We’re just about at the end of November, 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 Karen Rose Smith’s Daisy’s Tea Garden 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 November? 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 November 2020 that you want the rest of us to know about, and why did you enjoy it?
Donna Andrews: Meg Langslow Mystery Series
Leslie Budewitz: Spice Shop Mystery Series
Lynn Cahoon: Tourist Trap Mystery Series
Eve Calder: Cookie House Mystery Series (first entry And Then There Were Crumbs)
Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke: Under Suspicion Mystery Series
Peg Cochran (aka Meg London): Cranberry Cove Mystery Series
Nancy Coco (aka Nancy J. Parra and Nell Hampton): Candy-Coated Mystery Series
Vicki Delany (aka Eva Gates): Year-Round Christmas Mystery Series
Maria DiRico (aka Ellen Byron): Catering Hall Mystery Series
Janet Finsilver: Kelly Jackson Mystery Series
Amanda Flower (aka Isabella Alan): Magical Garden Mystery Series
Danielle Garrett: Beechwood Harbor Magic Mystery Series (first entry Murder’s a Witch)
J M Griffin: Jules & Bun Mystery Series (first entry Left Fur Dead)
Carolyn Haines: Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery Series
Erin Huss: Cambria Clyne Mystery Series (first entry French Vanilla & Felonies)
Carlene O’Connor: Irish Village Mystery Series
Diana Orgain: Roundup Crew Mystery Series
Anne Perry: Christmas Mystery Series
Leigh Perry (aka Toni L.P. Kelner): Family Skeleton Mystery Series
Sara Sheridan: Mirabelle Bevan Mystery Series (first entry Brighton Belle)
Misty Simon: Tallie Graver Mystery Series (first entry Cremains of the Day)
Karen Rose Smith: Diasy’s Tea Garden Mystery Series
Lynne Truss: Constable Twitten Mystery Series (first entry A Shot in the Dark)
Eileen Watkins: Cat Groomer Mystery Series (first entry The Persian Always Meows Twice)
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.
Pat Richardson says
Just read a book one in a new series by Maria DiRico and highly recommend it. She also writes the Cajun Country Mysteries as Ellen Byron and they are super good also.
Cheryl M. Palmour says
I just finished Mums and Mayhem by Amanda Flower. This is the third in the magical garden series. If you like Scotland, you will enjoy this mystery. I also read Mary Higgins Clark’s last book A Piece of My Heart. Many twists and turns in this one. I will miss reading her books.
Cheryl M. Palmour says
I also read Carolyn Haines’ latest Sarah Booth Delaney mystery, Garland of Bones. Lots of mayhem and interesting notes of places to see. I really enjoy Carolyn’s different books. If you haven’t read any in this series, make sure you start with the first one because that’s where it all begins.
Sally Fortney says
I read Carpet Diem by Misty Simon. Nice thing about this series is that it is set right across the river from me. The heroine has a cleaning business and also helps her family with their funeral home. As is usual in a cozy, there are friends, family, and humor before the mystery is solved. Stay safe and well.
MJ says
November Recommendations – 2020
Here are some delightful reads for December……….
Murder at an Irish Christmas – Carlene O’Connor
This series is spectacularly engaging because of the characters. The mysteries are always good, but the characters are so-o-o endearing that you find yourself smiling throughout the story. They really make the story. O’Connor incorporates much wit with clever and smart dialogue.
The O’Sullivans are visiting a community to meet the relatives of James’s finance (Elise). A holiday concert is planned by a famous conductor/composer in his home town. He is found dead in the facility where the event is to take place.
It’s an intricate plot with numerous twists and revelations. AND, the ambiance of the holiday season abounds!
I really enjoy the well written and amusing interactions between Siobhan and her fiancé Dara (both are ‘gardas’).
To follow the characters and their storylines, it’s important to start with book one in this series.
I think you’ll find this book an entertaining read!
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Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas — Nancy Coco
This is the Christmas holiday on Mackinac Island. The descriptions make it perfect for that festive season ‘feeling’ (snowstorms, tree lighting, etc.). Included are several fudge recipes — ideal for holiday goodies.
Allie McMurphy is the proprietor and fudge maker extraordinaire of the McMurphy hotel. The hotel is being renovated due to a fire. Allie is a smart, strong, and empathetic character. A female newcomer to the island is found dead by Allie and her dog Mal. Frances, a good friend and hotel employee is a suspect (because this newcomer uttered her name before she died).
Buried secrets need to be unraveled in this story, thus creating some mayhem in this community. It’s well plotted and moves along quickly.
A conflict arises in the romance between Allie and Rex when his ex-wife moves in and states she intends a reconciliation (a storyline to be continued).
This book is an enjoyable ‘comfy’ holiday read.
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Dying in a Winter Wonderland — Vicki Delany
The first thing I have to say about this author is she is consistent. This is the fifth book in the series. In each and every book she repeats one paragraph almost verbatim. It’s about how she met her best friend in kindergarten.
This series is set in a year round Christmas community of Rudolph in upstate New York. Merry Wilkinson is the protagonist and owner of the shop, “Mrs. Clauses Treasures”. Her father is Noel, her brother is Chris, and there are sisters Eve and Carole…………you get the idea!
Merry is planning the wedding designs for an acquaintance (Luanne). The Wilkinson’s are hosting a Christmas party when Luanne crashes the party, drunk. Her fiancé (Jeff) shows up and starts a fight with Chris. Chris finds Jeff dead on the grounds of the Yuletide Inn. Because he dated Luanne in high school, he becomes a suspect.
There’s a lot of background to unpack, which adds to the dilemma to find a solution. It’s not easy to figure it out, but definitely a page turner.
All the illustrative trappings of the holiday season are visualized in this book. Again, a holiday mood setting story!!
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Best wishes to all of you for an enjoyable holiday season, especially in these challenging times. MJ
Julie S. says
This time of year I am really enjoying Anne Perry’s Christmas mysteries. My birthday is in mid November, so that’s when I start reading Christmas books. ☺️🎄
Shari W says
I really enjoyed the Cambria Clyne Mysteries by Erin Huss! I read all four of them in just a few days and can’t wait for the next one! Cambria is a fun, comical main character and the supporting characters made me laugh-out-loud!
Jane Leslie says
I simply love Danielle Garret’s Beechwood Harbor Ghost Mysteries. They are hilarious and Amanda Ronconi is one of the best narrators around. It blows my mind that they are free on Kindle Unlimited because Ms.Garret is such a talented writer that she deserves to receive as much money as other good writers do! I would highly recommend them. There is romance but nothing more explicit than an occasional kiss but the love is definitely there. I feel very lucky that she has been a prolific writer because I’ve been listening to one after another for weeks now!
Rob J says
Just finished A Skeleton Haunts a House by Leigh Perry and
Leslie Budewicz’s Guilty As Cinnamon and Killing Thyme.
Starting Knit of the Living Dead by Peggy Ehrhart. Will let you know.
Leslie’s got a fairly new book out in her Spice Shop Mysteries called
A Solace of Bay Leaves that I’ve ordered from the library. WIll keep you advised but based on her other offerings in that series, I don’t have any doubt that I’ll enjoy it.
Hanna says
I read Eve Calder’s second Cookie House book: Sugar and Vice. As Kate McGuire’s friend Maxi the florist is preparing the yard for planting, they find a skeleton. OK, Oliver, the dog does. Who was that person? Could it have been the famous Pirate who landed on the shores of Coral Cay? Thus starts a new investigation by the residents of the town with a surprise about a major character.
Also read Donna Andrews Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos. Meg’s home town of Yorktown is re-enacting the battle of Yorktown that includes American, British and French troops. Also a cannon that fires every hour. There is also an art fair where Meg and other friends show their art. While Meg was embarrassed about the pink flamings – were commissioned by an aunt – many visitors requested theirs, too. A man known to cheat other businesses is found murdered in Meg’s booth and she starts investigating. At least in this book her demanding family members stay away. In addition to the mystery, Andrews provide interesting descriptions of re-enacting famous battles.
Also read Sophie Hannah’s Hercule Poirot mystery: Closed Casket. (Hannah has received permission from Agatha Christie’s estate to publish Poirot mysteries). Closed Casket provides an intriguing story. Both Poirot and Scotland Yard inspector Edward Catchpool are invited to the home of Lady Playford and Poirot suspect that a crime may take place. There is also a pathologist and two lawyers all are associated with death. Lady Playford announced that she changed her will, leaving everything to her ill secretary whose time on earth is very short. Yes, she was expecting that this would trigger an action but the murder victim is someone else. Poirot manages to recreate the scene and to solve the murder.
Karen N says
Yappy Hour by Diana Orgain. If you love dogs and really quirky characters, this one’s for you. There were some sections where I really did laugh out loud. This is the first in a series and I am looking forward to more.
Jennifer M says
Lark! The Herald Angels Sing by Donna Andrews and Yule Log Murder by Leslie Meier, Barbara Ross and Lee Hollis
Darla Witmer says
Just read Murder at an Irish Christmas by Charlene O’Connor ! Have read all her Irish mysteries and this installment @Christmastime in Ireland is just the thing to get me in the holiday spirit. Have yourself a cuppa and some brown bread to get yourself in the mood!
Becky says
Janet Finsilver’s California B&B series is an enjoyable read (kindle only).
I also started Jana Deleon’s “A Miss Fortune” series. Love the characters, some of them remind me of my family. So lots of fun and laughs.
MJ says
I also enjoy J. Finsilver’s B&B series. Although, I read the series in book form. It is available in both formats.
I just wanted to clarify this in case anyone thought it was only available on kindle.
Rhonda Holman says
Tourist Trap mysteries was an excellent read for November.
Ian Jopson says
I’m currently reading a cozy by Lynne Truss, of ‘Eats, shoots and leaves’, which I didn’t realise is the third of a series. Titled ‘Murder by Milk Bottle’ it is set in Brighton in 1957 it stars Constable Twitten as a keen young officer (already involved in a couple of nasty murders, see above) his sergeant and incompetent superior officer as they investigate a series of murders where the victims are bludgeoned to death with milk bottles. As an off shoot, and I really must read the others to find out more, the police station charlady is Brighton’s master criminal.
Janice G says
My recommendations for this month are two books by the same author but written under two different names. Berried Motives is the last in the Cranberry Cove series by Peg Cochran. A local television reporter is found dead after shooting a segment about Monica and her brother’s cranberry farm and bakery. The victim is engaged to a businessman who is running for the Senate. Monica begins looking into the case to keep the farm out of the news and away from police scrutiny. The information about cranberries seems to be especially timely given the season.
The second book is Murder in the Margins by Margaret Loudon who is also Peg Cochran. The main character is Penelope Parish who surprised herself by writing a best selling Gothic mystery. Coming up with a second book is proving to be very difficult so she impulsively answers an ad for a writer in residence at a book store in a small English village. Penelope is settling in and making friends in the town. At the annual village fest, a woman who makes it her business to know everyone’s secrets is murdered and it turns out that almost everyone in town has a secret. A handsome detective is assigned to the case who looks to be a great romantic interest in future books. I have read a number of series by Peg Cochran and have never been disappointed.
Elizabeth says
Started two cozy mystery series from authors surprisingly not listed on cozy-mystery.com site. Worth checking out.
Cat Groomer Mystery series by Eileen Watkins
Jules & Bun Mystery (rabbit) series by J.M Griffin
Carol Chapman says
Brighton Belle by Sara Sheridan is the first of three (so far) books featuring Mirabelle Bevan, formerly a clerk for the British Intelligence during World War II, and her partner, Vesta who works in an insurance office. Because of Mirabelle’s training, the pair solve a series of crimes set in 1952 in England. I was intrigued by Mirabelle’s knowledge and Vesta’s willingness to become involved. It’s a great read.