We’re reaching the end of May, so it’s time to discuss our favorite Cozy Mysteries that we have 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! This month, I’ve read about two excellent Cozy Mystery Series: Rita Lakin‘s Gladdy Gold Mystery Series and Melissa Bourbon‘s Magical Dressmaking Mystery Series.
If you’re interested in reading why I’m recommending these series, you can go to the Most Popular & Recommended Cozy Mystery Series page on my Cozy-Mystery site for my full write-ups on each of these great Cozy series.
So, what have you been reading that you can recommend in May? 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 May 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:
Kristi Abbott (aka Eileen Rendahl & Eileen Carr): Popcorn Shop Mystery Series
Donna Andrews: Meg Langslow Mystery Series
Stephanie Blackmoore: Wedding Planner Mystery Series
Melissa Bourbon (aka Winnie Archer & Misa Ramirez): Magical Dressmaking Mystery Series
Laura Bradford (aka Elizabeth Lynn Casey): Emergency Dessert Squad Mystery Series
Duffy Brown: Consignment Shop Mystery Series
Ellen Byron: Cajun Country Mystery Series
Laura Childs: Cackleberry Club Cafe Mystery Series and Tea Shop Mystery Series
Kate Collins: Flower Shop Mystery Series
Susan Page Davis: Tearoom for Two
Laura DiSilverio (aka Ella Barrick & Lila Dare): Readaholics Book Club Mystery Series
Amanda Flower (aka Isabella Alan): Magical Bookshop Mystery Series
Agatha Frost: Peridale Cafe Mystery Series (first book Pancakes and Corpses)
Nell Hampton (aka Nancy Coco and Nancy J. Parra): A Kensington Palace Chef Mystery Series
Susannah Hardy (aka Sadie Hartwell): Greek to Me Mystery Series
Carolyn Hart: Death on Demand Mystery Series
Victoria Houston: Loon Lake Fishing Mystery Series
Rita Lakin: Gladdy Gold Mystery Series
Amanda Lee (aka Gayle Trent & Gayle Leeson): Embroidery Mystery Series
Karen MacInerney: Margie Peterson Mystery Series and Dewberry Farm Mystery Series
Lia Matera: Willa Jansson Mystery Series (first entry Where Lawyers Fear to Tread) and Laura Di Palma Mystery Series (first entry The Smart Money)
Jenn McKinlay (aka Josie Belle & Lucy Lawrence): Library Lover’s Mystery Series
Julie Mulhern: The Country Club Murders Mystery Series (first book The Deep End)
Sara Rosett: Murder on Location Mystery Series
Denise Swanson: Scumble River 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.
LIterarySnob says
I reading Laura Childs series the Cackleberry Club Cafe. I’m enjoying the mature characters and Childs writing. I have read her other series and enjoyed then too.
Hanna says
I have been thinking of starting with this series, as I’ve enjoyed her Tea Shop and Scrapbook mysteries. In addition to the plots, I liked the description of Charleston and New Orleans.
Rob Jarrad says
Literary Snob: Have you read Child’s other series? Her scrapbooking and Tea Shoppe? Those are good series as well and I’ve enjoyed all Three!
KG says
I enjoyed reading Plantation Shudders by Ellen Byron this month. I am not sure why I just now discovered this book when it was published almost 2 years ago, but I am sure glad I found it.
Maggie Crozat has returned home to her family’s plantation turned bed and breakfast in Louisiana. The Crozats have an inn full of guests for the local festival. When an elderly newlywed couple die within minutes of each other and one was murdered, everyone at the B&B becomes a suspect. It is up to Maggie to solve the mystery before her family loses money from the B&B income, not to mention, their reputation.
I loved the setting (Cajun Country). The characters are well developed, but still have room to grow. I enjoyed the grandmother who was quirky, but not outrageous and I liked the fact that Bo Durant (detective) had a son who may have Aspergers. I even had some characters to hate – Rufus (Sheriff) and his girlfriend!
I will be reading the next book in the series soon and hope that there are many more books to come.
Patricia says
I also enjoyed Plantation Shudders by Ellen Byron. I plan to buy the next book one of these days. I have so many books in my kindle and on my bookshelves.
Marianne says
I gulped up all of the Peridale Cafe mysteries (four so far) by Agatha Frost this month. I don’t know why as they are pretty standard. I guess it was the baking that drew me to them to begin with, and then the plucky, kind heroine. She takes in a homeless girl, falls for a cop, loves her sister and grandma. They are all quick reads and perfect for a rainy day.
Anne says
I read the fifth installment of Julie Mulhern’s series. Watching the Detectives. It takes place in the 70’s and is like a little time travel for the reader. The first is The Deep End. While a great mystery the humor is underplayed and delightful.
c says
I have been enjoying Victoria Houston’s Loon Lake Fishing Mysteries…
Diane says
I just finished reading The Readaholics series by Laura DiSilverio. The Readaholics and the Falcon Fiasco (#1), The Readaholics and the Poirot Puzzle, and The Readaholics and the Gothic Gala. All three were very good. Amy-Faye Johnson lives in Heaven, Colorado , is an event planner, and belongs to a book club that often helps the police with solving mysteries and murders.
Pam says
I have read the first wo in the Readaholics series and enjoyed them. I have the third one, and it is on my TBR list.
Sharon says
I just read 2 cozy mysteries. Duffy Brown Demise in Demin. I like her character Regan Summerside. She is very funny. I can’t wait for her next book. I also read Kate Collins Acts of Violets. This series is now on the Hallmark channel with Brooke Shields. The series is different from the books, some of the characters are different.
Hanna says
I rediscovered Lia Matera and her Willa Jansson and Laura DiPalma books. They are a bit dated, take place during the 80s when the anti government protests and vandalism of the 60s and 70s provide a background. Willa is a law student (Where Lawyers fear to Tread) and later is an associate with law firms when murders seem to follow here, as a suspect and when her life is in danger. (Radical Departure, Hidden Agenda, Prior Conviction). She cast a cynical eye on the old radicals that include her parents and on lawyers and others for whom presenting an agenda, and going to jail is more important than plea bargaining. Last Chants is different, takes place in the 90s during software development period and she explores individuals who live “outside the grid” in the wood, experiencing mysticism and Sahmanism.
MJ says
May recommendations – 2017
Prose and Cons — Amanda Flower
I really enjoy this series even with some of the ‘woo-woo’. I am an Amanda Flower fan and have read most of her books.
Violet Waverly moved from Chicago to this upstate (near Niagara Falls) community where she grew up. She manages a bookstore owned by her grandmother.
A group of local authors meet periodically to critique each other’s works. One woman in the group is always highly critical and not well liked. Well………..she is the murder victim (surprise, surprise). Violet finds herself in a position to help find the murderer because it a good friend is falsely accused.
As always, Flower plots this story evenly and creates a real page turner. There are several twists and the culprit is totally a shocker. The variety of characters with their various idiosyncrasies makes them enjoyable. The budding romance between Violet and the police chief is engaging, creating an entertaining read.
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Murder Wears White – Stephanie Blackmore
Mallory Shephard and her sister plan to open a B&B in a small PA community, about an hour from Pittsburgh. She was practicing lawyer when she inherited this mansion and decided to operate a wedding B&B with her sister. They hope to finish the enormous renovation project in time for their first wedding in a month.
The aunt of the bride-to-be dies at the B&B during a wine tasting party. The many diverse and complicated characters makes this series very intriguing. The dialogue and interactions are very well written. Garrett is a local lawyer and the romantic interest for Mallory. The plot with its many twists is well paced. And, to top it off, the ending is a surprise. I thought the turn-off for me would be the entry of the ‘ghost-busters’! But it’s well done and not any ‘woo-woo’.
Kill Kebab – Susannah Hardy
I jumped into this series with this third book. I thought (??) I read the previous two. But realized I hadn’t when I didn’t recognize a single thing! I continued reading. though, and didn’t put it away until I read the first two books. This series is set in the Thousand Island area of upstate NY. An interesting tidbit from this story was the fact that Thousand Island dressing was first created in this area (hmmm……who knew?). In fact, until I read this book I never heard of the Thousand Islands!
Georgie Nikolopatos is the protagonist. She is renovating her restaurant – the Bonaparte House (owned by her mother-in-law), during the winter season. Her ‘ex’ has moved on to another relationship with a man. Georgie’s divorce lawyer is found murdered. There are several possible suspects, including her dishwasher. This a fast read, moving along very quickly. I never suspected the culprit until the end.
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Kale to the Queen – Nell Hampton
This is the first in a new series. This book has an intriguing setting, engaging characters, and exciting mystery. Carrie Ann Cole is an American hired as the personal chef for a royal family in the Kensington Palace. I’m recommending it in spite of some serious editing flaws. One scene is actually duplicated about 90+ pages apart.
What I really want to mention regarding this series is about the author ‘Nell Hampton’. The biography of this ‘author’ states she lives in Richmond, VA and THIS IS HER FIRST MYSTERY!! HUH? Since I knew this was false, I sent an email to the ‘real’ author – Nancy Parra and asked her why this was done.
She responded that she doesn’t own the copyright and is considered a ‘ghostwriter’. ‘Nell Hampton’ is as fictional as the story, and the publisher can create any biography they want. She said it’s even different than a pseudonym (a name the author still owns). The publisher can change the author whenever they want, which is the reason the name and background is ‘fictional’.
I have a REAL problem with this. I prefer the publisher gives us NO information, than false information. The very least they could do is be honest with the reader and state it’s an ‘imaginary’ author.
After numerous discussions on this blog about author’s names and pseudonyms, we now must add another word to our lexicon in this discussion – GHOSTWRITER – the fictional author!
Ironically, I never would have selected this book if I hadn’t known the ‘real’ author was Nancy Parra. I’ve enjoyed most of her other mysteries. Since I never heard of ‘Nell Hampton’ I wouldn’t have bothered with it…………my list of TBR books is very long!
Mel says
I just read “Pleating for Mercy” last week, and I loved it! I also just finished the first two books in the Popcorn Shop Mysteries by Kristi Abbott (loved those, too) and am now starting on the Emergency Dessert Squad Mysteries by Laura Abbott. (I guess I’m hungry? haha)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mel, do you mean the Emergency Dessert Squad Mysteries by Laura Bradford? I’m putting that down for now unless you meant a different series I’m not aware of.
Mel says
Oh! Yes, I did mean Laura Bradford! (some editor I am…haha!)
Sally says
I read Lord of the Wings by Donna Andrews and Death of a Cranky Catnapper by Denise Swanson. I love that they have quirky characters but keep them real. Also have humor but not silliness. It’s so great that the police and their menfolk support them. It is annoying when the men spend half the book telling the sleuth to stay out of it. Skye is a police consultant, and Meg helps organize things so gets asked to help.
Sally
Jackie says
I’m reading a tearoom for two. By Susan page Davis… tearoom mysteries… it’s light hearted and an easy read.
Two cousins buy a Victorian house together and open a tearoom after both women lose their husbands. The mystery surround a sapphire ring found by the contractors while working on a remodel of the kitchen that had been hidden in the wall many years ago and an acquired very old tea pot from a flea market dealer who goes to extremes to try to get it back. They ladies work together to figure it all out while starting their new business… I loved the characters in this book. I could see them being friends of mine ?
Paula Catherine says
I have several Karen MacInerney books. The three series I started are very differnt but I enjoyed them. My favorite features Maggie Peterson. She is a stay at home home looking to make extra money for her family. She finds a position even though she lacks experience. It is a rather slap stick type of series but it had me laughing at the antics. During her investigation she uncovers disturbing facts but she soldiers on. It may not ppeal to all but I read the first two in the series and really enjoyed them. I also read several of the series based in Maine. It is very different, not slapstick but a cozy.
Killer jam was my last one I read. The setting is Dewberry farm and the goal is for the farm and products produced is to provide a living. Very enjoyable as well. I appreciate the differences in the main characters and look forward to following thenseries.
Janice says
I read a lot of books again this month and the one that I recommend most highly is Walking on My Grave by Carolyn Hart. Annie and Max are helping a friend who fears that she is the target of a murder plot. When she suddenly disappears, they investigate a number of people who stand to inherit millions of dollars each if she is dead. I am so glad that Carolyn Hart did not stop writing this series. The Broward Island setting and all of the regular characters seem like old friends.
Patricia says
MURDER ON LOCATION
Book 1: Death in the English Countryside
Book 2: Death in an English Cottage
Book 3: Death in a Stately Home
Book 4: Death in an Elegant City
Book 5: Menace at the Christmas Market (novella)
Book 6: Death in an English Garden
I got the first book for free over a year ago. After I read the first book I had to buy the rest of the series. I am now hoping there will be more books in this series.
Kate Sharp is a location scout and in the first book she travels from Los Angeles to England to look for her boss who is missing.
Emma says
What bliss to have a new Carolyn Hart to read. I missed this series so much. Then I have Victoria Houston to read. What a month!
Michelle says
I’ll add to the Laura Childs fan club. This month I read Chamomile Mourning – book 6 in the Tea Shop Mysteries. So quaint and charming. I love everything tea so this series is very enjoyable. Good, entertaining writing. This series is what introduced me to the Cozy genre and it is one I keep coming back to.
ROb says
Michelle: Keep reading them, you’ll be glad that you did! I love them all and haven’t missed one! I like Earl Grey! But I’m a dog lover so there you go.
But the other winning and very entertaining series by Childs are her Cackleberry Club and Scrapbooking series. I think you’ll enjoy them as well. Plz let me know what you thought.
sandir says
I found two new series I like this month. I read The Quick and the Thread (Amanda Lee, embroidery mysteries) which inspired me to get back to work on some of my embroidery projects. I also liked A Likely Story (Library Lovers mystery by Jenn McKinlay). I love the idea of librarians delivering books to island residents via water taxi!
I also read books in my old favorite series I’m working through: Laura Child’s Tea Shop mysteries, Laura Levine’s Jaine Austen series, and Krista Davis’ Domestic Diva series.
Habsies says
I reread Victoria Abbott’s Book Collector Series! It is so much fun! The characters are quirky, to say the least! Anyone know if there are going to be more?