It’s been a while since I’ve had a good batch of questions… but longer-term readers will know that I do get a number of them, and many boil down to “I read this book a long time ago and can’t remember the author…” Some of these I can help, others are either something I haven’t read, or the clues aren’t ones that I recognize. So, now’s when I turn to you, the site readers! If you have a good idea of what may be an answer to one of the below
From Lee:
Looking for a crime novel where the female lead protagonist is an archeologist or paleontologist, not really sure. Old people are being killed in a family because of some manuscripts…
EDIT: Elle suggested this could be an entry in Elizabeth Peters‘s Amelia Peabody Mystery Series. Or MaryBeth suggested it might be the Ruth Galloway Series by Elly Griffiths. Kristi suggested it might be the Arcadia Jones Mystery Series by Joshua Elliot James. And LaVerne had two possible suggestions – the Temperance Brennan Series by Kathy Reich, or the Diane Chamberlain Mystery Series by Beverly Connor.
From Donna:
Hi, a couple years back I was perusing the Brewster Country Store and bought a 3 new paperback book mystery series by a female Cape Cod author. I think the premise might have been a murder…
EDIT: Nancy and JoAnn both suggested this could possibly Leslie Meier, who used to live on Cape Cod. Ginger suggested it could be Cynthia Riggs. Ginger also suggested it could be the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Series by Vicki Delaney. Another suggesion, by Kath, was that it could be the Asey Mayo Cape Cod Mystery Series by Phoebe Atwood Taylor.
From Margi:
… I was hoping you could help me find an author. Her books include an older lady in in England(?). She has her dog who goes with her everywhere and an old car she has named (?). She shares her home with a photographer, and she helps in a thrift store…
EDIT: Many people have mentioned that this might be the Cornish Mystery Series by Carola Dunn. I don’t remember her naming her car, but it’s been a while since I’ve read any books in this particular series.
Alternately, Marie suggested this one could be the Ellie Quicke Mystery Series by Veronica Heley.
From Juke:
I’m looking for some books I really enjoyed (can’t remember titles or author!) that featured a female caterer who had a professional refrigerator/freezer in her home kitchen. Also, she was constantly pouring herself espressos from an espresso machine in her kitchen…
EDIT: Many readers have mentioned that this is likely Diane Mott Davidson‘s Goldy Schulz Mystery Series… I have read all the books in this really good series, but I confess to not remembering the espressos.
So, if you’ve got an answer to one of these questions, please be sure to bring it up in the comments! I’ll add suggestions as they come in, and hopefully we can help reunite these people with their former favorite Cozies.
*****Thank you to all of you who have posted comments answering Juke’s question about the professional refrigerator/freezer and the espressos-drinking sleuth. It turns out that Juke is looking for Diane Mott Davidson‘s Goldy Schulz Mystery Series. I have read all the books in this really good series, but I confess to not remembering the espressos. Yikes!
Thanks, again.
J.koelliker says
Margi…….I think the author of the novel of the older English lady could be Hazel Holt .
Danna - cozy mystery list says
J, your memory is better than mine! I don’t remember Hazel Holt‘s Mrs. Malory naming her car.
Michelle says
Could this be the Cornwall mysteries by Carola Dunn? It features Eleanor Trewynn and her dog Teazle. Eleanor works in a charity shop and has a neighbor who is a painter. It is set in the 1970s, I think.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Michelle, that does seem like a very probable answer! Thanks!
Joyce LaFerrera says
For Jude I think that she is referring to Goldy Schultz series by Diane Mott Davidson I think that is the author.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Joyce, I just wrote a comment about not remembering Mrs. Malory as naming her car – and now I have to admit that I don’t remember Diane Mott Davidson’s Goldy drinking excessive amounts of espresso. (And that’s after I actually belonged to a book group devoted solely on Diane Mott Davidson‘s Goldy!)
Mary says
Goldy–can’t remember if she has her own espresso machine but I think she is quite the coffee drinker. I like that series a lot, but does it nag at anyone else, what the murder rate in that little town is? Or how many close friends and family members she has lost to homicide? If she were a real person she would need extensive grief therapy….and possibly a new hometown!
casey says
For Juke – I think you’re thinking of the Goldy series from Diane Mott Davidson. I love that series and wish it would continue!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Casey, I just checked and see that Davidson’s last Goldy book was released in 2013. Now I know why her espresso escaped my memory…
Casey says
I get it – the silver lining is that we can read the series again, and it will all be new to us!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Casey, I like that you’re putting a positive spin on this! Thank you!!!
Elizabeth says
Casey, exactly!! I can read the Miss Silver mysteries every 4-5 years and be sure that I won’t remember whodunnit! Same for Christie. Unfortunately, as soon as I pick up a Ngaio Marsh book, I immediately remember who the murderer was, which spoils my enjoyment. But I’m only 57. Give me another ten years and I’m sure that I will have forgotten those endings too!!
P. L. Gertner says
For Juke – Maybe Diana Mott Davidson
Isabel L. says
Is Jane Haddam going to write another Gregor Demarkian book? It’s several years since the last one appeared. I read on her blog that she had been ill, but I haven’t found any updates.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Isabel, I’m not sure about Jane Haddam‘s Gregor Demarkian mystery BUT I just found out that she is writing the Georgia Xenakis Mystery Series.
Isabel L. says
Thank you for your response. I believe there’s only one book in her new series, and it’s published only as a e-book, which means I can’t read it because I dislike reading e-books!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Isobel, maybe it will be released as a book some time in the future… Here’s hoping!
Thetarotman says
Several years ago, two of my regular clients, who have also become great friends, got together to give me an Amazon Kindle Touch.
I loved the gift, but rarely, if ever read anything on it.
Perhaps my tastes are a bit old-fashioned, but I love holding a physical book in my hands, and Isabel, you and I are NOT the only ones.
Isabel L. says
A large smile!
Marie says
I felt the same way for a while but there are a few things that made me into an e-reader fan. It’s easier to carry around with me than some of the books I read; my library has e-books so I can download them to my device whenever I like without making a trip to the library; and, most impressive of all, in many books I can just press my finger on a word to get the definition of that word or if the word is in another language some books offer translation of it–so cool! (For context, I’m 70.)
Auntie Jo says
Hi Marie,
You make a good point about the convenience but I’m still concerned about the price! I like the convenience of the library and also the people I run into! I’m giving this some thought!!
thetarotman says
Oh, I can easily see the versatility and convenience of eBooks, as well as an eReader or tablet for reading tons of books. Not to mention the load is MUCH lighter.
Nevertheless, although I AM most thankful for the Amazon Kindle Touch I received as a gift from both of those clients, it rarely gets used. In fact, I think it is long overdue for a recharge (smile).
Sue says
I think the caterer might be Goldy Bear. Author is Diane Mott Davidson.
Janie says
The last one has to be The Goldy Schultz mysteries by Diane Mott Davidson.
Linda Zebb says
To Juke, author is Diane Mott Davidson. Catering to Nobody I believe is the first in the series.
Kath says
For Donna, the Cape Code Mystery Author. Could it have been: Asey Mayo Cape Cod Mysteries by Phoebe Atwood Taylor? The author is from the Cape. Her write up says: Phoebe Atwood Taylor (1909-1976) lived in Boston and Cape Cod for most of her life. She was the author of the Asey Mayo mystery series and, under the pseudonym Alice Tilton, the Leonidas Witherall mystery series. She also wrote under the name Freeman Dana (Murder at the New York World’s Fair).
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kath, that does seem like a possiblity! The question is vague enough that I’ve listed it as a possibility – only the author could really indicate which is right.
Linda Zebb says
Love this series too.
J.Koelliker says
Margo…..The author is Carola Dunn. Ignore my previous message!
Janie says
The last one has to be the Goldie Schultz mysteries by Diane Mott Davidson.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Janie, that does seem pretty likely! Thanks!
Julie S says
Hi, Margie! I think the series you may be looking for is the Cornish Mystery series by Carola Dunn. I loved this series and really hope the next one comes out soon. ?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Julie, thanks for the suggestion! It seems like a very probable “correct match”.
Jade says
For Juke, I think that you mean books by Diane Mott Davidson.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Jade, thanks! That does seem like the most likely answer.
Leslie Badzik says
I see this is old, but I came across this thread because I’m looking for the same thing you are. It isn’t Goldy. There is another series. I remember the espresso too. Very specifically espresso. Did you ever find it?
Rickee D. says
I think the last one about the caterer is Diane Mott Davidson – set in CO, has a catering business, and the main character is Goldie… love those books.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Rickee, I think you’re right! Thanks!
Lisa says
The answer to Juke’s question is: Dianne Mott Davidson; character is Goldie Baer; set in Colorado.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lisa, thanks, this seems likely to be the case! Thanks for the suggestion.
Nancy says
To Donna, you might be thinking if Leslie Meier who used to live on Cape Cod.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Nancy, thanks for the suggestion! This one is vague enough that I’m going to put Leslie Meier up as a suggestion.
Annie Foley says
Margi, Your books are by Carola Dunn. The heroine lives next door to an artist.
And Juke, you are looking for Goldy Schultz mysteries by Dianne Mott Davidson
I love this website.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Annie, thanks for the suggestions! Both seem like likely matches.
Marie says
Juke’s sounds like Diane Mott Davidson’s Goldy Bear series.
Margi’s sounds like Veronica Heley’s Ellie Quicke series.
The other two don’t ring any bells for me.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marie, thanks for the suggestions! Both sound possible so I’ve listed both as possibilities.
Marie says
Thanks, Danna. I just started reading an Ellie Quicke book by Veronica Heley and realized this isn’t who I was thinking of.
I think the folks that suggested Carola Dunn’s Cornish Mystery series are right–that’s who I was thinking of anyway.
Anne Fay says
Juke that would be Diane Mott Davidson and the Goldy Bear Catering Mysteries. Great fun!
SusanMM says
The female caterer series is by Diane Mott Davidson and they are delightful.
Connie C says
The books about a caterer who loves espresso and has a professional refrigerator and freezer in her kitchen sound like those by Diane Mott Davidson.
PamW says
Juke is looking for The Diane Mott Davison series. I recognize Margi’s but can’t remember the author.
Marilyn M says
The Cornish Mystery series by Carola Dunn features an older woman and her dog, who, with her detective niece and painter neighbor, solve some interesting cases. I enjoyed all 4 books in the series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marilyn, that does seem like a good answer, thanks!
KG says
From Juke:
I’m looking for some books I really enjoyed (can’t remember titles or author!) that featured a female caterer who had a professional refrigerator/freezer in her home kitchen. Also, she was constantly pouring herself espressos from an espresso machine in her kitchen…
Could this be the Goldy Bear Culinary Mysteries by Diane Mott Davidson?
Michelle says
Answer to Juke:
I think the series you’re looking for may be the A Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery series featuring Goldie Schultz – Caterer in small Colorado town. The books are written by Dianne Mott Davidson and there are 17 books total:
BOOK 1
Catering to Nobody
by Diane Mott Davidson
BOOK 2
Dying for Chocolate
by Diane Mott Davidson
BOOK 3
The Cereal Murders
by Diane Mott Davidson
BOOK 4
The Last Suppers
by Diane Mott Davidson
BOOK 5
Killer Pancake
by Diane Mott Davidson
BOOK 6
The Main Corpse
by Diane Mott Davidson
BOOK 7
The Grilling Season
by Diane Mott Davidson
BOOK 8
Prime Cut
by Diane Mott Davidson
BOOK 9
Tough Cookie
by Diane Mott Davidson
BOOK 10
Sticks & Scones
by Diane Mott Davidson
BOOK 11
Chopping Spree
by Diane Mott Davidson
BOOK 12
Double Shot
by Diane Mott Davidson
BOOK 13
Dark Tort
by Diane Mott Davidson
BOOK 14
Sweet Revenge
by Diane Mott Davidson
BOOK 15
Fatally Flaky
by Diane Mott Davidson
BOOK 16
Crunch Time
by Diane Mott Davidson
BOOK 17
The Whole Enchilada
by Diane Mott Davidson
Pam Walker says
I believe the professional caterer question is referring to the Goldy Schultz series by Diane Mott Davidson.
Ginger (Bronx) says
Guessing at Donna’s question: I know of a spiffy series set on Martha’s Vinyard — older female lead character, too. (A pllus to me.) The author is Cynthia Riggs (who published her first mystery at age 69!!) and her lead character is Victoria Trumbull. I like this series very much for it’s imaginative plots and how able-bodied the lead character is. Not too many books in the series; think she has been writing one every few years. First title: Deadly Nightshade (2001).
Another series that I’m less enthusiastic about is more recent. The series is set on Cape Cod, centered around Sherlock Holmes Bookshop, by Vicki Delaney. First title: Elementary, She Read (2017). British lead character, Gemma Doyle. I like the plots but the lead character is a little too much for me; since this is an experienced cozy writer (I like her books written under the name Eva Gates) I suspect she’ll be correcting toning down the lead character a touch (all it needs).
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ginger, thanks for the suggestions. I’ve listed them as possible answers – the question is too vague for anyone but the person who asked it to really verify the correct answer here.
Cathi says
The caterer is Goldy Bear. Books by Diana Mott Davidson. A good series but she hasn’t written in several years.wondering what happened to her.
Valerie Pfeiffer says
I read that she moved to Hawaii and has retired from writing…. which is unfortunate!
missannie says
Margi, your series is by Carola Dunn. She does not live with a photographer but next door to an artist.
And Juke, your series is about Goldilocks Catering by Diane Mott Davidson
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Miss Annie, both seem like good answers! Thanks!
Julie Harvey says
Juke
Goldy the Caterer Mysteries by Diane Mott Davidson is the series you are looking for I believe.
Linda says
Juke — Dianne Mott Davidson writes a series about a caterer named Goldie. Goldie has a professional frig in her kitchen & drinks a lot of espresso!
Elle says
Lee wrote:
Looking for a crime novel where the female lead protagonist is an archeologist or paleontologist — I wonder if this is Elizabeth Peters -Crocodile on the Sandbank series (Amelia Peabody)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Elle, that’s a possibility! I’ll put it up as a possible answer.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, P. L., Sue, Janie, Linda, Annie, Marie, Anne, Susan, Connie, PamW, KG, Michelle, Pam Walker, Cathi, Missannie, Julie, & Linda. I have read all of Diane Mott Davidson‘s Goldy mysteries and cannot believe I didn’t remember about her espresso-drinking! I don’t know if that’s because I haven’t read a Goldy book since (+/-) 2013 OR if it’s because I drink decaf coffee all day long, OR if my memory is shot! (I sure hope it’s that second possibility!)
Auntie Jo says
Funny,. I thought I recognized the Goldie books but the espresso was the dead giveaway for me!! Can’t believe it’s been since 2013! Let’s beg for a new one!!
MaryBeth Schwarz says
For Juke: The caterer sounds like Goldie Schultz who loves her espresso in the mystery series by Diane Mott Davidson.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MaryBeth, thank you!
MaryBeth Schwarz says
The lady archaeologist may be the Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MaryBeth, that could be the answer! I’ve listed it as a possibility.
JoAnn says
Hi Donna,
It’s possible the author is Leslie Meier. She is from Cape Cod and writes the Lucy Stone cozies. I’ve read them all, they’re great!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
JoAnn, that might be the answer! I’ve listed it as a possibility.
LaVerneB says
For Lee—I would suggested two authors that have an anthropolist as the main character. The first is Kathy Reich who writes the series with Temperance Brenenman. The other is Beverly Connor who main character is Diane Chamberlain.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
LaVerne, those both seem like possibilities! I’ve listed them as potential answers in the post.
Geraldine Foudy says
Margi,
When I read your description I immediately thought of Carola Dunn’s Cornish mysteries.
The main character is a former missionary who works at and lives above a thrift shop. Her neighbor is an artist. She does have a dog and a very old car.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Geraldine, that seems like a good answer! Thanks!
Kristi says
Lee-Could it be The Stolen Da Vinci Manuscripts (Arcadia Jones) by Joshua Elliot James
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kristi, that’s a possiblity! I’ve listed it as a possible option in the post.
P says
Margi might be looking for the Cornish mysteries by Carola Dunn. Eleanor has a dog named Teazle, a car named the Incorruptible, and an artist neighbour.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
P, that seems like a good match! Thanks for the suggestion!
Nancy F says
The author of the series with the old lady in the thrift shop is Carola Dunn. Her character is Eleanor Trewynn and she lives in Cornwall. Carola Dunn also writes the Daisy Dalyrumple series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Nancy, that seems like a very good match! Thanks for the suggestion!
thetarotman says
Danna, I enjoyed this post VERY much. It was a lot of fun to read, and although I rarely drink espresso, I sure do love a fellow-coffee-lover!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Tarot Man, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Ellen F says
Goldie was addicted to espressos, laced with lots of heavy cream! She would always have a quick rush with her first sip, especially on a freezing Colorado day. Whenever I would read a paragraph with her coffee drinks, I would head to my machine to make one!
Diane Mott Davidson is the gold standard of cozy novels and she is the author who introduced me to the genre. She left us hanging with her last book when Goldie and Tom were contemplating expanding their family. So, one more novel would be welcome to wrap it all up!