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 October? 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 October 2016 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:
Victoria Abbott (Writing duo Mary Jane Maffini & daughter Victoria Maffini): Book Collectors Mystery Series
Ellery Adams: Books by the Bay Mystery Series
Sally Andrew: Tannie Maria Mystery Series (Recipes for Love and Murder, book #1)
Nancy Atherton: Aunt Dimity Mystery Series
Donald Bain & “Jessica Fletcher”: Murder, She Wrote Mystery Series
Jenna Bennett (aka Jennie Bentley & Bente Gallagher): Savannah Martin Mystery Series
Stephanie Blackmoore: Wedding Planner Mystery Series
Stephanie Bond: Body Movers Mystery Series
Julia Buckley: Writer Apprentice Mystery Series
Julia Buckley: Undercover Dish Mystery Series
Ellen Byron: Cajun Country Mystery Series
Laura Childs: Scrapbooking Mystery Series
Sheila Connolly (aka Sarah Atwell): Orchard Mystery Series
E.J. Copperman (aka Jeffrey Cohen): Mysterious Detective Mystery Series
Barbara Early (aka Beverly Allan): Vintage Toy Shop Mystery Series
Alex Erikson: Bookstore Café Mystery Series (Death by Coffee, book #1)
Daryl Wood Gerber (aka Avery Aames): Cookbook Nook Mystery Series
Nancy Haddock: Silver Six Crafting Mystery Series
Charlaine Harris: Aurora Teagarden Mystery Series
Carolyn Hart: Bailey Ruth Ghost Mystery Series
Lee Hollis: Hayley Powell Food & Cocktail Mystery Series
Katherine Bolger Hyde: Crime with the Classics (Arsenic with Austen – book #1)
Sofie Kelly (aka Sofie Ryan): Magical Cats Mystery Series
Annie Knox (aka Wendy Lyn Watson): Pet Boutique Mystery Series
Kylie Logan (aka Miranda Bliss & Casey Daniels): League of Literary Ladies Mystery Series
Jess Lourey: Murder-by-Month Mystery Series
Leslie Meier: Lucy Stone Mystery Series
Diana Orgain: Love or Money Mystery Series
Gigi Pandian: Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery Series (Artifact, book #1)
Alexander McCall Smith: No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Mystery Series
Denise Swanson: Scumble River Mystery Series
Joyce Tremel: Brewing Trouble Mystery Series
Teresa Trent: Pecan Bayou Mystery Series
Diane Vallere: Costume Shop Mystery Series
Lea Wait: Mainely Needlepoint 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.
KG says
In addition to reading seasonal themed books, I now find myself working seasonal jigsaw puzzles! This month I read many Halloween themed books. There were no Tricks, only Treats.
Stirring The Plot by Daryl Wood Gerber
The Legend of Sleepy Harlow by Kylie Logan
Death of A Pumpkin Carver by Lee Hollis
Masking For Trouble by Diane Vallere
It’s Your Party Die If You Want To by Vickie Fee
A Dash of Murder by Teresa Trent
Trick or Deceit by Shelly Freydont (Halloween)
I love the Hayley Powell mystery series. Death of A Pumpkin Carver by Lee Hollis is the 8th book in the series. It is as fresh and likable as the first book in the series. You really don’t have to read them in order (I did) to enjoy each individual book. The plot moves along and it is humorous. Great pumpkin recipes too.
Susy says
KG, I just finished the first book in the series and have a question. Hayley seems to just run out and ‘investigate’ without really thinking about what she is doing. Does she get a little less impetuous in later books? I really liked the writing style and the characters, but I get frustrated with the sleuths who rush in without thinking (reminds me too much of the silly girl in the screamer movies that always goes where ever she is told not to go).
Rita says
I read all 3 of Annie Knox’s Pet Boutique Mystery Series…#1 Paws for Murder, #2 Groomed for Murder and #3 Collared for Murder. I loved all of them. I was guessing all throughout the books and didn’t guess correctly once.
Kate says
Dangling by a Thread, the fourth in Lea Wait’s Mainely Needlepoint Mysteries. Loved tha way she used a sense of place to explore and develop the characters, especially the victim and the killer.
Pat S. says
I just finished reading E.J. Copperman’s first book in his new series A Mysterious Detective Mystery “Written Off”. I thoroughly enjoyed it because it was quite different, very humorous (I found myself laughing out loud quite a few times) and full of comments that any writer , and mystery readers alike, would enjoy on the inside business of writing & publishing. He already has a second in this series coming out next May and I will definitely looking for it!
Kay Carlson says
I read “September Fair”, which is the 5th Murder-by-the-Month by Jess Lourey. Besides taking place in my home state of MN, Jess’s “heroine” Mira is quite quirky which fits me quite well!! The other characters in her books add more quirkiness so this series is totally enjoyable. I usually read very dark books so Jess’s books are very fun for a little break. You won’t be disappointed!
Janice says
I enjoyed Tangled up in a Brew, the second book in the Brewery series by Joyce Tremel – it lived up to the promise shown in the first book. Another good second in a series was Paint the Town Dead by Nancy Haddock. I like the mix of older and younger characters in this series. Paws and Effect, the latest book in a long time favorite series by Sofie Kelly was very good. I also read the first book in a new series, Death of a Toy Soldier by Barbara Early. It introduced an interesting group of characters in a charming small town setting.
MJ says
October Recommendations – 2016
All The Little Liars — Charlaine Harris
Well……………after a 13 year absence, I wondered how I would ever remember the characters. Especially since sometimes I can’t remember characters from one year to the next!
However, no fear! There are only a few carry over characters, Roe Teagarden, her husband Robin, and her step-brother Phillip Others might be mentioned in a sentence or two (one in a couple of paragraphs), but it doesn’t have any bearing on the story. This book can EASILY be read as a ‘stand-alone’.
I just finished it and it went to the top of my list of recommendations. As usual for this author, it is extremely well written, with an intense plot. There are all new characters, some interesting, some not.
Roe’s 15 yr. old half-brother has been staying with her. Along with some other friends he is kidnapped. There are two deaths, but the emphasis of the story is finding the kids. There is a focus on bullying, probably a ‘message’ of the story. I sort of figured out who was the culprit, but the reasons aren’t apparent until the end.
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Engaged in Death – Stephanie Blackmoore
This is a new author with a new series and I think it’s a winner. I was fully engaged throughout the book. Surprisingly I didn’t feel this book was a mystery as much as it is a very character driven story. There is a murder(s) and it is resolved. But the characters and their interactions is what keeps driving this story.
Mallory Shepard is the protagonist. She decides to cancel her wedding three weeks before the event. (It’s the normal cozy requirement – fiance caught cheating!).
Mallory is a lawyer and she’s inherited a run-down mansion. The community is outside Pittsburgh and fracking is an important element to this story. An oil executive who wants her to sell fracking rights to him is found dead on her property.
Mallory’s sister Rachel comes to visit and they move into this dilapidated mansion. Rachel would like them to convert it into a B & B, which seems cost prohibitive.
Blackmoore develops all these characters extremely well and they’re integrated into intriguing subplots. The story is well paced with a very surprising ending.
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Cheddar Off Dead – Julia Buckley
I recommended the first book in this series last month. I found this second book even more compelling. This author as some real talent.
First of all, take note that it is Christmas themed. One wouldn’t know that by the title. Lilah Drake is a caterer. She is present when a man dressed as Santa is shot in a parking lot. However, she doesn’t actually see the event because it happens out of her view as she is getting into her car.
I can’t possibly explain all the twists and turns of this story because there are so many. Some new interesting characters are added, bringing interesting dynamics to the story. This story is pretty much focused on the murder and ‘who did it’. I didn’t figure this out until it the end, but others may be more perceptive than me.
It’s a very good read and one stays glued to the pages!
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Arsenic with Austen – Katherine Bolger Hyde
This is another new author with a new series. Emily Cavanaugh is a college professor with some reservations if she wants to continue with this career, reachimg a burnout point. She inherits a mansion and other property from an aunt in an Oregon coastal village. When she goes to her aunt’s funeral, she sees just how vast this inheritance is.
Emily finds the acerbic housekeeper dead at the bottom of the stairs. Later tests show she was poisoned. Emily is an intelligent protagonist with much depth to her character. Other characters, both good and bad. are also well developed. I can’t say the culprit is a surprise, but it’s an interesting venture to finding the solution.
I found the first 2/3rds of this book a fast read. I was surprised it slowed down the last third. Often times, the reverse is true. The romance angle was somewhat enjoyable, however one has to suspend disbelief (in a major proportion) to actually deem this story line believable. Fiction at its best.
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Seeds of Deception – Sheila Connolly
This author writes three current series. I’ve found a couple of her books in this particular series have been somewhat ho-hum. Not so, with this book. Meg and Seth go on a honeymoon and plan to stop at her parent’s NJ home on their way back. Meg’s parents find the body of their handyman in their backyard. Thus Meg wants to stay there until this is solved.
With a different setting this story has new vitality, and a new cast of characters. It is well plotted and moves along quickly. Meg is front and center throughout the story involving a lot of analysis – her parent’s relationship and her relationship with her parents. There are several twists and turns with a surprise ending.
Linda MH says
Hi MJ,
Thanks for your recommendations. I really enjoyed Engaged in Death, too. The twists, turns, and surprises kept me turning the pages. I loved the relationship Mallory is developing with her young neighbor, Summer. I have Cheddar Off Dead in my TBR pile. I liked the first book so I’m looking forward to reading this next one. Katherine Bolger Hyde is a new-to-me author. Thanks for reviewing this book. I’m looking forward to giving this one a try.
Deb B says
I have become obsessed with the Aunt Dimity series by Nancy Atherton. They are fun, the characters are wonderfully developed and I love that it doesn’t always take a murder to have a mystery. Just starting book #10 out of 21 and have to slow myself down so I don’t finish too quickly. Highly recommended.
Margaret StashEmpress says
This is my absolute favorite “feel good” cozy series of all time! What I particularly love is — no matter what we’re thinking or expecting, it always ends up that there are no murders committed and our faith in human nature is restored.
Linda MH says
October favorites:
Body on the Bayou by Ellen Byron
Book 2 in Ms. Byron’s Cajun Country Mysteries is a very enjoyable read. Ms. Byron has written a book with a strong sense of place. Her descriptive passages pulled me in and made me feel like I was living in Pelican, Louisiana. Maggie, our protagonist, is smart, talented, and very likable. She is surrounded by a group of interesting and quirky characters. In Body on the Bayou, Maggie is diligently trying to juggle her duties as maid of honor for her very unlikable co-worker, Vanessa. When Vanessa is arrested for murder, Maggie feels it is her responsibility to help. The subtle humor had me chuckling while I flew through the pages, and the ending put a big smile on my face. This is a well-written series and is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that a third book is in the works.
Scared Money by Jenna Bennett
In Scared Money, the 13th book in this entertaining series, Savannah has a lot on her plate. She is worried that her husband may be the father of a soon-to-be-born baby whose mother is in prison. If that isn’t enough, her very proper mother is drinking night and day trying to forget her long-time friend betrayed her, and Savannah’s broker has discovered a closing scam that could cost him a great deal of money. Savannah jumps in to help her broker find the thief, hoping to keep her mind off her own problems. As usual, she finds more trouble than she needs. What a fun read! This story is filled with twists and turns, and I definitely didn’t guess the identity of the murderer. I always enjoy my visits with Savannah and Rafe (my favorite book couple!). This is one of my favorite series, and I’m looking forward to reading the next story in this interesting series.
The Hammett Hex by Victoria Abbott
Jordan and her boyfriend Tyler fly to San Francisco hoping to spend some time together without the pressures of work and family. Jordan’s demanding and very unlikable boss wants her to locate and purchase a very rare copy of Dashiell Hammett’s Red Harvest. Tyler, being a big fan of Hammett’s work, is thrilled to be there. He also plans to visit with his estranged grandmother, hoping to mend fences and reconnect. The romantic interlude they were hoping for is soon forgotten when attempts are made on Jordan’s life. When the violence escalates to include Tyler and his grandmother, Jordan and Tyler team up to figure out who’s behind the violence.
The Hammett Hex by Victoria Abbott is such a fun read! I found myself laughing out loud—a lot. Although I usually like my cozy characters to stay in their own towns, moving this story to San Francisco works well. Jordan is a very appealing protagonist. She is smart, quick thinking, and very capable. Growing up with her uncles (who have contacts that rival the CIA—LOL), Jordan has learned certain….um, skills, that serve her well as she investigates and gathers evidence. I think I would like to be friends with Jordan—she seems to enjoy whatever life throws at her. I loved the ending of this book—just perfect. I love my visits with the people who live on the pages of these books. Each book is as good as or better than the previous one. I’m keeping my fingers crossed more adventures are being planned for Jordan and the gang.
Hope everyone has a fun Halloween!
Ellen Byron says
Linda, thank you so much for the kind words!!! I’m so glad you like my series, because I love writing it with all my heart. I actually just returned from the Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge (and of course, a visit to the Quarter as well). Happy to report that I’m doing edits on the third book in the series, A CAJUN CHRISTMAS KILLING, which a unique Louisiana tradition called Bonfires on the Levee. Huge bonfires are built along the levee in a couple of parishes, and then lit on Christmas Eve to light the way for Papa Noel. I’m also outlining book four, MARDI GRAS MURDER. Fingers crosses that I get to write more of the series, because I have lots of ideas. Thanks again!
Linda MH says
Hi Ms. Byron,
I’m thrilled to know more books are in the works! Thanks so much for letting us know–and thank you for writing such an enjoyable series.
Paula Catherine says
I would have to recommend the following:
Denise Swanson: Murder of the Cranky Catnapper
Laura Child: Crepe Factor. If only I could be as talented as Carmela!
Julia Buckley: A Dark and Stormy Murder. This novel introduced me to co- writers which seems to becoming more common.
Leslie Meier: British Manor Murder.
Stephanie Bond: I am following the daily serial ” Coma Girl” and the Body Movers series.
Marianne says
I discovered a new series in the last few days – Tannie Maria by Sally Andrew, set in South Africa. The first book is “Recipes for Love and Murder.” Tannie (“auntie”) Maria is a middle aged widow who writes an advice column for the local paper. Every one of her columns includes a recipe because she feels that good food can only come from love. When she receives a letter from a battered woman who is killed just days later, Tannie Maria and her co-worker Jessie set out to find the killer. Along the way, Tannie Maria makes friends with a hunky detective. It’s fun and sweet with recipes at the end and sprinkled with Afrikaans words. I can’t wait to start the next book.
Margaret StashEmpress says
I managed to score some really great new books this month, as well as catch up on some series I was looking forward to getting into.
Most favorite:
Carolyn Hart — Ghost Times Two (Bailey Ruth series) — I do love this series so much! Bailey Ruth shows the afterlife that we’d all love to live, as well as having a glorious time helping people down here. In this one she is tasked with convincing another ghost to leave the earth & go up the “golden staircase”, however the two of them need to solve a murder first.
Leslie Meier — British Manor Murder (Lucy Stone series) I’ve loved this series for so many years, and this title is so much fun. Lucy and friends are in England for what they’re hoping will be a Downton Abbey-ish vacation — alas the realities of manor house life in the modern day world, coupled with murder, are not quite what they were expecting.
Laura Childs– Crepe Factor (Scrapbooking series) Newest title in this series — you know there’s going to be a wild time — there always is when Carmella and her friend Ava are involved.
Alexander McCall Smith — Precious and Grace (#1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series) — Another slow moving, philosophy filled story —with some mysteries cleared up by the end. (I don’t mean that in a bad way — that’s just the pace of life in Precious Ramotswe’s Botswana — and that’s the way she, and we, like it.)
Donald Bain — Murder She Wrote, Hook, Line, and Murder (Murder She Wrote series) — You would think by now we would know that when Jessica Fletcher goes off for a week of fishing in the secluded wilderness — there WILL be murder & mayhem involved, right???? 😉
Diana Orgain — A First Date With Death (Love or Money series) — First in a new series (yes, I’m still serious about my moratorium on “new series”, but this one was sitting in my TBR pile since before that LOL) Former police officer Georgia Thornton goes on a reality show where she has to winnow through a series of possible suitors to find love — and money — and if she chooses the wrong man, he gets the money and she gets nothing. On the first group “date” a murder occurs and the dead suitor is replaced by — none other than her former fiance, undercover to investigate…. and more death ensues…. I really enjoyed this book but was wondering how it could be the first in a series — either she wins or loses but she’s not coming back to the reality show either way, so how could the series continue? Turns out it does continue — with Georgia and boyfriend on another reality show… where another murder occurs…. (never new these reality shows were so deadly, did we???)
Ann Purser — Suspicion At Seven (Lois Meade series) — I’ve loved this series since the very first. I have to say that I did guess the murderer as soon as the second body was discovered, but only because of a stray comment — that in itself wouldn’t have been incriminating, but after reading mysteries for so many years you get to wonder when a character makes a comment (no matter how innocuous) that you weren’t expecting –so you figure its a clue — and frequently it is…. 😉
Leigh Perry — A Skeleton in the Family, The Skeleton Takes a Bow, The Skeleton Haunts a House (Family Skeleton mystery series) — Another new series, I’d read the second one first (because that one had been in my TBR pile for many months, loved it so much, searched out the first one, ended up buying on Amazon because the local library didn’t have it in their catalog) & then got the 3rd one because I had to find out what happens next. This is a unique series in the world of paranormal cozies in that instead of a ghost or something nobody (else) can see, you have an actual walking talking human skeleton — who has no idea who he used to be or how he came to be a skeleton, nor even how he is able to walk/talk/etc. Being an actual physical skeleton, he is bound by all the rules of the physical world — which means he has to hide from being seen by anyone outside the family, can’t let anyone hear him, etc. (but develops an active social life on Facebook, which does make you think twice about social media 😉 I hope the author will continue this series — its soooooo goood!
Bailey Cates — Spells and Scones (Magical Bakery series) — Latest in this longtime favorite series. I did guess whodunnit, but only due to years of mystery reading, you get a feel for these things…. 😉
Elizabeth Lynn Casey — Taken In, Wedding Duress, Needle and Dread (Southern Sewing Circle series) — Finally got caught up on the 3 most recent titles in this series. In Taken In I guessed the who but not the why. In Wedding Duress I had a clue as to the why but was totally shocked by the who. And in Needle and Dread I had a feeling about the who — but couldn’t possibly have guessed the why. All very good must-reads!
Laura Desilverio — The Readaholics and the Gothic Gala (Readaholics series) Very satisfying read. Many twists & turns & no possible way to figure out any of the secrets ahead of time. Just the way I like it. Gotta love readaholics anyway, no?
Rob says
I agree, Leigh. I loved this series and got all three at my library. I also read Vickie Fee’s It’s your Party, Die if you want to and Town in a Pumpkin Bash for my annual Halloween Fix. Love them all and when I get a spare minute (an oxymoron if ever there was one) I’ll start my Christmas stash.
I want to start with a few new ones that all of you readers recommend and i have a TBR list that with caring for a spoiled (I did that) 90 year old male and training for the next tax season, I don’t have much time (if you can imagine that).
Ellen Byron says
First of all, I’m beyond thrilled to be on this lists. Wow! But I also wanted to recommend two great cozy reads: Michelangelo’s Ghost by Gigi Pandian, and Masking for Trouble by Diane Vallere. I did a mini tour with both authors and bought their books because, well, how could I not? What a relief and treat to genuinely love both books and not want to put them down!
Deb B says
Gigi Pandian’s Alchemist series is also cozy and fun reads. I’d also like to thank you for your books, they are what cozy is all about.
Ellen Byron says
Thank you so much, Deb! Means a lot to me.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I owe an enormous amount to this site. Needless to say, I’m a cozy fan myself, so I came here first as a reader to find new cozies to read. And when I had my idea for a series, the first thing I did was check cozy-mystery.com to make sure no one else was already writing a Cajun Country series. So thank you, Danna, for creating an invaluable, go-to site for both readers AND writers.
DaShannon says
Death by Coffee by Alex Erikson is the 1st A Bookstore Cafe Mystery. I’ve enjoyed it and look forward to reading Death by Pumpkin Spice. I met the author at Cincinnati’s Books by the Banks Convention, an awesome event if you can ever get to it. You get to mingle with the authors and sit in on author panels.
JackieGirl says
Thank YOU for this amazing site! It is so helpful and I marvel at your content and how it is organized: perfection!
Thanks for your work & for deciding to share it with others.
Most appreciated.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
JackieGirl, thank you very much! I always love hearing from people who are enjoying the site.