Well, it’s the end of the month, and that means it’s time for me to discuss another recommended mystery series. This month, I’ll be discussing the first of the Sophie Kimball Mystery Series by J.C. Eaton, Booked 4 Murder.
Sophie starts the novel with a stable job and no interests in uprooting and changing careers – she is an accountant, working for the police in Mankato, Minnesota. Sophie’s only real problem at the moment appears to be her mother’s overactive imagination – she’s convinced that the members of her book club have been ‘cursed’, as a number of them have died recently. Of course, this isn’t necessarily the biggest coincidence, as her mother is a retiree and the book club is at her retirement home – most of the recently deceased are in their 70s or 80s and in generally poor health. However, there were a few unusual coincidences – most notably, each had received a cryptic email with a disturbing message recently. However, as the death counter climbs, Sophie decides to relent and visit her mother, if for no other reason than to set her mind at ease.
Despite being a relatively new-style Cozy, and only published less than a decade ago, this isn’t a really strongly themed book – the protagonist doesn’t run a bakery or a knitting shop and doesn’t spend most of her time working her day job while investigating on the side. While literature elements are present because of the book club, they’re far more mystery-relevant than specialized themes often are in modern Cozies. Regular readers will know how much I appreciate when a book gets right to the mystery, and Booked 4 Murder definitely doesn’t disappoint on that front – the first deaths are discussed on the very first page, having occurred offscreen before the book even begins.
Because of both of these factors, this is definitely one of the more ‘mystery-forward’ Cozies I’ve seen published in the last decade or so. If you’re looking for a modern Cozy with relatively light ‘theme-ing’, I can definitely recommend Booked 4 Murder.
As always, if you want to read more of these brief discussions of some of the more popular Cozy Mystery Series that I’ve written in the past, you can find them at the Most Recommended Cozy Mystery Series page.
Beth says
I love this series. Thank you for introducing new series and authors to me
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Beth, you’re welcome! I’m always glad to be able to introduce new books to site readers.
Lee Freeman says
I love this series! Well written and quite humorous. I’m glad you’re highlighting it!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lee, I think it’s great as well!
thetarotman says
First, it has been way too long since I have visited this blog. So, happy to be back.
Second, interestingly enough, a decade ago, I became interested in book clubs, but never seemed to find any in my area. Now, for more than a year, I have been going to one that meets in my area, or relatively near me; I think the longest I was on a bus or a train was half-an-hour.
Fun fact: I had a friend who lived in Mankato, MinneSNOWta.
I look forward to adding this to my ever-increasing “to be read” towers.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Tarot, welcome back and I hope you enjoy the book! I’m glad you were able to find a book reading group closer to home.
Kate says
The characters, humor, and careful plotting in this series are a delight. The books have a fascinating combination of intrepid senior citizens, complicated pets, smart detectives, and a zany 55+ community. Lots of fun and adventure in the Arizona sun. Warning: the novels are addictive.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kate, it’s definitely a good fun read!
Corky S says
I love this series. I have read all the books. it’s a lot of humor, relaxing and the characters are good. Phee’s mother make me laugh but nuts at the same time. And her mom’s dog is so funny. I hope they keep coming because I enjoy them so much.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Corky, I’m glad to see there are others enjoying this series already, though it shouldn’t be a surprise – I do get these from the reader recommendations.
Tee Nelson says
Love the Sophie Kimball mysteries. Was concerned when the stories got a bit “zany” midway trhough the series. The author has thankfully toned that down and it’s back to being a more realistic of a cozy version of a private detective office with a strong side helping of daughter/mother interactions.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Tee, I’m sorry to hear there are some ‘off-tone’ entries toward the middle, but it’s good to hear that there’s been a return to form!
Tee Nelson says
I used wrong word. I apologize. Off-tone makes it sound like a bad thing. I was inferring to Phee’s mother’s antics being a bit too zany but that has been reined in to be more realistic. Even at it’s zaniest, it’s a series I love
sue s says
I was sad to read about the recent death of Laura Tong, who with her husband Mark writes the Lady Eleanor Swift cozies under the name of Verity Bright. I finished Recipe for Murder this month, the 21st in the series. It’s the 1920s and Eleanor has inherited a title (with no clue how to behave like a Lady) and a home in England and has set down roots there. She and her incredibly knowledgeable butler solve murders and she’s been in a long term engagement to Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon. This book covers their wedding- with some murder excitement too. I enjoy this series that is so different from other cozies. The authors have the next in the series coming out this month, and Laura’s husband says she had two more written for the future. It will be sad to leave this series behind.
Harold says
I’ve started reading this series based on your recommendation, and I’m glad I did. But I notice something that’s a bit strange: All the libraries I have access to — both neighborhood and online — carry the first 8 books in the series, but then they all stop. Only Amazon seems to have all 14 of them (in both paperback and Kindle).
thetarotman says
Harold, I must say, that is quite odd. Is it possible your area has a lending library? Where I live, if there is a book I want to borrow, and my local library does not have it, I can fill out a request to have it loaned to my local library, and once it arrives, the library calls me to let me know it is there. I did this a few times, last year, and the librarians place it in a paper gift bag with handles, and wrap it around the book, as if they were covering the book with it, then place my name on the front.
In the interest of full disclosure, I purchased my copy of “Booked 4 Murder,” from BetterWorldBooks.com, especially as I have been spending a little more time with some non-Cozy Mystery books lately. After DiscoverBooks.com went out of business, I alternate between BetterWorldBooks.com and ThriftBooks.com. That is, when not buying from an independent bookseller’s brick and mortar store, but I digress.
Jayne says
I love JC Eaton’s Sophie Kimball series. Thank you for sharing it. I love it because it is so insane. I also love the Greater Phoenix location. My hubby and I are snowbirds. The characters are not that crazy. A lot of Sophie’s mother’s behaviors are true to people in senior communities. My hubby and I are early eaters. LOL.
I usually get bored by the 3rd book in a series (when I read them in a row). I have burned through the first 6 books, almost one a day. I read them on my Kindle. I bought the first two for a friend when the library said they didn’t have it. Guess it’s not so popular in Oregon!