I have added a few Cozy Mystery authors to the site who have fashionista sleuths. Last week, when I went to add one of them to my fashion theme, I realized I didn’t have one! I had a tentative fashion theme going, but I hadn’t finalized it for the site yet. I finally did that today. So, here goes:
Fashion theme in Cozy Mystery Books
Victoria Abbott (Mary Jane Maffini & Victoria Maffini): Book Collector Mystery Series – Jordan Kelly loves wearing vintage clothes..
Juliet Blackwell (aka Hailey Lind): Witchcraft Mystery Series – Lily Ivory owns a vintage clothing shop in San Francisco
Annette Blair: Vintage Magic Mystery Series – Madeira Cutler has renovated an old funeral home into her vintage clothing store.
Melissa Bourbon (aka Misa Ramirez): Magical Dressmaking Mystery Series – Harlow Cassidy is a fashion designer who owns her own boutique in Texas.
Sandra Bretting: Missy DuBois Mystery Series – Missy designs hats and sells them in her shop.
Duffy Brown: Consignment Shop Mystery Series – Reagan Summerside is the owner of the Prissy Fox Consignment Shop in Savannah, Georgia.
Ellen Byerrum: Crime of Fashion Mystery Series – Lacey Smithsonina is a fashion columnist.
Grace Carroll (aka Carol Culver): Accessories Mystery Series – Rita Jewel is a salesperson at a high-end San Francisco boutique.
Elizabeth Lynn Casey (aka Laura Bradford): Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries – Tori Sinclair is a librarian in South Carolina and she is also a member of a sewing circle.
Cassandra Chan: Village Affairs – A high-fashion shoot is one of the settings in this mystery.
Jane K. Cleland: Deadly Threads – Josie Prescott is teaching a class on vintage clothing at her New Hampshire antiques shop.
Barbara Jean Coast: Poppy Cove Mystery Series – Daphne and Margot own a dress shop called Poppy Cove.
Sophie Dunbar: Fashion Victims – Frank and Ava Bernstein find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation at a Hollywood fashion show.
Elizabeth J. Duncan: Shakespeare in the Catskills Mystery Series – Charlotte Fairfax is a costume designer in New York.
Kathy Lynn Emerson (aka Kaitlyn Dunnett): Murder in the Queen’s Wardrobe – Rosamund Jaffrey is a Lady in Waiting for Queen Elizabeth (not the current queen, but her 16th century namesake) and she’s also the queen’s spy.
Dorothy Gilman: Mrs. Pollifax Mystery Series – This series isn’t about fashion, rather the senior citizen and spy, Mrs. Pollifax >>> who is most comfortable when sporting a big hat!
Chloe Green: Dallas O’Connor Mystery Series – Dallas O’Connor is a fashion stylist in Texas.
Gemma Halliday: High Heels Mystery Series – Maddie Springer is a shoe designer sleuth.
Sadie Hartwell (aka Susannah Hardy): Tangled Web Mystery Series – Josie Blair is a former fashion designer.
Dorothy Howell: Haley Randolph Mystery Series – California sleuth Haley simply can’t get enough handbags!
Susan Kandel: CeCe Caruso Mystery Series – CeCe is a biographer of detective mystery writers who is really into vintage clothes.
Kylie Logan (aka Miranda Bliss & Casey Daniels): Button Box Mystery Series – Josie Giancola is a vintage & antique button expert who owns a vintage button shop in Chicago.
Meg London (aka Peg Cochran): Sweet Nothings Vintage Lingerie Mystery Series – Emma Taylor is a stylist in Paris … Tennessee.
Nancy Martin: Blackbird Sisters Mystery Series – Nora loves (and wears) her grandmother’s extensive collection of haute couture.
Rosemary Martin (aka Rosemary Stevens): Murder A-Go-Go Mystery Series – Bebe Bennett works at a modeling agency as a secretary in New York. With a series title like this one, I’ll let you guess the decade!
Judi McCoy: Fashion Faux Paw – Ellie Engleman and her Yorkie (Rudy) have to find out who supplied the peanuts at New York’s Fashion Week’s model-with-dog fashion show.
Jenn McKinlay (aka Josie Belle & Lucy Lawrence): Hat Shop Mystery Series – Floridian Scarlett Parker and her British cousin (Viv Tremont) inherit their grandmother’s hat shop in London.
Kate Parker: Milliner Mystery Series – Emily Gates is the milliner sleuth who has to resort to robbing her clients who won’t pay for their hats – during the early 1900s in London.
Rose Pressey: Haunted Vintage Mystery Series – Cookie Chanel owns It’s Vintage Y’All, a vintage clothing store in Sugar Creek, Georgia.
S.J. Rozan: Mandarin Plaid – Lydia Chin is on the search for a fashion designer’s design book with designs that are worth a lot of money.
Sofie Ryan (aka Sofie Kelly): Second Chance Cat Mystery Series – Sarah’s best friend owns the Second Chance second-hand shop that carries vintage clothes.
Angela M. Sanders: Vintage Clothing Mystery Series – Joanna Hayworth owns a vintage clothing store in Portland.
Rosemary Stevens (aka Rosemary Martin): Beau Brummell Mystery Series – Beau Brummell is a Regency era (1790 – 1820) fashion expert in London.
Fran Stewart: ScotShop Mystery Series – Peggy Winn sells Scottish kilts and describes the different plaids of the clans.
Susan Sundwall: Minnie Markwood Mystery Series – Minnie’s sidekick Rashawna is a fashonista.
Kari Lee Townsend: Mind Reader Mystery Series – Kalli Ballas has the ability to read minds. She is a fashion designing sleuth.
Diane Vallere: Material Witness Mystery Series – Poly (as in Polyester) is a dress designer at her family’s California store.
Diane Vallere: Mad for Mod Mystery Series – Madison Night is an interior decorator whose clothes are items you could have found in Doris Day’s closet during the Doris Day/Rock Hudson days.
Diane Vallere: Style & Error Mystery Series – Samantha Kidd used to be a fashion buyer.
Elaine Viets: Mystery Shopper Mystery Series – Josie Marcus is a plain clothes detective who goes to a wide range of stores, from high-end fashion boutiques to pet stores.
I hope you stop by the theme page on my site. With all of the themes I have (and I have lots!), I’m pretty certain you can find a few you’re interested in. Here’s the Cozy Mysteries by Theme page on my site. Just click on the link and it will take you to it.
If you know of any other Cozy Mystery series that have a fashion theme, please post a comment so I can include it/them on the list. Thank you!
Carol says
CeCe Caruso, who is in Susan Kandel’s mysteries about detective writers, is into vintage clothes.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Carol, thanks! I’ll go add her to the list.
maggie says
These illustrations are excellent !!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Maggie, thanks, I liked both of the graphics so much I couldn’t pick which one to use.
Lisa says
Interesting. But I wear t-shirts and cut offs (not in public!) On a regular basis. Fashion is not my forte. Except for Victorian and Edwardian fashions, I don’t really pay attention to what a character wears.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lisa, that’s OK, I’m sure there are other Cozy Mystery themes that interest you, like the historical. There are so many of the historical that I had to cut the entry into five parts! If you haven’t taken a look at them, you might want to glance through them on the Cozy Mysteries by Themes page.
PamB says
The Mrs. Pollifax Mystery Series is one of my favorites. Descriptions of the hats she wears always makes me wish I could see them in person.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
PamB, I go way back with Mrs. Pollifax. When my children were in school I would drive them to and from. I was really fortunate that my library carried a lot of the audible books. Barbara Rosenblat narrated, and she was absolutely a joy to listen to. I love Mrs. Pollifax’ hats! As a matter of fact, I probably should go get them on audible so that I can introduce Mrs. Pollifax to my husband on our next trip. (We were supposed to go to D.C. during April but my husband got sick, so we have postponed it until May. I think Mrs. Pollifax would be a kick to listen to on our drive.)
maggie says
I’m a hat person who doesn’t wear my hats as often as I should – live in South Florida.
But I love my hat collection…must have at least a hundred – where do you give away hats?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Maggie, here’s a question for you: Where do you store a hundred hats?!?
Carol says
If you want to give away 100 hats (or anything else) you can try https://www.freecycle.org/
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Carol, or Goodwill. Not only do they make money on what they sell, but they also employ lots and lots of people who need the jobs!
maggie says
I use hatboxes…which I stack on top of each other on the top of chests and in my closet. They’re lovely.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Maggie, oh my gosh, that’s a lot of hats AND hatboxes!
maggie says
Yes – it’s now proven too much, and I am planning to pass on a lot of hats and boxes soon… Naturally I went to the extreme with Hats…
maggie says
I’m glad you used both – I am speaking now as an artist myself, not as writer…
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Maggie, I love the color combinations they used for these graphics, and the simple lines.
Susan* says
Good Heavens! I didn’t realise there were this many!
I’ll add a couple if I may – Cassandra Chan. Her ‘Village Affairs’ is partialy set against the background of a high-fashion shoot, and one of the main detectives is dating one of the models. (It’s not a major theme of the book, but…)
Also S.J. Rozan’s ‘Mandarin Plaid’. A young fashion desiger has her design book stolen and hires the detectives to pay the ransom the thieves demand.
Btw, I love Mrs Pollifax! And yes, she must have a new hat for each of her little jaunts! (In ‘The Elusive Mrs P.’ she actually smuggles forged passports in said hat! Lol!)
Great idea for a theme, Danna! Thankyou!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan*, I’ll go add Cassandra Chan’s book to the list, as well as S.J. Rozan’s book. I think Mrs. Pollifax is one of those characters who will age well even after years and years. Obviously, she didn’t have access to cell phones and computers, but she was able to stop international chaos with just the use of her noggin!
ginny says
I believe Duffy Brown has the Consignment Shop mystery series. I really like Bruce willis the dog
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ginny, good grief! Thank you for reminding me. (There’s absolutely no excuse for me not remembering this series!) Thanks, again…
Charlene says
Also Elizabeth Lynn Casey The Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries
and Ellen Byerrum The Crime of Fashion Mysteries
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Charlene, thank you! Since I don’t sew, I somehow forgot to add this one to the list.
Hilary says
In the Second Chance Cat Mysteries Sarah’s best friend Jess has a vintage clothing store and re-purposes old clothing into one-of-a-kind quilts and home accessories.
Jordan Bingham in the Book Collector Mysteries loves vintage clothing as much as she loves old books. She inherited her late mother’s vintage clothing, is always on the lookout to add to her collection and she enjoys wearing vintage outfits.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hilary, thank you for both of these. I’m going to go add them to the list right now.
Susan Sundwall says
My amateur sleuth, Minnie Markwood, is not a fashionista, but her sidekick Rashawna is. She’s fond of electric blue mini skirts, leather thongs, handbags the size of manhole covers and chunky heeled shoes – Yikes! =0) I’m currently wrapping up the third in my series. The Red Shoelace Killer and The Super Bar Incident will be followed by The White Pizza Caper (no pub date as of today). Great list, Danna!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan, thanks! I just added Rashawna and Minnie to the Fashion theme.
maggie says
Susan, are your books published yet?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Maggie, you can find Susan Sundwall’s books on Amazon.
Susan Sundwall says
Thank you, Danna! My short romance book, Just a Little Romance, is also there for only .99 Such a deal. =0)
Karen L. says
Barbara Jean Coast writes the Poppy Cove Mystery series (although I think there are only one or two books so far). It is about 2 women who own a dress shop.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Karen L, thanks! I just added Barbara Jean Coast’s series to the Fashion theme.
Patti S. says
A Wee Murder in My Shop by Fran Stewart is one. These are going to be stories of a Scottish shop owned by a gal in the states and they go into detail of all the different kilts and plaids of the clans of the people of Scotland. They mention a lot of the different clothes that are worn with the kilt. This first book in the series was quite good and it even has a ghost!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Patti S, thanks for the kilt fashion information. I’ll add it to the list, since the list includes all-things fashionable.
Stash Empress says
Oh I think fashion themed cozies are my most favorite sub-genre of all!!!! Particularly the ones involving vintage clothing — oh so much awesomeness!!! (together with the historical cozies which include descriptions of lavish clothing of time gone by — Victorian, Regency, Edwardian – sort of like Downton Abbey — but with murder 😉 )
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash, there’s nothing like Victorian era clothes. Of course, as sumptuous as they were, what a hassle they must have been to keep clean…
Nancy says
Nora in the Blackbird Sisters series by Nancy Martin always wears clothing from her grandmother’s extensive collection of haute couture.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Nancy, thanks for the Nora suggestion. I wouldn’t have thought about her. I’ll go add her to the fashion list.
Tessa~ says
Fun suggestions…
Thank you.
Tessa
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Tessa, you’re welcome.
Margaret M. says
Danna, everytime you create another category I am amazed how many mysteries fall under the heading. I think that is one of my favorite things about cozy mysteries; all the diversity. There is something for everyone. Yes, it can be said (by some naysayers) that all cozies are alike, but I still appreciate all the options.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Margaret M, I enjoy the options in themes, too.
denise says
Piper O’Donnell in Jennifer Vido’s Piper O’Donnell Social Lite Mystery series :
The latest is Murder by the Minutes
previous Country Clubbed and Par for the Course
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Denise, thank you!
denise says
you’re welcome!
Laura says
I read a few books from a series where the detective (woman) ran a dry cleaners. While this series isn’t exactly a fashionista fest, the info on clothes and their construction and care was interesting. Since the books were mislaid in a move a couple of yrs ago, I’m trying to find the books again. If you have any idea on the author or titles I’d be grateful.
Thanks
Barb says
In reply to the series set in a dry cleaner – it might be Dolores Johnson (Mandy Dyer Mysteries)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Barb, thank you! I think you’re right. It sounds like Dolores Johnson‘s Mandy Dyer Mystery Series to me, too.
Diane says
Thank you for this list! I’ve been trying to remember the Mandy Dyer Mystery series for a very long time and all searches came up empty. You’re awesome!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Diane, you’re welcome! I’m glad that you were able to come up with an old favorite thanks to the lists.
Holly Schwartz says
Kimberly Baer: The Haunted Purse
Wendy Kendall Kat out of the Bag: Katherine Watson is a purse designer/sleuth.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Holly, thanks for the suggestions! I’ll have to check these out some time!
Holly Schwartz says
I have read them both and highly recommend them. Kim’s could also go into your paranormal category.
Autumn says
Hat Shop Mysteries by Jenn McKinlay