October is almost over, so it’s time to discuss our favorite Cozies that we 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 Esme Addison’s Enchanted Bay 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 October 2023 that you want the rest of us to know about, and why did you enjoy it?
Ellery Adams (aka J. B. Stanley, Jennifer Stanley, & 1/2 of Lucy Arlington): Secret, Book & Scone Society Mystery Series
Esme Addison: Enchanted Bay Mystery Series
Susan Wittig Albert: China Bayles Herbal Mystery Series
Donna Andrews: Meg Langslow Mystery Series
Laurien Berenson: Senior Sleuths Mystery Series
Juneau Black: Shady Hollow Mystery Series (first entry Shady Hollow)
Verity Bright: Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Series (first entry A Very English Murder)
Julia Buckley (aka Veronica Bond): Writer’s Apprentice Mystery Series
Leslie Budewitz: Spice Shop Mystery Series
Kate Carlisle: Bibliophile Mystery Series
Laurie Cass (aka Laura Alden): Bookmobile Cat Mystery Series
Lucy Connelly: Scottish Isle Mystery Series (first entry An American In Scotland)
Jana DeLeon: Miss Fortune Mystery Series
Laura Durham: Annabelle Archer Mystery Series
Steve Higgs: Patricia Fisher Mystery Series (first entry The Missing Sapphire of Zangrabar)
M. L. Longworth: Provencal Mystery Series (first entry Death At the Chateau Bremont)
G. M. Malliet: St. Just Mystery Series
Dale Mayer: Lovely Lethal Gardens Mystery Series (first entry Arsenic in the Azaleas)
Andrea Penrose: Wrexford & Sloane Mystery Series
David Rosenfelt: Andy Carpenter Mystery Series
Sofie Ryan (aka Sofie Kelly & Darlene Ryan): Second Chance Cat 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.
Pat Richardson says
I just read the first book in a series by Lucy Connelly called An American in Scotland. Loved it and eagerly awaiting on the next one that comes out in January 9th, 2024 hoping that these are two of many in the series. The heroine is an American doctor that has moved to Scotland.
Kazzy says
Me too.
Shirley p. says
Will give it a go. I love books from other countries. It should be a great read. Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving.
Barbara Koenig says
I just finished Kate Carlyle’s 12 Books of Christmas. The Bibliophile mysteries was my first foray beyond the classic cozies. It got me hooked!
Parker Brown-Nesbit says
I’m really looking forward to this one! I’ve read the rest of the series, and it’s one of my favourites. She also has another series (Fixer Upper) which is just as good.
Janet says
I too got hooked on Kate Carlyle’s Bibliophile Mysteries
sue s says
Murder at the Fair by Verity Bright. This is #6 and I’m really enjoying these. Lady Eleanor Swift has a butler who helps her with the mysteries which is a different take and I like it. It takes place in the 1920’s. I was a little confused about her love life for awhile but that appears to be straightening out now, and definitely is not the main story line. I think I first learned about this series here on Cozy Mysteries!
Bev Leake says
Just finished the newly released Day of The Wed by Laura Durham which continues the story of Annabelle Archer and antics with her friends. The story was delightful , made more so because this next story was greatly anticipated! It did not disappoint, with laugh out loud escapades and tender moments between the couples. Discovering the truth of the apparitions of the Day of the Dead bride (brides?) was a fun read.
Fortney, Sally says
Donna Andrews’ Round Up the Usual Peacocks continues her wonderful series. I love how the author keeps such a long running series fresh.
At the Mechanicsburg Mystery Fete, I met 15 authors. I read Case of the Bleus by Korina Moss, A Santa Stabbing by Geri Krotow, Murder in the Master by Judy L. Murray, Welcome Home to Murder by Rosalie Spielman and Killer Content by Olivia Blacke.
Because of the Word Wench blog, I tried Andrea Penrose’s historical series. The last one I read was Murder at Queen’s Landing. I like learning about the science and society of that time, as well as a good mystery.
Parker Brown-Nesbit says
I’ve been reading The Spice Shop mysteries by Leslie Budewitz (thanks to my husband, who found one of her books on the free shelf in our public library).
The protagonist, Pepper (not her real name) Reece is the owner and proprietor of The Spice Shop, located in Seattle’s Pike Place shopping mecca. She’s over 40, sassy, EXTREMELY good with people. She was raised in a semi-commune, and justice still informs her decision to get involved iin helping to solve murders
I love all of the cast of characters. They’re people I’d want to be friends with.
Very highly recommend!
Leslie Budewitz says
So glad you’re enjoying the trip to Seattle with me — on the page!
zhahn says
I loved book 2 Laurien Berenson’s Peg and Rose Stir Up Trouble.
Also David Rosenfelt’s Flop Dead Gorgeous.
Janet says
For this Month I have Read Sofie Ryan (Second Chance Cat Mystery Series, 7 books so far enjoyable and very hard to put down
Hopefully Cozy book readers will check her out
Kazzy says
I am an eclectic reader and cross a lot of genres. However, I have 2 favorite cozies bar none.
Miss Fortune by Jana DeLeon
Lovely Lethal Gardens by Dale Mayer
In both of these series, I cannot put the books down. I have reread them a couple times. I keep looking for other cozies that catch me the way these 2 do.
I have other favorite authors but I don’t think they are considered cozies. Denise Grover Swank has numerous mysteries. Kelley Armstrong has 2 mystery series I really enjoyed (Nadia Stafford and Rockton).
Jo Anne Yerkes says
Just read Ellery Adams’ Paper Cuts. Love the main characters. It’s the 6th in her Secret, Book & Scone Society series.
JKB-TX says
My husband introduced me to Steve Higgs and his Patricia Fisher mystery series of 9 books that is set on the largest cruise ship in the world. Her escapades with.her new friends on her travels around the world boggle the mind. Fun and enjoyable reading as you try to solve the mysteries along with this English middle age lady coming to grips with a cheating husband and her change of fortune. We’ve read another series from this author and highly recommend
Kathie Deviny says
I’m finishing up the Spice Shop mysteries by Susan Wittig Albert. She is a master at inserting real world issues and herbal lore into the plot. recipes too!
Kathie Deviny
The Grace Church Mysteries
Hanna says
I enjoyed Laurie Cass’ Landing A Paw. Minnie is an assistant library director in a small tourist city of Chilson, Michigan. The story starts when a stray cat follows her to her houseboat and then managed to hide in her new bookmobile. Ed is an important part of her life and the book. His mrrr is a constant comment throughout the book. His unique sense leads her to find a murdered body and he also plays an important part in the conclusion. Interesting character and an easy read.
Linda G says
Thanks to a shout out by Miranda James in Hiss Me Deadly (also a fun read), I read Death at Chateau Bremont and Murder in Rue Dumas by M. L. Longworth, the first two books in the Verlaque and Bonnet mystery series. Well written with excellent character development, these mysteries take you on a virtual vacation to Provence. The Britbox tv series, Murder in Provence, was based on this series.
MendoGirl says
I absolutely love, love, love the M.L. Longworth series! I hope you read them all, you will never be disappointed!
Shirley M Ploude says
What do you think of the Secret Book and Scone Society? Has anyone read this series? I just found it and am thinking about buy the series. I love cozy mysteries. I read Agatha Frost, Jessica Beck, Joanne Fluke, and Denise Swanson.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Shirley, I haven’t read that series specifically, but I have read the same author’s Books by the Bay Mystery Series, and have written about it here. I would imagine a lot of what I wrote about there would probably be accurate for Secret, Book & Scone Society as well.
Regina Williams says
This is always so hard to recommend just one because I want to recommend all the books I read in October but I am going to recommend Death of a Cozy Writer by G.M. Malliett the first book in her St. Just mystery series. This is a new to me author and series and there are 4 books (so far) in this series. The fourth book just came out.
I really enjoyed the multiple POVs so if you are a fan of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club you will definitely love this first book. This is a very British cozy mystery.
MendoGirl says
For October, I would like to recommend one of the most unusual cozies I’ve ever read.
Shady Hollow by Juneau Black ( a pen name for authors Jocelyn Cole and Sharon Nagel ).
Shady Hollow is a place where woodland creatures live together in harmony – until a curmudgeonly toad is found floating in a pond. It’s up to a reporter, a fox, named Vera Vixen, to sniff out the clues and bring a killer to justice.
In case you’re wondering, yes, I did say a toad and a fox. All the characters are animals. There is a bear police officer, who is in over his head with a murder, there is the von Beaverpelt family, the wealthiest family in Shady Hollow ( they own a lumber mill ), there is Lenore, a raven that owns a bookstore and Vera’s best friend, Joe – a moose that owns the local coffee shop and many more.
It did take me a few pages to really get into the headspace that these characters were all animals – but the story was so good that I just found myself enjoying the walk in the woods.
I have to say, I guessed the killer pretty quickly, but I kept going because I wanted to know why.
This was a great read. I look forward to the next one.
Dianne says
I am reading A Dark And Stormy Murder by Julia Buckley. I am enjoying this book so much. It kind of makes me think of Barbara :Michael’s. I love the way the main character idolizes the Author she has been reading since age 13. IT was how I felt about Barbata Michael’s books
Peggy Lowrie says
I have enjoyed the Library Lovers Mystery series this month.
Shirley P. says
Thank you for the reply. I am going to give her series a go. She sounds super and I would love to read her books. Will let you know how it goes
Tiffany Kennedy says
I just started reading cozy mysteries this last year and I have found my friends more than in any other genre. I’ve read a LOT of them. Here is my absolute October favorite and so far my favorite of all times. It was a 10 book box set by Tonya Kappes, “A Camper and Criminals”
If it had a 5 star rating, I’d give it 100 stars.