Wow, it feels like it’s already summer down here in San Antonio! But at the same time >>> the year seems to be going so quickly that I can’t believe summer’s almost here! Whenever the weather starts getting hot (and here in Texas it gets pretty doggone hot pretty quickly), I’m sure to start thinking about reading summer-themed Cozies.
I was thinking maybe we could compile a list of our ultra favorite Summer Cozy Mysteries.
As you all might be aware, we do already have a Summer Cozy Mystery Theme page. So what I’m talking about isn’t necessarily just every possible summer themed Cozy Mystery you can think up >>> that’s what the theme page is for after all! Instead I’m just looking for a short number of your “personal favorites” so to speak, so just one pick (or maybe two or three) would be great! And yes, considering that all three are squarely within the summer time frame, some of your favorite Fourth of July Mystery Cozies, Father’s Day Mystery Cozies, and Labor Day Mystery Cozies would definitely be appropriate recommendations! (Of course, feel free to recommend Cozies that aren’t already on those lists!)
I’ll put up a few quick recommendations of my own, just to get things started. Please leave a comment to add your favorites.
FAVORITE SUMMER COZY MYSTERIES:
Donald Bain & “Jessica Fletcher”: Murder on Parade (I couldn’t stop myself and read this holiday Cozy out of chronological order!)
Donna Andrews: Some Like It Hawk
Susan Bernhardt: Murder by Fireworks
Nancy Coco (aka Nancy J. Parra): Oh Say Can You Fudge
Cleo Coyle (aka Alice Kimberly): Murder Most Frothy
Isis Crawford (akaBarbara Block): A Catered Fourth of July
Kathi Daley: Bikinis in Paradise
Joanne Fluke: Lemon Meringue Pie Murder
Shelley Freydont: Independence Slay
Victoria Hamilton (aka Amanda Cooper & Donna Lea Simpson): Bowled Over
Lee Harris:
- Cinco de Mayo Mystery – (A little early, but it’s already hot in some areas of the country!)
- Mother’s Day Mystery
- Father’s Day Mystery
- Labor Day Mystery
Leslie Meier: Tippy Toe Murder
P.S. If you want to see a whole bunch of Cozy Mystery themes, visit the Cozy Mysteries by Themes page on my site. But, if you’re only interested in Cozies with holiday themes, visit the Holiday Mystery Book List page on my site.
Jess says
Some like it Hawk by Donna Andrews!
Susan says
Murder by Fireworks (A Kay Driscoll Mystery Book 3) – is a summer cozy mystery that has received excellent reviews. Rating: 5.0 out of 5 Stars.
TXRed says
I enjoyed the Holiday series of mysteries with sleuth ex-nun Christine Bennett by Lee Harris. There are several summer-based mysteries in that series, namely Cinco de Mayo Mystery (I live in Texas and certainly early May, though still officially spring, is hot hear in south coastal Texas), Mother’s Day Mystery, Father’s Day Mystery, and Labor Day Mystery. These are gentle mysteries, great for relaxing on a hot summer day while sipping a cool drink.
Margaret M. says
Three of my favorites are MURDER ON PARADE by Donald Bain, A CATERED FOURTH OF JULY by Isis Crawford, and INDEPENDENCE SLAY by Shelley Freydont.
I love holiday themed books, especially those set around the 4th and especially Halloween (but that is for another day isn’t it?)
Mary says
Bikinis in Paradise by Kathi Daley (summertime read) and Murder bt Fireworks by Susan Bernhardt.
Katariina says
Bowled Over, vintage kitchen mystery #2 by Victoria Hamilton. Great series!
shannon says
Nooooo!!! not more great books to read!!! Your killing me!! So many books,, so little time!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Shannon, I guess that’s the life of the devoted Cozy Mystery reader!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, ALL, for your suggestions of Favorite Summer Time Cozies. I have tried to list all of them…
MJ says
Oh Say Can You fudge — Nancy Coco
There are many, many cozies set in the summer time. However, you don’t necessarily get the ‘ambiance’ of the season. It just ‘is’.
In this book it is 4th of July from beginning to end, with all its flash, pomp, and circumstance! On top of that, it’s really a good mystery with the advantage of having really interesting characters.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, thank you! You’re right about some of the books giving us more holiday/seasonal pleasures.
I wish Kate Borden (aka Kate Grilley) would have continued writing her Peggy Jean Turner Cozies! Both her Halloween and Thanksgiving Cozies were absolutely FULL of holiday reminders. Peggy Jean, besides being the mayor AND solving the crimes, owns a hardware shop which she decorates >>> to the max! I could have read a Peggy Jean Turner mystery during every holiday and never gotten tired of her!