Man Alive! I have been dragging… I just haven’t been able to gear myself up to spend time at my computer for the last few days. I simply missed reading!
I had been spending more and more time at the computer recently, and am trying to get back into my Cozy Mystery reading. I used to be able to make my way through mystery series on a regular basis. But it seems like lately I have been only “meaning” to catch up with my favorite authors.
Sometimes I spend an allotted amount of time trying new (to me!) authors. I try about six new authors (making sure to read the first mystery book in their series) to find out if I like them. When I like the authors, I then want to read every single book by them, which means that I add more books to my TBR (to be read) bookshelf. This of course means that I don’t catch up with the authors who are already in my TBR bookshelf, instead, I add more authors to it.
So, for the last few days I have simply been reading… and I have been really enjoying it. My husband came home yesterday and asked me if there was something he had to fix on my computer… since I am usually at my desk typing, with a snoozing/snoring Sprite on the adjacent bed. (He was quite relieved to find out that he wouldn’t have to spend time trying to fix something I had messed up on my computer.)
As for Sprite, being a creature of habit, she has been a bit annoyed that “we” now are spending time in the living room reading instead of the guest bedroom, where she enjoys spending time catching up on her napping, which recently has become a major part of her day…
Ann says
I came across your wonderful site this evening. I was at the Austin Book Festival last week-end and disappointed that I was unable to find any cozy mysteries, nor were there any cozy mystery authors.
Ann
Petie says
So glad to see you back! Hoped you were down with a ‘bug’ or something. But just ‘catching up’ with the books is acceptable! I’m re-reading my Jan Karon “Mitford” series now until I find something next week when my twin sister & I get together for a long overdue ‘twin week-end’! We go to as many used book stores as well as new book stores as we can and ‘stock up’ for the winter! Again, welcome back!
Mary says
Danna, you mentioned the useful tip of keeping a list (a must for all readers); however, I caution, don’t take the order of the series off the inside pages of the book you’re reading. Take your author and find them on the internet or go the library and get the order by the publishing dates. I have learned from experience that one author’s series can be published by two different publishers. The reasons are many and I don’t want to weigh you down with extra details not necessary to your enjoyment.
The best case is Agatha Cristie; you can look in any one of her books and get a list (of sorts) for her books, but unless you get the actual publishing dates, the order may be scuzed.
Just a little tip from an ex-store owner and avid mystery reader and researcher.
TwiceSoldTales (CA)
Mary
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Petie, I listened to Jan Karon’s Mitford Series, and really enjoyed it. The narrator (John McDonough) was absolutely perfect for the books.
Have fun twinning it up!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary, I am a firm believer in checking to be sure that authors’ series are listed chronologically in their books. Unfortunately, most of the time, they are not… Pretty frustrating for readers>>> especially when the book refers to a mystery that was solved in a previous book, but you haven’t read because of the publisher’s erroneous list.
Jo R says
Was so happy that you were not sick. See how spoiled you have us. I appreciate all the hard work you put into this great site.
Mae says
I am also glad that I have found your website. I have been hooked on mysteries since I was a junior in high school and my English teacher recommended that I read Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. An author that I would recommend is H.R.F. Keating who writes the Inspector Ghote (set in India) and the Hard Detective series. He has also written a delightful short story mystery series featuring Mrs. Craggs who solves crimes as she cleans her way around England.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Jo R, I always try to get an entry posted at least every other day, but I was just enjoying my reading so much that I simply kept putting it off!
Welcome to the site, Mae. I think it’s great when some of us can trace our love of books back to English teachers in our past. I had a teacher who introduced me to Greek Mythology when I was in the ninth grade, and I have enjoyed it ever since. AND thank you for telling us about H.R.F. Keating.