Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations – August 2012

Comments

1. Deb says

   August 29, 2012 at 6:36 pm

   I actually kept track this month until about a week ago! But I didn’t keep very detailed notes about the why, so I’ll be brief. The first book I read this month was Jack 1939, a standalone by Francine Mathews, who is also Stephanie Barron, listed in the New Mysteries published in July. It definitely wasn’t a cozy, and it was definitely worth reading, especially if you’re old enough to remember JFK. I liked it because it was a very interesting picture of the Kennedy family before the death of his older brother thrust Jack into the political ambitions of his family; a very different picture than we had during Camelot!

   One of my favorites was Bagpipes, brides, and homicides, by Kaitlyn Dunnett, in her series about a former Scottish dancer who is now the proprietor of a Scottish Emporium in a small town in Maine. (She does most of her business over the internet, so it’s not like people are beating a path to Moosetookalook to buy a kilt!) Liss isn’t a bridezilla, but her mom’s efforts to plan the wedding are from the same genre! As always, murder disrupts all the plans.

   Lethal Outlook, by Victoria Laurie, is the 10th Abby Cooper Psychic Eye mystery. It has such a real cliffhanger that I can’t wait for the next one!

   The Wurst is yet to come, by Mary Daheim, is set in a kitschy village during Oktoberfest. I always enjoy the antics of cousins Judith and Renie; this one takes them out of their home element, so it’s a bit different from the earlier ones.

   Murder in Mind by Veronica Heley is the latest in her Ellie Quicke series. Ellie’s daughter Diana always manages to get herself and Ellie in trouble. I always think I’d like it better if Diana would settle down, but she always livens up the mystery.

   I read The Cat, the wife and the weapon by Leann Sweeney in April and managed to forget it totally even though I loved it! (This is one of the dubious blessings of fibromyalgia which makes it possible to reread a mystery and have no idea who the villain is!) It was just as good the second time. I think I like the Cats in Trouble more than her first series about private investigator Abby Rose of Texas, but maybe I’ve just forgotten how much I liked those….

   A Plain death, by Amanda Flower, gets off to a slow start but turns into an excellent mystery about the Amish in Ohio. The sleuth is the new technology director at a local college, so the contrast between her background and the plain people makes the mystery even more interesting. This is the first in a new series and I’m looking forward eagerly to the next book.

   One of my favorite series is set in medieval Ireland with forays into Rome and other parts of Europe. It centers around an Irish nun who is also a dalagh, or legal advocate, and her friend Eadulf, a Saxon monk. Behold a Pale Horse is set in Italy just after the events in Shroud for the Archbishop in Rome, so it’s picking up Fidelma’s story from near the beginning of the series. These are among the best historical mysteries I’ve ever read. The history and setting are essential to the mystery, and are brought to life as well as in the Cadfael mysteries by Ellis Peters.

   I read lots more, but forgot to make a complete list – probably 25-30 mysteries this month. All thanks to what I learn on this blog. Thank you all for the recommendations!

   • linda says

     August 30, 2012 at 5:01 pm

     Deb, I read the book by Kaitlyn Dunnett also the one by Mary Daheim. Both were really good. My maternal grandmother was Scots/Irish; MacDonald, if you would believe that. So I like learning something about my ancestery by reading books like this. Mary Daheim’s book was, well Mary Daheim. I just love her books. Just a good book. I haven’t read the book by Veronica Heley yet. It isn’t in our library yet. I don’t care much for the medieval time in history. I used to read those years ago when I was much younger. I have just changed in my reading styles since then. I think my favorite back then wasn’t a mystery at all. That book was “Mary, Queen of Scots.” I think that book was by Jane Plaidy, something like that. Can’t really remember the author but do remember the book. That had to have been about 50 years ago!!

     • linda says

       September 1, 2012 at 3:10 pm

       That was “Jean Plaidy” who wrote “Mary, Queen of Scots”

2. Carrie says

   August 29, 2012 at 6:42 pm

   Here’s my list. I’m sorry this post is a bit long, but you did ask for our comments on all of the books we’ve read!

   Odds on Miss Seeton by Heron Carvic – this is the fifth book in the Miss Seeton series. I like the Miss Seeton books because the author doesn’t try to make her too clever, she seems to be totally bewildered by her ability to help solve crimes and is, therefore, more endearing than some of the more astute but overly clever crime solvers frequently written about.

   The Body in the Boullion by Katherine Hall Page – this is the third in the Faith Fairchild Series. I like Faith Fairchild because she is normal. She doesn’t have super powers, psychic pets or the answers to everything, but she is an immensely likeable crime solver with a great family and realistic neighbors.

   Murder Shoots the Bull by Anne George – this is the sixth in the Southern Sisters series. Unfortunately it wasn’t until I was about a third of the way through the book that I realised I was reading it out of order. I hate doing that! I meant to read the third book in the series not the sixth! However, my stupidity aside, this is a great book filled with fun personalities that you wish you could meet.

   To the Nines by Janet Evanovich – this is the ninth book in the Stephanie Plum series. This series is addictive! When you find another fan of the series the first and seemingly most important question is which is more your type … Ranger or Joe Morelli?!!!

   A Taste for Death and Devices and Desires by P D James – these are the seventh and eighth books in her Adam Dalgliesh series. This series is beautifully written, well constructed and always inventive and exciting. I can’t recommend this series too highly. If you haven’t read any of them please do … you won’t be disappointed.

   Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B Ross – this is the first in her Miss Julia series. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely read some more of the series.

   Carbs and Cadavers by J B Stanley – this is the first in the Supper Club series. This was another first for me this month. I liked the way each member of the Supper Club was different and so each bought their individual skills to crime solving. You finished the book wishing you could get to know them all better and that is what I hope to do with the next book in the series.

   Getting Old is the Best Revenge by Rita Lakin – this is the second in the Gladdy Gold series. What can I say? I love Gladdy Gold and I still want to be just like her when I retire!

   The Floating Admiral by Members of The Detection Club. This is an interesting premise for a book. The Detection Club was formed in either 1930 or 1932 depending on which source of information you are using. The members included authors such as Agatha Christie, Anthony Berkeley, Dorothy L Sayers, G K Chesterton and Clemance Dane among others. They used to meet every month and admittance to the club was very strictly controlled. This book is a collaborative effort with thirteen different authors each writing one of the chapters. I believe after the first author had written his chapter he forwarded it on to the next author who wrote a chapter and then forwarded it on again until the final author had the unenviable task of trying to tie up all the loose ends and find explanations for all the red herrings liberally supplied by the contributing authors. In part it works very well and is certainly a very interesting experiment. Where the book fails is on character development. I think that the authors probably spent too much time thinking up how to continue the story and drop a few more clues or red herrings into the mystery to bother with rounding out the characters. However, having said that, it is well worth reading, although I’m not sure I would hurry to buy another book written in a similar way. It was the skill of the superb writers that saved the book from being a complete train wreck of an idea.

3. marja says

   August 30, 2012 at 4:30 am

   I’m currently reading a Charles Todd “Inspector Rutledge” mystery, set in post-WWI Britain. “A Matter of Justice” is the eleventh book in this excellent series. Todd is [are? mother and son writing team, actually] excellent at conveying the intertwined and complicated relationships in small towns and villages, and draws very deep character portraits and backgrounds.

   I read “How to Wash a Cat” – funny, particularly the actions of the cats, and a weird, gangly shop-owning neighbor of the protagonist. Lots of San Fran historical background which is interesting and quite creative use of similes and metaphors [sometimes a little TOO “creative”]. By the way, don’t follow her example of how to wash a cat.

   I am reading a mystery [second in a cats series] in which the author extensively describes actions, such as putting on seatbelts and whatnot … and has one character call the protagonist by her name THREE times in one bit of dialogue [I’m not kidding]. Not sure if I’ll finish it – regrettable since I bought the book [many paperbacks don’t appear at my library until donated]. I have a feeling this one may join the other donated books … 😉

4. Judith says

   August 30, 2012 at 9:17 am

   I read Joelle Charbonneau’s 1st book in her new series, Murder for Choir. I’ve enjoyed her other series set in a roller rink, but I liked this one a little better (maybe because I’m a fan of the TV show Glee). The protagonist is an opera singer who takes a job leading a high school show choir and lives with her aunt. In this book, most of the interactions and the mystery involve the adults who are part of this world, but I’m hoping for more interactions with the students in future books. Like the main character in her other series, the main character is making the best of a situation that is not exactly what she wants to be doing and her aunt is a wonderful character. I’m looking forward to other books in the series.

   I have to admit I’ve really enjoyed Meg Cabot’s Heather Wells mysteries, the latest of which I read this month. Heather Wells is a former popular teenage pop singer who’s mother stole all her money so she is now working as a resident assistant at a NY university dorm while she takes classes there. The latest book is not so much a whodunit as the earlier books, in this one they know whodunit they just have to find him, but the cast of characters is still fun to hang out with (even though I am well past the age that Meg Cabot writes for).

   I just finished Death Makes a Cut, the second book in Janice Hamrick’s Jocelyn Shore series. This book takes Jocelyn back home, where she has to deal with the death of a revered colleague and try to preserve his reputation as the police investigate his death. While trying to discover the truth behind the murder, she is also dealing with problems in her relationship with the love interest from the first book as well as a potential new love interest. I enjoyed this book, but it will be interesting to see where she takes the series from here.

5. ginger says

   August 30, 2012 at 1:01 pm

   Okay, here goes. My list is short because I went back to work and have been sick.
   1. The Big Kitty by Claire Donally. The 1st in the series.
   I really liked it because it had a cat in it, but the cat was not the center of story.
   2. Scrapbook of Secrets by Mollie Cox Bryan. I found it interesting and loved the scrapbook ideas. 1st in the series.
   3. Quickstep to Murder by Ella Barrick. 1st in the ballroom dance series. I really enjoyed reading and learning about ballroom dancing. A fun series.
   4. Dead Man Waltzing by Ella Barrick. 2nd in the ballroom dance series. I enjoyed this one too.
   5. Jilted by Murder by Lynette Hall Hampton. This the 1st book of hers that I have read. I enjoyed it. It is about an associate pastor who is a woman. I can’t wait to find some more in the series.
   6. The Bee Balm Murders by Cynthia Riggs. Again it is the 1st book of hers that I read. It is about a 90 year poet and amateur. It is wonderful when you can read books about senior citizens. I can not wait to find more books from this author.
   7. Fire Engine Dead by Sheila Connolly. I always love Sheila Connolly’s series, both of them.
   8. Second Grave on the Right by Dardyna Jones. This is the 2nd in the series. I love the way that Charlie helps the living and dead at the same time. I can not wait to get the 3rd one.
   9. Pies and Prejudice by Ellery Adams. I love anything that Ellery Adams writes. I love books about Amish and Ellery has a hit with this one. Can not wait for 2nd one.
   10. A Fitting End by Melissa Bourbon. This is the 2nd in the Magical Dressmaking series. I enjoyed this one as much as the 1st. It’s set in a small town, which is what I love. I love books set in small towns because I live in a small town and can relate to people in the books.
   11. Missing by Shelley Shepard Gray. It is set in the Amish Country. It is the 1st in the Secrets of Crittenden County. It is about a murder and the detective from the big city who is called in to solve it. Now note the murder is not solved in this book. But tells about lives of people who knew the victim and how their lives were affected by the murder. I have book 2 but have not started it yet. Amish and non Amish are included in the murder victim’s life.
   12. File M for Murder by Miranda James. Just started it and love anything that Miranda James writes.

6. MJ says

   August 30, 2012 at 1:35 pm

   I read a couple of new cozy authors this month in hopes I could recommend their books. I was a bit disappointed, so won’t discuss them here. I saw potential, especially with the characters, so hopefully their second books will be better as their writing strengths grow.

   I’ll go with the tried and true. I really enjoyed ‘A Brew to Kill’ by Cleo Coyle. The detective boyfriend is in DC, so this has more focus on Clare Cosi and her ex-husband Matt (co-owners of the coffee shop). This series always has a good mystery, but this time it was particularly engrossing because there is an element of foreign intrigue, including drug smuggling. Coyle’s characters are always rich and interesting.

   I’ll also recommend, ‘Peril in Paperback’ by Kate Carlisle. After all the discussion on last week’s blog about offsite locations, I have to start out and say this story is located in a country mansion (offsite, of course). The story includes some of the regular characters, however the security detective boyfriend is sent ‘overseas’. I really enjoy this Carlisle series which has several quirky characters. I missed them in this book, but the mystery is well written with several twists. Of course, there is a ‘blizzard’ which keeps the ‘police’ away, so the murder resolution is up to the house occupants. If this sounds familiar to some Christie readers, it’s because it is and is even referenced! It stretches the imagination in various parts, but still is an enjoyable and quick read.

   Many of this blog’s readers have a variety of tastes in mysteries. So it is with that thought, I am ‘suggesting’ a book that definitely is NOT a ‘cozy’ (but, by an author who has written a cozy series). It is the new book by Maggie Sefton, ‘Deadly Politics’. Many times when an author writes multiple series (under same name/ pseudonyms ) one can detect a similarity in writing style. This is not the case with Sefton’s writing in this new book – she has done a 180! This book would fit into the genre of mystery thriller or political thriller.

   Having said all that, Sefton sets this political mystery in DC in the ‘here and now’, with all its angst and biases. She has developed very exciting characters and a compelling story. The female sleuth takes a position for an ‘independent’ senator. The irony is that this sleuth is also an ‘accountant’ (the only ‘common’ carry-over from her previous series). It is realistic and contemporary, and a mystery with many unexpected turns. Although I wouldn’t give any ‘spoiler alerts’, I think the author portrays what crime really is like in DC. We may not like the outcome, but ‘it is what it is’.

   For those of you (like me), who only like our mysteries as cozies because of the humor (especially in characters) with the mystery all tied up with a neat bow at the end, this may not be the book for you. (I know, I know, I’m very narrow minded!) However it is those who have a variety of tastes in mysteries (not me), that may find this book ‘a good ‘read’. I have recommended this book to friends who like thrillers.

   I don’t know if this is a ‘stand-alone’ or the first book in a series. I really think it’s good enough to be on the best seller list. It just isn’t the genre I’m interested in. If others have read this new book, what is your take on it?

7. RMC says

   August 30, 2012 at 2:54 pm

   I spent July 2012 reading only one mystery G K Chesterton’s Complete Father Brown Mysteries. I enjoy historic mysteries and believable characters. I’ve met people like Father Brown who are intelligent, problem solvers who are incredibly humble.

   • Danna - cozy mystery list says

     August 31, 2012 at 7:15 pm

     RMC, I bought the complete works of G. K. Chesterton for my Kindle. Unfortunately, I have three pages full of books on my queue, and I’m just not as fast a reader as I used to be. (I spend way too much time at my computer!)

8. linda says

   August 30, 2012 at 5:13 pm

   I did finish reading “The Cat Who Lived High” by Lilian Jackson Braun and I loved the book. I am going to the library tomorrow to pick up more by this author to help get me through this holiday weekend. I was sort of disappointed with the ending. I hope the next one in this series explains what happened to the people in the old hotel. The mystery just wasn’t solved in my estimation. This book just seemed to end without any explanation. This is sort of like the old Alfred Hitchcock TV series that would just end with the villian getting caught or the murder being solved. But I will read the next book just to see. I already know that I am going to really enjoy this series. But do all of the books in this series end like this, without the mystery being solved or is that picked up by proceeding books?

9. Kathryn says

   August 30, 2012 at 5:44 pm

   I’ve been reading Evan Evans Mysteries by Rhys Bowen. There are 10 books in this series. I’m always a sucker for a new location and in its own way, Wales is exotic. They consider the English as foreigners. This series is centered around the village of Llanfair in North Wales near Mount Snowdon. Constable Evan Evans keeps the peace and cleverly solves the murders in the area. There is a similarity to M.C. Beaton’s Police Sergeant Hamish Macbeth in Lochdubh in NW Scotland but the villagers are different and so are the crimes. Evan wants to get ahead in his career but Hamish goes out of his way to avoid any promotions and to keep his police station/cottage as home.

10. Laurel says

    August 30, 2012 at 7:13 pm

    Okay, I don’t really think she counts as “cozy”, but I just discovered Dorothy Bodoin and I LOVE her books. She writes mysteries with a bit of supernatural in them. The 4 books I have read so far have been VERY clean. Snowhedge is a stand alone (and my personal favorite), as is Secret of the Satyr and The Cameo Clue. Foxglove Corners is a series. They all have collies in them, as she loves dogs and has collies as pets. She told me she never has dogs die in her stories. That’s huge for me! 🙂 Also, the houses the main characters live in play an important part in her stories. They’re usually Victorian or historic houses. They are fantastic books! I emailed her telling her how much I enjoyed Snowhedge and I was so thrilled to receive two emails back from her. Again, while she doesn’t quite fit the definition of a cozy mystery writer, she has quickly become a favorite of mine and I would recommend her to anybody!

11. Margaret says

    August 30, 2012 at 8:37 pm

    I purchased 3 of the Catered series by Isis Crawford/Barbara Block because I was looking for a few extra fall/halloween books. I did start with the first, which is A CATERED MURDER, to get a start with the series and fell for it right away. The sisters, Bernie and Libby both sleuth and make no bones about it. But they are helped out by their Dad a retired Police Chief and several friends. It keeps things fresh and moving along, since everyone is going in different directions and gathering their own clues. Then they all meet and review. This is so different from the series I am currently following so it is a nice change.
    I just finished A CATERED HALLOWEEN (I started early I have several to read) and she even slipped a little ghost story in without over powering the mystery. There is just enough humor and food thrown in too. I was not expecting to like this series as much as I do but I am very happy to have found this. They definitely kept my attention and I found it hard to put them down.

12. linda says

    August 30, 2012 at 10:15 pm

    Danna, Just by looking at the front cover ” The Big Kitty” by Claire Donally looks like a good book. This is a new-to-me author so I hope this is a good one. I need to find more favorites!!

13. Merry says

    August 30, 2012 at 11:53 pm

    This month I finished reading the Sheriff Sharyn Howard series, by Joyce & Jim Lavene. I really enjoy this author, love their characters, humor, and the stories. I have also been reading The Blackbird Sisters series by Nancy Martin. I was very invested in the charaters in these books as well as the Sharyn Howard series.
    Thistle and Twigg by Mary Saums is a unique in that it is told in first person alernately by both the main characters. I found the characers charming and the mystery solid.
    Two new culinary series that came out this month are: Soup Lovers series by Connie Archer (A Spoonfull of Murder) and Gourmet De-Lights by Peg Cochran (Allergic to Death). I like the characters in both of these and thought the story flowed well with a solid mystery.
    Margaret Chittenden writes the Charlie Plato sereis about a country bar on the San Francisco Peninsula, my back yard. Dead Men Don’t Dance is #2 in the series, I like the humor, characters and the story. I also enjoy reading about locations that are near and dear to my heart.
    I have only been reading cozies for about two years and so far limit myself to contemporary stories in the USA. However my husband and I expand our ‘reading’ when we are running around in the car by playing audio books. So this month we ‘read’ Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener by M.C. Beaton. Loved the story and the characters and will be looking for more M.C. Beaton.

14. Jerry says

    August 31, 2012 at 2:13 am

    I just finished Maryjanice Davidson’s Undead and Unreturnable and Bill Crider’s new book Death of a Beauty Shop Queen both very very good.

15. Angela says

    September 1, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    I originally posted this in the wrong post comments by accident so I am re-posting here sorry for the confusion!

    OK here are a few I discovered this past month…

    A Killer Read by Erika Chase- A new series with great potential. Centers around a reading teacher and her book club. Good characters and mystery.

    50% off Murder by Josie Belle- Another solid first in series from Jenn Mckinlay. She’s fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Cute book about a couponing club.

    Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates- This was a cute paranormal first in series about a pastry chef with otherworldly powers (although she doesn’t know it). Was a cute start and I’m looking forward to the next installment. Besides it takes place in Savannah, GA one of my favorite places!

    Corpse in the Crystal Ball by Kari Lee Townsend- This is the 2nd in a series about a fortune telling psychic. Solid mystery with good background ties to one of the main characters.
    and finally…

    I’ve been reading the Ghost Hunters series by Victoria Laurie- the characters are really fun and the mysteries are different because their origins are usually from beyond the grave. This gives a unique twist to the usual murder mystery. The main character is a psychic medium who has a ghost hunting reality show.
    I could go on but I’ll save some for next month 🙂

16. linda says

    September 1, 2012 at 3:33 pm

    This being Labor Day Weekend, I just finished reading a book that really did fit into this time of year. It isn’t a mystery by any means but still is a good book. “Porch Lights” by Dorothea Benton Franks is set during the summer time on Sullivan’s Island in the Low Country of South Carolina. This particular book has a mother/daughter relationship as a theme. As I often have conflicts with my daughter this sort of hit home. The daughter is home on bereavement leave from military duty from Afganistan, dealing with the loss of her firefighter husband who died while on duty. She has a 10 year old son who is having a very hard time adjusting to his father’s death. The daughter decides she could deal with both of these very pressing problems by taking her son from New York City to her mother’s home in South Carolina. The mother has been separated from her husband for several years. Both women are trying to deal with their own problems.
    The book has quite a lot of history and historical facts on Edgar Allen Poe that I thought were interesting. It also had a few tidbits about the battle that was fought on this island at the time of the Revolutionary War. Who knows!! I might be able to use these tidpits on Jeopardy someday.
    The daughter also gives us a glimpse of what life is like for women in that part of the world and also what life of our fighting Americans is about.
    What made this story extra special, especially for this time of year, and for what happened in the Gulf Coast regions just these past few days, was the hurricane that hit the island. The story with the hurricane was an extra added bonus to me. Very good book. I love the books about the South Carolina Low Country that this author writes. If I read in the inside cover leaf of a book that the story is set in any of the coastal states, especially the Carolinas, I will pick that book up. One of my favorites, for sure.

17. Jane says

    September 1, 2012 at 7:46 pm

    I just finished reading the 1st book in a wonderful new series. A Deadly Grind, by Victoria Hamilton. Referred to as a” vintage kitchen series.” It was issued in 5/12. A very enjoyable read with interesting characters, plot & solution. It had my attention from beginning to end. I would give this book 5***** & highly recommend it.

18. Danna - cozy mystery list says

    September 2, 2012 at 11:37 am

    Thank you all for your Recommended Cozy Authors for the month of August 2012. I have tried to annotate each of them on the list, but am hoping that people read the comments, since those are what (I think) influence us to try a new author, or not.

    Thanks, again!

19. Joshua says

    September 3, 2012 at 12:08 am

    Thanks as always for this list. As usual, I’ve discovered a brand new series I’d never heard of, the Miss Seeton Series by Heron Carvic which sounds right up my alley. And perusing the great breakdowns by theme, historical period, etc on the site I discovered the Jane Da Silva series by KK Beck. I’m always finding new things to read on here, even though I previously thought of my taste in cozies as very specific, and I love it.

    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      September 3, 2012 at 3:57 pm

      Joshua, I’m glad you are finding new authors to follow. I hope you like Heron Carvic’s Miss Seeton series… very British and very Cozy.

20. Regina says

    September 3, 2012 at 9:19 am

    When I first read the topic, I felt that I did not have much to offer this month, but then I re-read my list of books and I did read a number of mysteries. I mentioned earlier that I have been reading Lesley Cookman’s series and find her well tuned to the British cozies. I downloaded Elizabeth Peters because I thought I would enjoy re-reading her, only to find that I had missed her Jacqueline Kirby series very amusing.These must her her early books as she is not as formulaic in her Amelia Peabody ones. Bill Crider and sherif Dan Rhodes, he can take the same old story but make it enjoyable. I would not like to miss the sherif’s diet and his wife’s efforts to help him.I tried to read Rita Mae Brown,but I missed her other characters that make her books fun. J.A. Jance did a bang up job in describing the tension between a mother’s job and her teen age daughter. My two favorite authors, Donna Andrews and Mary Daheim , came through with bells on. Although I prefer, Daheim’s newspaper series better, this book did not disappoint Marcia Talley’s newest book whetted my appetite for more of her books. i must re-read. In between these books, I have been reading some biographies and historical fiction.

    • Danna - cozy mystery list says

      September 5, 2012 at 7:10 pm

      Regina, I’m glad you reconsidered! I’ve added all of those authors to the August Recommendation list. Thanks!