The Cozy Mystery List Blog

Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV

Crime Writers’ Association – Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time

Here’s a list you might enjoy looking at. It may just inspire you to go read one of these books. I know it has inspired me! (Yes, I’ve added a few to my TBR queue.)

In 1990, the Crime Writers’ Association (British) comprised a list of:

The Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time

  1. Josephine Tey: The Daughter of Time (1951)
  2. Raymond Chandler: The Big Sleep (1939)
  3. John le Carré: The Spy Who Came In From the Cold (1963)
  4. Dorothy L. Sayers: Gaudy Night (1935)
  5. Agatha Christie: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926)
  6. Daphne du Maurier: Rebecca (1938)
  7. Raymond Chandler: Farewell, My Lovely (1940)
  8. Wilkie Collins: The Moonstone (1868)
  9. Len Deighton: The Ipcress File (1962)
  10. Dashiell Hammett: The Maltese Falcon (1930)
  11. Josephine Tey: The Franchise Affair (1948)
  12. Hillary Waugh: Last Seen Wearing … (1952)
  13. Umberto Eco: The Name of the Rose (1980)
  14. Geoffrey Household: Rogue Male (1939)
  15. Raymond Chandler: The Long Goodbye (1953)
  16. Francis Iles: Malice Aforethought (1931)
  17. Frederick Forsyth: The Day of the Jackal (1971)
  18. Dorothy L. Sayers: The Nine Tailors (1934)
  19. Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None (1939)
  20. John Buchan: The Thirty-Nine Steps (1915)
  21. Arthur Conan Doyle: The Collected Sherlock Holmes Short Stories (1892-1927)
  22. Dorothy L. Sayers: Murder Must Advertise (1933)
  23. Edgar Allan Poe: Tales of Mystery & Imagination (1852)
  24. Eric Ambler: The Mask of Dimitrios (1939) (aka A Coffin for Dimitrios)
  25. Edmund Crispin: The Moving Toyshop (1946)
  26. Margery Allingham: The Tiger in the Smoke (1952)
  27. Peter Lovesey: The False Inspector Dew (1982)
  28. Wilkie Collins: The Woman in White (1860)
  29. Barbara Vine: A Dark-Adapted Eye (1986)
  30. James M. Cain: The Postman Always Rings Twice (1934)
  31. Dashiell Hammett: The Glass Key (1931)
  32. Arthur Conan Doyle: The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902)
  33. John le Carré: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1974)
  34. E. C. Bentley: Trent’s Last Case (1913)
  35. Ian Fleming: From Russia, with Love (1957)
  36. Ed McBain: Cop Hater (1956)
  37. Colin Dexter: The Dead of Jericho (1981)
  38. Patricia Highsmith: Strangers on a Train (1950)
  39. Ruth Rendell: A Judgement in Stone (1977)
  40. John Dickson Carr: The Hollow Man (1935) (aka The Three Coffins)
  41. Anthony Berkeley: The Poisoned Chocolates Case (1929)
  42. Ellis Peters: A Morbid Taste for Bones (1977)
  43. Ellis Peters: The Leper of Saint Giles (1981)
  44. Ira Levin: A Kiss Before Dying (1953)
  45. Patricia Highsmith: The Talented Mr. Ripley (1955)
  46. Graham Greene: Brighton Rock (1938)
  47. Raymond Chandler: The Lady in the Lake (1943)
  48. Scott Turow: Presumed Innocent (1987)
  49. Ruth Rendell: A Demon in My View (1976)
  50. John Dickson Carr: The Devil in Velvet (1951)
  51. Barbara Vine: A Fatal Inversion (1987)
  52. Michael Innes: The Journeying Boy (1949)
  53. P. D. James: A Taste for Death (1986)
  54. Jack Higgins: The Eagle Has Landed (1975)
  55. Mary Stewart: My Brother Michael (1960)
  56. Peter Lovesey: Bertie and the Tin Man (1987)
  57. Susan Moody: Penny Black (1984)
  58. Len Deighton: Game, Set & Match (1984-1986)
  59. Dick Francis: The Danger (1983)
  60. P. D. James: Devices and Desires (1989)
  61. Reginald Hill: Under World (1988)
  62. Mary Stewart: Nine Coaches Waiting (1958)
  63. Paula Gosling: A Running Duck (1978)
  64. Michael Gilbert: Smallbone Deceased (1950)
  65. Lionel Davidson: The Rose of Tibet (1962)
  66. P. D. James: Innocent Blood (1980)
  67. Dorothy L. Sayers: Strong Poison (1930)
  68. Michael Innes: Hamlet, Revenge! (1937)
  69. Tony Hillerman: A Thief of Time (1989)
  70. Caryl Brahms & S. J. Simon: A Bullet in the Ballet (1937)
  71. Reginald Hill: Deadheads (1983)
  72. Graham Greene: The Third Man (1950)
  73. Anthony Price: The Labyrinth Makers (1974)
  74. Adam Hall: The Quiller Memorandum (1965)
  75. Margaret Millar: Beast in View (1955)
  76. Sarah Caudwell: The Shortest Way to Hades (1984)
  77. Desmond Bagley: Running Blind (1970)
  78. Dick Francis: Twice Shy (1981)
  79. Richard Condon: The Manchurian Candidate (1959)
  80. Caroline Graham: The Killings at Badger’s Drift (1987)
  81. Nicholas Blake: The Beast Must Die (1938)
  82. Martin Cruz Smith: Gorky Park (1981)
  83. Agatha Christie: Death Comes as the End (1945)
  84. Christianna Brand: Green for Danger (1945)
  85. Cyril Hare: Tragedy at Law (1942)
  86. John Fowles: The Collector (1963)
  87. J. J. Marric: Gideon’s Day (1955)
  88. Lionel Davidson: The Sun Chemist (1976)
  89. Alistair MacLean: The Guns of Navarone (1957)
  90. Julian Symons: The Colour of Murder (1957)
  91. John Buchan: Greenmantle (1916)
  92. Erskine Childers: The Riddle of the Sands (1903)
  93. Peter Lovesey: Wobble to Death (1970)
  94. Dashiell Hammett: Red Harvest (1929)
  95. Ken Follett: The Key to Rebecca (1980)
  96. Ed McBain: Sadie When She Died (1972)
  97. H. R. F. Keating: The Murder of the Maharajah (1980)
  98. Simon Brett: What Bloody Man Is That? (1987)
  99. Gavin Lyall: Shooting Script (1966)
  100. Edgar Wallace: The Four Just Men (1906)

Do you recognize any of these mysteries? I must admit, I haven’t read a lot of them! I now feel like I should expand my repertoire of mystery authors.

Five years later:

Mystery Writers of America – 1995 List of Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time

(I highlighted the authors who can be found on the Cozy Mystery site.)

 

Comments

  1. It seems we all probably have cornerstone books that we have read in the past, if one thinks about it, that have remained in our memories as main books in our reading years. It goes from youth to present.
    I know that the original book The Box Car Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner was such a book in my youth. I had many adventures in my imagination with Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny after reading the book in the ’50s. Now there is a whole series of Box Car Children.
    A cornerstone book of my teen years was the number 6 on this list. It was Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. It was assigned reading for us in our high school class. At a slumber party, we brought this book and started reading it.
    Don’t remember now why we did this-deadline?? We became caught up with it. I remember when we returned home the next day and continued reading it, we would call each other and talk about it. Later saw the movie on TV that was made years before I read it. The director was Alfred Hitchcock. Yes, we read Dickens, Shakespeare, Crime and Punishment but it was the book Rebecca that we all loved.

    Reply

    • Lynn T, you struck a chord when you mentioned “cornerstone books” during different stages of our lives. I love your story about Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. I can just picture a high school group of girls being mesmerized by the rich and dashing Mr. de Winter and all of Manderley’s secrets.

      Although my author isn’t on the Crime Writers’ Association list, my memories take me back to Victoria Holt, and reading them at my grandmother’s house. I have thought about re-reading those mystery books, but am hesitant because that they won’t stand up to the wonderful memories I had of the times I spent in my grandmother’s home while reading them.

      Reply

    • Lynn, I read “The Boxcar Children” when I was in the fourth grade. Now I graduated in 1963. But I can still remember that book and how much I loved it.
      One time several years ago, I had a niece of mine take out this book from her school library so that I could read it again.
      I didn’t know until the last few years that there is a series of this book. I haven’t read any of the proceeding books. Are these books any good? Do you think someone who is 67 years old would enjoy them? I loved the Harry Potter books. I have read these over and over and over.
      Whenever a new installment of Harry Potter would come out I would go back to the first book and read each book again in order so that I was reading each book many times. Also whenever a new movie would come out I would reread the books again.
      The only other books that I have read over and over this way are “The Thorn Birds” and “Gone With the Wind.”
      Harry Potter is one of the best series that I have ever read. I know that come winter I will reread that series again.
      That woman had an imagination and a half. Whoever the person was who cast the characters from the books for the movies should have gotten many, many awards.

      Reply

  3. Daughter of Time has always been one of my favorites, and I love Josephine Tey. Lots of old favorites here: I’ve read 30 of the 100, and other books by many of the authors. My mother and I read every J.J. Marric as they were published: we loved GG: Commander George Gideon of Scotland Yard. I’ve read all the Agathas and Dorothys, the Ed McBain 87th Precinct mysteries, the Cadfaels by Ellis Peters as well as her other series about the Felse family and (under her own name, Edith Pargeter) a good historical fiction series Brothers of Gwynnedd. I loved the Sarah Caudwell books set in Lincoln’s Inn, London, about a group of young barristers and narrator Hilary of unknown gender (a real tour de force to carry that off for 4 whole novels!). Dick Francis’ horse racing mysteries are first rate, though often involving lots of beatings – I hope the racing world is not as dangerous as he made out! And for different danger, the James Bond novels. What a nice list – brings so many wonderful books back to memory.

    Reply

    • I enjoyed going through the list and seeing who I had read. I particularly enjoyed seeing some of the authors I follow being listed more than once. I liked seeing the whole spectrum of mystery books, from Cozies to hard-core (i.e. hard-boiled) mysteries represented.

      Reply

  4. I wonder what the British Crime writers would put on the list today, 20-plus years later. I hope a few more women!

    Reply

    • Hmmmm, Marianne, I hadn’t noticed the discrepancy until I read your comment. I just skimmed through the list and see that roughly a third of the authors are women. I don’t read a lot of the authors on the list, but I am going to try to add several (especially Josephine Tey!) to my list of TBR authors.

      Reply

      • Danna, if you do try Tey, please be aware that her books are All very different to each other.
        I highly recommend that you try ‘The Franchise Affair’, though.
        It was written just after WWII, but could easily have been taken from today’s newspapers. I won’t say anymore, as I don’t want to spoil it, but the ending is brilliant!

        Reply

        • *Susan, I have definitely added Tey to my list of TBR, but am finding that not all of her books are available on Kindle and/or audible.com. I’ll probably end up reading (or listening to) the ones I can find in either of those formats.

          Reply

  5. I’ve read 75% of these, they are really worth taking the time to find and read. The other 25% I’ll have to put on my TBR list! Chandler, Christie and Lovesey are my favorite mystery authors (of all types of mysteries, not just cozies). Wilkie Collins and Poe, among others, created the mystery genre. Francis Iles wrote novels that Hitchcock also adapted to film. I agree with most of the list but think that Christie’s novels should be at the very top!

    Reply

    • Wow, Donna, you have read way more of the 100 Top Crime Novels than I have! I better get cracking!

      Reply

  6. I’ve only read twenty of them. Was THE THIRD MAN really a novel? I thought it began as a screenplay.

    Disappointed that only one of Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse books were on the list, but I’m partial to those.

    Do my eyes deceive me, or is there not a single Ngaio Marsh novel on the list?

    Thanks for the list! It’s good to be reminded about all the good books you haven’t read yet.

    Reply

    • Don, pretty incredible about Ngaio Marsh.

      I love Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse mysteries, and I was glad to see Reginal Hill, and Ruth Rendell (as well as her alias Barbara Vine) so well-represented!

      Reply

    • Don, The Third Man was so popular that they published a book after the movie’s release. It’s pretty good, but differs from the film in many ways.

      Reply

    • Graham Greene wrote that he could only write a screenplay from a novel. So he wrote The Third Man as a novel and then wrote the screenplay from the novel with some changes. The famous cuckoo clock comment by Harry Lime (Orson Welles) was an ad lib by Welles.

      Reply

  7. I’ve read 42 of them – that I can remember. Seen some as movies. Disappointed there are not any more recent ones. List makers always seem to be reluctant to add recent works. Hey, take a leap, say it’s great if you think so instead of waiting for time to prove it!

    Reply

    • Kate, I just went through all of the list, and it looks like about one fourth were from the 1980s, which isn’t all that bad, as far as being current. Actually, I’m surprised there were that many!

      Reply

  9. Just for general interest, J.J. Marric was one of the 28 (!) different ‘noms des plumes’ used by the indefatigable John Creasey.
    A favourite author of my teen years, (My mother had a HUGE collection) and a favourite series from that author.

    Reply

      • Thanks Susan, another book tracked down and added to my Amazon wishlist (found 68 so far, not including those I don’t like or already have read – which are about eight or so).

        Reply

        • Brita, if you only have a list of 68 Creasey titles, you have a long way to go! Lol! He wrote between 700 – 800 books! Seriously! Hence all the pen names.
          I am trying to compile a complete bibliography, but it’s taking time. 🙂

          Reply

    • I remember reading the Handsome West books by John Creasey when I was growing up. My mom is a huge fan and would really like to see more of them available as ebooks so she can reread them when we are on our 2 week cruise!

      Reply

      • Lucky You, Judith! A two week cruise sounds wonderful!!! I hope you have a great time, with or withough John Creasey!

        Reply

  10. Oh – I love this list! I’ve read some of them and especially loved Rebecca. A chilling tale – boy, that Mrs. Danvers! Thanks so much for posting. Now I’ve got to get reading.

    Reply

    • I know, Susan, I also have a lot of reading to do. My first author to get started on is Josephine Tey. I can’t imagine how I missed reading her mysteries! I added her to the Cozy Mystery site at the bequest of several Cozy Mystery readers, but unfortunately I didn’t start reading her then.

      Reply

  11. Great list. I have read at least 70 of them and now want to make sure I read the rest. Don’t miss #82 Gorky Park since you all love mysteries. Josephine Tey has always been a favorite. I think I will re-read her now.

    Reply

    • Ricky, I noticed that it is a pretty eclectic list. I am going to have to “switch it up” a little if I try to read all of these mysteries.

      I just bought Josephine Tey’s The Daughter of Time, for which I will break my hard-and-fast rule about reading a book out of chronological order.

      Reply

  12. I don’t recall reading any of these books! I have read other books by some of the authors on the list. Thanks for posting this as it is a great reference.

    Reply

  13. It’s nice to see a list like this. I know some of my friends don’t like older books or crime novels when there aren’t nowadays toys in it. They mentioned that it is strange when people go to a phone box or use a typewriter instead of a computer or laptop. They have to run to someone instead of phoning the emergency with their mobile. I know of these parts in books, but I don’t mind as otherwise we couldn’t read any books after five or ten years as the gadgets change all the time same as the habits. However I love these oldies, especially those I read in my youth.
    It would be nice if each five years such a list would be made…

    Reply

    • Jetty, I watch the CBS Morning Show every Sunday. Last week, they did a segment about typewriters having a come-back in some retro groups. I was surprised to see some of the younger people having no idea what a typewriter is, or does. (That segment made me sad I hadn’t kept my father’s very old typewriter!)

      Reply

    • Maria, I haven’t read all of the mysteries on this list, but you might be right about the lack of humorous titles.

      Reply

  15. Oh dear, I’ve only read 4 of them – and I can’t really remember what half of those were about. I also wonder what criteria were used to determine which books were in the Top 100. Sales figures in 1990? Most critizied? Best known? Best selling probably not because Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None sold better than The Murder of Roger Ackroyd which isn’t even listed in the best-selling books of all time.

    Thanks for the list. It really is interesting and I think I’ll have to have another look at amazon.de’s mystery selection for the kindle (in English of course).

    Reply

      • By now I have added over seventy which I think is a good result. Your 1990th list can’t be much out of date though. Many if not most modern cozies usually cost around € 4.60 in kindle format these days but almost all books on this list are over € 6.00! So it seems people are still very much into them. I think I only found two for free.

        Reply

        • Brita, when I checked out Josephine Tey, The Franchise Affair was the only one of her books available in Kindle format, and it costs $9.69. (I had expected it to be a lot cheaper, since it was published in 1949.)

          Reply

  16. I’ve read 40 or so. Of the ones that are possibly less known outside the UK, i particularly recommend:

    Anthony Price – writes interesting counter-espionage stories often with interesting historical details.

    Edmund Crispin – about an Oxford English professor – quirky locked-room mysteries, full of literary allusion that from time to time the break the fourth wall

    Nicholas Blake is the pen name of Poet Laureate Cecil Day- Lewis (father of actor Daniel). The books feature a Nigel Strangeways, a gentleman detective.

    Michael Innes wrote about 50 books – again full of literary allusions – many featuring a senior Scotland Yard Detective

    Reply

  17. Danna, Some years ago I read a list of mysteries that had Daphne du Maurier’s “Rebecca” being the number one mystery of all time. This was quite a few years ago so no way do I remember where I read this list. At the time I tried to read this particular book but just could not get into the story. I have read several of the books by this author and I seem to remember that I enjoyed those books very much. But, again I can’t remember the titles. Maybe this winter I will try reading “Rebecca” again. I think my taste in reading mysteries has changed over the years so maybe I can enjoy the book now.
    I have tried reading Josephine Tey’s books but again, I couldn’t get interested in those books either.
    One author on that list that I have read almost all of is Ed McBain. I loved his “87th Precincnt” mysteries. Actually, this series is what got me interested in reading the continuing series’ mysteries. There are many characters throughout the series but I didn’t have a hard time keeping the characters straight from one book to the next.
    I read the “Maltese Falcon” years ago, too. But that was so long ago that I can’t even remember what it is about. Maybe I will try reading a lot of the books from this list this winter. Some of these seem to sound like good winter time reading , especially on dark, wintery, stormy nights.
    Great list. Thanks for publishing this list.
    By the way do any of you also think that your taste in types of mysteries have changed as you have gotten older?

    Reply

    • Linda, what a great idea for an entry post! Don’t be surprised if you see it on here VERY soon!

      Reply

  18. Danna, I read your list with much interest. It was great to see so many old favorites from familiar authors. I remember being anxious to be old enough to read “Rebecca”. When first published, I was just a wee little kid. Did I miss Patricia Wentworth? What about Ngaio Marsh? I could go on and on.

    Reply

  19. I’m not surprised to see how many of us owe our love of cozies to Agatha Christie – I read Ten Little Indians (aka Then There Were None) way back when I was in elementary school. Hercule is still one of my favorite characters. For newer authors, I think Margaret Maron deserves a place on the list – her Deborah Knott series is wonderfully written and gives a thoughtful glimpse into a way of life that was completely foreign to me until I read The Bootlegger’s Daughter.

    Reply

    • Edie, Agatha Christie is another of those writers that I intend to read this coming winter. I want to read Earle Stanley Gardner, also. There are so many older long gone writers that I want to read, just so that I can say whether I like the writer, or not. I have read some of Agatha Cristie’s books, of course. One of the area libraries that I frequent is now getting her books in large print, which will make for easier reading for many people. Libraries are the best places. And to me, winter is the best reading time. I am not so distracted then. I can put something in a crock pot or in the oven and then forget everything else.
      I am not wishing for winter to get here. Winter in Ohio can be a very mixed bag of stuff. But so long as I can read I will be fine. Fall? Autumn is georgeous here in Ohio. Ohio people don’t have to go clear to New England to see some amazing colorful trees. We have plenty right here in our own backyard! Plus, there are many Amish restaurants here in Ohio, especially in Holmes County for us to enjoy along our way. Just a little tidbit about Ohio.

      Reply

      • Linda, if I had access to more large print books, I probably wouldn’t be relying on my Kindle as much as I am. (Since I got my Kindle (with its large font capacity) I haven’t been reading “real” books.)

        Reply

        • Danna, All 3 of the area libraries that I frequent have large sections just for the large print books. All of these sections have the large prints in fiction as well as the non fiction type books. I use the fiction large print quite often.

          Reply

    • Kalena, I just checked the 1995 list of crime novels (the USA version) and see that Margaret Maron isn’t on that list either. I was surprised to find several authors who were not on either list, who I thought would have made one of them, if not both.

      Reply

  20. Thanks for this wonderful list! I saved all the titles in a special file at my local library website under my account. I also saved all the books that had movies made.

    Reply

    • Chelsea, how nice that your library’s account allows you to make lists and save them. It sounds like you have a phenomenal library!

      Reply

  21. Thanks for providing this great list! I’ve read at least 42 of the books plus many more by some of the authors. I’ve read all of Tony Hillerman and most of Agatha Christie, Dick Francis, and the 1930’s and ’40’s authors Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. So many familiar names on this list. Definitely keeping a copy so that I can begin to complete the list. Again, thanks!

    Reply

    • Edie, I’m going to try to add some of these authors to my reading list, but I already have so many books in my TBR Kindle queue, that I have no idea when I will actually get to them. Life keeps interfering with my reading time!

      Reply

  22. Ah, this list shows a little more love for Ellis Peters – bravo! And Sarah Caudwell too – she definitely should have been on the other list as well as this one.

    Oh, and I see Dick Francis here too, although I would be hard pressed to pick one to label as ‘best’ among his many truly excellent mysteries.

    Reply

  23. Ever since I met Nancy Drew in fifth grade (over 50 years ago), I have loved “Cozy” mysteries, but I never knew they were a separate genre! I just knew I love witty, compassionate investigators but get tired of series that focus on gory, horrific crimes and serial killers. Today I was on the phone with my sister Lyn, and she recommended Mary Jane Maffini. I googled Maffini and found your Cozy Mystery List! Definitely bookmarked as a favorite! I have been going down your index checking for my favorites, and so far they are all there (except for Carolyn Keene who got me started).

    Some of my favorites:
    Sara Paretsky’s V. I. Warshawshi series – gutsy character with social conscience, raises hard issues.

    Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series – every book had me rotfl (rolling on the floor laughing). I also enjoyed the “One for the Money” movie, and was sorry it did so poorly at the box office.

    Faye Kellerman’s Decker & Lazarus Series – faith and tradition are sympathetically treated without preaching.

    Philip R. Craig’s Martha’s Vinyard series – a clear sense of place and community. I started with the 8th book and worked forward for a while; just recently read the first book, and there was a scene in it I found appalling; I guess J. W. mellowed over time.

    Alexander McCall Smith’s Number One Ladies’ Detective Agency series – delightful, so human, full of wisdom and humor. And the HBO TV series fully lived up to my expectations. (I also enjoy the 44 Scotland Street and Corduroy Mansions series which are not mysteries, but very entertaining.)

    J. A. Jance – I love everything she writes because her detective characters are so human and engaging, struggling with problems like alcoholism. death of a spouse, or getting respect as a woman professional.

    Reply

    • Welcome to the site, Carol! I’m glad you found us.

      I have gone ahead and added all of the favorites you listed to the list of Cozy Mystery readers’ favorite series. You share the same enjoyment with others who have posted their favorites.

      Reply

  25. Danna, I’ve just been scrolling through your themes section in complete awe both of your industry and of the variety of the human race! I was reminded of that song that’s sung very fast all about subjects for study (“chemistry biology”..I can hear the tune but can’t remember the title.) I’ve just come to rest because “Trent’s Last Case” caught my eye. I think it was the first “mystery” I ever read because it was in my parents’ book collection; an old tatty copy it was too.
    Coming up to date, I’ve just discovered Eric Ambler and he is really good. I’ve just finished “Journey of Fear” and am looking forward to reading his others. There are new publications because it’s his centenery this year. Orsen Wells filmed several of his books.

    Reply

      • I know, Joseph Cotten was a staple of British films in the 40’s and 50’s. Not sure, but I believe he found work in Britain when he fell a victim to the M’Carthy “witch-hunts.”
        I recently found an interview with a young-ish Orson Welles on the BBC Archive. Fascinating; he was a very interesting man, all over the place – he even played Hamlet on stage in Dublin when he was 16.

        Reply

  26. Hi Danna, I’ve just looked up Joseph Cotton and I think I’ve mixed him up with some-one else. He certainly had an illustrious career. I have seen him in “The Third Man” and a few other things.

    Reply

        • Anne, I’m sorry. I’m guessing you must have a channel that is similar. TCM is a channel that plays older movies (they used to be mostly from the 1930s and 1940s, however they have recently been adding more recent movies) without commercial breaks.

          Reply

          • Thanks Danna. Sounds good. I haven’t had a t.v. for years, from choice. I watch everything on the internet, on the BBC Iplayer, and I listen to BBC radio for drama, music, comedy and all sorts of interesting programmes. Plus dvds and audio books. Most of all reading. I just find that over the years most of the stuff on t.v. You tube etc. bores me stiff. Cakes, make-overs, game shows, “talent” shows… I’m turning into a Grumpy Old Woman!

            Reply

            • Anne, I don’t know what I would do without my old, black and white movies! And, I watch old, black and white game shows from even-before I was born on our PLEX system. There’s no way I would have the patience to watch them while at my computer, but at night I enjoy them.

              No, not a Grumpy Old Woman >>> just a “to each, their own” type of woman!

              Reply

  27. I’m still looking for a book that I read only half while I was in the hospital in the 70s. It was English, I think about a woman who grew herbs and people would come to her for healing herbs. She also was a mystery solver catching perpetrators. I seem to recall that she had the nickname of The White Witch, although she wasn’t a witch. It was very old but I loved what I read. Don’t remember the author or title. Could it have been a Victoria Holt mystery? I’d love to find it.

    Reply

    • Lenna, hmm, that’s a real head-scratcher! Unfortunately I’m not able to think of anything off the top of my head, maybe someone else is familiar with it? I’ve gotten a couple of these questions lately, so maybe I’ll put them together into a front page post.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Please don't tell us about Cozy Mystery authors or books you don't enjoy.

Please use a nickname or your first name and last initial (unless you are an author and want your full name to appear).

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

MENU