October is over, so it’s time to discuss our favorite Cozies that we’ve read last month!
If you read a Cozy mystery last 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 Libby Klein’s Poppy McAllister 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 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 2022 that you want the rest of us to know about, and why did you enjoy it?
Victoria Abbott (Writing duo Mary Jane Maffini & daughter Victoria Maffini): Book Collectors Mystery Series
Sally Andrew: Tannie Maria Mystery Series (first entry Recipes for Love and Murder)
Nancy Atherton: Aunt Dimity Mystery Series
Laura Gail Black: Antique Bookshop Mystery Series
Christin Brecher: Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery Series (first entry Murder’s No Votive Confidence)
Catherine Bruns: Maple Syrup Mystery Series
Leslie Budewitz: Spice Shop Mystery Series
Lucy Burdette (aka Roberta Isleib): Key West Food Critic Mystery Series
Sarah Burr: Ducal Detective Mysteries (first entry The Ducal Detective)
Laurie Cass (aka Laura Alden): Bookmobile Cat Mystery Series
Alisa Craig (aka Charlotte MacLeod): Grub-and-Stakers Mystery Series
Maddie Day (aka Edith Maxwell & Tace Baker): Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery Series
Daryl Wood Gerber (aka Avery Aames): French Bistro Mystery Series
Sally Goldenbaum: Seaside Knitters Society Mystery Series
Liz Ireland: Mrs. Claus Mystery Series (first entry Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings)
Libby Klein: Poppy McAllister Mystery Series
Dawn MacKinnon: The Mr. Mustachio Murders (first entry Mr. Mustachio Is Falsely Accused)
G. M. Malliet: Max Tudor Mystery Series
Jenn McKinlay (aka Josie Belle & Lucy Lawrence): Library Lover’s Mystery Series
Korina Moss: Cheese Shop Mystery Series (first entry Cheddar Off Dead)
Jacquie New: The Yellow Cottage Vintage Mystery Series (first entry An Accidental Murder)
Robin Paige (aka Susan Wittig Albert & husband Bill Albert): Victorian Mystery Series
Raquel V. Reyes: Caribbean Kitchen Mystery Series (first entry Mango, Mambo, and Murder)
Alexander McCall Smith: The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
Patricia Wentworth: Miss Maud Silver 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.
Teri says
Early this month, I read the first book in a new series by Dawn MacKinnon: Mr Mustachio is Falsely Accused. The series is set in an artists’ galleria where there are lots of interesting shops and quirky artists. Mr Mustachio is the clever resident cat. Sam is an ex police officer who resigned from the force to write mysteries. He is the writer in residence at the galleria and does more detecting than writing. The book has a lot of humor and is full of twists and turns. I look forward to reading the second book next month.
Marianne says
I spent most of the end of Sept. and well into Oct. reading Robert Galbraith’s 1,000 page installment in the Cormoran Strike series, The Ink Black Heart. I would call it “interesting” due to its format, “confusing” due to its many characters, and “involving” due to its plot which started out fairly simple and because quite complicated. I really liked it, but it certainly wasn’t cozy.
Brenda says
I agree. Not a cozy mystery, but still a great read. I’ve read all of the Strike mysteries.
Shelley Burbank, Writer says
I read Sarah E. Burr’s YOU CAN’T CANDLE THE TRUTH, the first book in her Glenmyre Whim Mystery series. The story dropped me into the charming upstate New England town of Crucible which was established back in witch-hunt days by the Glenmyres and a few other founding families. A spell of safety was cast around the town to protect it, but now someone has been murdered. Candle shop owner, Hazel Wickbury, uses her special gift (called a whim in her family) to solve the crime.
This has all the cozy elements we know and love. Cute shops with clever names, a quirky cast of characters, a few suspects to chose from, and a satisfying ending. I’ll be reading more of this one. I liked it so much, I interviewed the author, Sarah on my blog!
Linda G says
My favorite cozy of October was A Song of Comfortable Chairs, the latest in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. A lovely gentle read that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.
A very close second was Whiskers and Lies by Sophie Kelly, a Magical Cats mystery. Who can resist the charms of Hercules and Owen?
ann caroprese says
Loved the song of comfortable chair’s cleverly written and amusing.love the charactrrs
Annette C. says
I would like to recommend The Grub and Stakers series written under the pseudonym of Alisa Craig by the late great Charlotte MacLeod. Laugh out loud funny, these are the gentlest of cozies with all violence committed off screen. Set in a small town in Ontario the novels are populated by vivid eccentric characters and I like to imagine Charlotte MacLeod living and writing in a town much like LoBelia Falls. I only regret that that there are only five in the series.
Michael says
Yes, I agree. I still have some of Charlotte’s standalones to find and read, but I have read all of her series. Funny and enjoyable, one and all.
Michael says
I have three books to recommend this month. I ran into a dry spell for a while, but now I have a few “likes”
Number one is “Aunt Dimity’s Death” by Nancy Atherton. I really try to steer away from mysteries with ghosts and paranormal and all that stuff, but it was recommended to me by another author, and I found the stories to be rather original, and “heavens above”, no one is murdered! three dimensional characters and twisty plots.
Number two is “An Accidental Murder” By Jacquie New (who told me about Aunt Dimity). This is the Amazon blurb: WHEN A STRANGE CHILD FOLLOWS HER HOME ON THE TRAIN FROM LONDON, ELLA BRIDGES FEELS BOUND TO HELP HER. HOWEVER, SHE SOON DISCOVERS THE CHILD IS NOT WHAT SHE SEEMS.
Number three is a blast from the past: Grey Mask by Patricia Wentworth. Pubished in 1928. Maybe it isn’t exactly a cozy, but it is a very interesting old mystery. I read it once in the past but fortunately I had forgot everything so it is a new read. A man accidentally stumbles on a mysterious criminal ring, and teaming up wih his ex-fiance, they work to save the life of a young heiress. Many twists and turns, but no internet, TV, or computers.
Hope you enjoy these three. They are all the first in a series.
Sally Fortney says
I read A Dish to Die For by Lucy Burdette where we got to meet Nathan’s father. I really enjoyed Killer Words by V.M. Burns because it has the historical mystery Sam is writing and the present day mystery with her quirky family and friends.
Also read Murder’s No Votive Confidence and Murder Makes Scents by Christin Brecher because I met her at Kensington’s Min-Cozy Con. I started the Poison Ivy series by Misty Simon because she told me at the con that she wrote more series than the Tallie Graver one or the new Gabby Allen series about Catalina Island. It’s amazing how many good authors and series are out there!
Jill Sirignano says
I’m in the middle of Peppermint Barked by Leslie Budewitz and loving it also finished A Deadly Eclair by Daryl Wood Gerber which was good love her fairy garden mysteries too Fiona is a hoot lol
Vickie says
I have started Recipes for Love and Murder: A Tannie Maria Mystery by Sally Andrew. I am enjoying it thoroughly and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. The television series is on Acorn TV, starring Maria Doyle Kennedy, quite enjoyed it and hope it has a second series.
Regina Williams says
I would like to recommend Liz Ireland’s Mrs. Claus series the third book in the series Mrs. Claus and the Evil Elves came out this month and it was even better than book 1 & 2. I love this series it is a fun mystery series and a real page turner.
My next recommendation is the Caribbean Kitchen series by Raquel V. Reyes the first book is Mango, Mambo, and Murder and her 2nd book came out this month Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking. I really enjoyed the second book and I love learning about Spanish and Caribbean culture as I read this series.
Stella says
I am working my way through a 12 book series (The Victorian-Edwardian Mysteries) by Robin Paige (Susan Wittig Albert writing with her husband, Bill) set in, obviously, Victorian/Edwardian England. The series features a smart, strong female lead Irish-American author who meets and marries a knight. The Alberts have done their research on the period well, with only a few little stumbles in the first book or two, and now that I’ve made it to #11, I find myself dreading starting that last one! Always a good sign, don’t you think, when one doesn’t want to finish the series! The books focus mainly on the Sheridans (Sir Charles and Lady Sheridan (neé Kathryn Ardleigh), with a sprinkling of famous names of the period (Prince Edward Albert, Lillie Langry, Jack London, the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, et al) to add further interest. I also like the inclusion of characters who aren’t nobly born. The mysteries are interesting, with enough clues to let one figure out “whodunnit” without giving away the game too soon. Enjoyable reading!
Cece says
Just finished A DOOMFUL OF SUGAR by Catherine Bruns. This is the first of her new Maple Syrup Mysteries. It was a delight mystery and really kept you guessing. I highly recommend it
MendoGirl says
I have two books to recommend this month:
The Christie Curse by Victoria Abbott and The Haunted Season by G.M. Malliet.
The Christie Curse ( first in a new series) takes place in Harrison Falls, New York. Here we find Jordon Bingham returning to her hometown and in need of a job. She soon finds the perfect job, a research position which includes room and board. Jordan will spend her days hunting down rare mysteries for an avid book collector – the only problem is her new boss – Vera Van Alst – the most hated person in Harrison Falls (and a possibly bipolar cat – aren’t most cats).
Jordan’s first assignment is to find an Agatha Christie play that may or may not exist, and she finds out that the last person who looked for it wound up dead.
Jordon must find out if the play even exists and who would kill for it.
The characters are quirky, her new residence is a large mansion right out of Scooby-Doo, and she gets help from her uncles who don’t always stay on the right side of the law.
It, a book that will keep you turning the pages and give you some good laughs along the way.
The Haunted Season is the 5th book in the Max Tudor series ( first book is Wicked Autumn).
Max Tudor is a former MI5 agent turned Vicar in the small village of Nether Monkslip. Here we find Max and his friend DCI Cotton trying to find who murdered the “lord of the manor” by stringing wire between two trees and be-heading him while he was out for a horseback ride.
These books are a great read. Filled with quirky villagers and even quirkier suspects.
A great read, lots of twists and turns, and a dry sense of humor to boot.
Janice G says
I enjoyed the new books in two favorite series A Dark and Snowy Night by Sally Goldenbaum and The Crime That Binds by Laurie Cass. I also liked the second book by Korina Moss Gone for Gouda.
I read Seams Like Murder the first book in a new series by Dorothy Howell. I enjoyed the main character Abbey and the rest of the residents of the town, Hideaway Grove. I did however figure out the murderer very early on in the book but enjoyed it enough to give the series another try.
MJ says
As usual, I agree 100% with Janice. After all, great minds think alike!!!! 🙂
I forgot to add Dark and Snowy Night to my list. AS ALWAYS, a GREAT read by this author. I’ve sung the praises of this series from day one. Keep in mind that this is the “16th” book in the series. It was divided due to a change in publishers The first book is Death By Cashmere, released in 2008. Every single book is a worthy read! It’s best if you start with the first book.
I also really enjoyed “Seams Like Murder”. I’m always excited to discover an engaging new series.
I just started reading, “The Crime That Binds”, I expect it will be like all the rest of her books in this series — entertaining and a fun read!
AND, I commented on Korina Moss’s series (see below entry) — but the first book, “Cheddar Off Dead”. I haven’t read the second book yet. Another new author and series I was pleased to discover.
MJ says
October Recommendations — 2022
Bound By Murder — Laura Gail Black
Jenna Quinn owns an Antique Bookstore. Her past includes a stint in a jail for an embezzlement crime and a murder she didn’t commit. When she’s cleared because of lack of evidence, she moves to this community to start another chapter in her life.
In this story her former fiancé (Blake) shows up with his current fiancée (Missy), a very demanding woman.
This is a mystery with numerous twists and turns. The various relationships add an element of perplexity to the story. A murder takes place with several suspect possibilities. You can kind of figure out who the culprit is, but it still is a bit surprising — especially the circumstances.
I REALLY enjoyed this book. The first two books in the series are great reads, too. So, I suggest you read the books in sequence.
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Plot and the Pendulum — Jenn McKinlay
This is the 13th book in the Library Lover’s Mystery series. As par for the course for this author, it is a well written and engaging story. It centers around a small town library with its director, Lindsay Norris, the lead character. It’s a Halloween themed story — perfect for October.
The son of a prominent local woman has donated his mother’s extensive library collection of rare books to the local library. While packing the books, a false wall leading to a hidden room is discovered. Once this is opened, a skeleton from 1989 is discovered.
Lindsay, along with her husband and friends begin a quest to find out how the skeleton got there and how/why she was murdered.
It’s an intriguing mystery with entertaining characters.
AND, to my delight, McKinlay includes an excerpt from her next book, “Fatal Fascinator”, the 7th book in the Hat Shop series. I believe it’s due out in January. The Hat Shop series is my favorite of her three series.
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Murder in a Cape Cottage — Maddie Day
OK………….this is REALLY weird. I started to read this book right after the above book. AND, guess what? It’s ANOTHER book with a skeleton found in a hidden room!! Wow! What are the odds?
This is the 4th book in this series. It is set in Dec. right after xmas. Mac and Tim are getting married on New Year’s Eve. They’ve closed their businesses for the holidays and the wedding. They are renovating a closet area to make a room for a bath. Tim discovers something wrong with the wall measurements. YEP……it was designed to hide a small room. Lo and behold, they discover a skeleton behind the wall!!!
It’s a woman wearing a tattered wedding dress. With only a week to prepare for their wedding, Mac and Tim embark on a mission to find out who the woman was and how she died. They determined she was put there about 1939 or 40.
This story is a bit confusing because it shows the extent people will go to cover up family crime from numerous years ago. My question is “why”?
At any rate, it’s an interesting mystery. But certainly a bizarre follow-up to my previous read!!
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Cheddar Off Dead — Korina Moss
This is the first book in a new series by a new to me author. What a great start to a new series – a VERY enjoyable read.
Willa Bauer moves to this Sonoma Valley community to set up a cheese shop. She is excited to find out a food critic will visit to evaluate her business. However, unbeknownst to her, this reviewer is known for writing scathing reviews. He is found murdered outside her business.
Willa is a strong and savvy character. This author writes with some wit. This book was difficult to put down because it held my interest page after page after page! I’m looking forward to reading the second book, “Gone For Gouda”.