We’re just about at the end of June, so it’s time to discuss our favorite Cozies that we’ve 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 Tracy Gardner’s Avery Ayers 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 June? 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 June 2022 that you want the rest of us to know about, and why did you enjoy it?
Donna Andrews: Meg Langslow Mystery Series
Tessa Arlen: Woman of WWII Mystery Series
Ellen Byron (aka Maria DiRico): Vintage Cookbook Mystery Series
Nancy Coco (aka Nancy J. Parra and Nell Hampton): Candy-Coated Mystery Series
Abby Collette: Ice Cream Parlor Mystery Series (first entry A Deadly Inside Scoop)
Elizabeth Spann Craig (aka Riley Adams & Elizabeth Craig): Southern Quilting Mystery Series
Krista Davis: Domestic Diva Mystery Series
Tracy Gardner: Avery Ayers Mystery Series
Eva Gates (aka Vicki Delany): Lighthouse Library Mystery Series
Anna Gerard (aka Diane A.S. Stuckart and Ali Brandon): Georgia B&B Mystery Series
Victoria Gilbert: Book Lover’s B&B Mystery Series
Jamie Rutland Gillespie: Bob Mountain Cozy Mystery Series (first entry Inheriting Murder)
Fiona Grace: Lacey Doyle Mystery Series (first entry Murder in the Manor)
Mimi Granger: Love is Murder Mystery Series (first entry Death of a Red-Hot Rancher)
Kelly Hashway: Cup of Jo Mystery Series (first entry Macchiatos & Murder)
Jenn McKinlay (aka Josie Belle & Lucy Lawrence): Cupcake Bakery Mystery Series
Allie Pleiter: Riverbank Knitting Mystery Series (first entry On Skein of Death)
Nic Saint: Mysteries of Max Mystery Series (first entry Purrfect Murder)
Paige Shelton: Scottish Bookshop Mystery Series
T.C. LoTempio (aka Toni LoTempio): Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery Series
Ashley Weaver: Electra McDonnell Mystery Series
Marty Wingate: First Edition Library 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.
Carol DEEGAN says
This is my review of Inheriting Murder by Jamie Rutland Gillespie. First in a new series. Don’t miss it!
This was a fun book to read. And sometimes hard to put down. Landry Burke inherits a bookstore and apartment building from her aunt. On the walk-through with the attorney they find one of the employees dead. Faith based, the story centers around Landry’s attempts to find the murderer while she may be slowly falling for the attorney. I liked the characters and the setting descriptions were beautiful. I also appreciate the Christian aspect of the book and the absence of unnecessary sex scenes. If you like cozy mysteries you should read this book. I am anxiously waiting for the next book in the series to be available.
Mique Capel says
Sounds great friend of mine has antiquarian bookstore and building, gonna try this
Pat Richardson says
Just read ta new book by Ellen Byron, Bayou Book Thief. This is the start of Vintage Cookbook Mystery. Totally loved it and now eagerly awaiting on the 2nd one.
Ellen Byron says
Oooh! You made my day, even though I’m reading this a few days later. Thank you so much, Pat.
Karen N says
I read both of the Poppy Redfern, ladies of WWII, mysteries by Tessa Arlen. They are set in the English countryside where farmland is being used for American air bases and fuel depots. Poppy is an air raid warden and meets an American officer, thus setting up the required bit of romance. What I really enjoyed is the fiction based on fact elements that show what everyday life was like in another country during the war. The author includes a section in the back of the books that explains the historical references such as rationing, blackouts, and certain people and battles. Not only are these good cozy mysteries but the reader will learn something about history.
Barbara says
I read both Poppy Redfern books over the Pandemic, and absolutely loved them. I hope there will be a third one, but the
author has recently released a non-mystery book, so who knows when a third Poppy will come along. I did discover a new series similar to Poppy Redfern, there are now two books, the second was just released, author is Ashley Weaver, main character is Electra McDonnell, who is a new, unorthodox spy for the allies, and it’s set in wartime London.
Lane Bresticker says
Paige Shelton wrote a fabulous cozy mystery series that follows an American to. Edinburg, Scotland and a job in a unique bookstore and equally unique characters. The series begins with, “A Cracked Spine.” She even included a touch of romance in the series. I recommend the entire series because each book has its own story and plots move right along.
Hanna says
I enjoyed Anna Gerard’s Peach Clobbered. As Danna detailed last month, easy reading. Nina Fleet uses her generous divorce settlement to purchase a quaint house in a tourist town in Georgia only to find out that an occasional actor, currently promoting ice cream while wearing a penguin suit, has a letter that the former owner, his great aunt promised him the house. Unfortunately, she died before changing her will. Next, Nina is on a fast track for a B&B license to accommodate six nuns whose convent and land lease comes due and the owner is ready to develop the land. The developer is hated by the community so when he is found stabbed to death while wearing the penguin suit few shed a tear but was he the intended victim?
While curious about the identity of the murderer, I was as intrigued to find out the outcome of the house ownership, and also the final destinations of the nuns. While most of the nuns are in their seventies, one of them, the youngest one, possess a “smartphone” with all the needed apps, including an Uber.
And I enjoyed the occasional “woof” in the sentences, coming from Matilda, (Mattie) the Australian shepherd, playing both a comforting and an attacking roles.
MJ says
June Recommendations 2022
Strawberried Alive – Jenn McKinlay
This is the latest addition into the cupcake series. It’s a cozy mystery by Jenn McKinlay — need I say more??? ALL her books are engaging and witty.
I’ll just make one comment. McKinlay drops a huge clue in the beginning of the story that makes it very easy to figure out a part of the mystery – not the ‘who’, but the ‘why’. There’s another ‘hidden’ aspect to the story that I surmised correctly right away. That’s not in any way a deterrence.
With these characters, the wit of the author, and the story line(s) make this a good read! BUT, the series is best read starting with book #1.
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Bayou Book Thief — Ellen Byron
This is the first book in a new series by this author. AND since it’s the first book, the first quarter of the book becomes quite laden with explanations of characters, etc. Byron always puts a list of characters in the beginning of each story. Thank goodness! After reading about 30 pages I was ‘lost’. So I went back to this list and studied it a bit. It certainly helped to clarify my confused brain.
The story is set in New Orleans. Ricki (Miracle) has moved there from California. She establishes a store with vintage cookbooks and cookware in a local museum. The back story involves the ‘cozy requisite’ of a problematic marriage, involving an accident that caused the death of her husband.
This is a complex story, but stick with it because you’ll find it well worth reading. The characters are quite diverse and entertaining. A very unpopular tour guide in this mansion is murdered. The plot is well paced. You’ll never figure out the ‘culprit’.
This is one of my favorite authors and she doesn’t disappoint with this new series.
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A Midsummer’s Night Fudge — Nancy Coco
Another tasty entry (the 10th) into Coco’s ‘Candy Coated Mystery’ series, perhaps because of all the delicious looking fudge recipes!! Creativity reigns.
Allie manages a hotel with a fudge shop on Mackinac Island. As the title indicates there is a summer festival on the island, involving a beauty queen contest. A festival coordinator is found in the lake. A losing candidate’s family is under suspicion.
I like this series because it’s light, quick moving, and written with humor – sort of a nifty summer read! It has well-developed varied characters and enjoyable story lines. It’s important to read this series from the beginning to follow the interactions and relationships of the characters.
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Knit or Dye Trying — Allie Pleiter
This is a second book in this new series (Riverbank Knitting Mystery). When I first started reading it I thought the murder concept was too similar to her first book, thus not very creative. But I was wrong. It takes on its own originality, creating a complicated mystery. One that keeps you ‘guessing’.
Libby owns a fiber arts shop, named Y.A.R.N. That name takes on a story of its own. She invites a famous person in this fiber dyeing world to speak at her shop. This person has caused much controversy because of her peta stance. Ahhhh, there are protests from local sheep farmers.
The mystery is plotted well with an even flow throughout the story. Libby is developed with intelligence and savvy. The other well rounded characters are quite enjoyable with interesting dynamics. Oftentimes taking center stage is Libby’s dog, Hank.
This fairly new-to-me author writes an entertaining series which moves along quickly.
Susy S says
MJ, I have never read anything by Allie Pleiter, but since we seem to have quite similar tastes, I am going to have to check her out.
Thanks.
Ellen Byron says
Thank you so much! Yes, it’s a little dense in the beginning because it’s the launch of a new series. But I do hope readers stick with it and enjoy the ride!
Susy S says
I certainly did! Keep on giving us more of your wonderful characters and stories.
Sally Fortney says
Death of a Red-Hot Rancher by Mimi Granger was interesting because it’s set in a romance book store. I’ve seen plain book stores and mystery book stores but this is a first for me.
The Key to Deceit by Ashley Weaver is set in World War II England and has former thieves helping the military catch a spy ring.
Death by Beach Read by Eva Gates has a mystery in Lucie’s new house. We still see the library and Charles the cat. It’s good to see how the characters have evolved since the start of the series.
Linda Mabry says
I just finished reading all of the Mysteries Of Max series by Nic Saint. This is a wonderful series where a cat named Max helps his human Odelia solve mysteries. I have read all 55 books and highly recommend them. Great plots and characters.
Barbara says
I discovered “Bodies in the Library” by Marty Wingate, and was immediately drawn in by both the setting, which is contemporary Bath, UK, and the main character’s profession, that of curator of a small museum, that specializes in first editions of mysteries from the Golden Age. Supporting players in the story are well-written, and character development is consistent. Descriptions of Bath from the main character’s viewpoint, Hayley Burke, are true to form, especially as she describes the lights of Bath at night.
Susy S says
There were four new books that I read this month and really enjoyed. They are all additions to existing series and were as good or better than previous books in the series. They were:
The Diva Says Cheesecake! by Krista Davis
A Midsummer Night’s Fudge by Nancy Coco
Death By Beach Read by Eva Gates
A Fatal Booking by Victoria Gilbert
I have found that these four authors put out consistently good books that are a joy to read.
Susy S says
How I missed adding ‘Bayou Book Thief’ by Ellon Byron to my list is beyond me. It may have been the best book this month, but it was the only one that is a new series so that my have influenced this feeling.
MJ always gives such good reviews, that it would be a waste of everyone’s time for me to try to do one as well.
Jo Anne Yerkes says
Just read Kelly Hashway’s Macciatos and Murder and enjoyed it. Then found out my small town library only had the one book so had to ask librarian to get next three.
Also working on Elizabeth Spann Craig’s Quilting series even though I don’t have the patience or creativity to quilt.
Just got Donna Andrews Murder Most Fowl from the library. Will be good to catch up with Meg Langslow.
Jeanette Carpenter says
Thanks to you I read everyone of Ellen Byron books. And laughed out loud too.
Ellen Byron says
Oh, I’m so glad! If you like laughs, I don’t know if you know that I write the Catering Hall Mysteries as Maria DiRico and it’s very much inspired by my own family – and my days writing sitcoms show up in a lot of the humorous moments.
Regina W says
I read the first book in Abby Collette’s Ice Cream Parlor series A Deadly Inside Scoop and loved it so much!
Janice G says
I read so many good books this month that it’s hard to narrow it down to a few. I read the second book in the Avery Ayers mystery series, Peril at Pennington Manor by Tracy Gardner. The team is at the New York summer home of a European royal family to appraise antiques in preparation for the home to be sold. When the housekeeper is found dead after a fall from the roof, Avery and Det. Smith start investigating. This was as enjoyable a read as the first book.
Pint of No Return and A Sprinkle in Time are the first two books in a series by Dana Metnick. Trinidad is a Cuban American opening an ice cream shop in Upper Sprocket, Oregon. She was deeded the property by her ex-husband who is in jail on fraud charges. He also gave property to his other two ex-wives in the same town where his sister is the chief of police. The characters in this series are interesting (including a great dog) and the mysteries intriguing.
T.C. Lotempio released a new book in the Urban Tails Pet Shop series, Killers of a Feather. The first in the series came out quite a while ago. Shel has inherited her great aunt’s home and well-loved pet store in Connecticutt. Since her tv series was cancelled, she and her co-star Gary work to get the shop reopened. They plan a gala event for the day including a parrot fortune teller. The event is ruined when a dead body is found – a man who allegedly cheated many townspeople of their live savings, including good friends of Shel.
I also enjoyed Murder is No Picnic by Amy Pershing, Fatal Flowers by Jess Dylan, and The Proof Is in the Poison by Diane Kelly.
Jackie Kneice says
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. A very different mystery, and a little difficult to follow at first, but stick with it! Four friends in a a retirement village in England that meet once a week to solve an unsolved mystery, thrown into a real-life situation. I’m reading Book 2 right now!
Coco O says
Maverick, Movies & Murder by Mary Seifert. The main character Katie Wilk is a former cryptanlyst now high school math teacher. She and her dog Maverick find a dead body and the twists and turns associated with that kept me glued to the story and now anxiously waiting for book 2 in the series.
MendoGirl says
I have now read two books in the The Ancestry Detective Mystery Series by S. C. Perkins.
The first, Murder Once Removed, introduces us to our heroine Lucy Lancaster, a professional genealogist who runs a business called Ancestry Investigations.
Lucy is looking into the ancestry of Texas billionaire Gus Halloran. She finds out that his great – great grandfather was murdered in 1849. Lucy is even able to tell him the name of the murderer; but, unbeknownst to Lucy the living descendant of the killer is an U.S. Senator who Gus is all too happy to out as the killer’s ancestor.
Next thing you know someone is trying to kill the Senator and Lucy as well.
How could a murder from 1849 lead to so much trouble now? Read Murder Once Removed and find out.
The characters are well thought out, the settings very descriptive and there are even tips on how to look into your own ancestry.
In the second book we meet Lucy’s grandfather, a WWII spy and find out that what happens in the past doesn’t always remain in the past.
I have really enjoyed these books and look forward to reading more.