This month I tried something a little different for my series talking about the most popular and recommended Cozy Mysteries – rather than start (or re-read, as the case is sometimes) a series from the beginning, I decided instead to jump right into the middle of an existing series so I could enjoy a little of the current “festive atmosphere” that Cozies are often so good at – specifically, Halloween. In doing so, I decided to read Vampires, Bones and Treacle Scones, the seventh entry in Kaitlyn Dunnett’s Liss MacCrimmon Mystery Series.
As a quick summary of how the novel starts, Liss MacCrimmon, now owner of a Scottish themed emporium in Moosetookalok, Maine, is heading up the town’s Halloween fundraiser, and as part of the festivities they plan to hold a haunted house at the old Chadwick mansion, an abandoned property long owned by the town after the death of the last of the Chadwick’s years ago. However, attempts to spruce up the old mansion are having mixed successes – the building is certainly creepy enough, still holding odd collections amassed by the eccentric residents over the decades they lived there, but a series of odd pranks and unexplained events within the mansion have unsettled everyone involved at least once. So, in classic Cozy fashion, it’s no surprise when a corpse turns up in the house – though it is more than a bit of a surprise that it turns out to be the body of someone Liss sent to jail in a previous mystery! (I don’t want to spoil which one for fans who may have read some previous entries in the series)
The good news is that I ended up liking the book quite a bit. Despite jumping into the middle of the series, all of the characters were quickly explained and made good impressions quickly enough that I had no trouble keeping them straight. Likewise, though the mystery connects to a previous case, I felt like it was explained well enough to make sure I had no trouble understanding the mystery at hand. In fact, both the identity of the victim and several other elements mentioned help make the book feel well connected to the series as a whole – a nice change to some series, where it feels like people shake off their friends, neighbors, and relatives killing each other perhaps just a bit too easily!
Unfortunately, the book did fail in one regard. I went into this book specifically to read a Halloween novel, so I was more than a bit surprised that only the first third or so of the book took place around Halloween! After that, there was a bit of a time skip, with the rest of the book taking place early in the following year. So, while the holiday theme was certainly strong for the first part, later elements certainly felt a lot less “Halloween-ey” – not entirely un-Halloween-ish, mind you, since a big spooky mansion was still featured prominently, but it was still a bit jarring.
That said, I do still strongly recommend this novel, and by extension the series as a whole. It does a good job showing continuity in a Cozy setting, something I’ve lacked lately as I’ve mostly been reading establishing novels for the site lately. It’s also quite well written, and the characters and setting are interesting and well fleshed out without feeling excessively “zany” to me. If you’re looking for a good Cozy read, feel free to pick this one up – just don’t be surprised if Halloween ends a little bit early.
Lenora says
The Liss MacCrimmon series is one of my very favorites. If someone decides to follow your lead and jumps into the middle of the series, I recommend A Wee Christmas Homicide or X Marks the Scot.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lenora, thanks for the recommendation! I’m thinking about jumping into the middle of another series next month for a Christmas or Thanksgiving book actually – though I don’t think it will be from this series.
Rebecca Kaufman says
Great author and series read books from beginning of series highly recommended.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Rebecca, I do usually read from the beginning of series – this has been something of an exception!
Carol Robinson says
I’m usually so compulsive about reading cozy mysteries in order that I miss reading the Halloween or Christmas or whatever holiday stories at the “right” time. I like your idea of just reading them. Maybe it even gives me permission to jump ahead in a series. :). Love your site and your blog.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Carol, it’s certainly nice to read books during the proper season when possible! Though I also understand the mindset of reading the books in the right order – that’s what I usually do myself. This was something of an exception.
Roxane says
I have also been reading Halloween mysteries from the middle of series. I am on my ninth one!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Roxanne, that sounds like a lot of fun! I don’t think I’ll be able to get up to nine, but I might be able to squeeze in another Halloween book or two! (Ironically, running a book site means I don’t read anywhere near as much as I used to…)
Bek says
Look, you’ve done it again. I have to tell you that ANY series set in a town called Moosetookalok is going to intrigue me right off the bat! That, alone, speaks to an author’s sense of humor!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bek, I certainly hope you enjoy it!
Shirl Epps says
Her books are great. I recently found her and I’m hooked. The history lessons thrown in are very interesting and the lead character finds bodies like Columbo. Wonderful surprise read.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Shirl, it’s definitely a great series!
PamB says
Danna, look what you made me do…ha! I’m going to live vicariously and read a book out of order…. ordered A Wee Christmas Homicide to have in my Christmas stack of books. Hope I don’t get a case of jitters in doing so!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
PamB, I hope it’s as good a read as this one was! Let me know how reading out of order goes for you.
robin in oregon says
I also enjoy this series and have been reading them and collecting them from the beginning. They remind me somewhat of THE TOWN IN A series starting with THE TOWN IN A BLUEBERRY JAM by B.B. Haywood, also set in Maine. Unfortunately I believe the series ended with the book published several years ago. Why oh why do the series I love end after 3, 5, 7, maybe 10 books but the authors I don’t like go on and on! There is no justice!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Robin, I suppose the key is to enjoy the books that you do enjoy, and try not to stress the series that you don’t like!
Georgeann Hendrick says
One of my favorite Donna Andrews books is “Lord of the Wings.” This Halloween themed book has the town of Caerphilly holding a Halloween festival complete with a Haunted House. I highly recommend this book to celebrate the holiday.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Georgeann, thanks for the suggestion!
Susy S says
I often start reading a series somewhere in the middle, because I buy new authors at book sales and thrift stores. If I like it, then begins the search for the rest of the books, and then I read in order.
I don’t much worry about reading holiday books at the appropriate time of year. I just enjoy them whenever I read them.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susy, I used to buy most of my books from used as well, and back then I did start from the middle of a series more often. That said, even then I tried quite hard to get to the first one first, when given the option.
Bek says
That’s pretty much what I do, as well. And I have several friends who mail me boxes of books during the year, and most of those have oddball books in a series. I’ll read it, then go on a quest for the entire series, collect that and then binge.
Susy S says
Bek, I found another place to buy used books on-line (NOT good for my space, but better for my wallet). It is Better World Books, and I got free shipping when I ordered 4 or more books. You can also find coupons on-line.
I ordered 8 books on Saturday.
Bek says
I’ll have it bookmarked within a minute or two! THANKS!