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Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations – April 2013

I’m home from our California trip just in time to ask you all about your favorite Cozy Mystery reads of April 2013. I hate to keep repeating myself, because I know those of you who follow this particular entry know the drill, but for those of you who are new to this very helpful entry: these should be authors (books) about whom (which) you really want other Cozy Mystery readers to know. They should be the authors (books) you enjoyed so much during April that you want to let the rest of us know about them. Please include WHY you enjoyed these authors.

What Cozy Mystery book (or author) have you read during April 2013, and why did you enjoy it (or him/her)?

Here are the current authors who some of you have read this past month, and wanted to tell the rest of us about:

Susan Wittig Albert: China Bayles Mystery Series

Esri Albritten: The Portrait of Doreene Gray

Connie Archer: Soup Lover’s Mystery Series

Lucy Arlington (aka Jennifer Stanley & Sylvia May): Novel Idea Mystery Series 

Nancy Atherton: Aunt Dimity Mystery Series

Donald Bain & “Jessica Fletcher”: Murder, She Wrote Mystery Series

Jessica Beck: Donut Shop Mystery Series

Jessica Beck: Ghost Cat Cozy Mystery Series

C. L. Beville: Bubba and the Dead Woman

Annette Blair: Vintage Magic Mystery Series

Heather Blake (aka Heather Webber): Witchcraft Mystery Series

Simon Brett: Mrs. Pargeter Mystery Series

Emily Brightwell: Mrs. Jeffries Mystery Series

Duffy Brown: Consignment Shop Mystery Series

Bailey Cates (aka Cricket McRae): Magical Bakery Mystery Series

Laura Childs: Cackleberry Club Mystery Series

Peg Cochran (aka Meg London): Gourmet De-Lite Mystery Series

Sheila Connolly (aka Sarah Atwell): County Cork Mystery Series

J. J. Cook (aka Joyce and Jim Lavene): Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery Series

Cleo Coyle (aka Alice Kimberly): Coffee House Mystery Series

Philip R. Craig: Martha’s Vineyard Mystery Series

Jeanne M. Dams: Hilda Johansson Mystery Series

Lila Dare (aka Joanna Campbell Slan): Southern Beauty Shop Mystery Series (book #4)

Anna Dean: A Woman of Consequence

“Jessica Fletcher” & Donald Bain: Murder, She Wrote Mystery Series

Amanda Flower: Applecreek Creek Mystery Series

Joanne Fluke: Hanna Swensen Cookie Jar Mystery Series

Erle Stanley Gardner: Perry Mason Mystery Series

Robert Goldsborough: Archie Meets Nero Wolfe: A Prequel to Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe Mysteries

Sue Grafton: Kinsey and Me

C. S. Harris: What Darkness Brings

Maddy Hunter: Passport to Peril Mystery Series

Dolores Johnson: Mandy Dyer Mystery Series

Sofie Kelly: Magical Cat Mystery Series

Victoria Laurie: Ghost Hunter Mystery Series

Mary Lou Kirwin: Librarian Mystery Series

Liz Lipperman: Clueless Cook Mystery Series

Charlotte MacLeod (aka Alisa Craig): Professor Peter Shandy Mystery Series

Jenn McKinlay (aka Lucy Lawrence & Josie Belle): Cupcake Bakery Mystery Series

Leslie Meier: Lucy Stone Mystery Series

Marcia Muller: Carpenter & Quincannon, Professional Detective Services Mystery Series 

Deborah Sharp: Mace Bauer Mystery Series

Denise Swanson: Devereaux’s Dime Store Mystery Series

Victoria Thompson: Gaslight Mystery Series

Kari Lee Townsend: Fortune Teller Mystery Series

♦To access more Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations, click on this link♦

Comments

  1. I have only read 4 this month. But in 15 days school will be out and I am going to sit in backyard and read. I also have big book buying trip as I am behind on this.
    Here is my list:
    1. Stack and Eggs by Laura Childs. The 4th in the Cackleberry Club series. It is enjoyable and I love Laura Childs.

    2. Every Trick in the Book by Lucy Arlington. It is 2nd is the Novel Ideal series. I love reading about what editors and publishers go through to bring us books.

    3. Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti by Bailey Cates. It is the 2nd in the Magical Bakery series. I love the two guys which Kate has to chose from, that is what makes the story for me.

    4. Bubba and the Dead Woman by C. L. Beville. Not sure what number in the series and not sure if it is a cozy. I had fun reading about Bubba and his family and friends. This was an ebook but cannot wait to find in paperback.

    Danna I am glad you and your husband had a nice safe trip.

  2. My favorite author this month is Robert Goldsborough, who in the 1980s revived the wonderful classic Nero Wolfe, Archie Goodwin, and all the other characters created by Rex Stout. His latest, Archie Meets Nero Wolfe, shows how the irrepressible Archie came to work for Wolfe, who famously leaves his home only under the direst of circumstances. There are many authors who continue the series of a deceased author (Jill Paton Walsh, who has written two Peter Wimsey novels, comes to mind). But how Goldsborough came to write his first Wolfe is a touching story and gave him a motive to make the transition as seamless as possible. His mother loved Rex Stout’s novels and after Stout’s death lamented that she would never be able to read another new one. So Goldsborough decided to write it for her. He finished it in 1978, and it was successful enough with his first reader that he tried to have it published. Rex Stout’s estate finally approved in time for the book to be published in 1986! Six more followed, until he was ready to do a series based on a character he created, but now the Wolfe brownstone and its denizens are back, and he’s working on the next novel. Anybody who has enjoyed Nero Wolfe will love these. It might just get you rereading all the many books by Rex Stout as well!

    • Deb I had all 8 books that Robert wrote about Nero Wolfe. I believe in forward of one the books, it said he had the stout’ s family permission to write them.

  3. What Cozy Mystery book (or author) have you read during April 2013, and why did you enjoy it (or him/her)?

    EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK: A Novel Idea Mystery #2 – Lucy Arlington

    This is a cozy series about books! Main character, Lila Wilkins, goes from internship at a book agency in the first book to being an actual agent in the second. And she is put in charge of the agency’s literary conference and there’s a hottie cop boyfriend to help solve a murder.

  4. For the month of April I have read 4 books which is a lot for me but these where all on my kindle so that is why they went faster. I read Sinister Sprinkles, Evil Eclairs, Tragic Topping,s and have about 40% left of Killer Crullers All by Jessica Beck. I really like the setting and the characters especially Suzanne Hart. Sometimes you feel sorry for her she is just going about her business and finds a body and then gets blamed by the Chief of Police as a suspect but in the end all comes out good. I have 3 more in the series to read so hope to finish them all in May.

  5. Just finished “The Bughouse Affair” by Marcia Muller — pretty good. Also really enjoying the Martha’s Vineyard series by Philip R. Craig. Laughing while enjoying the Charlotte MacLeod Series, “Professor Peter Shandy Mystery.” And, I’m still working on the Perry Mason Mysteries by Erle Stanley Gardner that are so much fun. I agree with Deb and enjoyed the well-written Nero Wolfe continuation by Robert Goldsborough.

    Like many before me, I love these lists because of the recommendations and various comments on series. Thank you Danna and welcome home.

  6. I am just reconnecting with your blog after being without internet for about a year and a half.
    Your vacation sounds wonderful, and I’m glad you had a great time.
    I hope that you can help me solve a problem. I have tried to find out myself, with no luck. A few years ago I found Jill Churchill’s Grace and Favor series, which is wonderful – great fun. In trying to find her more recent books, it seems that she has disappeared from new releases since about 2005. I found one reference to a Grace and Favor series #7, Smoke Gets in your Eyes, but can’t find it on either Amazon or Barnes & Noble’s site, even though the publishing date given was in 2012.
    Is Jill Churchill still writing? and what happened to Smoke Gets in your Eyes?
    Thanks for all the help you give us!

    • Lois G, welcome back! I’m glad you’re reconnected on the internet.

      As for Jill Churchill’s Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, that’s a question a lot of us have. I don’t know whether the publication delay is due to problems with the publisher, or if Churchill simply decided not to put the books out, etc. I have tried to access her website several times, but there seems to be something wrong with that connection.

      I’m sorry I can’t be of more help. Perhaps someone else knows more…

      • I was able to reserve Smoke Gets in Your Eyes at the library. It’s on order so it must be being published soon. I love this series

        • Marlene, please let us know when you are able to pick up Jill Churchill’s Smoke Get in Your Eyes from your library. I wonder if they are working off of an old list of mystery book releases, or if they know something the rest of us don’t.

  7. I have started reading 2 new authors this month. I read the first book by Joanne Fluke. It was the Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery. I really enjoyed it so well that I have ordered other books in the series. It was a fun read and you didn’t have to think too hard about what was going on. I also started reading Maddy Hunter, A Passport to Peril series. I read the first one in the series, Alpine for You. I was laughing out loud at some of the things going on with this one. I enjoyed the writing about her trip and things that happened to her on her Switzerland vacation with a senior group and her grandmother. It was a real hoot!!

  8. I’m in the middle of Denise Swanson’s NICKELED AND DIMED TO DEATH – 2nd in her Devereaux’s Dime Store mysteries. I love her writing and characters!

  9. Duffy Brown’s Killer in Crinoline was my favorite cozy last month. Lots of LOL moments and great southern characters.
    Ann

  10. Nickeled and Dimed to Death by Denise Swanson – the second book in the Devereaux Dime Store Mystery Series. This book is well paced and moves VERY quickly. It is smart, the quirky characters were fun, and the mystery was good. I breezed through it and had it read within 24 hours (I had a difficult time putting it down). Dev, the main character, recently purchased a dime store in her home town, after quitting a high powered position in KC. A childhood friend (now a lawyer) is accused of murdering one of his clients. Friends then proceed to prove his innocence and find the real killer.

    Usually when an author writes another series or two, the series are very different. I was struck by the fact at how similar this series is to Swanson’s Scrumble River series. She even ‘borrows’ two of the character names from Scrumble River and uses them for characters in the Dime Store series. In fact, one name used is for a high school student in both series. The other similarity is the love triangle in both series. I think I like this second series better than the first series.

    —————————————————————–

    Previously we discussed on this blog the Southern Beauty Shop series by Lila Dare (pseudonym). The first three books were written by Laura DiSilverio, the 4th book (Waved Good-Bye) by Joanna Campbell-Slan. The question was, ‘would there be a difference in writing style?’ I really felt there was. DiSilverio’s writing is much lighter, Campbell-Slan’s a bit deeper. That is NOT a negative – just different. It surprised me that Campbell-Slan did such a credible job with this series, especially jumping into it after a few books had already been published. Although she kept the old characters, there was very little emphasis on them. A new beauty shop chain comes to town. Several new characters are introduced and the story revolves around them. There were two particularly ‘funny’ spots in the book for those that follow these two authors. A beauty shop customer was mentioned – her name is Mrs. DiSilverio (probably in deference to the previous author). Also, the lead character (Grace) mentions she’s been trying to find time to continue reading the Kiki Lowenstein books (series authored by Campbell-Slan).

    I was a little leery and prepared NOT to like it because in her other series this author doesn’t resolve all the mystery storylines at the end of the book, sometimes ending the story with cliffhangers. I imagine this is done in order to entice the reader to get the next book. HOWEVER, in Waved Good-Bye, I was pleased that Campbell-Slan (Lila Dare) actually completes all the storylines. I wouldn’t be surprised if there weren’t any more books in this series because all storylines seem to be ‘wrapped up’.

    —————————————————————–

    Every Trick in the Book by Lucy Arlington

    This is a book for those with a wide variety of literary interests. The main character (Lila) was a journalist, but is now a literary agent. Her ’specialty’ is cozy mysteries. It’s a behind the scene view into the publishing world. I enjoyed the part where she told one of her authors to change his story so he didn’t involve ‘children’ in his crime, otherwise cozy fans won’t read it! (I agree – children can be part of a storyline, but certainly not part of the crime.) Lila organizes a book and author festival and, of course, there is a murder – actually a murder of her ‘look alike’. This story has several compelling subplots, all of which keeps the reader glued to the pages. It’s a fast read with entertaining and well defined characters.

    ——————————————————–

    Plain Scandal by Amanda Flower

    This is the second book in her Applecreek mystery series. I raved about the fist book last summer. I equally enjoyed the second book. This series is listed as ‘Christian fiction’, and I don’t understand that classification (there certainly are NO ‘hell or high water’/‘preachy’ moments). The Amish religion is discussed, but there are scandals, tyranny, revenge, and downright bullying. I would have believed that most of it must be untrue because I always perceived the Amish to be very peaceful. However, their practice of ‘shunning’ is also discussed in Laura Bradford’s Amish series. I would assume both authors did their research and accurately depict the practice. If an Amish person leaves the faith after baptism, no one is allowed to talk (or have any contact) with him/her for life – not siblings, not parents, not friends, etc. In this second book one Amish dad reprimands his young son for expressing revengeful thoughts about a murderer. He states, ‘our religion is all about forgiveness’. YET they are never allowed to forgive their own family members/friends for leaving the faith.

    This story focuses on relationships, friendships, and insight (both positive and negative) into the Amish world. The characters are interesting, developed with some complexity. I really hated it when the book ended. I wanted to continue to read about these characters!!! It really stayed with me. The murder mystery is good and almost impossible to figure out until the last chapter. There is another mystery involving some teenage Amish women which causes some angst for the characters, but that is easier for the reader to solve.

    ——————————

    I’ve enjoyed reading Sheila Connolly’s various series, but was hesitant about her new book, ‘Buried in a Bog’, (County Cork Mystery). It sat around awhile before I picked it up. Frankly, I didn’t think the setting or characters would be of interest to me. Was I ever wrong! This is a very character driven story with varied emotions, a bit different than her other series. It is set in a very small community in Ireland, where Connolly’s real ancestors originally lived. The main character travels to Ireland from Boston after promising to do so to her dying grandmother (who raised her). She starts out as a solitary person with no other family. But she is readily accepted and eventually discovers distant relatives in this small community. A body from a long ago murder is found and there is also a recent murder. However, the story focuses mainly on various relationships. Again, the characters really stuck with me when I finished reading it. I look forward to the next book (hopefully there is a next book).

    Having said all that I was pretty happy about the books I had read so far this month. After Easter and various visits from friends and relatives, I finally had more time to read. But then I unwittingly ventured into the land of the ‘supernatural cozy’ (cue EERIE music……)! I have to tell you about my funny forays into the next few books in my TBR pile………………..

    I started reading the second book in a series of an author I normally enjoy. In fact, I’ve read all her books under her real name/various pen names and always look forward to the next one (although some of her series have ended). The first book in this newer series was ok because it wasn’t overdone. I tried hard to continue reading the second book, BUT when I got to page 86 and the story STILL focused on witches I finally gave up. For me it was so-o-o-o unrealistic (continue cuing EERIE music……..). I’m not saying the story was bad/negative, it just wasn’t for me. This series definitely has an audience because this second book has been recommended several times on this blog. Since I like this author, I’m pleased she still writes a normal cozy with her other series under this pen name, in addition to another series with a different pen name, both of which I enjoy.

    Ironically, I then picked up a new series by another author I read. It, too, started out with a paranormal storyline. I had to put it down – I just couldn’t take it! Then I picked up Kari Townsend’s new book, but at least her paranormal activities (tarot card reading) are kept to a minimum. The story was enjoyable w/eccentric characters and a good story line and subplots, so I finished the book – it was a quick read.

    Finally, it was at this point I said, “I have to read an old standby where things are normal and get some sanity back”. So, I picked up Susan Wittig Albert’s, ‘Widow’s Tears’ – one of my favorite authors. Well, GUESS WHAT? She decided to focus on Ruby (with all her psychic abilities) as the central character in this story. I just couldn’t get away from it!!!!! It’s a smartly written ‘mystery’ – however, I wouldn’t classify this as a ‘murder mystery’. The subplots are interesting and well written. As always, Albert has well developed complex characters, which keeps the story moving along. I think Albert fans will like this unusual story, even with its ghosts.

    Much to my chagrin, I think all the publishing gods decided Feb/March/April (not even October/Halloween!) were the months of ‘paranormal cozy’ releases! Evidently it’s become popular for several cozy authors to change direction and write these stories (maybe it is a surging new genre). Obviously more and more people are enjoying this type of ‘read’. OKAY! OKAY! I’ll ‘admit’ to enjoying S. Kelly, Haywood, A. Kimberly books – paranormal activities in their books are often light and humorous (end cue of EERIE music………..)!

    Three more of my favorite authors (Page, Goldenbaum, and MacInerney) have new releases in May. I really, REALLY HOPE these books will be WITHOUT witches, ghosts, goblins, fortune telling, etc.!! But we’ll see…………………………………………..

  11. Grannyfrye: April 29,2013
    I finished a new paperback book called “THAT OLD FLAME OF MINE” by J. J. COOK……….first in a new series……once I started reading her cozy mystery…..well let’s just say I finished it in one day. grin. Now I want another one…..
    The story is in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
    Its a thrilling new mystery series starring a woman fire chief that puts out fires and solves murders…..and she has you guessing who did it as there are some clues and twist, I think. I really LIKED this book…can’t wait until the next. grin.

  12. The Portrait of Doreene Gray by Esri Albritton – I was drawn by this series from the first book, Chihuahua of the Baskervilles – I couldn’t resist a title that made me snort with laughter right in the library! It wasn’t quite as good as the first book, but the crew of “paranormal investigators” – [read, writers who inflate the least paranormal-appearing elements of a story to sell copies of the magazine, Tripping: your guide to Paranormal Destinations] are fun to spend time with. The series, so far, has not involved any gruesome crimes. Team members are Michael Abernathy, a sardonic writer who aspires to be a serious novelist, and is an excellent observer; Angus MacGregor, editor [and a fine paranormal imaginer], who is funny and sympathetic enough to draw people into his confidence. In a way you could almost say he’s a “confidence man”; and Suki Oota, the photographer and commonsensical person in the crew, who often helps Angus and Michael resolve their differences.
    Well worth a read!

    A Woman of Consequence, by Anna Dean, “The Investigations of Miss Dido Kent” series. Set in Jane Austen’s day. The protagonist, a woman who’s “past marriagable age,” is a very close observer who cannot help but turn her mind, conversational talent and empathy to solving crimes. The man she is interested in, a widower, disapproves of her activities because they are “not suitable,” but Dido is so drawn to her metier she decides that Mr Lomax must accept her for herself, because she will not change. Murder is a part of the plot, but is well within “cosy” guidelines.

    Larceny and Lace and Veiled Deception, “Vintage Magic” mysteries, feature Madeira Cutler, a designer and lover of vintage fashion, has a wonderful group of regular characters, and one very charming ghost, Dante, who inhabits the former funeral home Maddie rehabs for her vintage clothing store. Characters include Eve, her best friend, a sensible “back-up” who wears nothing but black, to Maddie’s dismay; Maddie’s smokin’ hot FBI boyfriend, Nick Jaconetti [who’s often away], and local police detective Lytton Werner, unfortunately nicknamed “Wiener” by Maddie in their teenage years. Some of the events are paranormal [Dante the ghost being the primary one and Maddie’s cat Chakra, who is an “alarm system” and otherwise a normal cat], and Maddie’s “aunt” is a Wiccan, but the paranormal events don’t drive the story. The series is funny and poignant by turns, and the characters are nice to spend hours reading about. Also I have to say I love Maddie’s innovative “swear” words – “Scrap!” being an example – all are textile- or fashion-related! I’m grateful to this blog for helping me recall the author’s name after I read the first book!

    Cat Trick by Sofie Kelly – a little slower-moving than most of the mysteries I like, the books in Kelly’s series feature two cats she rescued from a large abandoned Victorian house. The cats have paranormal abilities that help Kathleen, the librarian protagonist, look into crimes, but otherwise act like quite normal cats, whose interactions with Kathleen I find fun [and as a cat expert, quite true to felines] to read. Kathleen is very slowly exploring a relationship with the local detective, Marcus Gordon. Her fellow workers and friends in town are a good cast of characters, and Kathleen’s contacts and friendly way of discussing things help her friend Marcus nail the murderer in each book. Some of the interactions seem to involve overabundant description by the author, but the characters are likeable, and the cats are charming. The writing is improving, so I’m sticking with the series and look forward to more cozy mysteries from Kelly.

    Kingdom of Strangers by Zoe Ferraris – not a cozy. But a wonderful exploration of Saudi Arabia’s culture and its restrictions on women. A main character, Katya Hijazi, is working in the morgue, but wants to become an investigator – a tough prospect in the kingdom, because women are held in low esteem, and not permitted to see male victims, or interview living male people of interest by themselves. She is encouraged by Inspector Ibrahim Zahrani, who hopes Katya will help him find his missing mistress, the only light in his life besides his children. The police team is investigating a murder and the circle widens into a search for a serial killer who leaves arcane religious clues to his crimes. Katya enlists the help of a man who’s sweet on her, who drives her to interviews and accompanies her for “decency’s sake” … the crimes are somewhat barbaric but nothing like some of the barbarism seen in novels set in America featuring serial killers. I was drawn in [as usual] by the chance to explore a different culture and to see how women cope with the restrictions of Saudi “decency” laws.

  13. I have read several books this month:

    Prescription for Murder by Donald Bain and Jessica Fletcher-This was a very interesting book having to do with medical research. It had Seth Hazlitt in it along with Jessica and this book just clicked on all cylinders for me. Very good.

    Aunt Dimity and The Lost Prince by Nancy Atherton- This was such a beautiful story. It was kind of heart wrenching in some spots when they were describing and talking about the character Daisy, but in the end after I finished it, I have to say that this was my favorite Aunt Dimity book. It was so good.

    Going, Going, Ganache by Jenn McKinlay- Another great adventure with the cupcake gals. Lots of twists and turns. I felt like she really has developed the characters in this story. A fun read.

    Killer Librarian by Mary Lou Kirwin- I know this book got some so so reviews, but I just loved it! I loved the location and that it had to do with books. Love the characters and am looking forward to more books in this series.

    I am also reading the Mrs. Jeffries compilation of three books that is just out. I have read all of Emily Brightwells books and I love going back and re-reading these Mrs. Jeffries books. These are just nice stories and I never get tired of them!

  14. This month I read the latest Sebastian St. Cyr mystery by C. S. Harris, What Darkness Brings. These are historical mysteries set in the Regency period. While the mystery was interesting (and involved the Hope Diamond), what I really enjoyed was the character development. I am particularly enjoying watching the relationship between Sebastian and Hero strengthen and deepen. This is a series that really needs to be read in order.

    On a lighter note, I’ve been reading Simon Brett’s Mrs. Pargeter books and this month it was Mrs. Pargeter’s Pound of Flesh. Mrs. Pargeter is the widow of a thief who left her comfortably provided for, both monetarily and with the number of former associates who are happy to assist her, which comes in handy when she comes across dead bodies. In this outing, she decides to cheer up a friend by taking her to a weight loss clinic, where she overhears a young woman saying “they are going to kill me.” Mrs. Pargeter proceeds to get to the bottom of the situation and settles an old score while doing so.

    I also read Beef Stolen-Off, the second book in the Clueless Cook series by Liz Lipperman. The Clueless Cook is Jordan McAllister, who wants to be a sports reporter, but in the meantime writes the food column (despite her lack of domestic skills). Thank goodness for her neighbors, who provide her with recipes for her column as well as support when she investigates murder and cattle rustling. This was a fun, light read and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

    Another period mystery that I enjoyed this month was Silence is Golden by Jeanne Dams, the fourth book in her Hilda Johansson series. Hilda is a Swedish immigrant working as a maid in the Studebaker household in turn-of-the-century South Bend. Be warned that, although there is nothing graphic in the book, the plot does involve sexual abuse of young boys.

  15. For anybody interested in Archie Meets Nero Wolfe by Robert Goldsborough, it’s a Kindle Daily Deal for $1.99 today (4/30/13)!

  16. Archie Meets Nero Wolfe is also $1.99 on Nook. Don’t know for how long. Should I confess I bought both?

  17. Before I list the book I read and enjoyed for the month of April, I want to thank Deb for the info on Archie Meets Nero Wolfe. I loved the Rex Stout series and the Nero Wolfe TV series. I just bought the book for my Nook too.

    Murder on Sisters Row – Victoria Thomspon
    On What Grounds – Cleo Coyle
    That Old Flame of Mine – J J Cook (can’t wait for the next in the series – great read).
    A Broth of Betrayal – Connie Archer
    The Good, The Bad, The Witchy – Heather Blake
    Ghoul Interrupted – Victoria Laurie
    What a Ghoul Wants – Victoria Laurie

  18. Danna, The people who have responded to this month’s recommendation list have really gotten into the spirit of recommending various books they have read with the reasons they are doing the recommending. This is one of my favorite topics for the whole month. When people give the reasons for recommending the books, I want to get the book and read it for myself.

    I am currently reading “Kinsey and Me” by Sue Grafton. I know the book has been out a few months now but I hadn’t read it because I thought the book would be an autobiographical book about Sue Grafton. Not that I am not interested in the lives of the authors of the books I read but I just very seldom read biographies. Boy! Was I surprised when I started reading the book and discovered the book was really about Kinsey’s mysteries that she tried to solve.
    This is a good book, from beginning to end. I did like the autobiography of Sue Grafton at the beginning of the book. Really the whole book is a very good one from beginning to end.

  19. As always I love to recommend Leslie Meier. I got through two of her books last month. What I like about The Lucy Stone Mysteries is that they are “just right.” They are not too long or too short. Leslie always gets right to the story. Many times there are multiple murders and some other back story mysteries mixed in. The setting and characters are very believable and likeable.
    I also started a new series; one of three new series I picked up several months ago. I love Peg Cochran’s “Allergic to Death.” I think I am going to really enjoy this series and hope it continues for a while. So far half way through and I hate to put it down. I am a big fan of the Domestic Diva Mystery series and this new series has the same “flavor” to it. The story is very well paced and a nice mix of characters.

  20. I have just discovered a best-selling & Agatha Award-winning mystery writer whose books are very similar to Agatha Christie’s. Author’s name is G. M. Malliet. The first one I read is “A Fatal Winter”. The murder is set in Scotland, and there are a lot of characters (read suspects). The murder is of the patriarch of the family who is a very rich old man. He has various children who will inherit his fortune upon his death. Another one I highly recommend is “Death of a Cozy Writer”. These will both keep you guessing until the end. Currently, I’m reading, “Death at the Alma Mater” in which a murder takes place at St. Michael’s College, Cambridge. In this one, the college Master holds a fundraising weekend for wealthy alums, and one of them is found strangled on the grounds. A Detective Chief Inspector Arthur St. Just is called in to discover the murderer. He is the detective in her books. The next one I’m looking forward to reading is “Death and the Lit Chick”. I thoroughly recommend this ‘cozy’ author, who was a finalist for the 2009 Anthony & Macavity Awards.

  21. I really like Susan Wittig Albert’s work. She is a good writer as well as a good storyteller, and that means a lot to me. I have read all her China Bayles series and hope she keeps publishing more.

    • Thanks, KayEsse, Susan Wittig Albert has a lot of fans for the exact reasons you described.

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