OK, I have to admit it. >>> I’m a sucker for holiday themed mystery books. (No surprise to a lot of you!) And, here’s another admission: I won’t be able to catch up to David Handler’s The Snow White Christmas Cookie this year, but hopefully, I will by next December.
When I was getting the October 2012 Mystery Book New Releases list together this month, there were a few mysteries that really caught my attention. This mystery by David Handler was one of these books.
David Handler is one of the authors who I have had my eye on for a while. I have so many mystery authors who I already follow, so every time I try a new one, I put a lot of thought into it. I look at the reviews other people have written, as well as try to check out “what the author is all about.”In the case of David Handler, I liked what I found out. The fact that he has won an Edgar Award, was a finalist for an Anthony Award, a finalist of the Dilys Award,that his Berger & Mitry Mystery Series takes place in an historic village in Connecticut, and the fact that he was part of the writing team that created the Kate and Allie Show convinced me to give his books a try.
So, having just finished my latest Monica Ferris Needlecraft mystery, I am now embarking on a new-to-me author, and am really looking forward to reading The Cold Blue Blood.
susie calkins says
That sounds like a good one; I read a Monica Ferris a few weeks ago. Fun stuff!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susie, very easy reading…
*Susan says
Just an interesting bit of trivia – that series all has descriptive ‘Colour’ titles. (Cold Blue, Snow White, Blood Red, etc.)
Handler’s other major series, the Stewart Hoag mysteries all have a person in the title. (Ie: The Man, The Woman, The Girl, The Boy.)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
*Susan, I think David Handler’ titles are what first drew my attention to him, making me want to find out about him. That, and I have to admit, I am often-times impressed by authors who have won literary awards.
BB says
I’ve been working on a spreadsheet of award-winning titles and my goal is to read everyone that I can. May not live long enough, but hopefully I can make a dent in it! The non-mysteries I can get from the library, but trying to gradually accumulate the Kindle mysteries when they go on sale for a reasonable price. So please don’t point out that one has been nominated and is cheap or I’ll have to buy it. 😉
Danna - cozy mystery list says
BB, I know what you mean! I have so many books in my Kindle queue because of the sales I become aware of (a lot of them because of you!!!) The one I’m reading now wasn’t on sale, which of course, means that I don’t always abide by my rule of buying books when they’re on sale.
BB says
Danna, apparently we’re enabling each other’s addiction. Ha! 🙂
*Susan says
In fact, on second look, they are all “The … Who”, rather like a popular series of feline mysteries! 🙂
Danna - cozy mystery list says
*Susan, again, Handler’s titles are fun ways of getting people like me to take a second look, and think about trying his mysteries. I haven’t read very far into The Cold Blue Blood, but so far I am enjoying it a lot…
Regina says
Danna, I enjoy David Handler’s mystery books set in CT. I never remember his name until I read a review of one of his books then I have an AHA moment. I will look for his new book now. I have been reading a great non fiction book, “Killer Show”. It is about the fire that killed 100 people in a RI nightclub in 2003. What a preventible disaster it was. After Boston’s Coconut Grove Fire you think people would learn.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Regina, I’m glad to know you enjoy David Handler’s mysteries. Was the RI nightclub fire the one where they had all of the exits locked? Terrible tragedy.
linda says
Danna, I just clicked on this title and read the description of the storyline of the book. Sounds really interesting. I don’t know if library patrons around here can have books not yet released put on hold. If so, this looks like a good book to read between Thanksgiving and Christmas and if I can, I will try to get that book. The dust cover makes the book look very interesting.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda, I hope you’re talking about The Cold Blue Blood. That’s the first in the Berger & Mitry Mystery Series. The Snow White Christmas Cookie is the ninth…
marla says
Great! Thanks a lot danna! Now there’s another author I am going to have to add to the already overwhelming list of new authors I am trying to get through. Just when I thought I was getting somewhere…
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marla, I haven’t gotten very far in this book, but from what little I have read, I like it.
Sheila says
Thanks Danna. I live in Connecticut and like reading mysteries that are set in my state. Will add it to my list for future reading.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sheila, this book I’m reading by David Handler caught my attention immediately. It is one of those books that start out with the crime, which I actually like. Sometimes, it seems to me that authors wait until the middle of the book before letting me know what is going to be going on… and I get quite impatient.
(PS>>> I lived in Connecticut when I was in the second grade, and loved it. I also am hooked on mystery series that take place in the northeastern states. I just love your seasonal changes.)
Sheila says
Danna – Thanks for the heads up about the David Handler’s series. I also prefer books starting off with the action and not making me wait and wait. Those are the books that hold my attention. Presently I’m reading Kate Collin’s Flower Shop mysteries (only on book 3). I find it hard to put the Nook down!
Kristina M. A. says
What did you think of the Monica Ferris book? I love her books and cannot wait for the new one to come out. Love your website and blog. Keep up the good work!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Welcome to the site, Kristina! I’m glad you found us.
I enjoy Monica Ferris’ Needlecraft Mystery Series… I find that I like the characters and the setting, and of course, since I enjoy needle work crafts, I enjoy that aspect of her books. I am way behind in the series, though. There are so many authors I follow, that it seems I can’t keep up with their books.
marion says
I like Monica Ferris. A couple of years ago I read straight through to Knitting Bones but then returned it for some reason. Read part of Buttons and Bows and then stopped for some reason. Don’t know why I stopped. Maybe I had overdone it on her or had something else on my plate. Not a matter of disliking the series but sometimes I stall when I read too many of one author in a row. I had been thinking recently that I need to start her up again. Don’t know whether to start at the beginning and maybe skip read till I’m caught up or just start where I stopped. I mostly liked her because I was interested in the characters and because I knit and do cross-stitch and needlepoint. I felt like I got to know the characters quite well, kind of like Joanne Fluke and Earlene Fowler that way. The plots, themselves, I found kind of middle of the road, neither great nor poor.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marion, the only mystery series I have been able to read back to back is the Hamish Macbeth Mystery Series by M. C. Beaton. I think Beaton had only written fifteen by then – of the possible 28 books currently in the series..
raymond says
I’d like to add a new ‘cozy’ mystery to your list – “Murder at the Mardi Gras” by V. Hurst. This ebook at Amazon.com features the search for the Mardi Gras Killer in the New Orleans French Quarter during the annual Carnival season. The novel also serves as a good travelogue for New Orleans as well as providing a lot of shivers.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Raymond, for telling us about V. Hurst.
Barbara Thompson says
I have read all the Mitch Berger and Des Mitry books and really looking forward to the Christmas one. This is a really great series if you have not read it.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Barbara, thanks for the David Handler endorsement. I am not getting very much reading done, but I am enjoying the book so much that I think he will be on my “favorite authors” list.
linda c says
Danna, I did read this book this holiday season and I did enjoy it so much that I will look for other books by this author. But as I read it no where could I find anything that related to a “White Christmas Cookie.” Again, once more I am more than likely just nit picking!