It’s been a while, and I’ve accumulated quite a few reader questions! Here’s hoping that we can come up with answers to some of these “Do you know a series where..?” questions.
From Lisa:
Hello! I am looking for a children’s mystery book series that has recipes in the back on each book. I read one about 20 years ago and have been making a tuna salad recipe from it ever since, but I have no idea what it was called! I remember the protagonist was a girl but that’s it. Does this ring any bells for anyone?
EDIT: Lenora and Ellen both suggested this could be The Boxcar Children Series, which has a Boxcar Children Cookbook that includes a tuna salad sandwich recipe referenced in a book.
From Elise:
I cannot think of the name of the series that has an elderly lady that lives in a house with a thrift shop on the bottom and has a vicar’s wife that runs it. The lady goes around picking up donations all over the English country side where she lives and has a niece who is a constable and is always having to help her aunt stay out of trouble because of her mean boss in the constabulary. Her next door neighbor is an artist and has a shop. I want to read more badly. Thank you!
EDIT: The same answer came in from many, many readers… Marie, Dorothy, Amy, Peggy, gf48, Ginger, Cheryl, Ellen, Michael, Teresa… Maryann, Ruth, Cindy, Elaine… Terry, Annie, Michelle… and Judith, Kate, Sandy, and Paula… from the huge response, this is almost certainly the Cornish Mystery Series by Carola Dunn! Thanks for all the responses!
From Karen:
Hoping you can help me remember a series, I believe is set in a mansion turned into a hotel and museum owned by an elderly gentleman with a stepdaughter who visits when she needs money. In the first book the manager is murdered and his young female assistant is promoted to the position, she solves the murders in the series. There is a long-time assistant to the owner who doesn’t get along with the new manager until much later in the series after they work together solving the various murders. I can’t remember any of the characters’ names or the author, just that I enjoyed the series several years ago and would like to find out if there are additional books.
EDIT: Karen (presumably a different Karen), Penny, Jackie, Bev, Judith, and Ann, all suggested this could be Julie Hyzy‘s Manor House Mystery Series.
From dcarnall:
I’m hoping you or another fellow reader can help me find a series of books I started reading several years ago. I have so little info to offer though, so there lies the problem. I remember it was a cozy series, it was about a female realtor living & working in Florida (???). I seem to remember she was in her 40s, & she was unhappy. Out of the blue she inherited a home on a coast or island from a relative she didn’t know at all or very little. She quit her job & started driving. When she arrived at her destination a dead body was found on the property, I believe, in or near a shed in the back yard. The paranormal aspect of the story begins to show up along with a strange supernatural “animal” I can’t remember the name of. Well, if anyone likes a mystery this is a mystery I have not been able to solve. Please help me! I would like to read more of this authors books!
EDIT: Purplemamajj suggested this could be by Mary Kay Andrews. I don’t know whether this is correct or not, as I haven’t read her entire catalog (mostly I have read her work as Kathy Hogan Trocheck) so confirmation one way or another would be nice!
From Sarah:
I wish I could recall the name of an author who did a series about an antique shop in Virginia horse country around Winchester. Any clues?
EDIT: A few possible options – Julie suggested it might be the Sterling Glass Mystery Series, by Emyl Jenkins, while Robin suggested it could be the Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries, by J.B. Stanley (now more popular as Ellery Adams). Both sound possible, though neither is exactly a 100% match.
Thank you in advance to anyone who answers! As I get possible answers, I’ll post them with the question…
PS: I have been very bad about replying to these sort of questions lately… so don’t be surprised if there is another post similar to this in a week or two… Very sorry to those who have been waiting on answers!
Marie says
For Elise: She may be looking for Carola Dunn’s Cornish Mystery Series.
None of the others sound familiar to me.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marie, thanks! This definitely sounds like the answer.
Dorothy says
The author of the books about the older lady living about a thrift shop is Carola Dunn. The books take place in Cornwall. In the 1960s. Great series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Dorothy, thanks! This seems like the likely answer.
purplemamajj says
To dcarnall, would it be by the author Mary Kay Andrews?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Purplemamajj, thanks for the response! Did you have a specific book or series in mind?
Karen M says
I think Karen is looking for a series by Julie Hyzy. Manor of Murder Mystery
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Karen, thanks! This does seem likely to be the answer.
Amy M Reade says
Possibly the answer to Elise’s question is The Cornish Mysteries?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Amy, thank you! This seems like the answer!
Peggy says
The name of the series that has an elderly lady that lives in a house with a thrift shop on the bottom and has a vicar’s wife that runs it is The Cornish Mysteries by Carola Dunn. Sadly there’s only 4 books in the series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Peggy, thank you very much – this does seem like a very likely answer!
gf48 says
Elise,
I believe the series you are looking for was written by Carola Dunn. One of the titles is “Manna from Hades”
Danna - cozy mystery list says
gf48, thanks for the response! This does seem very likely as the answer!
Ginger (Bronx) says
Elise –sounds like a favorite series of mine! Written by Carola Dunn (better known for Daisy Dalrymple), the main character is Eleanor Trewynn; series takes place in the 1960s, set in Cornwall, England. Eleanor and her late husband did undercover work around the world (that’s my memory of it) and so she’s apt to go off to practice her martial arts skills. There may only be 4 titles in the series, which is too bad —
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ginger, thank you! This does seem likely to be the answer.
Cheryl Hargraves says
I think the series Elise is asking about is the Cornish Mystery series by Carola Dunn. The first book in the series is Manna from Hades.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Cheryl, thank you very much! This does seem like the answer.
Ellen S says
For Elsie, the book might be Manna from Hades by Carols Dunn.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ellen, thanks for the response! It seems likely to be the answer.
Michael says
Dana,
RE: The request from Elise. I just recently read this book and I cannot remember the name or the author either. This is going to drive me crazy as I also want to read more, just like Elise. I believe I got the name of the book from one of your posts, but I do not know how to research back beyond the ones you have listed under recent posts. Can you tell me how to do it. It was in the last few months.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Michael, I see from your later comment that you found it yourself – thanks for the answer!
Teresa Springer says
This is for Elise’s question. I think the series you want is The Cornish Mysteries by Carola Dunn. I read Buried in the Country and remember the details you provided. Hope this helps!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Teresa, thanks for the response! I’ve listed it as the likely answer.
Penny R. says
Karen- I think the series you might be thinking of is; Manor of Murder Mystery by Julia Hyzy. The last one was published in 2017, and I don’t think there will be any more. I really liked that series, as well as her White House Chef Mystery.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Penny, thank you! This does seem like the answer.
Jackie says
Karen: That’s the Manor House series by Julie Hyzy.
For more info
http://www.juliehyzy.com/other-books/manor-house-mystery-series/
https://cozy-mystery.com/julie-hyzy.html
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Jackie – thanks! I’ve listed this as the likely answer.
Maryann Kosinski says
I might have the answer for “Elise”. I’m thinking it is a series by Carola Dunn and it is the Cornish Mystery Series. There are 4 books in the series. I hope that helps.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Maryann, thanks! This does seem pretty likely to be the answer.
Ruth says
In answer to the question from Elise – I believe the series she is referring to about the elderly lady who lives upstairs from thrift store run by Vicar’s wife and the next door neighbor is an artist is: Cornish Mystery Series by Carola Dunn. There were 4 books in the series, the last written in 2018. 1. Manna from Hades; 2. A Colorful Death; 3. Valley of the Shadow; 4. Buried in the Country.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ruth, thanks! I’ve listed this as the likely answer.
cindy says
Hi! I googled Elise description and came up with a name. Carola Dunn I found her on Goodreads website and it states there is a total of 4 works by this author. Hope this helps.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Cindy, thanks! This does seem likely to be then answer!
Elaine G says
From Elise: It might be the Cornish Mystery series by Carola Dunn.
Eleanor Trewynn is a widow who retires to a Cornish village, and has founded a local charity shop. Niece is a Detective Sargent.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Elaine, this does seem likely to be the answer! Thank you very much!
Terry Adams says
Elderly lady over thrift store: This is a second series from the author of the Daisy Dalrymple books. Can’t for the life of me remember the character’s or author’s name, but hope that’s enough of a clue.
Looking forward to the answers to the other questions.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Terry, this seems likely to be the answer! Thanks for the response!
Annie says
Elise, I think you want the series by Carola Dunn. Not her Daisy Dalrymple series. I think it is called the Cornish series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Annie, thank you very much – this does seem likely to be the answer.
Bev says
The series Karen is looking sounds like the Manor House series written by Julie Hyzy.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bev, thanks! That seems like a very likely answer.
Michelle M. says
Elise, you may be thinking of the Cornish mysteries by Carola Dunn. I think there are four books in the series: Manna from Hades, A Colourful Death, Valley of the Shadow, and Buried in the Country.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Michelle, thank you very much – this does seem very likely to be the answer!
Judith says
Elise – this sounds like the Cornish Mysteries by Carola Dunn. The first book is Manna from Hades.
Karen – this sounds like the Manor House Mysteries by Julie Hyzy. There are 8 books in the series, the first of which is Grace Under Pressure.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Judith – those both sound like very likely answers! Thank you very much!
Kate Collier says
Elise,
The series is by Carola Dunn and the protagonist it Eleanor Trewynn. I love that series (“Cornish Mystery Series”), and here’s a link to a little more info:
https://cozy-mysteries-unlimited.com/cornish-mystery-series
This is the author’s website:
http://caroladunn.weebly.com/
Let me know if you find any more titles in this series (the first website lists only the three I’ve read already!)
So glad you asked. This brought back many good memories!! 🙂
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kat, thanks! This does seem likely to be the answer!
Sandy K says
Elise, the author of the series you are asking about is Carola Dunn. I’ve enjoyed her series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sandy, thank you – this does seem like the answer!
Ann says
Karen,
I think the series you are thinking of is the Manor House Mystery Series by Julie Hyzy. The main character is Grace Wheaton and she works at Marshfield Manor.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ann, thank you – this does seem likely to be the answer!
Paula Catherine says
For Elise:
The series, which I enjoyed , is written by Carola Dunn. It is a Cornish mystery series. Eleanor Trewynn is a widow living in Port Mabyn, a small fishing village in Cornwall, England. In her younger days, she traveled to exotic places with her husband. Her niece, now a Detective Sargent moved to the same area. I really enjoyed the characters.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Paula, thank you! This is very likely the answer Elise was looking for!
Michael says
Dana, Elise, I found it!!!
The series is “A Cornish Mystery Series” by Carolla Dunn. There are four books in the series :
1. Manna from Hades ’09
2. A Colourful Death ’10
3. Valley of the Shadow ’12
4. Buried in the Country ’16
The good news is that once you have read all four of the Cornish Mysteries, there are 25 Daisy Dalrymple books to read.
Thank you for your enquiry, Elise, I just read Manna from Hades and wanted to read the rest of the series but had forgot who wrote them. Silly me. It took me all day, but I finally remembered.
I have been reading the Daisy Dalrymple books and really like Carolla’s style.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Michael, thank you very much – I’m glad you found this! It’s very likely to be the answer.
Robin H. says
Is it possible that the last one is The Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries? The series was started in 2015 by J.B. Stanley, now better known as Ellery Adams. It was set in Virginia, but the main character wrote articles for Collector’s Weekly instead of having a store. The first book was A Killer Collection.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Robin, thanks for the suggestion – it doesn’t completely fit, but it does sound like a possibility (people often get a detail or two wrong in these questions) so I’m putting it down as such.
Amy M Reade says
For Lisa: maybe the Just Desserts Gang mysteries?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Amy, I don’t think I’m familiar with that series – do you have an author name as well?
Glen Day says
While everyone is looking, remembering, and suggesting authors, maybe someone can come up with a series I’ve been trying to find. About a woman in Northern California, I think, who works for a phone company(?) and who left a prior job to move to this small community. It’s been a long time since I read these, and I’m not certain if there were more than one book, tho I think there were. As I recall, she’s something of a loner, but she does solve mysteries!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Glen, I’ve put this up as part of a front page post, so hopefully someone will come up with an answer.
Julie Felix says
For Sarah: This might be the Sterling Glass mysteries by Emyl Jenkins. It was set in Virginia but she is an antiques appraiser. There were only two books in the series because the author passed away.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Julie, thanks for the suggestion – I’m listing it despite not being a definite match, as people do often get a detail or two wrong in these questions.
Megan W says
Hey all-
I read this mystery book maybe 10 years ago and loved it but have no idea who wrote it. It’s about an old lady in who owns an inn or hotel and she is a bit eccentric. She lives here with her son. The main character goes to visit this place and finds a diary from a maid who used to work there who disappeared somehow but had had a baby prior. In the end, the old, eccentric lady ends up being a man and her son ends up being the missing maids son. I have looked forever for the title or author of this book. It was sooo good! Anyone have any idea?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Megan, I’ve put this up as part of a front page question post, so hopefully someone will be able to make a suggestion.
Ellen S says
For Lisa: could it be Boxcar Children’s Snowbound Mystery. It has a tuna recipe in it.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ellen, thanks – this seems like a plausible answer, so I’ve added it to the post.
Lenora says
For Lisa: There was a companion recipe book to old The Boxcar Children Series. Violet’s Tuna Sandwiches recipe appears in that cookbook with a reference to the Alden children fixing “Tuna Fish” salad sandwiches for lunch in Snowbound Mystery. Maybe later editions incorporated the recipes into the back of the books???
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lenora, thanks – that does seem like a possible answer, so I’ve added it to the post.