I know I have talked about how much I like Kathy Hogan Trochek‘s Callahan Garrity Mystery Series. I really missed her mystery books when she stopped writing this series. I missed Callahan and the whole crew of her House Mouse cleaning company. The series just didn’t last long enough for me (only eight books). With many of my authors, by the time I get to their eighth book, I’m ready to retire the sleuth, not so with this series.
Yes, I know this same author went on to write as Mary Kay Andrews. And yes, I know she has the successful Weezie & Bebe series under that name. But I missed the House Mouse gang. I felt that I had gotten to know them in the 1990s, and was sorry they didn’t stick around in the 2000s. (The last book in the mystery series was published in 2000, so technically, that last sentence isn’t technically correct.)
So imagine my surprise and delight when I saw that Kathy Hogan Trochek has a new Callahan Garrity mystery out! It’s just a story, but I’m still excited. I hope that this is one of many new Callahan mysteries.
As you can see, she is writing this Callahan book as Mary Kay Andrews. She is also republishing her Callahan Garrity Mystery Series as Mary Kay Andrews. I don’t know why, but I am hoping that this means there will be a ninth full-length Callahan Garrity mystery.
I have recently been trying a lot of Christmas theme books and novellas/stories (by new-to-me authors) on my Kindle, and so far, I haven’t been happy with any of them. So, I am really hoping Fatal Fruitcake delivers what I have been craving: a good Christmas mystery yarn.
Susie says
This sounds like a fun series! When I buy books I like to get ones that my mother and sister like too so I can pass them on. I haven’t convinced my mother to get a kindle yet though!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susie, your mom sounds like I did before I finally “agreed” to get my Kindle. Every once in a while I tell my husband that I can’t believe I held out so long. I absolutely love it!
Kalena says
I’m with you! I loved this series and have really missed it. It always bothers me when a series I like ends abruptly, especially when the author continues on with another series. I just downloaded Fatal Fruitcake and will be reading it on my way home tonight. There’s nothing like a good cozy to put me in a holiday mood! Happy holidays to all!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kalena, I never could understand why Mary Kay Andrews (aka Kathy Hogan Trochek) stopped writing the Callahan Garrity Mystery Series in lieu of the Weezie and Bebe Series. I’m so glad those days are behind us!
linda c says
Danna, I just checked the online services of the libraries that I frequent and none of the three have this particular book as yet. But I did request “Blue Christmas” from one of these libraries.
You know what!!?? This particular library has been so good at filling my request that I am going to take these people some sort of Christmas thing like a fruit basket or candy basket or something like that just to show how much I have appreciated all they have done for me in getting the books that I have wanted this year.
A lot of times I will check the listings out on the online services but fail to see just what I am requesting. Sometimes I will check the audio version of the book (quite often really) and then when I go to pick up the book the library has to go to the bother of returning my mistake. I’ll bet this is costly for the library to do this. Maybe by presenting the librarians with this small token, it will go a long way in letting these good people know how much I appreciate all they do. Just maybe it would also help this particular library a lot if I were to take my time and request the right thing that I want!! Maybe that could be a New Year’s resolution for me!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda, what a nice idea. I’m sure your librarian would love seeing that someone appreciates all they do for all of us. (Great New Year’s resolution!)
BB says
Danna, will you or someone you know be visiting this library:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Bexar-set-to-turn-the-page-on-idea-of-books-in-4184940.php#photo-4012897
Danna - cozy mystery list says
BB, I had never heard of this library. I wonder if that money wouldn’t be better spent actually buying more of those $100 devices and putting them in already-existing libraries, as well as spending the money on more wireless books. But, that’s just me…
BB says
Interesting concept but probably ahead of its time (if ever the way technology changes). I agree the money likely would have been better spent invested in current libraries.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Also, Linda, the reason you couldn’t find Kathy Hogan Trochek’s Fatal Fruitcake is that it is an e-book story.
linda c says
Danna, This reply of yours answers the question that I had concerning if some writers only offer some books on ebook only. I sure hope that won’t be a big trend. I still want to hold books in my hands.
I sure hope authors and writers and publishers will realize that everyone is not computer savy. Some of this new technology is just too complicated for me. Not only is some of the new technology complicated, to get this technical gadjets repaired is very costly. Example. getting your car, tv, computer repaired!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda, I think that since the stories and novellas are too short for people to actually want to buy a book, the e-books are an easy “mode of transportation” for these shorter works of fiction. It wouldn’t be very cost effective for an author to have to get a story bound into book format, and then to actually have to send them out.
linda c says
Danna, I have , though, seen quite a few books on the store shelves that are almost children storybook thin, especially those books with a Christmas theme. I could very well see how publishing these types of books could get very expensive. Just maybe this ebook type of publishing is a God send to some of these writers.
LynnS says
*first time commenter waves hi to everyone*
I was so excited to read this because the Callahan Garrity series holds a special place in my heart. I was browsing around a used bookstore and came across a copy of “Happy Never After”. I was hooked and tore through the rest of the series (I didn’t discover the series till around 2005). I consider it the first cozy mystery I’ve ever read.
When I tried to click on the link the “pricing not available” message came up. Probably b/c I’m in Europe. I hope it’s made available on this side of the pond.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought the series ended abruptly – in fact I thought the ending was really downbeat and felt kinda depressed after reading it. However it’s hard to complain when a series has brought you hours of reading pleasure/escapism!
I’d buy another Callahan book in a heartbeat. I think the fact that the series is being republished is an encouraging sign – maybe, just maybe, the author and publisher are testing the waters? I live in hope lol
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Welcome to the site, LynnS! Because Kathy Hogan Trochek’s Fatal Fruitcake is a short story, it is in e-book format. Perhaps it will be included in a book of anthologies at some time in the future.
By the way, good choice in starting your Cozy Mystery reading with Trochek!
Regina V says
Danna, When you read mysteries as all of us do, murder seems to be so remote from real life. Today in CT,we are all facing the reality of mass murder. It is so shocking, and so gut wrenching because so many of those killed were small children. May we all pray for their families in their sorrow.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Regina, I was so moved by this awful event that I could not bring myself to do much of anything yesterday. The “awfulness” of this is beyond what words can describe.
linda c says
Regina and Danna, I take my 4 year old greatgrandson to preschool 3 days a week. I had a very hard time leaving him there today. Having lost a son myself, these parents are going through hell. No part of their lives will ever be the same ever again. Ironic huh! The time of year a lot of the world is rejoicing in the birth of a child, a lot of us are lamenting the loss of these little ones.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda, I would have had a very difficult time sending my children to school, also.
linda c says
Regina, Quite a few times as I read the various murder mysteries I think are there really that many murders in our country? Seems a little far fetched. But then I will turn on any TV news in any part of Ohio and most of the news stories are about murders, child abuse, spousal abuse, animal abuse, terrible car wrecks. A major county just south of my county has registered 56 murders already this year and we still have 12 days to go. If this stuff goes on in my state, we can believe they go on all across the country as well as in other countries across the world.
Yes we all read about murder mysteries and we do enjoy these mysteries. Too bad these murders can’t stay within the pages of our fictional books.
Diana says
I am new to commenting. I enjoy this blog very much. I downloaded this and enjoyed it very much. I too loved reading Callahan Garrity Mystery Series. I read them several years ago after getting hooked on Mary Kay Andrews. I enjoy this blog to find cozy mysteries to read. I too was reluctant to buy a kindle but have enjoyed it very much.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Welcome to commenting, Diana!
I finished the Callahan Garrity Fatal Fruitcake, but it made me hungry for more mysteries in this series. I hope either Mary Kay Andrews or Kathy Hogan Trochek continues writing this series.
Regina V says
Danna It is so difficult to grapple with the awfulness of this happening. The pictures of the children just wrench your soul. You don’t know what to do. If you try to follow your ordinary routine, it seems sacrilegious. When you watch TV, automatically, you go to to the news.