January 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 Linda Reilly’s Grilled Cheese 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 January? 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 January 2023 that you want the rest of us to know about, and why did you enjoy it?
Donna Andrews: Meg Langslow Mystery Series
Bree Baker (aka Jacqueline Frost, Julie Chase, & Julie Anne Lindsey): Seaside Cafe Mystery Series
Jessica Beck (aka Elizabeth Bright, Casey Mayes, Melissa Glazer, Chris Cavender, Tim Myers, & D.B. Morgan): Donut Shop Mystery Series
Laurien Berenson: Melanie Travis Mystery Series
Leslie Budewitz: Spice Shop Mystery Series
V.M. Burns: Baker Street Mystery Series
Kate Carlisle: Bibliophile Mystery Series
Blaize Clement: Dixie Hemingway Mystery Series
Kate Collins: Goddess of Green St. Mystery Mystery Series
Vicki Delany (aka Eva Gates): Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery Series
J.C. Eaton: Sophie Kimball Mystery Series
Amanda Flower (aka Isabella Alan): Emily Dickinson Mystery Series
Joanne Fluke: Hannah Swensen Mystery Series
Darci Hannah: Beacon Bakeshop Mystery Series
Sherry Harris: Sea Glass Saloon Mystery Series (first entry From Beer to Eternity)
Christine Husom: Snow Globe Shop Mystery Series
Laurie R. King: Mary Russell Mystery Series
Leslie Langtry: Merry Wrath Mystery Series
Alyssa Maxwell: Gilded Newport Mystery Series
Jenn McKinlay (aka Josie Belle & Lucy Lawrence): Hat Shop Mystery Series
Linda Reilly: Grilled Cheese Mystery Series
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.
Iza says
Hello, thank you for so much inspiration!
I have, however, turned to audiobooks and I wonder if you are recommending cozies in an audiobook format too. I haven’t found it on your site. Thank you!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Iza, I don’t specifically look out for audiobooks, but many of the books I do suggest are in audiobook format.
Jeannie says
Because She Could Not Stop For Death by Amanda Flower, so different from her other series and very good book. I hope she writes more in this series.
MJ says
Jeanne,
The second book in this series, “I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died”, is to be released 9/26/23. Weird title. I must say as much as I like Amanda Flower, this title doesn’t entice me to read it!
Jeannie says
I will get the book and hope the book is better than the title. I really liked the first book.
Jane McSorley says
She’s using titles of Dickenson’s poems as titles for her books. Clever.?
Karen says
I love Leslie Langtry’s Merry Wrath books. Just finished the newest one, Method Actor Murder.
Agile Corgi says
I read the first two of Nancy Warren’s Vampire Book Club series. I enjoyed her Vampire Knitting Club books, and maybe liked these a little better. They are, of course, paranormal cozies. The main character is likable, the situation is odd, but believable. Characters pop in from the other series, but you don’t need to have read it for it all to make sense. The plots were clean, the stories well written. Working in a bookstore is an ideal job to me, so I envy that!
Leslie says
I LOVE Nancy Warren’s books – be sure to read the baking show series and her new one about a flower shop!!
Carol says
I read Caramel Pecan Roll Murder by Joanne Fluke. It was a great book with a little different setting this time. And oh those rolls sound delicious!
Fortney, Sally says
I read Rum and Choke by Sherry Harris. I like the Florida Panhandle setting, and I love that this book we learn more about Ann who is descended from Jean Lafite.
Cold Way to Go by Christine Husom has the first mayor sleuth that I know of. Death by Arts and Crafts by Alexis Morgan has a great sleuth with good friends. Those overprotective men should ease up on her, though.
Grilled4Murder by JC Eaton and Honeymoons can be Hazardous both have super cute animals. Streetman the dog adopted a kitten in the Arizona series. The Amish series has a pig and goats.
Meezan says
Cheddar Late Than Dead (Grilled Cheese Mystery 3), by Linda Reilly, is excellent!
Mary S. says
I agree!!
Jackie Dayton says
Love this series…so many interesting characters and twists.
Plus I enjoy anything New England.
Susie says
“Fatal Fascinator” by Jenn McKinlay. I love all her books but I particularly like the “Hat Shop” series!
Jill Sirignano says
I just finished last night The Grim reader by Kate Carlisle which was really good I also love Is Laura Childs Tea Shop series, Rita Mae Brown Mrs Murphy series and Ellery Adams books just to name a few of my favorites
Hanna says
I enjoyed Darci Hannah’s Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop. Lindsey Bakewell abandoned her stellar career in Wall Street after betrayal by her fiance and decided to move all the way to a small town by Lake Michigan to open a bakeshop. But someone was poisoned on opening day and it will not be the last act. Many interesting characters including her Newfoundland dog, Wellington a size of a bear and a loyal friend. As an aside I do not bake donuts and other sweets but her Chicken Marsala is to die for..
I also continued with Vicki Delaney’s Body on Baker Street. A famous author is poisoned at Gemma Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes Bookstore and Emporium while in the process of signing books. Interesting characters – it helps to read the first book first – and a complicated plot.
Interesting that in both of these books the poison was Potassium cyanide and both mentioned that in contrast to popular mystery, not everyone has the capacity to smell the bitter almonds, the indicator of cyanide.
Carol Alley says
Thank you foir this recommendation – I checked my library site and this was available from Libb. Happy reading ahead of me!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Carol, I hope you enjoy it!
Tressa says
Pleading the Fish by Bree Baker. Fun and always cozy series that takes place on a New England Island! The main character has a tea shop in a restored Captain’s mansion on the beach.
MJ says
January Recommendations – 2023
First of all, I’m only putting two books on the list this month. But they are terrific books and I really wanted to mention them.
Unfortunately I fell off a ladder while putting up xmas decoration before xmas. The result is one broken upper left arm. Thus, I am quite limited in my ability to type, so I’m keeping this brief. My arm didn’t mend on its own, so surgery is scheduled for next week.
Gone But Not For Garden — Kate Collins
Fans of Collins’ Flower Shop series will LOVE, LOVE this book. First of all, I really enjoy this new series, perhaps even more so than the Flower Shop series. Soooo many fun characters (some ‘wacky’). Afterall, it is a large Greek family with a setting in a Greek neighborhood.
What makes this book a particular ‘fun read’? Abby Knight (from the Flower Shop series comes to town to ask for help from Athena Spencer and her PI partner (Case) in a murder investigation involving Jillian (Abby’s cousin – remember her?). Each page is filled with collaborations between these characters. Marco (Abby’s husband) even makes an appearance.
I do think Abby takes on a different ‘persona/voice’ in this book as compared to the Flower Shop series. But it’s still soooo entertaining …………….especially for those who like both of these series by Collins.
I understand some of the Flower Shop books have been made into movies (with Brook Shields) on the Hallmark Channel.
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Fatal Fascinator — Jenn McKinlay
This is the 7th book in this series. I enjoy ALL of the current three series by this author, but this is my favorite. The setting is a castle where a wedding is planned. A murder takes place. Good mystery and GREAT character interaction.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, I’m very sorry to hear about your accident! I hope you recover quickly and thanks for still taking the time to put in a recommendations post.
Patti S says
MJ-Sorry to hear about your arm. I always enjoy your recommendations. Good luck with your surgery and a speedy recovery!
Jo Anne Yerkes says
I finished Donna Andrews’ “Round Up the Usual Peacocks” yesterday. And Jessica Beck’s “Donut Hearts Homicide.” One real book and one ebook.
Zhahn says
Vicki Delany’s Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series, Laurien Berenson’s books with Melanie and Peg and Rose, Alyssa Maxwell’s Gilded Newport series
Jane Eash says
Haven’t seen any comments about Blaize Clements.She wrote a series on Dixie Hemingway as a pet sitter. Very good reading
Laurie D says
I also like the series. The last i read was published 2016 – The Cat Sitter and the Canary (Blaize & John Clement). Is there another in the series after that?
ColoKat says
ColoKat- Loved the Dixie Hemingway series. Blaize passed away and her son tried to continue her series, but who knows…..she co-wrote the last 2 books in the series and I guess he just didn’t have the heart …..But those were GREAT books!
Barb E. says
I enjoyed Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valerie Burns (V.M. BurnsJ. This is book 1 of the Baker Street Mystery series. Good characters, some humor, a bakery, and a huge English Mastiff dog.
I look forward to Danna’s recommendation every month. And also like reading through the comments submitted by fellow cozy mystery readers.
MendoGirl says
This month I read Laurie R. King’s Castle Shade, a Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes mystery.
I have to say that this one has been one of my favorites in the series.
In this book we find ourselves in the village of Bran near the town of Brasov in Transylvania.
I loved reading about this part of the world. I really want to travel to Romania, and see the castle Bran for myself.
Mary and Shelock’s client is the Queen of Romania – Queen Marie. Marie is the daughter of Queen Victoria’s second son and the only surviving daughter of Tsar Alexander II. The book gives a wonderful history of Queen Marie and brings Bran Castle and the village to life.
Queen Marie is being threatened and it is up to this intrepid duo to find the culprit. Along the way we hear talk of witches, vampires, and ghosts (oh my!).
This is a fantastic mystery with all kinds of twists and turns and well written characters.
Hands down my favorite of the series .
Dawn says
I read 2 books this month.
Red Velvet Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
I really love the Hanah Swensen series! I loved this story, which had an ominous cloud over Hannah. These books can really make your tastebuds water! Plus, there seemed to be a lot of happy romance in the air in Lake Eden! 🙂
Cat on the edge by Shirley Rousseau Murphy
I wanted something different to read. I must confess, when I tried reading this book in braille a while ago, I wasn’t really that into it. But, I decided to give it another try in audio form. I’m glad I did! I wasn’t sure about it at first, but, Joe Grey did eventually grow on me. I really liked Dulcie and her theiving ways ! 🙂 The irony of her owner being a former probation officer is kind of helarious! 🙂 All the time I listening to this boo, I couldn’t help but wonder what my animals would say if they could talk.
Those are my recommendations for the month! I’ve been so busy with meetings, that, I haven’t had a lot of time to read! But, I can’t wait to read knowledge books in these series!
Regina Williams says
The Uninvited Corpse (book 1 The Food Blogger series) by Debra Sennefelder this is a series I’ve wanted to read for a while and I loved this first book. I couldn’t put it down Hope Early is Martha Stewart & JB Fletcher
Sherry says
Eileen Brady has a cozy series about a lady veterinarian, Dr Kate, in Hudson Valley, NY. She has a one year contract for the vet who is traveling the world. It was a fun series about small town people, pets and murder.
Debbie says
Hi Danna~
Thank you SO much for making this list for us. It is WONDERFUL and an amazing resource and labor of love.
I have a question that has probably been asked a million times but I cannot find it.
I can’t handle reading the mass paperback sized books and wondered if ANY cozy mysteries are ever published in a bigger size? I saw your post about using kindle but I prefer a book in my hand. A bigger size than mass paperback!
Do you have any info? thanks so much for all you do.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Debbie, my experience has been that some books are available in large text editions, but not most. Another option you might try would be audio books – though as with Kindles, you won’t have a book in your hand.
Debbie Park says
Thank you! I love large print and will look into that!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Debbie, I hope it works out for you!
Jan says
I read the entire series (8 books and 1 novella) of the Churchill and Pemberley Mystery Series by Emily Organ. The stories take place in 1930’s England. Mrs. Churchill is a widow of a Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard so she thinks she can be a detective, too. She buys a detective agency in a small town where the owner was killed in an accident. His assistant, who is also an elderly lady, comes with the agency and Mrs. Churchill and Miss Pemberley work well together, solving crimes. It’s funny, sometimes quirky and I love the interaction between the two women. I hope the author continues the series!
ColoKat says
I discovered an author I had Not read before and her name is Dianne Harman. She writes several Cozies and I have read 21 of the book series I started with with her. Cottonwood Springs Cozy Mystery! I chose that one to start with as it is set in Colorado-where I have resided the past 28+ years with my husband and my children (now grown). She writes nice cozies and self-publishes. She has numerous series: Cozy Bay, Cedar Bay, High Desert, etc etc etc.
I appreciate all the time and effort that YOU put into keeping up your Cozy Mystery List for all of US! And I feel certain it is NO EASY TASK! God Bless you and thank you sooooo much for all your hard work and little appreciation.