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Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations – March 2012

As the month of March comes to a close, it seems like a good time to find out which authors you all have been enjoying this month. Since this is going to be the Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations for this month, please only tell us about the mystery authors who you have read this month, who you have ENJOYED. (Please don’t tell us about the authors you think we should stay away from!)

I always appreciate hearing about authors you all are enjoying, and know that it makes me more interested in trying new-to-me authors. I hope that being able to “hear” about Cozy Mystery authors from other Cozy Mystery readers will help some of us discover new authors to try.

What Cozy Mystery book (or author) have you read during March 2012, and why did you enjoy it (or him/her)?

(I’m still taking Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations for March 2012, but thought I would start making up the list of authors who you all have read and enjoyed during the month. I’ll be sure to add any more authors who are recommended. Please don’t forget to read the comments, though!)

March 2012 Author and Series Recommendations:

Avery Aames (aka Daryl Wood Gerber): Cheese Shop Mystery Series

Susan Wittig Albert: Darling Dahlias Mystery Series AND China Bayles (Herbal) Mystery Series

Conrad Allen (aka Edward Marston & Keith Miles): Porter Dillman Genevieve Masefield Mystery Series

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

L. L. Bartlett (aka Lorna Barrett & Lorraine Bartlett): Jeff Resnick Mystery Series

M. C. Beaton (aka Marion Chesney): Hamish Macbeth Mystery Series

Jessica Beck: Donut Shop Mystery Series

Sally Berneathy: Death by Chocolate

Melissa Bourbon (aka Misa Ramirez): Magical Dressmaking Mystery Series

Rhys Bowen: Evan Evans Mystery Series AND Molly Murphy Mystery Series AND Royal Spyness Mystery Series

Simon Brett: Fethering Mystery Series

Emily Brightwell: Mrs. Jeffries Mystery Series

Jan Burke: Irene Kelly Mystery Series

Anne Canadeo: Black Sheep Knitting Mystery Series

JoAnna Carl (aka Eve K. Sandstrom): Chocoholic Mystery Series

Kate Carlisle: Bibliophile Mystery Series

Elizabeth Lynn Casey (aka Laura Bradford): Southern Sewing Circle Mystery Series

C. S. Challinor: Rex Graves Mystery Series

Ann Charles: Deadwood Mystery Series

Laura Childs: Scrapbooking Mystery Series AND Tea Shop Mystery Series

Kate Collins: Flower Shop Mystery Series

Susan Conant: Dog Lover’s Mystery Series

E. J. Copperman (aka Jeffrey Cohen): Haunted Guesthouse Mystery Series

Alisa Craig (aka Charlotte MacLeod): Grub-and-Stakers Mystery Series AND Inspector Madoc Rhys Mystery Series

Iris Crawford (aka Barbara Block): Mystery with Recipes Mystery Series

Jeanne M. Dams: Dorothy Martin Mystery Series

Shirley Damsgaard: Ophelia & Abby Mystery Series

Casey Daniels (aka Miranda Bliss & Kylie Logan): Pepper Martin Mystery Series

Lila Dare (aka Ella Barrick & Laura DiSilverio): Southern Beauty Shop Mystery series

Jo Dereske: Miss Zukas Mystery Series

Deborah Donnelly: Carnegie Kincaid (Wedding Planner) Mystery Series

Carola Dunn: Daisy Dalrymple Mystery Series

Janet Evanovich: Stephanie Plum Mystery Series

Monica Ferris: Needlecraft Mystery Series

Christy Fifield (aka Chirsty Evans): Haunted Souvenir Shop Mystery Series

Amanda Flower: India Hayes Mystery Series

Joanne Fluke: Cookie Jar Mystery Series

Leslie Ford: Grace Latham & Colonel Primrose Mystery Series

Elizabeth George: Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley Mystery Series

Sally Goldenbaum: Seaside Knitters Mystery Series

Margaret Grace (aka Camille Minichino & Ada Madison): Miniature Mystery Series

Sue Grafton: Kinsey Millhone Mystery Series

Kerry Greenwood: Corinna Chapman Mystery Series

Jane Haddam: Gregor Demarkian Mystery Series

Kathryn Miller Haines: Rosie Winter Mystery Series

Rebecca M. Hale: Cats and Curios Mystery Series

Lee Harris: Christine Bennett Mystery Series

Joan Hess (aka Joan Hadley): Claire Malloy Mystery Series

Susan Hill: Simon Serrailler Mystery Series

Lee Hollis: Hayley Powell Food and Cocktail Mystery Series

Maddy Hunter: Passport to Peril Mystery Series

Julie Hyzy: White House Chef Mystery Series

Sue Ann Jaffarian: Ghost of Granny Apples Mystery Series

Sofie Kelly: Magical Cat Mystery Series

Laurie R. King: Mary Russell Mystery Series

Joyce and Jim Lavene: Missing Pieces Mystery Series

Lisa Lutz: Izzy Spellman Mystery Series

Lorena McCourtney: Ivy Malone Mystery Series

G. A. McKevett: Savannah Reid Mystery Series

Jenn McKinlay (aka Lucy Lawrence & Josie Belle): Library Lovers Mystery Series

Robin Paige (aka Susan Wittig Albert & Bill Albert): Kate Ardleigh Sheridan & Sir Charles Sheridan Victorian Mystery Series

Holly Patrone: Death is a Relative Thing

James Patterson & David Ellis: Guilty Wives

Louise Penny: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache

Ann B. Ross: Miss Julia Mystery Series

Annelise Ryan (aka Beth Amos): Mattie Winston Mystery Series

Maggie Sefton: Knitting Mystery Series

Julia Spencer-Fleming: Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mystery Series

Rochelle Staab: Mind for Murder Mystery Series

Dana Stabenow: Kate Shugak Mystery Series

J. B. Stanley (aka Jennifer Stanley, Ellery Adams, & 1/2 of Lucy Arlington): Supper Club Mystery Series

Fran Stewart: Biscuit McKee & Marmalade Mystery Series

Denise Swanson: Devereaux’s Dime Store Msytery Series

Charles Todd: Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery Series

Maggie Toussaint: Death, Island Style

Kari Lee Townsend: Fortune Teller Mystery Series

Elaine Viets: Dead-End Mystery Series

Livia J. Washburn: Fresh Baked Mystery Series

Heather Webber (aka Heather Blake): Lucy Valentine Mystery Series

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

Comments

  1. I am on book number two from Susan Hill’s “Simon Serrailler” mysteries. So far I’ve been loving them and have the third one on the hold list at our local library.

    Thanks for all of your good recommendations . . . often I see a book here first and then read it . . . and at times I see one from another source and check your thoughts!

    • Molly, these monthly book recommendations weren’t my idea, but I think they’ve been a really good addition to the site. This way we can get lots of different people’s opinions.

  2. I have been continuing the “southern sewing circle” series with “Pinned for Murder” by Elizabeth Lynn Casey. These books are quick reads. I alternate between these and the “Rosie Winter” mystery series, which take place in NYC during WWII. The plots require more concentration. The last book in the series is “When Winter Returns”, which I am reading now. There seem to be quite a few new series coming out now. Has anyone read “Death of a Kitchen Diva” by Lee Hollis, yet?

    • I have Lee Hollis (a brother and sister writing duo) on my list of authors to post on the site. Looks like I won’t be posting Hollis soon enough.

  3. I just finished book one in of the newest series I have added to my collection: Avery Aames’ Cheese Shop Mystery. THE LONG QUICHE GOODBYE. It was very enjoyable and I am looking forward to getting into the next two. It takes place in Ohio (Providence) in a quaint little town filled with fun little shops and businesses. The town and characters are well described. Charolette, the main character, is the shop owner (along with other family) and the sleuth. The characters are diverse, realistic and likeable. There were enough “red herrings” to keep you guessing and the “Killer” was a suprise but not out of “left field”. There is quite a bit of interesting information on cheese and wine as well.
    I am also reading Sofie Kelly’s Magical Cat Series, for my book club. I am starting with book one CURIOSITY THRILLED THE CAT.

    • Oh, I have to mention this book I just found: DON’T DIE UNDER THE APPLE TREE a Rosie the Riveter Mystery by Amy Patricia Meade due out in May. Pre-orders are being taken. Now, I have not read this (since it is not out yet) but I have read her WELL-OFFED IN VERMONT and loved it. Also I don’t normally read period cozies (this takes place during WWII) but this sounded so good. I pre-ordered it and I am really looking forward to reading it. I wanted to mention it (even tho I know Danna will mention it in May) I get so excited when I discover something that I think I will like and others might like as well. The cover art is great as well with Rosie proudly gracing the top right corner!

  4. Most of the good cozies I’ve read this month were the result of recent recommendations on this blog. But I also read the latest by one of my favorite mystery authors, Rhys Bowen. She has two series. The Evan Evans series about a Welsh constable came first, and it broke my “rule” about reading only mysteries starring women. (It used to be almost impossible to find those, except for Miss Marple, when I started reading mysteries almost 60 years ago.) When the Molly Murphy series started in 2001, about a young Irish immigrant who became a private detective, I was excited, and I’ve enjoyed every book about Molly, who is now married to her policeman and still detecting although he wants her to be a housewife….
    Rhys Bowen also has a delightful series which debuted in 2007, the Royal Spyness series, in which a distant royal relative ends up spying for the Queen in one misadventure after another.
    All in, all, you can’t go wrong with Rhys Bowen.

    • Deb, Besides the stories from Rhys Bowen’s series I love the history that is woven into each one. I love history, not the political or the military so much as how the ordinary people coped with what happened because of politics and/or the military. With the old saying that “necessity is the mother of invention” people had to do a lot of inventing during some very hard troubling times. We humans don’t give ourselves enough credit for our endurance through very hard times.

    • Deb, you know, I hadn’t thought about the (somewhat!) new trend in women sleuths VS the male sleuths Baby Boomers were brought up on. Good point!

  5. I read one Julia Spencer-Fleming and am starting another; she’s an Episcopal priest so I hope that counts as a cozy even though there’s also a police chief in the books! Anyway, I like the series because it’s as much about the characters’ personal lives as it is about the mysteries — so definitely read them in order.

    • Karen, I love this series by Julia Spencer-Fleming. I love to read books like this, especially on the weekends. I don’t know why I like to read the longer more involved books on the weekends. But I do. I will get up early on Saturday mornings, take the dogs out, fix a pot of coffee and then open these more involved books. Maybe I do this because of all the sports that are on TV on Saturdays. I don’t know.

      It sure has been awhile since “One Was a Soldier” came out. Hope Julia’s next book in this series comes out soon.

    • Karen, thanks for adding Julia Spencer-Fleming to the March 2012 list. Linda, it may seem a while, but it was only last year!

  6. I am reading Maggie Sefton’s knitting mysteries. All of them, because a new one will be out soon and I want all the backstory. They’re a pleasure to read, with interesting and varied characters, and a setting in Colorado where I have never visited. I just wish it were more comfortable to knit and read at the same time!

    • Gen, that’s what books on tape are for! You can “read” AND knit, or quilt, or do hand sewing.

    • Gen, you probably already know this, but just in case you don’t: Maggie Sefton will be releasing Cast On, Kill Off in June of this year.

      And, Jackie, I totally agree with you about the audible books. I’m going to add “drive” and “vacuum” to your list of things you can do while “reading.”

  7. I’m up to book 9 in the Susan Conant Dog Lovers Mysteries – Stud Rites. I read books in order! It’s my OCD :} I’ve been enjoying getting to know Holly, Leah, Kimi and Rowdy. I was even inspired enough to hire a trainer to get MY dogs under control!

    • Jackie, if your dogs are anything like Sprite was, they won’t be so happy you were inspired to hire a trainer!

  8. I just finished the latest book in the Spellman Files series by Lisa Lutz. They are very funny – but these books are not for those who prefer clean mysteries. I also read the first books in two of Simon Brett’s series, The Body on the Beach and A Nice Class of Corpse. Those were both enjoyable and I am looking forward to the next books in those series.

    • Judith, thanks for telling us how funny Lisa Lutz is, and for warning those who only read “clean” mysteries.

    • The first book in the series was a bargain book on NOOK and I bought it without reading the sample first. I was very disappointed to find it was written in the present tense – normally the first thing I check for. Thanks for the warning, too. Think I’ll just delete it to make room for all the cozies I will like!

  9. i am really enjoying “Tempest in the tea leaves” a first novel by Kari Townsend -excellent!!
    and the latest Kate Carlisle-“One book in the grave’. Her books are to be savored they are so descriptive and enjoyable with interesting characters.
    Am starting the knitting series by Ann Canadeo.
    I just finished — drum roll please”
    All “18” of the janet evanovich stephanie plum series.
    All read in March-seriously sleep deprived!
    i really appreciate these recommendations by everyone because i have found some wonderful reads. Thanks everyone! now to work all these new books into by book budget.

    • Lexie, I don’t think I ever read this many books in one month… even the summer I took my Evelyn Wood Speed Reading course!

      Jackie, you are so right!

  10. This month I enjoyed several Victorian (?) mysteries by Emily Brightwell: The Mrs. Jeffries series. I started with book no. 17 because earlier ones weren’t available for kindle but it was easy to get into them. They are quite different from any other cozies I know: This is set in the household of a police inspector and his staff do the sleuthing under direction of Mrs. Jeffries. Without the inspector being aware of this; but his assistant constable is and that’s how the clues found by the staff get into the investigation.
    It’s perhaps a bit fantastic but no more so than some modern ones where shop owners go sleuthing without a second thought about their businesses. I really loved the books I read and I’m off to get the next in the series now.

    • Deahna I too am reading this series but I am one of the lucky ones that has the entire series, all 29 books so far and number 30 is on the way. All the earlier ones where bought on Ebay but the later ones through Amazon. Some of the earlier ones are no longer in print so had to pay a little more for each book than normal but if you want them you don’t mind paying extra.

    • There is a book called Mrs. Jeffries Learns the Trade. I recently purchased it at B&N. I just looked at Amazon and it is being sold at a discounted price. The book has the first three books in the series. It includes The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries-Mrs. Jeffries Dusts for Clues and The Ghost and Mrs. Jeffries. It is not available in Kindle. I haven’t read any of the Mrs. Jeffries books yet so it is in my TBR stack.

    • Deahna, I wish Kindle would hurry up and get all of the “back” books of authors! I am such a stickler about starting a series at the very beginning, that I have put off getting some authors who look really good to me, but whose earlier books aren’t available.

      Alfred, as soon as I saw Emily Brightwell mentioned, I wondered if you would comment. I know she is one of your very favorite authors.

      Thanks for the information about the Emily Brightwell omnibus, Lynn T.

    • You’re right to put a question mark against “Victorian” because the Mrs. Jeffries series is only set in Victorian times. They are fun books, though.

  11. I have been reading the “Dead-end mystery” series by Elaine Viets. I just really enjoy her books. I read them all in one month. 😀 The books are very easy to read, and the characters, endearing.

    • Annie, I have very often found certain series of books that I want to read so I will go to the 3 area libraries that I frequent in order to get as many books in the series as possible. Then I will read the books in order. But sometimes when I do this I find myself wanting to hurry with each book so that I can get on to the next one. Two things happen when I do this. One I tend to miss a lot of things that later show up in other books in the series. Two, I am mad at myself because I didn’t take the time to enjoy each book individually.
      I love to read but I have some terrible reading habits!!!

    • Annie, I have tried reading authors all at one time, but usually try to switch between authors. I have a tendency of starting to “find fault” with the authors I read back-to-back.

      Linda, I know I have said this before, but here goes again: Your library system sounds great!

  12. This month I read two great 1st in a series books! The first was A Little Shop Of Homicide (Devereaux Dime Store Mysteries) and the second was Death of a Kitchen Diva (Hayley Powell Food and Cocktail Mysteries). I also read the second book in the Library Lovers series called Due or Die. The authors for these books are Denise Swanson, Lee Hollis and Jenn McKinlay. I enjoyed all three and cannot wait for their new ones !

    • Thanks for your recommendation, Dianne.These books are in my TBR pile, but I think I’ll move them to the head of the line.

    • Thanks, Dianne, from the comments posted for the March Recommendations, these two books look like really good beginnings for both of these new mystery series.

    • I am just about finished with Little Shop of Homicide. I want to reiterate Dianne’s favorable comments. I highly recommend it to all the cozy readers. Denise Swanson has a winner here! I REALLY enjoyed this first book of her new series. She has developed very interesting characters (and not weird ones) for this series. I can hardly wait for the next book – even more so, than the next Scumble River. Hopefully there WILL BE a next book! She doesn’t have it listed in this book – only the next Scumble River due out next fall. Although I’m not quite finished with this book, so far it is more ‘romance than mystery’. But that might be because she is developing the characters for the series.

  13. I have been reading the Livia Washburn, FRESHLY BAKED SERIES. I am on the latest book now and have enjoyed them.

  14. Among the best books I read in March was Charles Todd’s The Murder Stone. This is a stand alone but his Inspector Ian Rutledge series is great

  15. I have just started How To Wash A Cat by Rebecca Hale and am loving it. I saw it recommended on this site. This antique shop is a place I want to return to every day. Very descriptive writiing.

    • Nancy, one of the side benefits about preferring Cozy Mysteries is the descriptive writing. If it’s good, it can “make” a Cozy Mystery series.

    • Maria, when I read your comment, I knew it would be a paranormal! Thanks for telling us about Rochelle Staab.

  17. I’ve read several Casey Daniels books this month and am waiting for another from Paperback Swap. Pepper Martin is the sleuth in this series and reading them is order is much more fun than not. I started off reading #7 but then Casey had me so hooked I went back for #1 and have read through #4. Just picked up Laura Childs’ latest Scrapbooking mystery at the library and am reading it. Also picked up a new Supper Club Mystery by JB Stanley and Iris Crawford’s St Patrick’s Day Catering mystery.

    • Charlene, I just finished (and enjoyed) one of J. B. Stanley’s Supper Club mysteries…

  18. I read five of the March suggestions thus far and I have more of them reserved. Most of them I enjoyed, but in particular I liked “Cooking the Books” by Kerry Greenwood. It is a great cooking series set in Australia with a range of different and unusual characters. I can relate to the chief character as she is a large woman as I am who revels in her size. After that I found “Murder of the Bride” by Challinor to be a typical British cozy but still well done. The other three shall remain nameless as they were too full of stereotypes and un-original. Danna, did you enjoy your time with your daughter?

    • Regina, I’m getting all sorts of good ideas about authors to try from these monthly recommendations from you all.

      I just ordered Earthly Delights (Kerry Greenwood’s first mystery in her Corinna Chapman Mystery Series)… based on your recommendation.

  19. I just finished reading Jim and Joyce Lavene’s A Spirited Gift in the Missing Pieces series yesterday. Then I started and finished EJ Copperman’s Old Haunt in her Haunted Guest House Series. I am on spring break from school this week and planning on reading at least 3 books a day. At the end of the week, I will be going to the bookstore to get March books that I have not got yet.

    • Good grief, Ginger! Three books a day! I would have all of the plots and characters all mixed-up if I read three mysteries in one day.

      • did not quite make it on 3 a day. finished jacky brady ‘s 2nd book in cake shop series set in new orleans. started on laura child’s fiber brimstone. went to bookstore today. got 6 on my booklist for march. was having fit new april books are out. i am going have to go back next week to get those. extreme bookperson here. cannot wait for your may list to come out.

  20. I read the newest Claire Malloy Mystery by Joan Hess and enjoyed it immensely. I really had difficulty putting it down, once I started it.
    The story has enough twists and turns and a few tricky red herrings, to make it difficult to figure out “who-dun-it” until the reveal at the end.
    I think the various characters are well developed and interesting and a couple are interesting enough that I hope they reappear in future stories.
    For those of you familiar with the main characters, you will love the way Claire’s daughter is maturing, although she does retain a small portion of the teen angst, it is greatly overshadowed by her developing good sense.
    My only (minor) complaint is that Claire’s husband Peter doesn’t figure in the story quite enough. I hope the next one brings him back with a greater involvement in the story.

    • Andie, I enjoy it when the characters in a mystery series actually age, rather than remain the same “youthful” age.

      I remember another Claire Malloy mystery where Peter was pretty much absent. I really missed him >>> His interaction with Claire is delightful. He just seems so exasperated with her most of the time.

  21. I continued on with my Carola Dunn series and the Kate Collins series, still recommend both series. A new to me read for this month was the first in the Ophelia and Abby series by Shirley Damsgaard. This one is a paranormal cozy and I enjoyed it. I’ll give book 2 a try in April. Also new to me this month was book 1 in Heather Webber’s Valentine series “Truly, Madly” I really enjoyed that one although I think it walks a fine line between cozy mystery and chick lit. I’ll be reading book 2 in April also.

    • Thanks, Angela, I added Carola Dunn and Kate Collins to this month’s list, along with Shirley Damsgaard and Heather Webber.

  22. I just finished the second Susan Wittig Albert “Darling Dahlias” and really found it to be a fun read. Can’t wait for the next. I also recently finished the Conrad Allen series with Porter Dillman and Genevieve Masefield that take place on board ocean liners during the early 1900’s. Went through them too quickly! That’s what seems to happen too often. I find a book I like and then devour the series. It’s kind of like having a good friend move away. Always sad to say goodbye, but it’s an adventure to discover a new one.

    • Sharon, thanks for bringing Conrad Allen’s Porter Dillman Mystery Series to our attention.

  23. Ann Charles, Sally Goldenbaum, and Joanne Fluke are three authors I have read this month.

    • Leslee, I have added all three authors to the list for this month.

  24. I have been reading all of the L. L. Bartlett/Lorraine Bartlett books. I’m from western Ny so her Jeff Resnick novels “hit home” with me and her other series are good reads, too. I actually started with the Lorna Barrett books and found the others when I got a kindle for Christmas. Many of them are discounted!

      • We are neighbors, I am in the Capital Region! I love Lorna Barretts’ Book Town series, even tho it takes place in NH, since Lorraine Bartlett lives in Rochester I like to show a fellow NYer some support.
        I was curious if either of you have read Claudia Bishop’s Hemlock Falls series? I have not read them but just ordered her newest. It take place in a ficitonal town (I believe in NY) which is a take on Glens Falls? It has been around for a while so if I like this one I have some catching up to do!

  25. I’ve been reading mysteries off and on for years but recently found “Death by Chocolate” by Sally Berneathy and loved it…plus chocolate recipes at the end. Who knew! So in my quest to find more mysteries of a similar vane I’ve found there’s a whole world out here. So many books, so little time.

    So far this month I’ve read, “Death by Chocolate”, “Death is a Relative Thing” by Holly Patrone and right now I’m reading
    “Ghost a la Mode” by Sue Ann Jaffarian.

    With wonderful heroines, humor and mystery I recommend them all.

    • Thanks, Juleen, for telling us about these two (new-to-me) authors.

  26. I am in the middle of Affairs of State, latest in the White House Chef Mysteries by Julie Hyzy. Her writing is very clever, the plots are convoluted with “just enough” twists and turns to keep one guessing all the way through the final chapter! The D.C. setting based in the inner working of the White House, away from the public venues, is fascinating. AND there are recipes to add to reading of these “not-so-fluffy” mysteries. Chef Olivia Paras is smart, tough, and human. Very believable character! Keep ’em coming!

    • Jamey, I am currently reading the first mystery in Julie Hyzy’s White House Chef Mystery Series. (I actually started reading Hyzy a little differently than most people. I began with her Manor of Murder series, rather than with the White House Chef.)

  27. I just finished Fran Stewart’s latest: VIOLET AS AN AMETHYST and Lorena McCourtney’s STRANDED. Great series to continue – looking forward to the next ones. Am starting Joanne Fluke’s CINNAMON ROLL MURDER today. Another great series.

    • Petie, as if I don’t have enough books on my Kindle’s TBR list! After reading this comment, I bought Orange as Marmalade – Fran Stewart’s first Biscuit McKee & Marmalade mystery.

  28. I have enjoyed reading everyone’s comments, I have read Denise Swanson newest book, great read now I am reading Murder Buys a T-shirt great new author. Happy reading everyone.

    • Rebecca, thanks for telling us about your two “finds” this month… both of them look like they are popular reads amongst us!

  29. This month I found JoAnna Carl. I know, where have I been? I picked up The Chocolate Snowman Murders at the library and finished it in a day. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of the Chocoholic Series.

    • Kristin I don’t normally figure out who the killer is but in this book there was a particular clue that stood out in my mind when reading the book. When we came across the crime scene and saw that this clue was in it, then I knew for sure who it was.

    • Kristin, I really like this chocolate series too but as I read this series I have to keep telling myself over and over that chocolate will trigger a giant migraine. Sometimes we just can’t win, can we?

    • Kristin, this reminds me of exactly what a Cozy Mystery site reader wrote to me about. Isn’t it great when you “arrive late to the party” and find an author who has a whole slew of Cozy Mystery books for you to read?!?

      Alfred, that’s high praise for JoAnna Carl’s Chocoholic mysteries! If there is only one book out of eleven you couldn’t solve early, then Carl’s doing something right!

      Linda, as much as I love chocolate, it sure wouldn’t be worth risking a “giant migraine”!!!

      • Danna have you read the Snowman Murders by JoAnna Carl? If so do you know the clue I am talking about or if not want me to email it to you?

  30. my reads this month include the “miniature series and the Donut shop” I love this. So many great ideas I just read this whole blog and wrote down 15 authors I have to go look up! I am excited it is like finding a new friend!

    • Annette, I have one of Margaret Grace’s Miniature mysteries on my Kindle waiting for me to enjoy.

  31. I’m working my way through the Chocoholic Mystery series by JoAnna Carl.
    Three latest cozies that take place in England/Scotland:
    Death of a Kingfisher by M. C. Beaton
    The latest Daisy Dalrymple mystery, Gone West by Carola Dunn. It is always delightful to spend time with Daisy.
    The Evil That Men Do, a Dorothy Martin mystery by Jeanne M. Dams

    • Kathryn, JoAnna Carl has a few of people making their way through her Chocoholic Mystery Series right now.

      There’s something specifically “Cozy” about mystery series that take place in Great Britain.

  32. There are some excellent authors in this month’s list. Albert, Bowen, Brightwell, Dunn, Dams, and Childs are some of my favorites.

    I just “found” Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. Love it! I started with the first in the series (Still Life) and plan to read them in order.

    • Marie, this is only the third month we’ve been compiling lists of recommended authors we are reading, but already I’m seeing the same names pop up time after time.

  33. Thanks for the recommendations on the books sales-our libraries book sales are a mob scene and little can be found that one has on a list. Mainly the libraries sell old coffee table books and current fiction, not my taste. Our libraries are struggling so they are no longer buying cozy mysteries. I have found that on Ebay you can often find them for 1.00 + shipping and always used on Amazon plus shipping. I buy most of mine from Ebay these days,with the occasional splurge on Amazona for a new fav series. Ebay is the best resource and you will find a large amount of variety in the cozy mysteries. Happy hunting everyone.

    • Lexie, what a shame that your libraries decided to no longer buy Cozy Mysteries. Well, I guess the money is actually better spent on children’s books, but it’s still a shame.

  34. The books I enjoyed the most this month were past recommendations from this site. I echo Kristin who said “Where have I been?” This is in regards to Simon Brett and Monica Ferris. I had not read a book by either author before for some reason.

    I read Crewel World the first in the series by Monica Ferris and was quite taken with the book. One reason is that it surprised me which doesn’t happened a lot. I knew nothing about the book. Thought it was a book about two sisters who run a Needlecraft store and then sleuth together. So the twist took me by surprise.

    Next I read Body On the Beach (Fethering Series) by Simon Brett. Enjoyed getting to know the unlikely friends of Carole and Jude. Love the fact that early books in this series can be downloaded on the Kindle.

    I also read the first book of Ann Purser’s Ivy Beasley series.
    It was called The Hangman’s Row Inquiry. Enjoyed this book as 4 people-an aging blunt spinster, an 86 resident of the nursing home, a recently widowed cousin of Ivy and new male arrival in town with a sketchy background- band together to solve a murder.

    Will read the next books in all the series I wrote about here.

    • Lynn T, I’m glad you wrote this comment! You just reminded me of two books I have been wanting to read: I follow Simon Brett’s Fethering Mystery Series, but I am way behind. So, now I have another mystery on my “Next Book to Read” list. Unfortunately, I also follow the Needlecraft Mystery Series by Monica Ferris, so that makes yet another book for me to put on my “Next Book” list. (I think I now have about eleven books on that list, and obviously, I can only read one book at a time!)

    • Susie, why doesn’t it surprise me that you are nominating another Historical Mystery?!?

  36. I read all six books in the Carnegie Kincaid, wedding planner series by Deborah Donnelly. I loved the cast of characters, the books have humor and a love interest, which I enjoy, they are a fast read. I was glad I had all the books on hand and could continue to the next book after some of the cliff hanger endings.
    I also enjoyed three of the first in a series that came out this month. Denise Swanson’s – Little Shop of Homicide, Lee Hollis – Death of a Kitchen Diva and Christy Fifield – Murder Buys a T-Shirt.

    • Merry, thanks for the nominations. There have been several people who have recommended Denise Swanson’s Little Shop of Homicide, Christy Fifield’s Murder Buys a T-shirt, and Death of a Kitchen Diva by Lee Hollis. Those three mysteries look like they are really good beginnings for all three series.

  37. I just read ” Restless in the Grave” by Dana Stabenow over this pasted weekend. Sometimes all that some of these authors have to do to put out a good book is to pick up a pen.
    This was such a good book. I had figured out early who did it and why but getting to the conclusion of this book was such a joyful occasion. Dana Stabenow putting Liam Cambell and Kate in a book together was great! Hope she does this again soon. Love her books!

    • Linda, a Cozy Mystery site reader contacted me for help in making a list of established authors who would be good authors to start with. I hope you recommend Dana Stabenow for that list.

  38. I just started to read this book. “Southern Fried” by Cathy Pickens. It’s different for me because its “lawyery” and it’s not a culinary cozy mystery so chances are I won’t be gaining weight by the end of the book! lol.

  39. i finished a book last night but it wasn’t a cozy. I’m planning on reading at least 2 more today. March list includes most of the authors that i read every time they have a new book. by the way I am on spring break from school.

    • Ginger, what a great way to spend time on your spring break! I know that once school is back in session, you won’t have as much time to read books you actually want to read for fun.

  40. Just finished Flukes latest The Cinnamon Roll Murder and Cat’s Claw by Albert . I have started The Agony of the Tea Leaves by L. Child. I also picked up a copy of Gone with a Handsomer Man at the library so that is in on top of my TBR pile. I bought several pb that came out in March but I ‘ll read them after the library books are finished. I have really enjoyed what I have read so far.

    • Denise, thanks for your author recommendations. All three of your named authors write some incredibly popular mystery series!

  41. I’m just finishing “Believing the Lie” by Elizabeth George. There are lots of characters from all her past books. This one has a lot of twists & turns.

    • Sandy, I just got this out of the library and am looking forward to it. Not only do I love her books, but I LOVE really long books as long as they are really good!

      • Sandy and Deb, I used to follow Elizabeth George’s mysteries, but for some reason, I haven’t read any lately… definitely not Cozy!

  42. I finally got around to reading the last of the Miss Zukas series by Jo Dereske, “Farewell Miss Zukas.” I was putting it off because I have really enjoyed this series and was in denial that it has ended. Miss Zukas is such a unique character in cozies. I recommend this series.

    • I felt the same way you did when I finished the last of Miss Zukas. It was as if I had lost an old friend.

      • Dayna and Regina, I felt that way when I finished Murder Boogies with Elvis, the last Southern Sisters mystery by Anne George.

  43. I just finished Jane Haddam’s new book. It was great with a final twist at the end that I never in my wildest dreams would have expected. Lately I have slowed down on my reading of mystery stories. This is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and three new books have been published about that event. They were extremely interesting and informative. I just downloaded “A Night to Remember”, the original Titanic book. I promise not to read it on my next cruise.

    • Regina, this is going to sound really trite, and I know it’s not at all historical (although it is loosely based on the Titanic) but about a month ago I simply HAD to see 1964 (Debbie Reynold’s) The Unsinkable Molly Brown.

      When you think about it, it’s difficult to believe they could ever have made a musical comedy out of such a tragic event…

  44. Over the past two weeks, I also, read and enjoyed Joan Hess’s newest Claire Malloy mystery, ‘Deader Homes and Gardens’, Susan Wittig Albert’s, ‘Cat’s Claw’, Laura Child’s ‘Agony of the Leaves, and Maddy Hunter’s ‘Dutch Me Deadly’. Considering our previous discussion of detective/police boyfriends or husbands, IRONICALLY all four of these recently released books send the boyfriend or husband ‘away’ while each sleuth solves the mystery without their help!! I prefer that the husband or boyfriend be part of the story because I like the interaction between the sleuth and her spouse.

    Laura Childs Tea Shop Mysteries is often on this blog’s ‘recommended’ list and I don’t think it can be stated often enough how enjoyable this series is. “Agony of the Leaves’ will not disappoint (well, just a little – I prefer an ‘unknown’ character as the murder victim). That’s not really a ‘spoiler alert’ because it is revealed in the first few pages. The mystery story line is very good.

    Even though Cat’s Claw is part of a different series, the characters remain the same. In fact, I really like the change of character focus. Albert’s another author that doesn’t disappoint.

    The quick wit and sleuthing of Claire Malloy in ‘Deader Homes and Gardens’ is (as always) enjoyable. Even though we’ve had a long wait, kudos to Joan Hess for continuing this series.

    Because I liked Hunter’s Passport to Peril series, I liked ‘Dutch Me Deadly’, but it can be confusing. This particular book has an enormous amount of characters and is difficult to keep everyone straight. Although I recommend this book, I would suggest reading previous books in the series before reading this one. Her stories are very descriptive of the various locations and the characters are very ‘colorful’. I’m glad Midnight Ink wanted to take over publishing her series. Hopefully her hunky husband will be in the next book.

    • MJ, thank you for the recommendations for this months mystery books. It is “iron” that each of the four mysteries you read (and enjoyed!) have boyfriend/husbands who are police/private detectives who are sent away. And, this is always a problem for those of us who enjoy the characters and their interaction with the sleuths.

    • Thanks, Barbara, for adding Annelise Ryan to the March Mystery Book Recommendations. I am getting ready to close down the comments for this particular entry, so am glad you posted this morning, rather than waiting for the weekend!

  46. I really enjoyed “Murder In A Basket” by Amanda Flower (second in her India Hayes series), “Hush Now, Don’t You Cry” by Rhys Bowen (Molly Murphy), “Cooking the Books” by Kerry Greenwood (6th in her delightful Corinna Chapman series), “Deader Homes & Gardens” by Joan Hess (yet another Claire Malloy book, one of my favorites) and “Death of a Kingfisher” by MC Beaton (a Hamish Macbeth). Most people like her Agatha Raisin series which I do, but I really prefer Hamish Macbeth. (I even named one of my cats for Hamish!)

    • Larraine, I started out liking Agatha more, but once I finally discovered Hamish, I felt he left her in the dust! I think that might be because I started getting tired of some of Agatha’s antics. What I had liked about her at the beginning, started wearing thin with me.

  47. Thanx for the many recommendations. However, I was highly disappointed to find out that Death by Chocolate was only available in Kindle, after searching all the libraries in the Portland metro area. Hopefully it will be available in print someday as I only read “real” books.

    • Kat, I’m sorry you did all that searching, and hope that you did the search online! I think a lot of authors these days are starting with the e-book formats (if they don’t already have a publisher) and once they become “popular” they are able to publish in “real book” format.

  48. last night i read Denise Swanson’s New Series: A Little Shop of Homicide and enjoyed it. I started Christy Fifield’s series Murder Buys a T-Shirt and will finish it today. I know I started Laura Childs’ Fiber and Brimstone and will finish it this weekend. These other 2 series i got yesterday and browsing the first pages and got interesed in them. Oh Well I LOVE TO READ. HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND FELLOW READERS.

    • Ginger, it looks like you got a whole lot of reading done on your spring break!

      • i was planning on redoing the bookshelves this week but it was not to be. Maybe when school (starts) and maybe i have a building to make my library in. I just love to read and carry at least 2 books with me at all times.

        • Ginger, I have two books going at all times, one in my car and one in my house. Now that I am walking, I take my audio book with me, unless my husband walks with me.

  49. Steven Havill – The Posada County Mysteries

    Modern western mysteries are situated in New Mexico and starts with Bill Gastner, Undersheriff and deputy investigator Estelle Reyes. I recently completed the first book, Heartshot, and just finished the second story, Bitter Recoil. Both stories are exciting and I didn’t want to put them down as the climax nears.

    • John C, thanks for telling us about Steven Havill’s Posada County Mystery Series!

  50. Earlier this month I reread the books Charlotte MacLeod wrote under the pen name “Alisa Craig”. I started with the Grub-and Stakers, then the Madoc Rhys series, and ending with that one-shot, THE TERRIBLE TIDE. The Grub-and-Stakers can get a little too cutely weird for me sometimes, but they still make me laugh. The Madoc Rhys mysteries are my least favorite of her mysteries, but they’re good. This was only the second time I’ve read THE TERRIBLE TIDE. It had more humor than I’d remembered.

    Now I’m rereading Leslie Ford’s Colonel Primrose – Grace Latham mysteries. They remind me a bit of Agatha Christie, Patricia Wentworth, and Mary Roberts Rinehart because some of the characters are from the Upper Crust.
    (Also, one has to grit one’s teeth to bear the racism, sexism, and class beliefs of the times.)

    Ms. Ford was very good with descriptions of places — inside and outside. Colonel Primrose lives in the same Georgetown house built by another Primrose who was on Washington’s staff. Grace Latham is [eventually] also written as a Georgetown native. I enjoy the tidbits Grace shares about her ancestors, such as the grandmother who used to put fireflies in a bit of net and tuck them into her hair when she was a girl. I also enjoy the glimpses of life in the 1930s and 1940s, especially what it was like to deal with rationing during World War II. (In one book Grace is pleased to have a ham a vegetarian friend gave to her.)

    There’s plenty of humor in the books, too. Grace is a pretty widow, only 38 in the earliest books, so when she flies to Reno to be with her niece, the hotel desk clerk doesn’t realize she’s the expected aunt. He tries to give her tips about how to sign the register, tips which leave Grace bewildered. He gets suspicious.

    Desk Clerk: “You are here for a divorce, aren’t you?”
    “I had the dreadful feeling that I was being subversive — like going to a party during Prohibition Days and refusing a drink. He looked at me very much the way one’s host would have looked then, as if you were plainly implying the liquor was so much poison, and said ‘Oh’.”

    The fact that THE PHILADELPHIA MURDER STORY has the first murder take place in the lobby of “The Saturday Evening Post” with some of the editors as suspects meant nothing to me when I first read it. Now, however, the internet is available and I know that her books were serialized in that magazine.

    Grace is a bit like a modern cozy heroine in that Colonel Primrose is interested in settling down well before she is. Considering how much ‘fun’ Caron is in the Claire Malloy series, it’s a shame that Ford didn’t do much with Grace’s sons, Bill and Scott for most of the series. Bill has a role in OLD LOVER’S GHOST. During the war he enlisted even though he was underage. Scott is usually away at school. I’m rereading THE DEVIL’S STRONGHOLD. Bill is 22 now, out of the Navy, and going to California Tech. Grace has come out because she’s gotten a letter that her first born is making a fool of himself with a trollop. The Colonel’s Watson, Sgt. Buck, is willing to go check things out for Grace, but as Grace tells us, if anyone’s going to take her son by the seat of his britches, Ma’ll be the one to do it.

    • Thanks, Ann, for telling us about Leslie Ford. I wasn’t sure whether I should include that you think her books have rather dated views – as you commented above, or not.

      I added Alisa Craig’s mystery series to the March list. I’m with you, I much prefer her books as Charlotte MacLeod.

  51. Lila Dare – Southern Beauty Shop Mystery series
    Lucy Arlington – A Novel Idea Mystery series
    Melissa Bourbon – A Magical Dressmaking Mystery series
    Robin Paige – A Victorian Mystery series
    E J Copperman – A Haunted Guesthouse Mystery serie

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