mystery Series (first entry The Death Code)
Diana Xarissa: Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Series (first entry Aunt Bessie Assumes)
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.
Marianne says
I have been reading Diana Xarissa’s Aunt Bessie series, starting with Aunt Bessie Assumes. This year on every other Friday, the Kindle edition has been free. They are set on the Isle of Man which has always intrigued me. I have also been sewing Manx quilt blocks this year. I love the descriptions of the historical and geographical features of the island.
Lu W says
I have loved all of Dianna Xarissa cozy mystery series! She has several! Aunt Bessie’s were my favorite too. It was fun to go see Isle of Mann after reading some of them.
sue s says
Murder in the Crypt: A Redmond and Haze Mystery Book 1
by Irina Shapiro. This is an interesting twist on the Victorian mystery. We have an American man, a surgeon, who has become a Lord and arrives in England to settle the estate. The policeman is a local bobby with no murder experience. They end up solving the mystery together. There is also the Lord’s American ward and the vicar’s daughter who uncover clues. A very different mix and I liked it a lot. I may have seen this recommended here.
Kris Lunda says
Picture Book Peril—ACF Bookens. This was the most recent entry into the Saint Maren, cozy mystery series featuring Harvey. I have liked all of her books, but this one has a special place in my heart. I am a firm believer, that if you need mental care either depression, or maybe bipolar disease that it should not be a stigma. When people realize they need help, that is the best for them and what you need to do is encourage them not dissuade them from seeking the help they require. The moral of the story is if you need mental health help, please get it.
Fortney, Sally says
I read Murder by Invitation Only by Colleen Cambridge. It features Agatha Christie’s housekeeper solving a murder based on one of her books. Also enjoyed The Twelve Books of Christmas by Kate Carlisle, which is mostly set in Scotland at Christmas.
Scot Free and Scot & Soda by Catriona McPherson were funny and quirky.
MJ says
I second Sally’s recommendation of the “Twelve Books of Christmas” by Kate Carlisle. I LOVE this series — it tops my list of favorite cozies. ALWAYS well written mysteries by a very creative author with well developed and interesting characters. In this book we enjoy most of the series characters gathered in Scotland. Carlisle also writes with some humor. Sooooo good! 🙂
Mrs. Ainee C. Beland says
Hello, I have read several cozy mystery books for 2023; I would recommend the following: The Murder Mystery by Alice Castle; The Murder Bookshop by Merryn Allingham; The Kensington Kidnap by Katie Gayle; and a most recent read: The Death Code by Ava Strong, which I am still reading, unsure if I can finish it before the New Year. It is a mystery of a book and the killings are gruesome and all for this Codex code that the killer known as ‘the chosen one’ tries to collect the different parts of this puzzle and he hopes to become one with God or the higher power. It is a fast and simple reading but I am not interested in all the history of Byzantium, (medieval times) antiquarians’ history, and the church; it is all presented too simplistic yet confusing as is this partial review. I recommend this book because it is a good and simple reading. I have not finished it so this view may change.
I am sorry to have not made any sense. Thank you for sharing.
Patti S. says
I finished reading a very fun series. It is callled The Beatles Cozy Mystery series by Kal Smagh. I really enjoyed it. It really captured the spirit of The Beatles in their early days and the young lady who worked in their fan club. Different mysteries take place and they solve them together. A wonderful series that I enjoyed very much. There are 6 books, with the most recent one being released on December 5. I highly recommend!
C. Frischmann says
The End Game by Charlotte Morganti
A promise to serve as godfather to his best friend’s child drags private investigator DS Gabrieli to Cheakamus, British Columbia for the christening. The long drive from Eau Claire, Alberta, time in a church, plus proximity to a horse loaded with emotional baggage make Gabe regret his vow. Within minutes of hitting town, a kaboom of complications ensue. A week later, when the ceremony finally takes place, Gabe has solved a perplexing series of bombings, and fallen in love with the quirky small town and its people. And Gabe has taken a step towards restoring his reputation and relationships.
Winning over townsfolk to help him, given the libelous newspaper editor, is a challenge Gabe takes on with his trademark kindness, humor, and sense of justice. By the time Gabe has unraveled his brother’s role in the events surrounding the malice and greed afoot, readers will recognize characters who are not evil, but whose failings consistently fetch trouble. Compassion is common in Cheakamus where mining interests, tourism, and ways of life that may have ended clash through characters who do their best despite criminals who seek profit through illegal acts and see nothing wrong with enriching themselves despite the law.
Here are a few of the many things I loved about this book:
• We’ve all been there—not to Cheakamus — but in situations like a slow-motion crash we’re powerless to stop.
• Gabe talks to his shiny F150 like you talk to your horse. I can’t say more. But his truck…no. I can’t say it.
• Gabe’s alter egos talk to him. They argue with each other. I can’t say more.
• Tiffany’s Café, the place you always want to eat featuring coffees named “Mudshark,” for one.
• We Americans get an insight into life in Canada: country halls, Nanaimo bars, Maynards Wine Gums, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Need I say more?
• Complications: There’s always something that even the not-so-bad guys are trying to hide.
• The shadow of the murder that Gabe didn’t do but needs to solve to clear the fug of association with his name. Maybe the subject of a later book, or a persistent threat across a series I hope will be a long one.
• Finally, Gabe’s penchant for both disappointment and optimism. I’ll leave you with the author’s own words in one such situation:
“…Gabe had a bloodshot eye threatening to close, three butterfly bandages on his cheek that pinched when he moved his mouth, a throbbing shoulder, and a numb arm, but he felt upbeat. Optimistic. Heroic. He swung open the door and strode into Tiffany’s the way Norm always walked into Cheers.
And, nothing.”
Watch the trailer. Read the book. Charlotte Morganti has created a world I want to be in often.
MJ says
Recommendations for December 2023:
Murder Uncorked — Maddie Day (Edith Maxwell)
This is a very prolific author. I’ve read several (but not all) of her series. First of all, I wanted to comment that I always read acknowledgements. Sometimes there are interesting nuggets of info in them and it gives insights of the author. I really enjoy it when authors are appreciative and acknowledge help from others with a simple ‘thank you’ to complete a book My esteem of an author goes way down when she/he doesn’t have any acknowledgements, thus no one to thank………..no family, friends, editors, etc. This book contained one of the longest acknowledgements I’ve seen. Kudos to this author.
This is the first book in a new series by this author. The protagonist is Cece Barton who manages a wine bar in California’s wine country. She’s a recent widow who moved to this community because her twin sister owns a B&B here. She has a daughter in college.
A not well-liked man who works for a local vineyard association is murdered. Because Cece has had disagreements with him, she is considered a suspect.
When I started reading this book, I had just finished a very slow-moving book that took me forever to read. 🙁 I almost quit reading it several times. UGH! THUS, when I started this book, I was very excited to find it quick paced and well plotted. I read it in little over a day!! Just couldn’t put it down. 🙂
The character interaction is quite enjoyable, starting with the smart and savvy protagonist. Some other characters have a bit of quirkiness to them. There are side stories — one with a possible romance, the others with family members. Which makes for a fun read because it rounds out the story.
This is a well-written book — a GREAT start to a new series. I am sooooo looking forward to the second book. 🙂
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Syrup No Good – Catherine Bruns
This is the second book in this series set in Vermont. It focuses around a maple syrup farm. After her father’s death, Leila moved back to her home town to manage this farm. Her best friend, Heather, is getting married and she is helping with the shower and wedding plans. Heather’s aunt (by marriage) is murdered. The list of suspects is long because she is kind of a despicable person.
Heather asks Leila to help her solve the murder because her wedding (which is two weeks away) will be cancelled if this isn’t resolved
Again, another fast-moving book with a great complement of varied and unique characters. Leila gets final resolution to a previous broken engagement. A new romance is developing with a co-worker.
This is an enjoyable read with its combination of plot twists and side stories. Most likely I recommended the first book (Doomful of Sugar) also. The third book (In the Blink of a Pie) isn’t due out until next Oct.
OH! — there are some very tantalizing recipes at the end of the book. 🙂
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Seams Like Murder — Dorothy Howell
I picked up ‘Hanging By A Thread’, the second book in this series. I then saw there was a first book, so got it. As I started reading it, I thought it looked familiar. But I couldn’t remember the characters, so decided to continue to read it. I looked back at my library check-outs and saw that I had it about a year ago.
A librarian is murdered by a hit and run driver. Actually, about a quarter of the way through the book I vaguely remembered ‘who dun it’. But since there is sooooo much more to this story than the ‘murder’, I wanted to follow through and get a good grasp of the characters. I rarely (if ever) reread a book.
Since Abbey Chandler’s LA job is in jeopardy, she decides to visit her aunt who owns a bakery in this small community.
As in many cozies, the sheriff is incompetent. He believes because Abbey is new in town, she must have murdered the librarian (who she didn’t know and Abbey had a solid alibi when the hit and run occurred). I was glued to this book page after page after page. The characters are likeable/interesting and developed with much depth.
Abbey sets up a sewing circle to make pillowcase dresses for African girls. She also gets involved with other community activities, thus expanding her acquaintance/friend circle. Again – soooo much more to this story than just the murder. A book I think you may really enjoy.
I started the second book (Hanging By A Thread) last night. It’s fast paced, and again I’m quickly turning the pages. I RELUCTANTLY took a break to write these reviews!!
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This doesn’t have anything to with a review, but I wanted to mention that I JUST saw this ‘upcoming book’ (next summer) by one of my favorite authors — Ellen Byron. It appears to be the first in a new series. The title is ‘A Very Woodsy Murder’ and its release date is 7/23/24. I can hardly wait. 🙂
MJ says
OH! I forgot to mention in my previous post — Sally Goldenbaum’s latest book, “Twisted Skein”, is TERRIFIC! (: (As is all her books in this series.)
I also want to wish everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR, filled with with many blessings!! 🎉
Lara says
Thank you for the great recommendations! Your hard work is greatly appreciated. 👍
Columbus says
The Sherlock Holmes Bookstore Series by Vicki Delany. I’ve read 8 of the 9 books over the Christmas break. Highly entertaining series about a English owner of a Sherlock Holmes bookstore who has tremendous powers of observation (a la The Great Detective) and solves crimes. She is aided by her best friend who owns the teahouse next door.
MendoGirl says
I would like to recommend Murder at the Bookstore by Sue Minix.
Jen Dawson has returned to her hometown having written a bestselling mystery and looking to get past a bad case of writer’s block.
Jen finds sanctuary in the local bookstore, where she has an endless supply of coffee and many wonderful conversations with the bookstore’s owner Aletha.
When Aletha dies under mysterious circumstances, Jen finds herself going from mystery writer to mystery solver.
I really enjoyed the characters and the friendship between Jen and her best friend Brittany who is willing to go to any length to help Jen.
I believe that this is the first book in a series. I look forward to reading more.
And since we have said good bye to 2023 and hello to 2024, I thought I would just say that my favorite book of 2023 was Death and Croissants by Ian Moore. His follow up Death and Fromage is coming out in March and I cannot wait to read it!
One last thing, many of you have recommended The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. I’m almost finished reading it, and it definitely lives up to the hype! Great recommendation!!
Happy New Year everyone!! 😃