Here’s a clue: I am have recently been going through my mail and comments to see if we can get some of these mysteries solved! The last of the Cozy Mystery site readers’ questions is this one from Janie. She would like some to find some new authors to read who are similar to J. A. Jance… well, Jance’s Joanna Brady series. Also, in the same vein as Dorothy Simpson‘s Luke Thanet series.
Janie:
“… J A Jance’s Joanna Brady series… One thing I like about the Joanna Brady series is that you don’t just get to know Sheriff Brady as a sheriff – you also get to know her as a mom, a daughter, a widow, a newlywed, etc. That’s not what each book is about, yet you see the change and progression over time. For the same reason, I loved Dorothy Simpson’s Luke Thanet series. Neither are “cozies,” really, but they are more personal than, say, a police procedural.
Can anyone recommend other mysteries that do this?”
Please post a comment if you have any recommendations. And, as always, thank you in advance!
Barbara says
You might look to the Inspector Banks series by Peter Robinson for a similar read to the Luke Thanet’s.
Judy says
You might enjoy the Kinsey Millhone series by Sue Grafton and the Sharon McCone series by Marcia Muller. Those are a couple of my favorites.
Ann says
Earlene Fowler is married to a detective, but they aren’t police procedural books. Each book is named after a quilt design. Very enjoyable though.
Ann
Ann says
My comment didn’t come out right. I meant to say the main character in Earlene Fowler’s books is married to a detective.
Ann
Sue says
The”Alpine” series by Mary Daheim does a nice job of developing the characters over time. In the series, Emma owns a small-town newspaper, “The Alpine Advocate”, and gets drawn into mysteries in her little town. The titles of all the books begin with “The Alpine…” and proceed in alphabetical order.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Barbara, Judy, Ann, and Sue. Those are great author suggestions!
Nancy L says
*******SPOILER for Paradise Lost*************
*******SPOILER for Paradise Lost*************
*******SPOILER for Paradise Lost*************
I just finished Paradise Lost and the story just ended, I wondered if there were missing pages or was the mystery of the killing of Dora and Connie solved?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I’m sorry, Nancy, but I cannot remember Paradise Lost’s ending…
Cynthia says
Although not a police procedural at all, my current favorite series is the Ellie Quicke series by British author Veronica Heley. But please start with the first, MURDER AT THE ALTER, and work your way through the new release, MURDER MY NEIGHBOR. You’ll see Ellie change from recent widow to independent woman, to business owner, to…well, I don’t want to spoil it for you.
Sandra says
I sincerely enjoy all the stories of Joanna Brady-what is the latest book out and when will the next one be in the stores? I have been looking for some time!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sandra, I’m sorry, but I don’t know when the next Joanna Brady mystery will be published. (I just looked at J. A. Jance’s page, and I was surprised to see that the last one was from 2008.)