Which Cozy Mystery books did you read this past month that you think the rest of us really should know about? They don’t have to be Christmas mysteries, although I know some of you were limiting your reading to those in particular. (Maybe I think that because I limited myself to Christmas Cozy Mysteries…)
[As usual, I ask that you don’t tell us about the mystery books you read that you didn’t like.]
[If you click on the author’s name (blue) link, it will take you to their page on the Cozy Mystery site. Their page has all of the author’s books listed chronologically.]
What Cozy Mystery book (or author) have you read during December 2013, and why did you enjoy it (or him/her)?
Here are the current recommended authors who some of you have read this past month:
Allyson K. Abbott (aka Annelise Roth & Beth Amos): Mack’s Bar Mystery Series
Victoria Abbott (Mary Jane Maffini & Victoria Maffini): Book Collector’s Mystery Series
Susan Wittig Albert: Darling Dahlias Mystery Series
Donna Andrews: Meg Langslow Mystery Series
Charlotte Armstrong: Chocolate Cobweb
Josie Belle (aka Jenn McKinlay & Lucy Lawrence): Good Buy Girls Mystery Series
C.C. Benison: Father Christmas Mystery Series
Heather Blake (aka Heather Webber): Magic Potion Mystery Series
Rhys Bowen: Molly Murphy Mystery Series
Lucy Burdette (aka Roberta Isleib): Key West Food Critic Mystery Series
Jill Churchill: Grace and Favor Mystery Series
Nancy Coco (aka Nancy J. Parra): Candy-Coated Mystery Series
J.J. Cook (aka Joyce and Jim Lavene & Ellie Grant): Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery Series
Lesley Cookman: Libby Sarjeant Mystery Series
Cleo Coyle (aka Alice Kimberly): Coffee House Mystery Series
Mary Daheim: Hillside Manor Bed & Breakfast Mystery Series
Krista Davis: Paws and Claws Mystery Series
Carola Dunn: Daisy Dalrymple Mystery Series
Jimmie Ruth Evans (aka Miranda James, Honor Hartman, & Dean James): Trailer Park Mystery Series
Joanne Fluke: Hannah Swensen Cookie Jar Mystery Series
Dorothy Gilman: Mrs. Pollifax Mystery Series
Sue Grafton: Kinsey Millhone Mystery Series
Kerry Greenwood: Phryne Fisher Mystery Series
Philip Gulley: Home to Harmony (cozy, but not a mystery)
Victoria Hamilton: Vintage Kitchen Mystery Series
Carolyn Hart: Death on Demand Mystery Series
Libby Fischer Hellman: An Eye for Murder
Georgette Heyer: Superintendent Hannasyde Mystery Series
Diane Kelly: Tara Holloway Death and Taxes Mystery Series
Laura Levine: Jaine Austen Mystery Series
Kylie Logan (aka Miranda Bliss & Casey Daniels): Button Box Mystery Series
Sheila Lowe: Forensic Handwriting Mystery Series
Nancy Martin: Blackbird Sisters Mystery Series
Leslie Meier: Leslie Stone Mystery Series
Carol Miller: Murder and Moonshine
Meg Muldoon: Murder in Christmas River, Mayhem in Christmas River, & Madness in Christmas River
Gail Oust: Piper Prescott Mystery Series
Katherine Hall Page: Faith Fairchild Mystery Series
Sara Rosett: Ellie Avery Msytery Series
Mark Schweizer: Liturgical Mystery Series
Paige Shelton: Farmers’ Market Mystery Series
Elaine Viets: Dead-End Job Mystery Series
♦To access more Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations, click on this link♦
ginger g. says
I’m so sorry I have not read any books this month because of dad’s illness and work. This is very strange for me. I have a huge to be read pile and am planning book trips as I type this. I am looking forward to all the good recommendations to add to my list. Happy New Year’s. For the record my dad slept through the night last night. So we all got some sleep. Danna keep up the good work.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ginger, that is GREAT news about your dad sleeping through the night! What a way to start the New Year!!! I can imagine how busy you have been, getting your dad back on his sleeping pattern.
I hope you have a great time on your bookstore trip. Are you going to be able to make the trip during you school’s vacation time?
ginger g. says
I hope to but it may be a weekend trip as it is only 2 hours from the house.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ginger, my daughter will be working in New Orleans next year. It will definitely not be a weekend trip for us to go visit her!
Kalena says
first to Ginger – I really sympathize because I’m also taking care of my 88-year-old Dad with Alzheimer’s and I work full time. It doesn’t leave much time for reading but somehow I find time for my favorites. I absolutely loved Final Sail by Elaine Viets and I always enjoy Laura Levine’s books. Right now I discovered an older series and am really enjoying it. The main character lives in a trailer park, works in a diner and has a second job at a big box store. I’m on the first book in the series, Flamingo Fatale and it has me laughing out loud.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kalena, it’s great that you have something you enjoy doing so much. Sounds like Jimmie Ruth Evans’ Trailer Park Mystery Series is exactly what you need!
Ann says
I read Home to Harmony which wasn’t a mystery but definitely cozy.
Ann
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ann, I just looked up Philip Gulley’s Home to Harmony. It looks like it is similar to Jan Karon’s Mitford series, is it?
Janice says
I read a lot this month but my favorite was the first book in Gail Oust’s new series “Rosemary and Crime.” I enjoyed her Bunco Babes series and was eager to read this new book. She has a fun, breezy writing style and the characters are engaging. I also read Nancy Coco’s “All Fudged Up” and also found it enjoyable.
Karen L. says
I read some non cozy books this month and read these cozies:
T is For Trespass by Sue Grafton
U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton
Blueberry Muffin Murder by Joanne Fluke
Sugar Plum Dead by Carolyn Hart
I had planned to read some more Aunt Dimity books, but my dad went to be with our Heavenly Father before Christmas and I have been helping my mom cope with our loss.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Karen L, I am so sorry for your loss.
MJ says
Merry Market Murder – Paige Shelton
I found this to be a very convoluted mystery, but I mean that in a positive way. It just has many, many twists (although, Shelton makes it easy to follow), delving into a lot of past history. It is set in a small town in SC at a Farmer’s Market. Becca (main character – sleuth) has a jam and preserve stand at this market. Since it’s December, a local Christmas tree farmer is given an exclusive contract to set up as a vendor. Trouble (murder, of course) ensues when a rival tree farmer also believes he has an exclusive contract.
There are some definite clues (via ornaments from a secret santa) to follow, although I didn’t ‘get it’ until the end. Shelton has introduced several complex characters to the story. It is a fast paced, light, and enjoyable read, with a surprise ending.
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Murder, She Barked — Krista Davis
I was looking for a ‘light’ read and picked up three books, started to read them and found they either weren’t enjoyable at first glance or too intense. I will get back to all of those books, but I just wasn’t in the mood for any of them at the time. Then I noticed this one by Krista Davis. I like her other series, so thought, ‘why not?’ This book is the first in a new series – Paws and Claws Mystery. Mind you I’m not a pet owner, nor a pet lover. However, Davis’s writing skills makes the ‘lead dog character’ awfully lovable! While at a DC dinner party with her lawyer boyfriend, Holly Miller receives a phone call to come immediately to a small town several hours away where her grandmother lives. She stops at a gas station along the way and finds a dog has joined her in the car.
Holly’s grandmother owns an animal friendly B&B. In fact this whole town (Wagtail, VA) is a vacation spot for pet owners. The characters are very well developed, likeable, and enjoyable. Grandma and her friend Rose are a stitch! The mystery revolves around the murder of a part time B&B employee. He is hit by a stolen car, owned by the boss of Holly’s boyfriend. This is a light read with a lot of engaging, humorous dialogue. Since it’s the first book, there are several relationships to be explored. So much fun! It was just the right read to fit my mood at the time! Kudos to the author.
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Buttoned Up – Kylie Logan
I haven’t read all the books written by this author and her various pseudonyms, but the ones I’ve read have been exciting. I know, I know, you probably say, ‘buttons? how boring!’, but this author makes them interesting.
Most importantly, Logan has written an original and highly creative mystery (set in Chicago) with this book. It involves museums, a button artist, and an ancient Haitian religion called ‘vudon’. I love the individualism and self confidence of the protagonist. I did figure out ‘whodunit’ about 2/3rds the way through the book, but I didn’t know why. There’s trouble in paradise with the detective boyfriend. A mysterious (somewhat devious) new ‘English’ male character comes into play, adding a lot of interest to the story (and possible future stories). This is the fourth book of the series and all have been enjoyable. However, because it is so imaginative and resourceful, I think this is the best one. One can read this book without having read the previous three. I highly recommend it.
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Billionaire Blend – Cleo Coyle.
This book was the more ‘intense’ book I mentioned earlier. After reading the prologue, I just wasn’t ready for it that day. I put it down then, but picked it up again about a week later. I just finished it and like all the others in this series, it is very good. A tech company billionaire is in the Village Blend coffee shop when his car blows up, damaging the coffee shop and killing an occupant in the car. This billionaire approaches Clare and Matt (ex-husband, coffee shop co-manager) about developing the world’s best and most expensive coffee. It becomes apparent someone wants to murder him. This husband/wife writing team always gives the readers an entertaining and suspenseful story with well developed and engaging characters. The plot is creative, moving along quickly to a surprising conclusion. As always, it is a well paced story. In this series, I think it’s important to follow it sequentially to understand all the eccentricities of the ‘regular’ cast of characters.
Note to Danna: This story is set in NYC in January, with blustery, cold, snowy weather. So it could be a winter cozy read for you (br-r-r-r-r!!).
Susan* says
I’ve been reading my usual mix of almost everything (Lol!) but I caught up with Kerry Greenwood’s “Murder and Mendehlsson” (A Phryne Fisher Mystery) which I’ve been meaning to read for a while, and I’m halfway through the three Donna Andrews ‘Meg Langslow’ books I got for Christmas, too!
Not quite sure if it classes as a cozy or not (It is fairly violent) but I also enjoyed Sheila Lowe’s 2nd ‘Forensic Handwriting Mystery’ “Written in Blood”, which I read earlier this month, too.
All worth a look, I think.
Susan* says
Oops! Missed Agatha Christie! I fitted in a couple of hers, as well this month, too, while things were slow at work.
How could I forget The Queen of the Cozy Mystery??
Susan says
This month since I am on Summer Break, I have been working my way through Mary Daheim. loving it. Just moved into a house also so it has been great to just take time out with good cozies 🙂
Jackie J. Griffey says
Glad you’ve discovered Mary Daheim. I grab her B&B mysteries as soon as she gets them out! FYI, if you’ve just finished Gone With the Win, she is working on another one – Clam Wake – so you can watach for it.
Good reading (and writing too) is my wish for all of us in 2014!
Group Cyber Hugs,
Jackie Griffey
Sheila says
My enjoyable reads for the month:
Milkshakes, Mermaids and Murder – Sara Rosett
Murder, She Barked – Krista Davis
Hero’s Journey (Novella) – J. J. Cook
The Sayers Swindle – Victoria Abbott
A Potion to Die For – Heather Blake
All Fudged Up – Nancy Coco
Murphy’s Law – Rhys Bowen
Death of Riley – Rhys Bowen
Kath says
I just finished The Sayers Swindle by Victoria Abbott. I loved the first book in the series (The Christie Curse) and this one was even better. Loved it and can’t recommend it highly enough. Written by a mother and daughter team! 🙂
marion says
I really enjoyed listening to Dorothy Gilman’s The Amazing Miss Pollifax. That was my first Miss Polifax and I found espionage a refreshing change from murder. So often I drag my feet going to mysteries, knowing someone’s about to die. Now I know where to go. Reminded me of the books for young people which Phyllis Whitney used to write or old radio shows. Many twists and turns and, yes, some death, but I’m so caught up in the bizarre and fast moving story, that I’m not bothered. May have something to do with the fact that I’m listening to it and not reading to it.
Jackie J. Griffey says
Wow! I would not have turned down any of these good reads. One I enjoyed this month was Gone With the Win by Mary Daheim. I grab her books as soon as she gets them out, I like her B&B series, and the good news is she’s currently working on another one, it’s title is Clam Wake so watch for it.
Hope 2014 is a great reading and writing year for all of us. Anyone who likes audios, look for mine now on audible.com (no titles, anyone who wants them can find them. 😎 Oh, BTW, Johnathan Kellerman will have a new book out in Jan., 2014.
reginav says
Danna, I did not think I had read too many mysteries this month as I have been reading a number of biographies. i.e. “The Bully Pulpit”, “The Heir Apparent, Edward VII” and the “The War that Ended the Peace”. Checking back I read a goodly number; all of which I would recommend most highly. C.C.Benison’s “Ten Lords a Leapin”, Carola Dunn’s “Heirs of the Body”, Leslie Meier’s Christmas story, Lesley Cookman and Mark Schweizer. Most of them were very amusing.
ginger g. says
I read 18 of 20 authors listed. I’m glad to know I am in good company when reading.
betti says
I have read a few that I really liked just recently:
Victoria Hamilton’s Vintage Kitchen Mysteries
Lucy Burdette’s Key West Food Critic series
Allyson K. Abbott A Mack’s Bar Mystery series
Joshua says
I finally delved into my Georgette Heyer books which I’d never gotten around to and I read A Blunt Instrument. I highly recommend it, especially if you like old school British wittiness. I read this one on my kindle and I am positive I have never highlighted so many lines of dialogue, especially not in a mystery story. I usually smile or chuckle at most books, but this one had me cackling more than once. The characters could be a bit acid tongued, but I personally love that. One character in particular had me howling. The mystery was more police procedural than I usually tend towards, so that part did get bogged down a bit for me, but still great. And a twist of ending I completely didn’t see coming.
Another one I really enjoyed was Chocolate Cobweb by Charlotte Armstrong. Maybe a little less of a typical mystery in that you know the culprit from the beginning and see them at work planning something that the protagonist is trying to solve. I saw it referred to as a “reverse mystery.” But for already knowing “whodunit” it was no less compelling or thrilling. Had a slight edge of the gothic/suspense about it, and felt very Hitchcockian.
I also started the Grace & Favor series by Jill Churchill with Anything Goes. I would definitely recommend it to fans of Daisy Dalyrymple, Phryne Fisher or Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness. Early 30s Depression-era America, down on their luck aristocrat types in a big mansion. I’m not sure it lives up to the standards of those series just mentioned. But if you like 20s/30s era sleuths and the Golden Age, locked room type stories – all of which I very much do – it’s a lovely light series in that vein.
Paula says
I am currently reading “Body in the Belfry”. I just discovered Katherine Hall Page on your website. I LOVE IT!!!! Although I am now in Florida I lived in R.I and Massachusetts for most of my life and it is so great to identify with the characters, locals, etc. Thanks for your recommendations of authors. I can’t wait to find another.
Leslie says
I’m looking for mysteries that have a Hawaii setting. Any recommendations.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Leslie, a Cozy Mystery reader (Jennifer) wrote me a letter telling me about two authors who base their mystery series in Hawaii:
Jill Marie Landis:Tiki Goddess Mysteries
1. Mai Tai One
2. Two to Mango
3. Three to Get Lei’d
JoAnn Bassett: Islands of Aloha Mystery series:
1. Maui Widow Waltz
2. Livin’ Lahaina Loca
3. Lana’i of the Tiger
4. Kaua’i Me a River
5. O’ahu Lonesome Tonight
Judith says
I started off the month with the latest in the Darling Dahlias series by Susan Wittig Albert, The Darling Dahlias and the Texas Star. This is a wonderful ensemble series as we see the denizens of the small town of Darling cope with the Depression – and the occasional mystery. In this book, the Dahlias are in charge of the annual Watermelon festival and are determined to make it a success – including having an airshow. Unfortunately, the star of the show brings trouble with her.
Next I read Little Black Book of Murder by Nancy Martin, the latest Blackbird Sisters mystery. I am so glad that Ms. Martin started writing these books again. I love the relationships that Nora has with her sisters and with Mick. The newspaper that Nora works for is under new management and Nora is worried about keeping her job, Mick is still under house arrest, and Nora finds evidence possibly linking her nephew to a murder.
Jenn McKinlay continues to show why she is one of my favorites among newer authors with Buried in Bargains, the latest in the Good Buy Girls series that she writes under the name of Josie Belle. In this book, the GBGs are getting ready for the holidays and Maggie’s love life is taking a turn for the better when they discover the body of a young woman.
I also enjoyed Death, Taxes and Green Tea Ice Cream by Diane Kelly, the latest Tara Holloway book. After the shooting in the previous book, Tara has been fired as a Special Agent and ends up working as a regular IRS agent – but she still manages to find trouble wherever she goes. These are light, funny books, but there are also several scenes describing her sex life with her boyfriend so I would not recommend these books to those who don’t like that.
RayJay says
I’d like to recommend “Murder at the Mardi Gras” by V. Hurst on Kindle to get in the mood for the M.G. season. It has a really creepy villain!
Barbara says
I recently completed Christmas Carol Murder by Leslie Meier. This is the series about Lucy Stone, part time newspaper reporter, amateur sleuth, wife and mother–and her family & friends in Tinker’s Cove, Maine. This series is really the epitome of a cozy and in fact is my favorite cozy series.
I now am reading a book called An Eye for Murder by a new author to me, Libby Fischer Hellmann. This book is really well written & I am enjoying it a lot. I particularly enjoy reading anything with a Jewish slant. Not sure yet whether it is a real cozy though.
Tressa says
I read and really liked Amanda Flowers’ A Plain Death, A Plain Scandal and a Plain Disappearance. All but one found in my library’s Circuit. Very cozy- clean!…
Thanks Danna for this fun website. Just browsing it is a favorite pastime equal to ready the books themselves.
May you and yours be blessed this New Year,
Tressa
Kathey says
I read the three books by Meg Muldoon (Christmas River) series. Two of the three are Christmas themed. The books are really interesting and the newest one came out in December 2013. I live in Phoenix so (as you mention) get the Christmas spirit by reading Christmas books set in colder places. These books are available for the Kindle and I’m hoping that more are published this year.
I have to mention again how much I appreciate all the work you do on this blog. It is extremely well done and I visit it regularly.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kathey, thanks for telling us about Meg Muldoon’s two Christmas theme mysteries. I had Murder in Christmas River on her corresponding Christmas page, but somehow I missed Madness in Christmas River, which I just added to the Christmas Mystery Book List K, L, M, N, & O page.
Thanks, again.