Mystery Book Recommendations – October 2014

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1. Karen L. says

   October 27, 2014 at 4:10 pm

   I read Witches’ Bane by Susan Wittig Albert. This is the second book in the China Bayles Series. I found the book to be engaging and clever. I also liked that the main character, China, is complex and we learn a little more about her background. Great Halloween book.

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2. Stash Empress says

   October 27, 2014 at 7:07 pm

   I read a bunch of good books this month by a number of different authors. There were even a few that were *not* Ellery Adams.
   😉

   Allison Kingsley — Extra Sensory Deception (Raven’s Next Bookstore series) — while I’m not big on paranormal books in general, I do like those that are kind of “paranormal lite” – like this series where Clara has the odd vision now & then — but doesn’t usually know exactly what it means & so has to rely on good old fashioned sleuthing, together with her cousin Stephanie (who has no powers, though she wishes she did).

   Anne Marie Sutton — Murder Stalks a Mansion (Newport Mystery series) — I really like this new series — it has all the elements of an enjoyable cozy — Beautiful setting, impoverished but brave & spunky widow turns the family home into a hotel to keep a roof over her head & that of her beloved mother-in-law — and a murder occurs — of course it does. 😉 Looking forward to the next book in this series!

   Lynn Cahoon — Mission to Murder (A Tourist Trap Mystery) — An enjoyable puzzle, though I do admit not being entirely sure of WHY its so important that 3 foot stretch of wall be proven to belong to an old mission (as opposed to a different stretch of wall…)

   Alyssa Maxwell — Murder at Marble House (A Gilded Newport Mystery) — I love this series!!!! The famous Vanderbilt family + murder & mayhem — YUM! (OK, and the “Downton Abbey” effect as well!) 😉

   Elizabeth Craig — Shear Trouble (A Southern Quilting Mystery) — fabric + sewing/quilting + murder = its all good.

   M. C. Beaton – The Blood of an Englishman (Agatha Raisin series) — more of the same — if you like this series, you’ll love it. (Will Agatha *ever* get the guy???)

   Victoria Laurie — Fatal Fortune (Psychic Eye Mystery) — I totally love this series. Very suspenseful, unlike the usual whodunnit (something happens — now — whodunnit?) — you just never quite know *what* is going on — whatever it turns out to be — its never what you expected!

   Livia J. Washburn — Frankly My Dear, I’m Dead (Literary Tour Mystery)
   Livia J. Washburn — Huckleberry Finished (Literary Tour Mystery)
   This series is new to me & they are sooooo good! Just love the premise — literary tours to famous places in literature, with actors in costume playing whatever the characters for that locale (the cast of Gone With the Wind, Mark Twain on the riverboat, etc.) — plus a murder — what could be better? Again, my library doesn’t own the whole set & I’d love to get my hands on them.

   Rita Mae Brown — The Litter of the Law (Mrs. Murphy mystery)– another good “talking animals” mystery.

   Chloe Douglas — A Love For All Time (A Time Wanderer Novel) — Not a cozy & does have explicit “love” scenes — but its about a NYPD detective who is taken back in time to Victorian England to search for a missing woman — and find Jack the Ripper. Excellent novel, couldn’t resist this one — just wish the love scenes would be toned down — didn’t really need them in the mystery! (Though I suppose readers who read it as a romance are probably saying the murder aspect should have been toned down!)

   Donna Andrews — The Good, the Bad, and the Emus (Meg Langslow mystery) — LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!! This has been one of my favorite “Happy” series since the very first title. I love them so much, this is one of the series I used to purchase — in hardcover! — as soon as each new title was released. What can I say — there’s just so much to love about this series — wonderful whacky characters, plus whacky scenarios (an emu roundup? seriously???) — there just seems to be such a feeling of *exhuberance* in this series — even with a murder — there’s just so much FUN going on! This title was no different — long lost relatives, an emu roundup — oh yes — and a couple of murders — what could possibly be better??? (Btw — is there a sub-category for “Happy” cozy series???)

   Terrie Farley Moran — Well Read, Then Dead (Read Em and Eat mystery) — new series featuring a cafe/bookshop complete with book club — not that it hasn’t been done already — but hey — you can’t have too many cafe/bookshops! Enjoyable mystery, I really didn’t guess the ending (well, I guessed parts of the puzzle, but not the murderer) & look forward to the next in the series.

   Laura Childs– Gossamer Ghost (Scrapbooking mystery) — This was great. Love this series. Love the creative new scrapbooking/papercrafting things they do in each new book. Love the whacky characters. Love the whole Halloween in New Orleans over-the-top weeklong celebrations as apparently they can only do in New Orleans. Oh the mystery — yeah that was ok too 😉

   Jessica Fletcher (with a hand from Donald Bains 😉 — Death of a Blue Blood (Murder, She Wrote series) — Loved this one, they just get better & better. Jessica Fletcher meets Downton Abbey — what’s not to love???? I think I’ve come to the conclusion that I like the “away” books better than the Cabot Cove books. Seriously, I can’t imagine why they even have any tourists left coming to Cabot Cove, where your chance of witnessing a murder is about equal with your chance of *being* murdered. Got to be the most dangerous vacation destination on earth. 😉 But I do really love when Jessica goes to some new & interesting/exotic destination – and trips over a murder anyway 😉 — I think this particular story reminds me a lot of the Dorothy Martin series, except that Jessica is just visiting (with her CID boyfriend), while Dorothy has settled in to live there (with her ex-police husband). But definitely the same flavor. Which is one of my favorite flavors.

   Carolyn Haines — Booty Bones (A Sarah Booth Delaney mystery) — Sometime back there was a post about retrying an author that you didn’t like in the past (https://cozy-mystery.com/blog/re-trying-old-favorite-author-discarded.html) — I had read the first book in this series many years ago when it first came out — because I liked the cover! — but somehow I didn’t like the book. I don’t remember why, I just didn’t care to read any more in the series. Well I came across the newest book in the series last week — Booty Bones — and I LOVED the cover LOL — so I read it – and I LOVED it — and no idea *why* I discarded the series so many years ago! I really enjoyed it — loved the characters, loved the setting, loved the puzzle — (and I only guessed part of the “whodunnit”). So now reading my way backwards through the series!
   Carolyn Haines — Bonefire of the Vanities (A Sarah Booth Delaney mystery)– I really loved this one too –even better than the other one. Can hardly wait to catch up on the whole series!

   So after being so pleasantly surprised by rediscovering that series, I attempted the newest book from another popular series that I had tried once & discarded many years ago. At that time I didn’t like that book because it had too many characters that I couldn’t keep track of, and that the author didn’t really properly introduce, though someone who had started at the beginning of the series would know who was who. I kind of felt like I was at a party where everyone knows everyone else & didn’t know anyone & felt left out. When I saw the newest in the library recently, I started to flip through it & discovered that the author had now started her book with a “who’s who” page (so I guess I’m not the only one who had that confused & left out feeling). Took the book home & started it. And now I know who all those characters are. Only I’m still waiting for the plot to start. 50 pages in, I’m still waiting for the plot to start… 90 pages in & though its been mentioned in passing that someone had died, nobody is talking murder, nobody is detecting, even the police aren’t paying much attention. In other words.. still waiting for the plot… 90 pages in (out of about 300). I really thought we should have a story going by then… So I looked at the reviews on Amazon… tons of 1 & 2 star reviews…. 5 stars… not so much… So I left it. I almost NEVER leave a book in the middle like that! And I have to add that I wasn’t even curious enough to read the last chapter to find out whodunnit !

   Ellery Adams — as J.B. Stanley — Stiffs & Swine (Supper Club mystery) — unfortunately our library system only has two titles from this series. I quite enjoyed it & would have liked to complete the series.

   Lucy Arlington — Every Trick in the Book (a Novel Idea mystery) — very enjoyable literary cozy. (And I guess its no mystery that its Ellery Adams again? 😉 )

   Ellery Adams – Poisoned Prose (Books by the Bay mystery) — another very good installment in this series, that totally kept me guessing till the very end.

   Jenn McKinlay — Read it & Weep (A Library Lover’s Mystery) — librarians, crafters, murders — yeah we’ve seen the set up before, but hey — you can never have too many crafty librarian detectives! A good book! (But I have to say one thing — A recent online contest required reading the blurb for the *next* book from the author’s website — and in that “blurb” — there was ONE WORD that totally gave away a major secret that was to be kept in this book till the very end — but I already knew what would have to have happened by having seen that ONE WORD in the blurb!!!! So please authors — be VERY sure that your blurbs don’t act as spoilers for previous books in the series!!!!)

   Denise Swanson — Murder of a Stacked Librarian (A Scumble River Mystery) — I know I’ve read at least one earlier novel in this series, but not for many years, so I don’t really remember why I didn’t read more of them (most likely availability). But this is the one leading up to the big wedding. I totally adore mysteries leading up to wedding of the sleuth — cuz of course there’s always a murder to solve on the way to the wedding — added to the usual mishaps that happen on the way to every wedding — they’re just the BEST kind of stories! (And now that I’ve read the wedding, I’ll work my way backwards through the series — except of course now that the whole world knows who she finally marries, there won’t be that old suspense between the boyfriend-who-is-a-cop & the boyfriend-who-is-not-a-cop 😉 )

   Donald Bain — Margaret Truman’s Undiplomatic Murder (A Capital Crimes Novel) — Excellent continuation of the beloved series. Very suspenseful & I pretty much read it in one sitting!

   Nancy Coco – All Fudged Up (A Candy Coated mystery)
   First in a new series. Very enjoyable & kept me guessing till the end, I already checked out the next in the series…

   Donna Andrews — The Nightingale Before Christmas (A Meg Langslow mystery)— Again, this is one of my favorite “happy” series to read. Love the characters & love the action, though admittedly there was less wild & wooly wildlife involved in this one. (In most of the books in this series, the birds mentioned in the title are actual live birds in the story, generally wreaking havoc on the lives of Meg & her family. The previous book did feature an actual feral emu roundup, for example. In this book the title nightingale only appears in a painting & a story – no actual wild birds corralled in the bathtub or anything.)

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3. Rebl says

   October 28, 2014 at 8:36 am

   I think My favorite read this month was by author Barbara Graham Quilt Mysteries – the first is Murder by Serpents: The mystery quilt. The major and minor characters are wonderful and you fall in love with them and can’t wait until the next book. Read all 5 in the series, according to the author book 6 should be out in January.

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4. MJ says

   October 28, 2014 at 8:56 am

   Off Kilter — Hannah Reed

   This is my favorite book of the month. The first in a new series, it is a winner. Eden Elliot (protagonist) travels to Scotland from Chicago after a divorce and the death of her mother. She is staying in a B&B in a small town where she plans to write a romance novel. She develops new friendships and (of course) becomes embroiled in a local murder, although she is not a suspect.

   Reed’s descriptive writing of local scenery makes you want to book your flight soon! The main characters are pretty straight forward and really likeable – so far no idiosyncratic ones. The murder plot is full of surprise developments. It’s also a well-paced book. I wasn’t able to get a grasp who the murderer was, because the obvious was ruled out. I did figure it out before the ‘revelation’, but the ‘whys’ were a total, total surprise.
   Romance possibilities (of course, two contenders) are also part of the story. This book is very difficult to put down, thus making it a quick and VERY enjoyable read.

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   Groomed For Murder – Annie Knox

   I don’t have any pets, therefor I don’t have any interest in ‘pet’ themed cozies. However, if it’s a well written mystery, and has interesting subplots/side stories, I enjoy the book and will recommend it. This book is just that. In addition, there are some social themes to this series.

   The characters are very well developed and appealing with a smart and strong protagonist (Izzy). A wedding is interrupted with the death of a boarder in Izzy’s home. The many twists in the mystery storyline keeps the reader constantly engaged. It is well written and well-paced. There’s psychological (somewhat complex) aspects to this story which keeps the reader guessing as to who is the murderer until the final few chapters.

   The focus of the story is a ‘doggie wedding’. All pet (especially dog) fans will really enjoy this. Of course, there is conflicting story line of Izzy’s possible romance with two ‘hunks’ – Sean or Jake, both friends since childhood. As with many cozies, it is the ‘ongoing’ (to be continued………………….) story.

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   The Wolfe’s Widow……………Victoria Abbott

   Each book in this series is a ‘themed detective’ story. This one happens to be Nero Wolff and Archie Goodwin. Jordan Bingham is fired from her job where she was helping a wealthy, but eccentric, woman with her rare book collection. The characters in this series are so-o-o-o much fun/quirky. Jordan’s family is particularly ‘off-beat’. And, you have to love, love the cook/housekeeper.

   One downside (in my opinion) to this book is the detective boyfriend is ‘away at a conference’, thus does not interact in the story. Also ‘sent away’ are her two best friends. I kept wondering where they were and disappointed they weren’t part of the story. I suppose the authors (it’s a team) want to prove the protagonist is a strong character. I think (but what do I know!) the authors could still develop a strong character, yet keep the romantic/friend interactions intact by using some creativity. However, some new characters were introduced with concentration on them.

   Jordan is a very ‘take charge’ character as she seeks answers as to why she was fired. She is fearful for the life of her employer. It’s easy to figure out the ‘bad guy’ in this story, but you really don’t know the whys and wherefores until the end of the story.

   This story is set in the fall with a Thanksgiving theme.

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   Gossamer Ghost — Laura Childs

   Several Halloween themed cozies, just mention Halloween – perhaps with a party. Since Childs sets this series in New Orleans, Halloween is infused throughout each chapter with a variety of functions, costumes, craft items, etc. A REAL Halloween themed story.

   Although normally there are several characters featured in this series, this particular book is pretty much focused on Carmela (protagonist) and Ava (side kick). They take center stage in most paragraphs on each page, in each chapter. Everyone else is relegated to the background. The mystery itself keeps one guessing and the culprit is a surprise. The pacing is very good (that’s not always the case with this series). I’ve also noticed a lot of repetition in this series with the scenarios, activities, situations, etc.

   This book (12th in the series) is an improvement over last year’s installment. Again, I suggest you read it because it is so-o-o-o totally Halloween!! Very enjoyable. The author’s Halloween descriptive writing in this setting is outstanding.

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   Legend of Sleepy Harlow — Kylie Logan

   This author has written a very imaginative and creative story — even a ‘headless ghost’ takes center stage Don’t let the constant reference to ‘paranormal’ in the story line stop anyone from reading this book. It really isn’t ‘woo-woo’. Usually the book selected by the ‘League of Literary Ladies’, has been the focus of each story, but not so much in this one. However there is a definite Halloween theme.

   Some filmmakers (reality show type) come to this Ohio island setting, trying to film ghosts they believe reside there. They call themselves the ‘Ghost-Getters’. They are staying at Bea’s (protagonist) Bed and Breakfast. There is a murder at the local winery and a friend of Bea’s is the main suspect.

   It’s a bit frustrating, that this is the third book of the series and we are no closer to learning the ‘dark’ past of Bea or Levi (possible romantic interest).

   Logan writes witty and quick paced dialogue. In this story there isn’t the usual emphasis on the local ‘unique’ characters and there are a few spots where the story drags. However, the solution is clever and surprising. Most importantly, it’s a fun and unique read!

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   ‘Til Dirt Do Us Part — Edith Maxwell

   I’ll briefly mention this book. Originally, I picked it up because I saw it recommended on this blog. This series is ladened with organic farming information, most likely a passion of the author. That aside, Maxwell writes VERY intelligent/clever mysteries with a smart protagonist and several enjoyable characters. Also, the personal subplots are somewhat involved, thus keeping the reader engaged. I find good pacing an important asset to any cozy, and this is ‘spot on’. It’s well worth the read, even if you skip over the farming info.

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5. Rob says

   October 28, 2014 at 10:12 am

   Ladies, I have to recommend Bill Crider who has written 3 separate series, Sheriff Dan Rhodes, Prof Carl Burns and Prof. Sally Good. They are all delightful and you can see Mr. Crider’s wry self-deprecating humor fun throughout!

   I’ve enjoyed the four books I’ve read- A Bond with Death, Of All Sad Words, Compound Murder, Murder of a Beauty Shop Queen, The Wild Hog Murders,and thankfully, Mr. Crider has written several other titles.

   He is a witty and intelligent crime solver in whatever venue you choose-it will be a fun read. Definitely in the Cozy style!

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6. Janice says

   October 28, 2014 at 11:06 am

   I read many books this month. The two that stand out are the newest offerings from two of my favorite authors. Picked to Die by Sheila Connolly is a timely read since it is harvest time in the orchard. The author provides information about the problems faced by small produce growers as well as providing an intriguing mystery. The other favorite was A Midwinter’s Tail by Sofia Kelly. I am not a fan or paranormal but I love the cats in this series. I also enjoyed The Legend of Sleepy Harlow by Kylie Logan, Weave of Absence by Carol Ann Martin, and Demon Summer by G.M. Malliet.

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7. Linda MH says

   October 28, 2014 at 11:38 am

   I did a lot of reading this month and enjoyed most of the books I read. Here are my favorites:

   *Death in the English Countryside by Sara Rosett

   I’m a big fan of Ms. Rosett’s On the Run series so I thought I would give this one a try. Death in the English Countryside is the first book in her new Murder on Location series. The mystery is a good one and the characters are very likable, but the setting is the star. It was easy to envision the beautiful stone walls, lovely cottages, and rolling green fields that make up the village of Nether Woodsmoor. Ms. Rosett has a way of describing her settings that makes you feel like you are right there traveling with her characters. This is a lovely cozy mystery, and I’m looking forward to the next book.

   *Gator Bait by Jana Deleon

   Gator Bait is the 5th book in the Miss Fortune Mystery series. It is such a fun read! It is a laugh-out-loud romp through the wacky town of Sinful, Louisiana. Wonderful characters, an interesting setting, a well-crafted mystery, a little romance, lots of humor–what’s not to love! Fortune Redding (our star) is a CIA assassin hiding out in the little town of Sinful. In Gator Bait, she starts investigating the possible disappearance of Carter–her ‘almost’ boyfriend. With the help of two elderly women (who are not what they seem!), she scales walls, outruns dogs, and hides her true identity from the Feds all while trying to keep everyone safe.
   Although this book can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone, I strongly encourage you to start with Book 1. Can’t wait to see what happens next in the lives of Fortune, Gertie and Ida Belle.

   Hope everyone has a great week!

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8. Jonathan says

   October 28, 2014 at 4:28 pm

   This month I’ve read many entertaining and intriguing cozies. Mostly in series they all were very good.

   Murder, She Wrote (Donald Bain) – I read Domestic Malice and Trick or Treachery. Both were very entertaining and great whodunits set in Cabot Cove. I love learning more about the town where Jessica hails from and these two were descriptive, and great. They both, especially Domestic Malice had me hanging until about twenty pages until the end.

   White House Chef Mystery (Julie Hyzy) – I read the first two in this series. Though the first one took awhile to get into they were both really good. You learn interesting culinary facts and even more interesting White House facts that just add to these stories.

   Booktown Series (Lorna Barrett) – I read three of these this month and I’m currently reading another now. I love this series, the characters are believable, and the suspense is unavoidable. I’d definitely recommend these.

   Orchard Series (Shelia Connolly) – Very entertaining books. I read the first three this month, and though they were hard to really get into they are entertaining, reveal interesting facts about orchards, and are fun to read!

   Overall I’ve read tons of great books this month and I’m looking forward to reading more!

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9. Margaret Anne says

   October 29, 2014 at 6:36 pm

   My favorite read this month was Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton. This is not a new series, but rather a “new to me” book that I happened upon at a bookstore. I really enjoyed the mystery! The main character, Kelly, is very personable. She meets a great group of people at a yarn store across the street from her late aunt’s cottage, and I wish I could knit with them! This cozy is a little different from most in that the suspicious death is not an unlikeable character (since so many have the town gossip or evil-doer as the victim) but actually Kelly’s aunt. This added urgency to her investigation and made the mystery more relevant. I can’t wait to read more in the series!

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10. LaVonne says

    October 30, 2014 at 7:40 am

    I don’t know if anyone has read books by Julie Moffett, the Lexi Carmichael Mystery. I don’t understand computers that well but she sure is funny. A very dry sense of humor. All of her charters are a real treat to read. Thank you.

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11. Sheila says

    October 30, 2014 at 11:55 am

    Many of the books I read this month have been mentioned above. Not mention were two of Annelise Ryan’s Mattie Winston books:
    Working Stiff
    Scared Stiff

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12. Kathey says

    October 30, 2014 at 6:06 pm

    I like to read the whole series when I find a new series that is interesting. This month I read the Nancy J. Cohen series. These are well written and about hairdressing. Very interesting and calming.

    The best book I read all month, though, is the latest Betty Webb, Desert Rage. Extremely well written. She writes two series, one centering on a private detective Lena Jones and the other an animal crime centered series. Both are good but the Lena Jones series is so much more than an interesting tale. She always makes you think. This is set in Arizona and the descriptions are dead-on.

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13. Nicole says

    November 7, 2014 at 10:58 pm

    The best book this month was Silent knife by Shelley Freydont. The celebration bay mystery series contains fascinating characters, and Liv’s dog is absolutely precious. I didn’t guess the murderer until the last few chapters. It’s a little off season, since it takes place around Christmas. I would like to read Cold Turkey (the book before silent knife in the series, but my library system does not have it).

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14. Tressa says

    November 23, 2014 at 11:59 pm

    Tea shop mysteries in New Mexico!

    Patrice Greenwood

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