By this I do not mean that Mrs. Malory lives without the modern conveniences that we all take for granted. I mean that Hazel Holt’s mysteries are very much in line with the classic Cozy Mystery authors. Mrs. Malory is an amateur sleuth who lives in a quaint and Cozy village where everyone seems to know everyone else, the criminal action takes place “off stage”, there is no profanity/swearing, no gratuitous sex or violence, and strong character development. (I hope I didn’t skip any other characteristics!)
I know I have written about how much I enjoy the Mrs. Malory Mystery Series before, but I hope it’s been long enough so as not to seem too repetitive. I strongly recommend Hazel Holt‘s Mrs. Malory Mystery Series.
Please tell us about a Cozy Mystery series (or a few!) that you read this past month that you think the rest of us should try reading, if we don’t already. And, please tell us why. These should only be the Cozy Mysteries that you think stood out as being even better than the other Cozies you read during the month.
[As usual, I ask that you don’t tell us about the mystery books you read that you didn’t like.]
What Cozy Mystery book (or author) have you read during July 2014, and why did you enjoy it (or him/her)?
Here are the current recommended authors who some of you have read this past month:
Victoria Abbott (aka Mary Jane Maffini & Victoria Maffini): Book Collectors Mystery Series
Susan Wittig Albert (aka Robin Paige): China Bayles Mystery Series
Margaret Addison: Rose Simpson Mystery Series (book #1 is Murder at Ashgrove House)
Tasha Alexander: Lady Emily Mystery Series
Barbara Allan: Trash ‘n’ Treasures Mystery Series
Beverly Allen (aka Barbara Early): Bridal Bouquet Shop Mystery Series
Donna Andrews: Meg Langslow Mystery Series
Nancy Atherton: Aunt Dimity Mystery Series
M.C. Beaton (aka Marion Chesney): Agatha Raisin Mystery Series
Heather Blake (aka Heather Webber): Wishcraft Mystery Series
Rhys Bowen: Molly Murphy Mystery Series
Rhys Bowen: Royal Highness Mystery Series
Simon Brett: Blotto and Twinks Mystery Series
Emily Brightwell: Mrs. Jeffries Mystery Series
Leslie Budewitz: Food Lovers’ Village Mystery Series
JoAnna Carl (aka Eve K. Sandstrom): Chocoholic Mystery Series
Kate Carlisle: Bibliophile Mystery Series
Alyse Carlson: Garden Society Mystery Series
Agatha Christie: Hercule Poirot Mystery Series
Agatha Christie: Superintendent Battle Mystery Series
Agatha Christie: Why Didn’t They Ask Evans (Stand Alone mystery)
V.C. Clinton Baddeley: Only a Matter of Time
Sheila Connolly (akaSarah Atwell): Orchard Mystery Series
Shelley Costa: Miracolo Mystery Series
Krista Davis: Domestic Diva Mystery Series
Dawn Eastman: Family Fortune Mystery Series
Kate Ellis: Wesley Peterson Mystery Series
Female Sleuths Megapack Lady Molly of Scotland Yard Loveday Brooke and Amelia Butterworth
Daryl Wood Gerber (aka Avery Aames): Cookbook Nook Mystery Series
Dorothy Gilman: Mrs. Pollifax Mystery Series
Sally Goldenbaum: Seaside Knitters Mystery Series
Celine Grace: Death at the Manor (book # 1 in the Asharton Manor Mystery Series – novella length)
Victoria Hamilton (aka Amanda Cooper & Donna Lea Simpson): Merry Muffin Mystery Series
David Handler: Berger & Mitry Mystery Series
Betty Hechtman:Yarn Retreat Mystery Series
Joan Hess (aka Joan Hadley): Claire Malloy Mystery Series
Lee Hollis: Hailey Powell Food & Cocktail Mystery Series
Hazel Holt: Mrs. Malory Mystery Series
Dorothy Howell: Haley Randolph Mystery Series
Julie Hyzy: White House Chef Mystery Series
Julie Hyzy: Manor of Murder Mystery Series
Sue Ann Jaffarian: Ghost of Granny Apples Mystery Series
Joyce & Jim Lavene (aka J.J. Cook & Ellie Grant): Renaissance Faire Mystery Series
Donna Leon: Guido Brunetti Mystery Series
Kylie Logan (aka Miranda Bliss & Casey Daniels): League of Literary Ladies Mystery Series
Rhett MacPherson: Torie O’shea Mystery Series
Molly MacRae: Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery Series
Edith Maxwell (aka Tace Baker): Local Foods Mystery Series
Jennifer McAndrews: Ill-Gotten Panes (book # 1 in Stained Glass Mystery Series)
Sharyn McCrumb: Ballad Mystery Series
Jenn McKinlay (aka Josie Belle & Lucy Lawrence): Hat Shop Mystery Series
Karen Musser Nortman: Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mystery Series (book #1 is Bats and Bones)
Nancy J. Parra (aka Nancy Coco): Perfect Proposals Mystery Series
Ann Purser: Ivy Beasley Mystery Series
Heather Webber (aka Heather Blake): Lucy Valentine Mystery Series
[If you click on the author’s name (blue) link, it will take you to his/her page on the Cozy Mystery site. The pages have all of the authors’ books listed chronologically.]
♦To access more Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations, click on this link♦
P.S. While I try to respond to all of the comments that are made on the Cozy Mystery blog, I generally don’t respond to the comments on these monthly recommendation entries. I do, however, list the recommended books that come via the Cozy Mystery blog’s comments!
kate says
I am currently reading book #3 in the Lady Emily series by Tasha Alexander. I love this series. They are so well written, fun to read and never boring.
Tessa~ says
thank you for all these links!!!
tessa~
MJ says
This seems to be the summer for ‘mid-series slump’ with some popular authors. I just couldn’t recommend their books since (to me) they were really subpar. One thing I’ve always believed, though, is an author will occasionally have a ‘miss’ amongst all the ‘hits’.
One book was laden with much trivial and inane writing, especially the dialogue. It was the 4th or 5th book of the series and I liked all the previous books. However, with this one I really thought the author handed the writing over to a teenager to give them some experience! It was a total different writing experience/style from the previous books.
I also just finished a book by an oft recommended author (even by me) again laden with VERY unnecessary and extensive detail (pertaining to NOTHING, certainly not the story) pervasive throughout the ENTIRE book!! Yikes! I was glad to get to the end………….it drove me nuts. Frankly I don’t even know why I read past 50 pages or so, except I like the author and all previous books.
I recently read an author’s facebook page where she stated, ‘she was reworking her latest manuscript because it lacked the number of words the publisher required’. Maybe that’s why we get some books as I described above. Perhaps the author(s) were burnt out or lacked the creativity for more engaging scenes and wrote this gobbledygook instead. And, to give them their due, they may have had plenty of creativity in previous books, it’s just they ran out of ideas for their current project. Bor-r-r-r-r-ing!
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July 2014 recommendations:
Crime Rib — Leslie Budewitz
I mentioned all this about ‘detail’ because Crime Rib is also laden with detail. BUT, I found it intelligent (and relating to the story), not inane or stupid. The main character often discusses advantages of locally grown (Montana) food products and the environment. It’s obviously an issue with the main character, perhaps the author, too. It does slow down the reading, though. The last third of the book moves fairly fast.
I like this author – she’s writes an intellectual/thought provoking story. Erin Murphy (protagonist) is smart and independent. She has moved back to her home town to help save the family business – a mercantile type store. I LOVE the setting – Jewel Bay a ‘touristy’ town in scenic Montana (a nice variant from the numerous East coast settings). The author does a good job of descriptive writing so the reader can feel the beauty of the area. There is a lot of food discussions and recipes are included.
A murder takes place during a festival at a chef grilling competition, involving some ‘star/prominent’ talent from out-of-town. In addition, there is a questionable hit and run. The well-developed characters make this story particularly engaging. There are several surprising twists and turns. Since this is only the second book in the series, there are two romantic possibilities (typical formula).
The author lists the characters at the beginning of the book. It’s helpful to the reader, so one can refer back to the list when necessary. However, there are a couple characters in the story that are not mentioned on the list.
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Silence of the Lamb’s Wool Betty Hechtman
This is the second book in Hechtman’s new series with a seaside California location. The main character/sleuth (Casey Feldstein) is a well developed, very multifaceted character. She is the center/lead/focus of the whole story. Hechtman hasn’t developed other permanent characters in this series as she did in her crocheting series. However, there are some interesting peripheral characters, created just for this story.
I enjoyed this book because it moved along very quickly and is a fast read. It doesn’t get bogged down with the innocuous detail that I complained about in my initial comments. Casey sets up yarn retreats (she also bakes desserts/muffins for local food establishments) at a retreat center/hotel across the street from her home. The instructor she hired to lead the event is found dead of apparent suicide, thus creating problems as to how to continue with the retreat.
Casey believes the suicide is murder and pursues this theory. There are some interesting twist/turns to the story which leaves the reader guessing. There isn’t a ‘romantic’ story line because this aspect of the story hits a snag (easily figured out early on by the reader). Thus, this story focuses on the mystery(s).
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Grace Against the Clock – Julie Hyzy
This is the fifth book in the Manor House Mystery series. I’ve enjoyed all the series Hyzy has authored. She’s a very creative and gifted writer with well-paced stories and intelligent dialogue. This series isn’t as edgy as the White House series. But the mystery is still intriguing, keeping the reader turning the pages until the surprising ending.
Grace (protagonist) helps to set up a fundraiser at the Manor for a restoration project when a key community figure collapses and dies. Of course, Grace takes on the sleuthing with the help (??) of her assistant, Frances, and others.
Assisting Grace in her home renovation is her boss’s step-daughter (initially a cause for some concern). The two renovation projects are different/separate, but have a commonality in some aspects. The complicated plot has many curves as the story progresses.
Hyzy always develops complex/intricate characters. It’s why many of us keep reading her books and recommend them on this site.
One drawback in this series is the ‘romance’ story line. It’s time for Grace to shake off the old and move on!! I’m going to assume other readers (like me) are tired of the ‘same-ole, same-ole’. Hopefully in future Manor stories, Hyzy will introduce us to NEW fascinating character(s) if she chooses to continue a ‘romance’ story line. This seems to be her ‘MO’ in her previous two series.
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Ill-Gotten Panes — Jennifer McAndrews
Each month I like to read a new series if I can and it’s a real bonus if it’s written by a new author. This was the best book I read in July. In some ways McAndrews followed what I call a ‘cozy formula’. Protagonist loses job in NYC and leaves for small town after breakup with boyfriend/fiancé/husband.
The story has a summer setting in a small community along the Hudson River in New York. Georgia Kelly is the lead character in her early thirties. She is an accountant and enjoys stained glass crafting. She moves in with her grandfather while deciding on her future. When she enters a hardware store she overhears an argument between the owner and a customer. Awhile later the owner is found murdered. Because there was animosity between grandfather and hardware store owner, police believe he (grandfather) is the murderer.
The dialogue is witty, the writing very descriptive. It’s a quick and fun read. The characters are so enjoyable especially the introspective, outspoken Georgia and her curmudgeon but lovable 80 yr. old grandfather.
The mystery is well plotted with an even tempo. The plot is pretty straightforward, without a lot of twists and turns. One can possibly identify the culprit before the end, but the reader stays engaged.
There’s no romance story line in this book. One could infer there might (with a stre-e-e-etch of the imagination) be two potential possibilities (also cozy formula) in future stories.
This is a good debut novel in a new series. Unanswered questions (at least to me) are left on the table at the end of the story. Hopefully they will be addressed in the next book (but I doubt it). Most readers can probably deduce the answer(s) – not me. However, I’m looking forward to the next book with these delightful characters.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, I know I don’t usually respond to the monthly recommendations, but you happen to have hit on one of my pet peeves! I hate it when one of my favorite authors has some idiotic mystery amongst their other good books. That’s why I try to give them at least one bad book before I dump them.
So, we finally got the answer most of us suspected! They have a word quota! That explains a lot!
Stash Empress says
Oh wow the month goes faster & faster — are we up to this already??? LOL!
First off:
Nancy Atherton — Aunt Dimity and the Wishing Well
Aunt Dimity is the ULTIMATE in cozy comfort reading!!!!!!!! I love all her books to pieces & this is no exception. What I really love about her books is that no matter what you’re thinking — it always ends up that no criminal activity was involved — its all good! What can I say, but they just get better & better!!!!!!
Sue Ann Jaffarian — Ghost A La Mode (Ghost of Granny Apples mystery) — This series was new to me, I read about them on this site & tried both this & her other series. I really like this one & got another couple waiting to be read.
Emily Brightwell — I read the first omnibus of Mrs. Jeffries books (the first 3 in the series) & really enjoyed them — I have another stack waiting to be read — I do love historical mysteries.
Simon Brett — Blotto, Twinks and the Ex-King’s Daughter (Blotto & Twinks mysteries) — this was interesting — very different from his other series — in fact this series is a parody of P.G. Wodehouse’s Bertie Wooster series — which is a parody in itself, so a parody of a parody. It was interesting to read the reviews on Amazon of this series — the first book had a lot of negative reviews – along the lines of “he doesn’t do it as well as Wodehouse” — I think they missed the point completely that this is a sendoff of Wodehouse. The remaining books in the series all got good reviews — probably because the ppl who didn’t like the first one didn’t bother reading any more of them LOL!
Celine Grace — Death At the Manor (Asharton Manor Mysteries Book 1) — Upstairs, Downstairs with murder — I liked it & look forward to reading the next in the series.
Rhys Bowen — City of Darkness and Light (Molly Murphy mystery)
I love the Molly Murphy series, though this one had her traveling in France, so a bit different then the others where she was on her home turf. I didn’t like it as much as the others, but still a good read.
Susan Wittig Albert — Death Come Quickly (China Bayles Mystery)
I love this series, though I often see whodunnit — still always a great read.
Kylie Logan — A Tale of Two Biddies (League of Literary Ladies Mystery) — I LOVE this series!!! Its interesting because I also like her Button Box series — but that is because of the setting/subject — I sew & so buttons are part of my life — mystery with buttons — all good. This series — I love to read, ok, so the series is about books — again all good — but here I love the whacky characters to pieces — they’re just great! I also really love that she had a number of different mysteries going on at once — not just the murder — so it was a multi-leveled story — and though I did figure out at least one “who dunnit” — I wasn’t entirely sure till the very end exactly WHAT they “done” and why! Really love this series & can’t wait for the next!!!
Julie Hyzy — Home of the Braised (White House Chef) — what can I say — another great book from one of my favorite authors — and she does it so well! (there’s another series copying her that does *not* do it well at all — Julie is the BEST!!!)
Ann Purser — The Blackwoods Farm Enquiry (Ivy Beasley series) — I love the characters in this series, headed by Ivy herself — think if Miss Marple had an attitude… 😉 I totally didn’t guess where it was going till the end.
Jenn Mckinley — Death of a Mad Hatter (Hat Shop mystery) — another “totally love the characters” series — totally didn’t guess AT ALL whodunnit –very big surprise ending — really can hardly wait till the next one in this series comes out!
Beverly Allen — Bloom and Doom (A Bridal Bouquet Shop Mystery) — another new series & very well done — I had NO CLUE in the world who the murder would turn out to be — and that’s saying a lot!
Joyce & Jim Lavene — Bewitching Boots (Ren Village) — I love this series — and this book is even better than the ones preceding. They kind of put the “normal” in paranormal with this one (and no, I didn’t guess at all who the murderer could be)
Dorothy Howell — Shoulder Bags and Shootings (Haley Randolph)
Margaret Addison – Murder at Dareswick Hall (Rose Simpson)–I really like this series, another “if you like Downton Abbey & want a murder” — even better than the first book in the series.
Deryl Wood Gerber– Inherit the Word (Cookbook Nook mystery) — another new-to-me series (its the second in the series, but I haven’t read the first one yet) — very enjoyable read & had a “back story” besides, which always adds additional interest & makes you want to get to the next book to find out what additional secrets will be revealed.
Antiques Con — Barbara Allan (Trash & Treasures mystery)– this is one of those books you read where you don’t care who got murdered, by who or why— you just read for the pure fun of the zany characters — oh — and the mystery was good too LOL! (And no, I wouldn’t have guessed!)
Nancy J. Parra — Engaged in Murder (Perfect proposals mystery) — New series. Good characters (though the boyfriend she dumped was a 2 dimensional character of a bad boyfriend, but at least she dumps him first thing!) — good story — love reading about the different events she plans. Didn’t guess the murderer at all!
Lee Hollis –Death of a Country Fried Redneck & Death of a Chocoholic (Hayley Powell Mystery) — read them both over the weekend. Its funny that I’d passed up the Country Fried Redneck title many times because the title just doesn’t interest me — then when I suddenly realize its by the same author as Death of a Chocoholic (good title!) and Death of a Coupon Clipper which I’d read previously (another good title!) — I figured I had to try it– yeah — they were both good!
Krista Davis — The Diva Wraps It Up (A Domestic Diva Mystery) — I love this series, mostly for the competition between Sophie & Natasha (well, its Natasha who is always competing, Sophie just does her thing)- — another good story & another one where I didn’t guess the murderer at all!
And in case you’re wondering why I keep mentioning that I didn’t guess the murderer — that’s because after reading cozies since before they were a recognized genre — I usually DO guess the murderer, sometimes even before the murder is committed! But when you’ve read enough books you begin to recognize, from the way a story is being told, why that person HAS TO BE the killer — from the storytelling point of view, not that the author actually gave you any clues — it just has to be that this person will turn out to be the murderer. So when I totally don’t have a clue who the killer is — that’s HUGE!
Stash Empress says
PS My list is a bit shorter than usual this months because I spent some time reading some books that were NOT cozies!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash Empress, if I had twenty above-the-others mysteries in one month, there’s no way I would have any time left to read any “books that were NOT cozies!”
MJ says
Stash Empress – I almost stopped reading Nancy Parra’s, ‘Engaged in Murder’, because of the ‘two dimensional boyfriend’ (as you put it). I thought any lead character who was that stupid wasn’t worth reading about. But like you said, she ceremoniously dumped him early in the story.
Did you notice that Pepper (protagonist) said a couple of times they’ve been dating since high school when he was a football star? She also commented (twice, I believe) they dated for 8 years. Since she (Pepper) said she was 30 years old, the math doesn’t add up………………..unless she was in high school until she was 22!!!
I was just wondering if you observed this same discrepancy, as I did. I’m just kind of weird that way. It doesn’t take away from the actual story, but I am surprised it wasn’t detected in the editing process.
FYI – also note on the title page of this book, the copyright is to one of your favorite authors (also a favorite of mine) – Julie Hyzy. She wrote the story outline, Nancy Parra filled in the story. Again, I’m weird – I actually read the title page, acknowledgements, etc.
I noticed you like some of the same authors as I do. Since it has a holiday theme, I decided to wait until Nov./Dec. to read the Krista Davis book. But, I do hate waiting that long to catch up with the characters.
Stash Empress says
Oh MJ — I never save holiday books for their “season” — I read them just as soon as I can get them in my hot little hands!!!
Btw, I didn’t notice the age discrepancy — I got the 8 years since high school comment, but just assumed she was 25yo — didn’t notice where it said she was 30 – but yeah — that IS the kind of thing I usually *DO* notice & it usually bugs the heck out of me LOL!
And yes — your list is all on my TBR list – we do like many of the same authors!
Karen L. says
These are the cozy mysteries I read in July:
The Quiche of Death by M. C. Beaton
The Murder at the Murder at the Mimosa Inn by Joan Hess
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman
Dear Miss Demeanor by Joan Hess
I enjoyed them all for different reasons, but I particularly liked The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax. I first read this book when I was in high school and liked it. When I reread the book this month, I enjoyed it more because I am closer in age to Mrs. Pollifax.
I found it amusing that Mrs. Pollifax was in her early 60’s and was considered old. You have to suspend belief when reading this book, but I guess that is one of the reasons I enjoy reading cozy mysteries.
Stash Empress says
Oh those were all delicious books! Now I’m wanting to get my hands on them to reread — except my list of *new* books “TBR”, as they say, is soooo long! As I keep saying — so many books, so little time!
Linda MH says
My favorite book this month is Shelley Costa’s Basil Instinct—Book 2 in this very enjoyable series. When Eve (our protagonist) finds out her Nonna has been invited to join Belfiere, a very secretive and extremely exclusive culinary club, she gets a bit worried. Eve decides to look into this organization and teams up with her cousin Landon to research the group. What they find out scares them—a lot!
There’s a lot to like in this book—the author’s humorous voice had me laughing out loud frequently; the mystery is solid with a number of twists and surprises; it boasts a cast of very engaging and endearing characters. I did not guess the murderer’s identity even though a number of clues were dropped along the way—and I almost always can figure it out. While reading, I was reminded of those old-time wacky screwball comedies. I just loved the “craziness” of this book. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.
Stash Empress says
OK, both this & first in the series now on my public library hold list!
Linda MH says
Stash Empress, I loved them both! Hope you enjoy them.
Laura B says
I love Hazel Holt books also, and have been reading them since I discovered them in the early 90’s. every time I read one I feel like I am visiting with and old friend. Thanks for the list of great books(I have read many of the authors) and I will have to get that new Hazel Holt.
GINGER says
Here are the 3 books that I read this month.
1. The Goodbye Witch by Heather Blake. It is the 4th in the Wishcraft books. I love this series.
2. Sour Apples by Shelia Connolly. I am not sure which number this book is the Orchard series. I love all of Shelia’s Series.
3. A Tine to Live, A Tine to Die by Edith Maxwell. It is the first in the LOcal Foods series. It was wonderful. My Mom read it first and enjoyed. Then I read and loved it. Waiting on the next.
Readingprincess says
Ginger, Til Dirt Do Us Part, the second in Edith Maxwell’s Local Foods series, was published in May. Happy reading.
Bookwoman says
My July Recommendations are:
The Christie Curse by Victoria Abbott
Book Stops Here by Kate Carlisle
I love Biblio mysteries and these we both good. The Kate Carlisle Series is one of my favorites.
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman
A classic.
Chocolate Frog Frame Up by Joanna Carl
Great summer read. Have Chocolate nearby when reading this series.
The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter by Sharyn McCrumb
Another one of my favorites.
Undeniably Yours by Heather Webber
I love this series but it is a little more romance than traditional mystery.
I am reading Muffin but Murder by Victoria Hamilton now.
This series should be read in order as she has mentioned the first book and the crime a lot in this one.
Enjoy
Stash Empress says
OK, all this mention of Mrs. Pollifax — resistance is futile LOL! I downloaded the only ebook my public library had available — Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled — which I started earlier tonight & almost halfway through, have another ebook on hold (the first one) & have ordered another from Amazon & that should be here Wednesday.
Think I’ll have finished rereading the entire series by this time next week??? LOL!
Stash Empress says
Finished Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled this morning (started rereading at this end because this was the only title the library had available for immediate download as an e-book) — and noticed something very interesting — at what point does a series become “dated” or “period”?
When the Sherlock Holmes series was written, for example, it was “current” — now of course its “period” or “historical”. We’ve all read books that take place before fingerprinting was routine & we say… oh of course today they’d never get away with that, CSI would be onto them in minute.
While the Mrs. Pollifax series began in 1966, this is the last title & was written in 2000 — only 14 years ago. Yet there are no cellphones, no laptops, no internet! (They did see a computer while walking through an office).
All the current mysteries, certainly anything remotely involving spies & espionage, rely heavily on tech –this is how we live today — people are tracked by their cellphones & gps & anything anyone needs to know — there’s an app on their iphone for that! Even a nosy neighbor/amateur sleuth can solve the mystery by going through the texts stored on someone’s phone!
Yet here we have CIA agents driving around in the desert for an hour (with no method of communication) hoping to find signs of a camp.. or wondering where there would be sheep…. today they’d be using Google Earth, GPS, etc.!!!! (Actually, I have to think that in 2000 the CIA was better equipped than this book would lead us to believe LOL)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash Empress, I always think of the Mrs. Pollifax mysteries as being 1960s period pieces. I like that they have to rely on their wits and problem-solve.
Also, how many of our sleuths in today’s setting go into dark, damp, spider-infested buildings (alone) without a cell phone? I know I have read several mysteries with those types of scenarios… where the author sort of picks and chooses the modern conveniences they equip their sleuths with…
Bookwoman says
I agree. No matter when the book is published I think of Mrs. Pollifax in the 60s. After seeing the movie I always picture her as Rosalind Russell.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Susan* says
I’ve been bingeing this month! Lol! Agatha Christie. Mostly Poirot, for some reason, but a few stand-alones as well.
I just seem to have been in the mood for Poirot – though, for some reason definitely NOT for Hastings! (I’ve just put ‘Murder on the Links’ back on the shelf after 2 pages.)
For some reason, I’ve never been able to get into ‘Death on the Nile’, but that was definitely on my list this month, and the identity of the villain floored me! I should be used to this lady’s wrinkles by now, (I’ve been reading her since before I hit my teens!) but this one was completely brilliant.
‘Murder on the Blue Train’, ‘Murder in Mesopotamia’, ‘Elephants Can Remember’, others that ‘I’ can’t remember, off hand, (Guess I’m not an elephant! Lol!) – all thoroughly good reads, and I’ve just started ‘Dead Man’s Folly’.
I do like Ariadne Oliver!
‘Why Didn’t They Ask Evans’ is a brilliant stand-alone, with some wonderful characters, and a fabulous twist in the end. Thinking about it, there’s more than one twist, actually.
‘The Secret of Chimneys’ is technically not a stand-alone, as Superintendent Battle stars, and Lady Eileen does feature in another one as well, but it’s another story with a fun female protagonist, and just fun characters all the way through. What used to be called ‘a light-hearted romp’. Wonderful stuff!
I don’t think I need to actually ‘recommend’ Dame Agatha to anyone here, but I will just say: ‘You Can’t Beat the Classics!’ Lol!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan*, you are so right about the Classics >>> There’s a reason they’re classics, and will be around for many more years. Thank you for reminding us: ‘You Can’t Beat the Classics!’
Stash Empress says
You know, as much as I love Dame Agatha’s books — and I have read all of them — many of them several times over — starting when I was about 12yo — I certainly finished ALL of them at least once before I finished high school LOL — but now when I pick up one of my favorite old beloved books — I just can’t seem to get through them — they are sooooo slow moving — compared to what we read today — it seems that our attention span has become increasingly shortened over the years — even those of us who READ BOOKS (as opposed to “tweets” LOL) — I started rereading one, forget now which it was, and the character is crossing the road, and 5 pages later… she’s still crossing the road… I had to put it down after a few chapters, which was VERY disappointing!
The Tommy & Tuppence series were always my favorite of all. Also the (few) featuring Mr. Harley Quinn– I always wished she’d written more of those.
Susan* says
Absolutely! The ‘Harley Quin’ stories are fabulous! Definitely among my favourites, as well – and like you, I wish there had been more.
One book and a few odd stories was just not enough!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash Empress, that’s too bad about you not being able to enjoy Christie’s mysteries anymore.
Susan* says
On reflection, I think it may have been watching the rather good documentary “Being Poirot”, on tv, that started off this latest binge.
Presented by David Suchet, himself, it travels through the 25 years (!) that the English actor spent playing the little Belgian detective.
Fascinating viewing, I recommend it to any Christie / Poirot fan. (Or anyone who just likes ‘Behind-the-Scenes’ type shows. I’m an actor, myself, and I love them!)
Anne says
V.C. Clinton Baddeley, “Only a Matter of Time.” A true cozy where you only find out “who-dun-it” at the end. Also I liked the ironic eye cast upon English country life. Although this book was published in 1969, the great institutions of the musty old country town hotel and the local arty Festival exist to this day. A delightful read.
Not strictly a cozy but I’m really enjoying Donna Leon’s latest book about Commissario Brunneti – “By it’s Cover.” Good story, characters you can believe in and she obviously loves Venice.
Stash Empress says
Never heard of Baddeley, but its on my public library hold list now!
Stash Empress says
Update: Picked it up at the library yesterday, read it today, LOVED it — this is just the kind of book I read & loved back in the 70’s (ok, I was a teen then — but that’s when I started reading & loving this type of mystery — “cozy” wasn’t a genre yet) — and you know they really DON’T write them like this anymore! Alas!!! I’d never heard of Baddeley before, but I see (from the Cozy Mystery website) that there are another 4 books in the series. Unfortunately none of them are in the library system & even on Amazon (used) they’re fairly scarce — so not that cheap… 🙁
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash Empress, it looks like you now have one more author to follow. (I remember when Cozy wasn’t a genre, also! It wasn’t so long ago…)
Nicole says
In July i read “The good, the bad and the emus”. Like the title the cover is awesome. As always Donna Andrews brings Meg and her crazy bunch of family and other people in a nice plot and in a very good mystery. There were a lot of hints but i was not sure who the murderer was. The rescue of the emus was very amusing and i like that Donna Andrews brings – like always – the characters forward. Love the series a lot and looking forward to the new book in november.
And now i take a “cozy” break, go back to my teenage time and read again “It” from Stephen King. Hopefully i dont have to turn on the lights in the night and have to look in my closet 😉
Stash Empress says
Waiting to get my hot little hands on “emus” — LOVE that series — its one of the “zanies” that you don’t even care who got killed or why or by whom — you just love reading about all the zany characters & what they’re doing.
Susan* says
I love Donna Andrews, and I’m not the only one – my mum keeps borrowing them off me, too! Lol!
Good Luck with the closet! 🙂
Nicole says
Could you explain what zanies is (english is not my native).
Closet good 😉
the first half was a fun reading with only a little bit horror. More like a very good written book and nice characters (king is very good in this old books – now i know again why i liked the books in teenage time). But what should i say? This evening i got in the second half very deep and then a loud mechanic voice said “person is not available”. … I cant explain the feeling. Was like WOOSH!
(After a little search: was my telephone. Its out and somebody called so long that the automatic answer go on, i didnt know that it go on loud. )
Judith says
I just finished reading an interesting juxtaposition of books that on the surface have a lot in common but are very different. Both are light-hearted series based in England between the wars with aristocratic protagonists. The first was Royal Blood, the fourth Lady Georgie mystery by Rhys Bowen. This time Lady Georgie is off to Transylvania to be a bridesmaid for an old schoolmate and represent the royal family at the wedding. Of course, murder ensues and Lady Georgie begins to wonder if vampires are real. The other book was Blotto, Twinks and the Rodents of the Riviera by Simon Brett, the third book in this series. This series is a parody that never takes itself seriously. In this book, Blotto and Twinks are off to France to recover stolen paintings. While the tone is very different for these two series, both are fun reads.
Another book I enjoyed this month was Keeping Mum by Alyse Carlson, the third book in the Garden Society Mystery series. In this one, Cam and Annie plan a murder mystery night for a fundraiser, only an actual murder occurs and Annie’s father is kidnapped.
I also had fun spending time with the Seaside Knitters in Murder in Merino by Sally Goldenbaum. I love how this series is truly about a community. You not only have the core group, but when characters are introduced as part of the mystery for a particular book, they don’t just disappear in the subsequent books, they remain a part of the community.
Barbara says
I am reading the Kindle version of the second book in Karen Musser Nortman’s Frannie Shoemaker Campground mysteries, The Blue Coyote. The first book is Bats and Bones. This is a great cozy series. Frannie and her husband travel to various campgrounds meeting up with his sister and another couple. They often have Frannie’s two grandchildren with them.
PamB says
Danna, are Kindle/Nook book versions exactly the same as paperback books? I’ve wanted to know this before but with Barbara mentioning reading the Kindle version thought I would ask. Thank you.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
PamB, they are the same, except that you can adjust the font size. (I have never compared a Kindle version of a book with a paperback, though.)
Lynn T. says
I enjoyed Family Skeletons by Rhett MacPherson this month. It is the first book in the series with Torie O’Shea as the protagonist. She is a genealogist and historian who gives tours while dressed in period costume. She is also a wife, mother , and daughter in a very loving family.
Torie is a fun character. My favorite scene was when her dad brought his ’60’s band to her house for an all night jam session. While other family members wanted to practically flee to the hills to drown out the sound, Torie joined them as their singer. She said she brought her own lampshade. Torie paid for it the next day and when the band had a second wind the next day, she declined joining in on the jam. When Torie is questioning someone, she just decides to come out with the question she wants answered. This can surprise people and could perhaps stir up dangerous anger.
There are eleven books in the series and I immediately downloaded the second book. The series stopped for some reason in 2008.
I, also, found out something new about myself as a reader. I have said that I did not care a lot for paranormal mystery books. I read the 3rd book Spinning in Her Grave by Molly MacRae and the new second book by Dawn Eastman titled Be Careful What you Witch For this month. I am now following both series. Both books or series have a great cast of character and a storyline mixed with humor. I know some readers don’t care for the woo-woo factor in mysteries but it is light in these books and doesn’t overwhelm the story. The books are character driven and what a great group of characters! I also love how Molly MacRae loves to play with words. She is quite good at it and it is fun for the readers..
Sheila says
My July reads are:
Virginia Lowell’s Cookie Cutter Shop Mystery Series
Cookie Dough or Die Murder
A Cookie Before Dying
When the Cookie Crumbles
One Dead Cookie
Cookies and Scream
Jennifer McAndrews
Ill-Gotten Panes
MJ says
I was hoping someone would mention Virginia Lowell because I have the following gripe (not about the series!) but……..
When I read a book, I really like to know something about the author. We have discussed pseudonyms a LOT on this blog. But I get frustrated when there is absolutely no information about an author. I know, I know, many would say, “what’s that got to do with the story?” Any story is good, bad, or in-between because of it’s content not because who the author is. BUT, I would like to know the author’s background, etc.
Just think, if you went to a movie or play and every male actors’ name was John Doe and every female actors’ name was Mary Smith. And, the audience doesn’t have need to know who they really are because it’s only the performance that’s important. I always wonder WHY an author doesn’t want the reader to know anything about them. Why don’t they want the recognition of accomplishment? It’s not an easy process to get published.
That brings me to my question, who is Virginia Lowell? I’ve read the series Sheila has mentioned. There is NOTHING in the book regarding the author. Most authors have a small bio at the end of their book. In Lowell’s books there isn’t even any copyright attribution, except to the publisher. One would think the author would be proud of their accomplishments, not embarrassed.
Virginia Lowell’s webpage says NOTHING ‘about’ the author, even though you’ve clicked on the ‘about’ tab. There doesn’t seem to be any Facebook page, somewhat unusual for current authors. A few interviews have been granted, but are only focused on cookie cutters and the writing process, nothing personal at all. The need for ‘secrecy’ gets curiouser and curiouser ( a mystery?)…………
Why in the world doesn’t an interviewer ask this author to talk about background, life, jobs, etc. that brought her/him to the writing process? This is a major faux pas on the part of an interviewer. The closest background clue we get from this author is he/she was raised in a small Midwestern town.
In the latest book ‘Cookies and Scream’, cozy author Miranda James gets a ‘shout out’ within the story. Perhaps Virginia Lowell is another pseudonym for Miranda James (also a pseudonym), but doesn’t want to admit it.
Is anyone else as perplexed about the need for an author to have complete anonymity as I am? What would we think if actors/ musicians did this? AGAIN, I understand the concept of its NOYB (none of your business), but we are curious people, or we wouldn’t be readers!!
MJ says
To clarify, MANY authors write cozies under pen names or pseudonyms – Laura Childs is a pen name, and Isleib, McKinlay, Bartlett, Minichino, Lavenes (to name just a FEW) use ‘other names’ for various series. BUT, they don’t hide or shroud their backgrounds/experience/education in secrecy. These are proud authors of their accomplishments.
AND NOW, you all have heard ENOUGH from me on this July recommendation blog. Guess I got really verbose (definitely ‘windy’) over the past week!
Stash Empress says
WHAT????LAURA CHILDS is also a pen name????????????????? I bet next you’re gonna tell me the Tooth Fairy is also a nom de plume??? (And does her brother Santa Claus know?) Are there no “real people” out there anymore???? (Back in the days of radio oldies, like The Jack Benny Show, someone — I forget who — quipped that there are only a handful of live actors in Hollywood — the rest are all Mel Blanc LOL)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash Empress, Mel Blanc was then replace by Rich Little…
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, I think you make a really good point about the secrecy some authors and their publishers have. It sure makes it more difficult for those of us who actually want to “follow” a favorite author.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, when I put up the authors’ pages up on the Cozy Mystery site, I try to find out a little something about them. As you have pointed out, sometimes it’s not easy to find any information about them. I remember when one “new” author started writing a culinary series, it was very hush-hush about who she/he was. I wonder if, when everyone found out who she/he was, did it affect book sales? That could be one reason they sometimes choose to keep their identity a top-secret thing.
Bookwoman says
I am not a mystery reader for nothing. I won a copy of the new book from “Virginia Lowell” No return address label on the package but it was sent New Brighton, Minnesota. Looking at a list of cozy mystery authors from MN I came up with a few possibles. My first guess is “Laura Childs” other possible author would be Monica Ferris.
Of course it could have been sent from MN so we would not know it was Dean James from Mississippi.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bookwoman, I have big doubts about Virginia Lowell being Laura Childs or Monica Ferris. Since all of their series are hugely successful bestsellers, I doubt their publishers would want to hide a newer series – which is also a very popular Cozy Mystery series.
But, your Cozy Mystery reading sounds like it could lead to a new profession for you: Bookwoman, Private Investigator!
Debbie says
I love your site and have been using it for almost three years. Thank you first. Now I’m hoping you or one of your followers can help me, I’ve read either 2 or 3 books about an older woman (I can’t remember the character’s name) who’s a widow and I think writes Christian stories. She also has her mother-in-law live with her because they can’t afford a retirement community. One of the books was a story about someone breaking in to homes to rearrange furniture. I can’t remember why, however, I think it was either the mother-in-law or someone she knows. I want to say that they might live somewhere in Arkansas.
Thank you for your help.
Vicki says
This may seem like a kind of odd recommendation, but I recently purchased a kindle collection called Female Sleuths Megapack, which (for only 99 cents) contains three complete old mystery series: Lady Molly of Scotland Yard by Baroness Orczy, Loveday Brooke by C L Pirkis, and Amelia Butterworth by Anna Katherine Greene. These are really old mystery stories, pre Agatha Christie. I haven’t finished the collection yet (it’s almost 600 pages long), but I’m really enjoying it so far. Since they are old and old fashioned, they focus on the mystery plot and characterization rather than sex and violence, and I’ve found them a refreshing change of pace. The ones I’ve read so far are more short stories than novels, so it’s easy to sit down and read a complete story in a short time span. And they were really inexpensive. I would recommend them to anyone who likes Agatha Christie.
reginav says
Danna, AS usual I am late answering this post because I did not keep track of the books I read this month. I did finish 2 series by authors i had only read the latest book in the series. Those stories whetted my appetite for more. The first was by David Handler his Mitrey and Berger one.I particularly liked this one because it is set in Connecticut where I live and I recognized many of the places.Handler reverses the usual characters as the policeman is a state police woman and the sidekick is a male movie critic. The other series I enjoyed was by Kate Ellis. I had read one or two of this one previously but as my library did not stock all of them I never finished it. Thanks to my Nook I was able to purchase and read them all. Her chief character is Wesley Peterson a British detective with a degree in archeology stationed in a British seaside town. The books provide an intermingling of new crimes with ancient ones.To those of us who read “To Kill a Mockingbird” ,the newest book about Harper Lee and her sister is a great a d informative read.
Lynn T. says
Reginav, I too enjoy the Handler and Kate Ellis series. I have noticed that you and I have similar tastes many times in books. I have tried books due to your recommendations and have liked them. Just wondered if you have tried the Elly Griffiths series yet with the first book being Crossing Places. I think you might like it.
Beth says
Love, love, LOVE the Elly Griffiths Ruth Galloway series!! It is probably the number one series I recommend.
reginav says
I can’t remember having read Elly Griffiths but after your suggestion I am going to check her out. I also think I might re-read Mrs Polifax for a good laugh.
Beth says
I’ve been enjoying Camille Minichino’s Periodic Table mystery series. I find Gloria such a likeable sleuth – smart, no nonsense, unsuperficial. I am interested in science, but have only the basics from college, so it’s interesting to get a glimpse into the wide variety of science-related jobs and research topics. It’s also fun to think about how much computers have evolved during the life of the series – what was considered cutting edge technology of the quality that only a well funded research lab would have is now outdated even by most basic standards today. The small cast of supporting characters are very enjoyable as well – Elaine and Rose both contrast nicely with Gloria. I have read all of the books in the series, including her short story, so read Ms Minichino’s other series, the Sophie Knowles series, by Ada Madison. I also very much enjoyed this series and think Sophie is a great protagonist. Fingers crossed that we will see more of Gloria and Sophie!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Beth, I also enjoy her Miniature Mystery Series a lot, written as Margaret Grace.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Beth, I love Camille Minichino’s Periodic Table sleuth. You are right about Gloria being a “smart, no nonsense, unsuperficial” woman.
reginav says
Danna I forgot to mention that i enjoy Hazel Holt very much and try to read her series as the books become available. Somehow I missed the one you mentioned. I promptly ordered it and read it one very hot humid afternoon here. It was very good as usual. I sometimes think that Leslie Cookman’s series is somewhat similar.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Regina, thanks for the Leslie Cookman tip. Most of her mysteries have been made into Kindle/Nook format, which isn’t the case with all of Hazel Holt’s mystery books.
K.Foss says
Two older perhaps out of print cozy authors not yet listed at BJ Oliphant whose main character is a retired highly placed executive secretary who has retired to a ranch and solves mysteries And Lora Roberts whose main character starts out as a homeless woman living in her car
jrv says
I can’t find Joanne Bassett on your lists. She writes a very fine cozy based in the Hawaiian Islands. She follows a wedding planner who does destination weddings. She lives in Paia. If you have spent any time in Hawaii, you will love the local flavor. What I like about these books is the heroine is not silly and is a very strong woman. She does, of course, put herself in harm’s way, but that is to be expected. The first book in this series is called Maui Widow Waltz.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
JRV, I have JoAnn Bassett on the FREE, Cheap, or On-Sale Kindle & Nook Mystery Books list from July 17, 2014. I haven’t yet added a page for her on the Cozy Mystery site.
jrv says
I think most people would really like her books. The mysteries are good and the atmosphere is great.