It’s been a while, and I’ve accumulated quite a few reader questions! I intend to do this more frequently, but I keep forgetting…
From Bonney:
I’m looking for help in looking for a book (not sure if it was a series) but the dog was trained to search the whole house before it’s owner proceeded into the house. Any ideas?
From Nance:
I am looking for the author of several mystery books with a central female Asian character who works in San Francisco. I believe she is young.
PS: Alice suggests this could be the Noodle Shop Mystery Series by Vivien Chien , which seems quite possible – I don’t recall if it was in San Francisco or not, but it does star a sleuth of Asian descent. Lori suggests that it could by Naomi Hirahara, which I’m less familiar with but does seem to have written several series starring Asian-American sleuths. Tari suggests Anne R. Tan, another author I’m not familiar with but that does seem possible after a quick search of her works. Patricia suggested the Bill Smith & Lydia Chin Mystery Series by S. J. Rozan. Ashley suggests it could be Gigi Pandian‘s Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery Series.
From Heather:
Hey, I’m looking for a series that was about a middle age film star that started to solve murders that happened on her film/TV/theater sets.
Also , the younger police officer that ends up working with her becomes her boyfriend. I think her son was in the cast of characters.I know it was written in the 90’s.
PS: Kathryn suggests that this could be either the Polly Pepper Mystery Series, by R. T. Jordan, or the Desert Flowers Mystery Series by Lee Hollis. Both seem possible.
From Janis:
I am wondering if anyone recalls a mystery novel set in Arkansas featuring a protagonist who is a male Legal Aid attorney. I think it was published in the early 1990s. Does this meager description ring a bell for anyone? Thank you!
PS: Sharon suggested this could be the Gideon Page Mystery Series, by Grif Stockley, another series and author I’m not familiar with, but the description seems like a reasonable match.
From AT:
I’ve been trying to find a book, don’t remember the title or the author. I vaguely remember the sleuth is a woman, either inherited or bought an older home, with some kind of secret, money or treasure hidden in the house. I believe the Sheriff helps her and I know it was a series, because at the end of the book, there was an excerpt for the 2nd book.
PS: Pen suggests this could be the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery Series, by Lauren Elliott – I’m not familiar with the author but it does look like a possibility. E suggests it could be the Crime With the Classics Mystery Series, by Katherine Bolger Hyde. Mick suggests it could be the Wedding Planner Mystery Series by Stephanie Blackmoore.
From MJB:
I’ve run across a series in this category recently (Danna: this was posted in the Book Store Owner category) but regret to report I cannot recall the author or titles (I believe three so far). The major character moves, with her golden retriever Gatsby, from Maine to southern Massachusetts to take over her grandmother’s bookstore for a year while her newly-retired grandmother tours the world! The second and third books involve an old letter and an old photo. Does this sound familiar to anyone out there? If so, please let me know the author and titles! Thank you in advance!
PS: Nancy suggests this could be the Annie’s Attic Mystery Series, a long series written by various authors – some details don’t quite fit, but it’s always possible I’m misremembering or that the question is (accidentally) combining several different series. Emily suggests it might be the Seabreeze Bookshop Mystery Series, by Penny Brooke.
Thank you in advance to anyone who answers! I know some of these are very vague, even for these sort of “do you remember a series where…?” sort of questions, so we’ll have to see how this goes! As I get possible answers, I’ll post them with the question…
Alice says
“I am looking for the author of several mystery books with a central female Asian character who works in San Francisco. I believe she is young.”
Vivien Chien’s Noodle Shop Mysteries?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Alice, that does seem like a good possibility worth mentioning – I don’t recall if it takes place in San Francisco, but it definitely stars an Asian–American sleuth.
Patricia Wakefield says
S.J. Rozan, protagonist Lydia Chin?
The Noodle Shop Mysteries take place in Cleveland.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Patricia – that’s what I thought about the Noodle Shop location, as that is also where the author is from… but I’m going to leave it up anyway as an option, as fairly frequently people sending in requests get a detail or two wrong by mistake.
I’ve added your own suggestion as well!
LaVerne Bocanelli says
The Noodle Shop Myteries are set in the West Park section of Cleveland, Ohio. Part of the fun of reading her books for me is I grew up in that area and I enjoy the references to places that are really there.
Nancy says
To MJB There’s a series of books written by different authors published by Annie’s Attic called Annie’s Attic Mystery Series. They’re set in Maine & in the first book a woman inherits a house from her grandmother called The Lady in the Attic & the second & third ones are called Medals in the Attic & The Photo Album & the fourth one’s called Letters in the Attic. This is the only series that I can think of involving letters & photos.
Here’s a link to them posted previously by Danna here on her website-
https://cozy-mystery.com/annies-attic-mystery-series.html
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Nancy, that does seem like a potential answer to many parts of the post, though not all of it. It does seem close enough to post as a possibility.
Lori Tuttle says
I think the author of the San Francisco Asian-American may be Naomi Hirahara. In addition to her other series she wrote at least 2 books about a young female policewoman. The first was Murder in Bamboo Lane.—Lori
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lori, I’m not familiar with this author, but a quick search makes her seem like a plausible answer – I’ll put it up as a possible solution.
Kathy says
Hi-great idea, mysteries surrounding mysteries! Will you post the answering posts? So enjoy your addition to my in box- delightful!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kathy, yes, I’ll update this post with potential answers, as well as posting the reader comments with the potential answers.
Mick says
The series AT is looking for could be The Wedding Planner Mysteries, by Stephanie Blackmoore. The main character, Mallory, inherits an old house from her almost grandmother-in-law, and learns there could be some very valuable old paintings hidden in the house. Mallory and her sister turn the old house into B&B and wedding venue.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mick, it does seem possible, so I’ll put it up as a potential answer.
Tari H says
Maybe Nance is looking for the Raina Sun series by Anne R. Tan? That’s the only one I can think that fits the description, hope it helps!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Tari, that does seem possible – I’ve posted it as a potential answer.
Pen R. says
AT: This could be Lauren Elliott’s series called “Beyond the Page Bookstore”.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Pen, that does seem like a possibility – I’ve posted it as a potential answer.
Kathryn says
There were 3 books about Polly Pepper, a middle aged film star, by R.T. Jordan, but no more after those 3. Currently there is a series by Lee Hollis about Polly Harmon; a retired, widowed TV star in Palm Springs.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kathryn, both of those seem like good potential answers, so I’ll post both.
Kathryn says
Ok.
thetarotman says
I read all the descriptions, twice each, and nothing sounds familiar to me.
However, I have a feeling that once the answers to these questions are are submitted, I shall either have four additional TBR stacks (I have three currently), or I shall need a medium-sized table for all my TBR books.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Tarot, I know that feeling!
thetarotman says
I think that feeling could be the foundation of a club! HA!!
Sharon says
Could the book(s) featuring an Arkansas-based legal aid attorney be the Gideon Page series by Grif Stockley?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sharon, I don’t know that one personally, but it does seem to match a lot of the question’s details, so I’ve listed it as a possible solution. Thanks!
Ashley C says
Could the question from Nance be about Gigi Pandian’s Jaya Jones series? She works a college history professor in San Francisco that travels the world looking for historical treasures. She’s Indian though so I’m not sure if that still fits.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ashley, it’s possible! I’ll put it up as a potential answer.
E says
AT might be looking for the Crime with the Classics series by Katherine Bolger Hyde. Emily inherits her great aunts estate which is where her former beau, now the sheriff, lives.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
E, that does seem like a potential answer, so I’ll put it up as a possibility.
Emily says
MJB – I think it’s the Penny Brooke series, beginning with A Page of Murder. Rue moves to Somerset Harbor to take care of her grandmother’s bookshop with her dog Gatsby.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Emily, that does seem possible, though the release date of these books (all in 2021) are a bit recent. Still, it does fit enough of the clues to post as a potential solution.
Rita Stewart Endres says
I just wanted to say what a great idea about cozy reader questions. This is very informative, and it also gives us all more book ideas to read. Just wanted to say thanks.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Rita, I’m glad to hear from readers who find this sort of question post interesting!
thetarotman says
Danna, I also wish to thank you for including questions from Cozy Mystery readers. Although I could not identify any of them, I enjoyed reading them, and, of course, thank you for all you do on this wonderful Website.
Also, I happily blame you (and several others) for causing my TBR stacks to topple to the floor, even before two of my three cats can do so themselves (smile).