If you read a Cozy mystery this month and want to recommend it to the rest of us, be sure to post it here! This month, I reread one of my own favorites, the first in the Brother Cadfael Mystery Series by Ellis Peters. If you want to know why I recommend that series, be sure to check out the post I wrote on it!
So, what have you been reading that you can recommend in July? 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 July 2018 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:
Ellery Adams (aka J. B. Stanley, Jennifer Stanley, & 1/2 of Lucy Arlington): Supper Club Mystery Series
Ellie Alexander (aka Kate Dyer-Seeley): Bakeshop Mystery Series
Sandra Balzo: Maggy Thorson Mystery Series
Lorna Barrett (aka L. L. Bartlett & Lorraine Bartlett): Booktown Mystery Series
Maymee Bell (aka Tonya Kappes): Southern Cake Baker Mystery Series
Ginger Bolton (aka Janet Bolin): Deputy Donut Mystery Series
Rhys Bowen: Royal Spyness Mystery Series
Simon Brett: Fethering Mystery Series
Lynn Cahoon: Farm-to-Fork Mystery Series
Kate Carlisle: Bibliophile Mystery Series
Laura Childs (aka Gerry Schmitt): Tea Shop Mystery Series
Peg Cochran (aka Meg London): Farmer’s Daughter Mystery Series
Sheila Connolly (aka Sarah Atwell): Victorian Village Mystery Series AND Victorian Village Mystery Series
Leslie Cookman: Libby Sarjeant Mystery Series
Deborah Crombie: Kincaid & James Mystery Series
Vicki Delany (aka Eva Gates): Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery Series
Carrie Doyle: Hamptons Murder Mysteries (first entry Death on Windmill Way)
Joanne Fluke: Hannah Swensen Mystery Series
Jacqueline Frost (aka Julie Chase & Julie Anne Lindsey): Christmas Tree Farm Mystery Series
Eva Gates (aka Vicki Delany): Lighthouse Library Mystery Series
Victoria Gilbert: Blue Ridge Library Mystery Series
Parnell Hall (aka J. P. Hailey): Puzzle Lady Mystery Series
H. Y. Hanna: Oxford Tearoom Mystery Series (first entry A Scone to Die For)
Hazel Holt: Mrs. Mallory Mystery Series
Vaseem Khan: Baby Ganesh Agency Investigation Mystery Series (first entry The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra)
Cornelia Kidd (aka Lea Wait): Maine Murder Mystery Series
R. J. Koreto: The Body in the Ballroom
Gayle Leeson (aka Gayle Trent & Amanda Lee): Down South Cafe Mystery Series
Laura Levine: Jaine Austen Mystery Series
Meg Macy: Teddy Bear Mystery Series
Olivia Matthews: Sister Lou Mystery Series (fist entry Mayhem & Mass)
Isabella Muir: Janie Juke Mystery Series (first entry The Tapestry Bag)
Katherine Hall Page: Faith Fairchild Mystery Series
Ellis Peters: Brother Cadfael Mystery Series
Karen Rose Smith: Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery Series
Rosemary Stevens (aka Rosemary Martin): Beau Bremmel Mystery Series
Vidar Sundstøl: Minnesota Trilogy (first entry The Land of Dreams)
Denise Swanson: Chef-to-Go Mystery Series
Peter Tremayne: Sister Fidelma Mystery Series
[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.
Marianne says
Deborah Crombie’s “Where Memories Live” is #12 or so in the series featuring Gemma James and Duncan Kincaid. What appears complex with various characters comes together beautifully in the end and doesn’t rush to the finish. A friend asks Gemma to look into an auction of a brooch she is sure her father, a German Jew and silversmith, made before she escaped the Nazis. She wonders who has owned it for 50 years because it had been taken from her. Pretty soon, two people connected with the auction are found dead. There are a couple of subplots in this involving story.
JoAnn says
I had forgotten about the Brother Cadfael stories. I’ll have to look at those again. Thanks for bringing this up.
Leslie T. says
Read Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes by Karen Rose Smith; 1st book of Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery. Also working my way thru Rhys Bowen Her Royal Spyness Series. Good summer reads!
Carolyn E. says
Lighthouse Library Mystery Series by Eva Gates (aka Vicki Delany) is a great summer read as well as the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery Series.
Lynn T. says
I had the first book Uncommon Grounds by Sandra Balzo on my TBR list for over 5 years. I decided to read it this year and I liked it a lot. I liked the humor and the character of Maggy Thorsen a lot. I kept thinking about the series so I read the 2nd book this month. Grounds for Murder and promptly downloaded the next book.
This is a fun and humorous series. It is set near Milwaukee Wisconsin. Maggy co-owns a coffee shop. Right now there are 10 books in the series. In both books, I did not have the murderer figured out. Oh, I thought I did but………. I like it when I am surprised by who did the murders.
It is a good series to escape and relax. Another good thing is the kindle prices right now for the books. Yes, I have read many of the Cleo Coyle books which I enjoy. However, the only similarity is probably the coffee shop theme and the protagonist solves the mystery. I am looking forward to reading the 3rd book in the series. I like it when I find a new go to series to read when I want to relax.
Michael C. says
I am a great Sandra Balzo fan myself and have read all of her books. What I also like about her is that she will answer emails and is quite friendly. Her next book will be out in January and she is taking pre-orders now. The title is “Coffee, a canine and a corpse”. Her website is sandrabalzo.com
Vallaing says
For July I’ve listened to the wonderful Cherringham Mysteries, the narration of these (Neil Dudgeon-Midsomer Murders Inspector Barnaby) is superb. I’ve read All butter Short Dead by H.Y. Hanna, Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson and Death on a Silver Tray by Rosemary Stevens. Thoroughly enjoyed them all. A case of so many books so little time this month.
I look forward to other recommendations!
MJ says
July Recommendations – 2018
Buried in Books – Kate Carlisle
IF you aren’t reading this series you should be. BUT, it is a series that should be read from the beginning. The characters are fantastic, very well developed and diverse. Love, love, love the wine country gang!!!!
The mysteries are ALWAYS good and not easily deduced. The series is set in San Francisco and wine country.
Since Brooklyn Wainwright is a book restoration expert, there often is discussion on various techniques. Many readers won’t find that interesting. BUT, don’t let that deter you from reading this series. I just skip over those paragraphs and treat myself to an otherwise great read.
Personally, I think this is the best book of the series. A college friend of Brooklyn’s is murdered and it involves a forged copy of a book. There is also the ongoing story of wedding plans and the various snafus. GREAT character interactions.
The other reason I love this series is this author keeps the boyfriend/fiance relevant to the story. I’ve said this several times. Often times other authors sends the ‘boyfriend’ or even husband, away on a ‘trip’. The relationship between these two characters is wonderful, peppered with a lot of witty dialogue. Many, many KUDOS to Carlisle for this terrific ongoing series! 🙂
——————————————-
Poisoned Pages – Lorna Barrett
One can always depend on this author (and her pseudonyms) to bring us a good mystery. This series is set in Stoneham, where bookstores are the draw for the tourists. Tricia Miles owns a mystery bookstore and her sister, Angelica, owns a cookbook store. Angelica is very wealthy and owns several other entities in town. Tricia has renovated her property and invited several friends over for a cocktail party. The guest (male) of a friend dies suddenly from an allergic reaction.
There are several story lines to this book that keeps the reader engaged. The big one is Tricia is running for Chamber president, a position her sister now holds. At first she was considered a shoe-in, but she has competition. Her employee Pixie is featured in this story.
Angelica has a secret past supposedly unbeknownst to everyone, except Tricia (and, even she doesn’t know it all). Angelica is being blackmailed.
For those that follow this series, you will be totally shocked at the culprit.
When I recommended the last book in this series I commented (perhaps complained) the lack of any romantic interests. Finally, in this book there is the start of an intriguing ‘friendship’. For that reason, I’m really looking forward to the next book……………..and, of course, for another good mystery.
————————————————–
Mayhem & Mass – Olivia Matthews
I’m not sure why I picked up this book, except perhaps it was recommended at this site. It’s the first book in a new series by a new author.
It has an unusual setting and premise. It is set at a religious university in Briar Coast, NY. The story involves a group of ‘sisters’ (not nuns, as is made clear!) living here. The protagonist is Sister Lou Lasalle. On the plus side you know she didn’t move here because of infidelities from a boyfriend/husband/fiancé (the cozy ‘formula’)! She has invited a good friend (theology professor) to speak at the university. He is a controversial figure within the religious community. Sr. Lou finds him murdered in his hotel room just before he is to speak. Since he is a longtime friend, she gets involved in solving his murder.
There are plenty of interesting characters, including her nephew and a reporter for the local newspaper who take prominent roles in the story. Other characters provide a variety of personalities to the story. The interaction and dialogue of all the characters is developed with intelligence. There are many twists and turns to the well plotted mystery. I found it well written and a quick read because it is difficult to put down.
One negative: Now you KNOW this book is ‘fiction’ when they talk about a daily newspaper with several reporters in a community of only 1000 people!!! HUH?
Although some may be turned off by the premise, I’m glad I read it because I now have discovered a new and talented writer. I suggest you give it a try. In fact, I’ve recommended it to several friends.
———————————-
Cake and Punishment — Maymee Bell
Another new series written by a new to me author. This is set in a small Kentucky community. A pastry chef, Sophia Cummings, moved here from NYC (of course, from a broken heart………..you know, the cozy formula!).
Her good high school friend is getting married at the local country club. The country club chef is murdered, thus leaving the wedding plans in limbo just a week before the wedding. Sophia has agreed to make the wedding cake and manage the Country Club kitchen for a few days until a new chef can be found. Her high school mentor is a suspect in the murder.
I enjoyed this very ‘typical’ cozy….liked the characters, plot is well-paced with some notable surprises.
This author also has written several books as Tanya Kappes. Her ghostly or magical series won’t interest me, but I may try the Killer Coffee series. She appears to be a very prolific writer with 14 books released in 2017 and 2018!! This makes some of my ‘favorite’ authors who only write one book a year appear as real slackers!! (Just kidding! – I do appreciate their well-researched and well-developed stories, which takes time to do.)
Margo O says
I love the Brother Cadfael series. I got hooked on the PBS show and then looked up the books. I even tracked down the prequel to the series and it is one of my favorite!
Barb E. says
I enjoyed Till Death do us Tart by Ellie Alexander. It is #8 in her Bakeshop Mystery series. I continue to like the character development and the ease of reading from the first paragraph to the last. I also enjoyed a new to me author – Jacqueline Frost. I read The Twelve Slays of Christmas and look forward to her next one.
Patricia C says
I love Cadfael! Last year I read the entire series, and searched for more books by Ellis Peters, Edith Pargeter, etc. What a brilliant writer!
I am now reading a new series by Carrie Doyle, The Hamptons murder mystery series, about innkeeper Antonia Bingham’s forays into sleuthing. I like to read in sequence to avoid spoilers, and recommend that approach to readers. Book one, Death On Windmill Way, has Antonia quite disturbed by the knowledge that previous owners of her inn died mysteriously. In book two, Death On Lily Pond Lane, Antonia finds a body in a posh home that she is monitoring for absentee owners, and soon becomes a target herself. Books three and four are on my TBR pile: Death On West End Road and Death on Bull Path.
Another series I am reading is Peter Tremayne’s Sister Fidelma saga. Fans of Cadfael should like these books. The history behind the series, in Fidelma’s 7th century Ireland, shows her as a married, religious (nun), highly educated legal mind, and living in a time when women were respected as equals. A masterpiece of a series.
Bek says
Well, I did pretty much gulp down the remainder of the “Hannah Swensen” series by Joann Fluke…at least, all but the newest one. I have to wait for that to come out in paperback. I’m a sucker for three things in cozies…culinaries with recipes, cat, and the paranormal, and this series hits two out of three. I LIKE Hannah. I just flat do. She’s fun, and if I lived next door to her, we’d be having coffee on a regular basis. And I adore Moishe, Hannah’s cat. He has such a distinct and wonderful fursonality! LOTS of catitude there. Ms. Fluke’s mysteries always have a satisfying number of twists and turns, but not so many that you’re just confused rather than mystified! I’ve actually made 7-8 of her recipes so far, and alll but one of them was wonderful…and the one “failure” was probably my fault.
Sharon says
My favorite cozy mystery in July was THE BODY IN THE BALLROOM by R. J. Koreto. Alice Roosevelt is the protagonist and Secret Service Joey St. Clair is her partner in sleuthing. The dialog was sparkling and it was great fun to read. Alice reminded me of Kate Warne in the TV series The Pinkertons. I also learned a little more about that period of American history.
Derek S says
I read the first two books of the Jaine Austen series by Laura Levine and I found them to be the funniest cozy series that I have read.
Vicki L. says
I love the Jaine Austen series! So happy a new Laura Levine book is coming out in september. Her books are light, fun and a fast read!
Karen S says
Minnesota Trilogy by Vidar Sundstol
Sally A Fortney says
I enjoyed Tart of Darkness by Denise Swanson. It has characters from her Skye Denison series but not the main sleuth Dani. I like that Dani has student boarders who also help her in her catering business. The love interest and Dani are both taking it slow but the spark is there.
Edithe knighton says
If anyone saw my earlier post about trying to remember the book about renovating a diner, yay, I finally found it, it’s Gayle Leeson’s series “Down South Cafe” I guess since it was technically a cafe not a diner , that’s why I had trouble pulling it up, anyway , I found it and will read the next ones!
Thanks all! Edithe
Ginger A Griffin says
Ginger Bolton ‘s Survival of the Fritters. The first in a series about deputy donut shop. Very good cannot wait for the second. I read the 2 books in the series about the teddy bear factory by Meg Macy. They were very good. They were first and second books in the series. Sorry I cannot remember the names of the books.
Hanna says
I continued down the recommended list with Katherine Hall Page’s The Body in the Kelp. I enjoyed very much the first one: The body in the Belfry. And while the Belfry one started with the murder, the Kelp took its time to build the atmosphere of summer on an island that I started wondering about it. But the murder did take place and after many twists and turns the truth was revealed. In this book we were introduced to Faith’s sister – Hope – a successful business woman in New York. And I hope that she will make appearances in future books.
Continue with the list of recommendations I found Hazel Holt and really enjoyed her two books: The Cruelest Month and the Shortest Journey. These books are short – compared to most recent mysteries – and the heroine, Sheila Malory, does not find herself in a dangerous situations the way most recent mysteries do. I also like the literary touch. In the Cruelest Month, Oxford Bodeleian library is such an important part that I went and read about it. Even sought the translation of the Latin writing on the entrance. While the murder was in current times, it, and related events took place during the war and during Sheila’s years in Oxford after the war.
The Shortest Journey may not be considered a real mystery – no body – but, again, the description of the characters and the country where the events take place are fascinating. And, yes, I went in search of Wordsworth’s Tintern Abbey poem which was part of the story.
Janice G says
My favorite book this month is Murder at the Mansion, the first in a new series by Sheila Connolly. Kate Hamilton is asked to visit her home town to advise the city council on a way to turn the Barton mansion into a tourist attraction. While touring the mansion with the caretaker – a history professor on sabbatical – they stumble over the body of Kate’s high school nemesis. A character from one of Sheila Connolly’s other series makes an appearance and helps to solve part of the mystery. This promises to be an interesting series with a nice romantic angle.
Death and a Pot of Chowder, a new series by Cornelia Kidd (Lea Wait) set on an island on the coast of Maine where most of the people are involved in lobstering. Anna is on the mainland meeting a half sister that she never knew about when she gets word that her husband’s brother is missing and later found dead. The newly acquainted sisters set about finding out what happened. I figured out the mystery pretty early on but really enjoyed the characters and the island setting.
I also enjoyed Buried in Books by Kate Carlisle, Shelved Under Murder by Victoria Gilbert, Killer Green Tomatoes by Lynn Cahoon, and Bought the Farm by Peg Cochran.
MJ says
WOW, Janice……….we read the same books this month (as you can tell from both of my blog entries)! How ironic is it that I’m reading Killer Green Tomatoes right now?
THANK YOU for the mention of ‘Death and a Pot of Corn Chowder’. I didn’t know about it (never heard of Cornelia Kidd, but I do like Lea Wait). Since we’re on the same wave length, I most likely will enjoy it. I just sent in a request for it to my library.
Tania Isle of Skye Scotland says
Vaseem Khan writes wonderful books. About a retired policeman Ashwin Chopra. They are very different not least because he is given a baby elephant!! The plots are really good. And the cast of characters are great. He has written four so far and each is better than the last. They are set in Mumbai.
MJ says
Murder at the Mansion — Sheila Connolly
I just finished this book last night and wanted to get it on the July list because it’s so good.
This is a new series by this author. Connolly always has varied premises for her stories, but this one is particularly creative and original. It’s set in a small deteriorating community in MD. Kate Hamilton is a hotel manager in Baltimore when a high school friend asks her to come back to Asheford to see if she can give the town council some insights on how to ‘save’ the town. The highlight of the community is a century old Victorian mansion.
A murder occurs at the mansion but not until page 67 (so I’m not going to reveal that). There are numerous suspects, but Kate is immediately eliminated as one. She wants to help solve the murder so she can move forward with possible plans for the community.
Kate is an extremely strong and intelligent character. I just love her independence. She’s also very introspective and has a lot of depth. The story is most interesting because of its ingenuity. It is set in current time, but there is a lot of history (relating to Clara Barton) for those who like that aspect to a story. I figured out who committed the murder about ¾ the way through the book. But there is another unexpected facet, which was a total surprise.
I’ll also mention that Connolly pulled what I’ll term the ‘McKinlay uniqueness’ to her story. She weaved into the story some characters from another series. Actually when I think about it, Maron also did this (and there’s probably several other examples of other authors doing the same thing). At any rate, it was a fun surprise. 🙂
One negative (at least in my eyes) — this story spans only a week. There is one story line that deviates from Connolly’s normal pacing within her other series. I’ve read four of her other series (won’t read the ‘Relatively Dead’ one) and she does a COMPLETE 180 in how she develops this story line in this book. I REALLY wasn’t pleased. I hate to be cryptic, but I don’t want to give any spoiler alerts.
ALL of the Connolly books I’ve read have been well written and appealing, she’s a talented story teller. Mainly because of the premise, I am looking forward to the next several books in the series to see how Kate develops her ideas to save the town. A good read!
Margaret StashEmpress says
Well I actually read two books this month! Considering that I used to read 25 or more books per month, and recently had read NOTHING for several months is pretty pathetic.
But when I saw a couple new “must have” titles when browsing the public library newest ebook app, I had to… I just had to!
Parnell Hall –The Purloined Puzzle (Puzzle Lady series)
One of my favorite funny cozy series, as improbable and unlikely as the plots go, the characters are a hoot & you just suspend your disbelief because its just so funny. In this title Cora is faced with a puzzle — that disappears — and a murder weapon that appears — but no body — then a body — but wrong weapon — and etc. Hysterically good read. I actually did cotton to the murderer right up front — simply because if you read a lot of mysteries, it only made sense –but lots of good fun!
Simon Brett — The Liar in the Library (Fethering series). Its been a few years since we had a new title in this series, so I just couldn’t wait any longer. I’m really not sure WHY I like this series so much, but I just do! Carole and Jude are such DIFFERENT types of characters, its hard to imagine them as friends, but friends they have become and sleuthing partners to boot. In this title Jude is the main suspect in the murder of an old acquaintance whom everyone seems to think was her lover. I also did figure out the murderer early on, due to the way mysteries are structured, if a character does THIS, you know they’re gonna be the murderer — but no clue as to the WHY until the big reveal. Good book. Hope we don’t have to wait another 3 years for a new book in this series (but I’d love to see a bunch of new Mrs. Pargeter titles first — that’s really my favorite of all of this author’s series.)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Margaret, did the second subscribing attempt work?
Margaret StashEmpress says
Yes thanks, second time was the charm!
Carol Kohn says
The Janie Juke mysteries by Isabella Muir. Lovely cozy mystery series with a sleuthing librarian set in a 1960’s English seaside town.
Ben C. says
Fethering mysteries by Simon Brett
Sandir says
Two this month for me. First is Stiffs and Swine by Ellery Adams – the fourth in the Supper Club Mystery series. This one has the Flab Five (wonderful characters!) going to judge a barbecue competition. Then also I read the Teaberry Strangler by Laura Childs – one of the tea shop mystery series. I’m not reading this series in order and this one is earlier in the series so Theodosia and Delaine aren’t really friends yet.
Chris W. says
For some time now, I’ve been reading – and loving – the Libby Sarjeant Murder Mystery series by UK author Lesley Cookman. They are set in Kent, England, where the author resides, and revolve around ordinary people who find crime – and bodies – everywhere they look! They are delightful, and I recommend reading them in order, starting with Murder in Steeple Martin.
Michelle Walker says
Reading through the list of new Halloween theme of cozies reminded me of a new Kindle e-book and paperback on Amazon, “Witch Way to Amethyst Bay?” by Catherine Wright. A small town in Oregon where three sisters live. They’re preparing for their October Hallowed Homecoming weekend while trying to solve a few murders. Lots of visiting around food, so the author included some of the recipes. Author says it’s a series, and the book two is around the corner.
Bek says
Well, that certainly put it on my “Must Have” list! Paranormal AND recipes! Now, if only there’s a cat…and there may well be, come to think of it!
Michelle Walker says
Oh, there’s a cat…
Bek says
I AM SO THERE!