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Mystery Book Recommendations – February 2014

So, is it spring yet? I’m looking out my window watching what looks like parent birds teaching their fledglings how to fly from one side of our yard to the other (we planted Red Tip bushes all along the periphery of our yard twenty years ago) and I’m also watching one of our more persistent squirrels chewing some of our oak tree’s buds. If those aren’t signs of springtime in Texas, I don’t know what is!

Down here in San Antonio we still can’t decide whether it’s winter or spring. Yesterday morning I took my walk in 60º weather, a few hours later is was 74º,  and they are predicting that tomorrow our high will be 50º! Good grief! It’s that time of year that pretty much dictates the necessity of checking the daily forecast in order to decide whether to wear a long sleeve shirt or not. (I know I sound totally spoiled by our beautiful weather, but there’s a price we have to pay for this mild winter/spring confusion. Remind me to talk about the weather during our summer and early fall/late spring!)

Back to Cozy Mystery books, which is what I actually was going to write about…

It’s that time of month when I ask you all to tell us about a Cozy Mystery book/author who you read during this month (February 2014) who you thought the rest of us absolutely, positively NEED to know about. Your recommendations should be Cozy Mystery books (that you read this month) that are, in your opinion, really, really, good reads. (Of course, if you were lucky enough to read several really good mystery books, then by all means, tell us about those books, also.) Please tell us why you are recommending the book(s). Your reasons for liking the book(s) are what get the rest of us enthused about reading it/them.

I’m going to start off by mentioning Conrad Allen. I was so excited about his Murder on the Lusitania that I couldn’t wait until now to tell you about it. So, rather that tell you all the very same things that I wrote about on February 9, I’m going to refer you to my entry: What I’m Reading Now >>> Conrad Allen is a New-to-Me Author Who I Just Added to My “Favorite Authors” List

[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 February 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:

Conrad Allen (aka Edward Marston & Keith Miles): Dillman Mystery Series

Jeffrey Archer: Clifton Chronicles Mystery Series (not Cozy)

Lucy Arlington (aka Jennifer Stanley & Sylvia May): Novel Idea Mystery Series

M.C. Beaton (aka Marion Chesney): Hamish Macbeth Mystery Series

Cindy Blackburn: Cue Ball Mystery Series (book #1 Playing with Poison)

Rhys Bowen: Royal Spyness Mystery Series

Alan Bradley: Flavia de Luce Mystery Series

Duffy Brown: Consignment Shop Mystery Series

Leslie Budewitz: Food Lovers’ Village Mystery Series

Lucy Burdette (aka Roberta Isleib): Key West Food Critic Mystery Series

Kate Collins: Flower Shop Mystery Series

Sheila Connolly (aka Sarah Atwell): County Cork Mystery Series

Krista Davis: Paws and Claws Mystery Series

Jana DeLeon: Miss Fortune Mystery Series

Janet Evanovich: Stephanie Plum Mystery Series

Monica Ferris: Needlecraft Mystery Series

Christy Fifield (aka Christy Evans): Haunted Souvenir Shop Mystery Series

Joanna Fluke: Hannah Swensen Cookie Jar Mystery Series

Sally Goldenbaum: Seaside Knitters Mystery Series

John Grisham: Jake Brigance Mystery Series (not Cozy)

Carolyn Haines: Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery Series

Veronica Heley: Ellie Quick Mystery Series

Anna Lee Huber: Lady Darby Mystery Series (book #1 The Anatomist’s Wife)

Julie Hyzy: White House Chef Mystery Series

Miranda James (aka Honor Hartman, Jimmie Ruth Evans, & Dean James: Cat in the Stacks Mystery Series

Joyce and Jim Lavene (aka J.J. Cook & Ellie Grant): Renaissance Faire Mystery Series

Gypsy Rose Lee: The G-String Murders (Craig Rice, ghostwriter)

Kylie Logan (aka Miranda Bliss & Casey Daniels): League of Literary Ladies Mystery Series

Meg London (aka Peg Cochran): Sweet Nothings Vintage Lingerie Mystery Series

Nancy J. Parra (aka Nancy Coco): Baker’s Treat Mystery Series

Mark Schweizer: Liturgical Mystery Series

Ian Rankin: Inspector Rebus Mystery Series (not Cozy)

Sheri Cobb South: In Milady’s Chamber

Arthur Upfield: The Bachelors of Broken Hill

Roy Vickers: The Department of Dead Ends

♦To access more Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations, click on this link♦

Comments

  1. Thank you Danna for the “no negative reviews”. I’m trying to stop myself from reading those Amazon reviews because they really have no bearing on whether or not I’ll like a book.

    This weather is so crazy! In Tucson it’s been in the 80’s…
    Sorry , a bit off topic!

    Reply

    • Cyn, it looks like you all are getting the same topsy/turvy is-it-spring/is-it-winter weather out there in Tucson. I usually wait until March to put my Hummingbird feeder out, but I’m wondering if the little guys will be as turned around as the rest of us are down here in the southwestern part of the country…

      Reply

    • Cyn: You’ve touched on one of my pet peeves too LOL. I like a review, it doesn’t have to be long, but it does need to give me a clue of its location and maybe the main character too. I usually read several if they are there to read.

      Reply

  2. My favorite read for the month was an author whose series has been recommended in the past on this site as a favorite monthly read and as a favorite cozy author/series..

    It is the Ellie Quick series by Veronica Heley. I read the first book Murder At the Altar in the series and have the second one now coming from our inter-library book system. I very rarely do this as I normally like to space the reads.

    As I was reading I thought “Now this is the type of cozy that I like.”
    It is an English cozy mystery with a village feel even though the location is a London suburb. The main sleuth is in her early 50’s and recently widowed. She is very likeable. She has a network of neighborhood friends that support and care for her. It is fun watching Ellie to start showing spunk towards her very spoiled daughter and the bullying Aunt Drusilla.(a good name) Sometimes Ellie gets the giggles privately after she has stood up to someone that tried to push her around. I felt like I should sit back and have a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit while I spent time with Ellie as she went through her daily life. Thanks to this site for the past recommendations of this author and series. I wouldn’t have found it otherwise.

    Reply

    • I also recently started reading the Ellie Quicke series based on recommendations I have seen. I just finished the 1st one, Murder at the Altar & now on to the 2nd one, Murder by Suicide which I just got from the library. I am really enjoying this series also & I really like Ellie Quicke. She is so “for real” so to speak. Also, some humor sprinkled throughout these books, especially when Ellie tries to figure out how to operate her recently deceased husband’s computer. Very funny! I’m so glad I read about this series and tried it out. Another favorite new-to-me author!

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  3. Hello, Danna…

    Can’t say spring is on the way….it is snowing in my area and I’m half way between Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD….have about an inch with more coming.

    My latest find in books is by an author I’ve read off and on for several years….Monica Ferris and she has a series of mysteries set in Minnesota. The main character, Betsy Davenport inherited a craft shop, Crewel World from her sister, and Betsy was totally clueless about anything knit, crocheted, counted cross stitch, but she had to learn so she could keep her customers. In the back of each book is a cross stitch pattern with colours and directions…an awesome find and great reads for anyone looking for this particular genre.

    Bev

    Reply

    • Bev S, we lived in Columbia, Maryland when our children were little, itty-bitty, and loved it up there. What a beautiful part of the country. We absolutely loved the Baltimore Zoo and Aquarium. What a great area you live in >>> even with the cold weather.

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  4. I’ve read a lot this month. Based on your recommendation, I started the Conrad Allen series and have enjoyed what I read so far. The detail that he provides regarding luxury ship travel in the early 20th century is fascinating. Several favorite authors have new
    books out and they didn’t disappoint. These include Miranda James (The Silence of the Library), Christy Fifield (Murder Sends a Postcard), and Lucy Burdette (Murder with Ganache.) I’m currently reading the second book in Kylie Logan’s new series A Tale of Two Biddies. I enjoy how she incorporates the novel that her book group is discussing into the mystery.

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  5. My favorite book this month was by an author who isn’t on this site yet — Cindy Blackburn. The title is Four Play, and this is Ms Blackburn’s fourth entry in her Cue Ball Mystery series. The series title reflects that the heroine’s favorite hobby is playing pool. She’s a fifty something divorced woman who writes romance novels for a living but somehow finds herself solving murders after a good friend and neighbor’s boyfriend knocks on her door and drops dead on her sofa in the first book of the series (Playing with Poison).

    If you’re looking for deep, inspiring literature, these books aren’t for you. However, as light entertainment, they’re terrific. The heroine is very normal and like able (and, hey, I’m fifty something too) and there is a great cast of supporting characters including supportive, quirky neighbors; a hilarious editor (Geez Louise); an ex husband she’s definitely better off without; and a hunky homicide detective love interest. The mysteries are well done, and the books are easy to read and laugh out loud funny. And they’re set in a small town in North Carolina, the state where I recently moved.

    They’re really cheap on Kindle too. The first book is only 99 cents and the remaining three are less than three dollars each.

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  6. Danna, I just finished reading John Grisham’s “Sycamore Row,” and of course I loved the book. My church knits and crochets Prayer Shawls for various people in and around our community. I thought I would be able to read a few chapters of this book, crochet a few rows then go back and forth reading the book. I should have known better! Once I get started with a John Grisham book very little else gets in the way!! My poor two little dogs, my poor starving hubby!!
    This was a good book. If any of you had read his “A Time To Kill” book from several years ago, except for a different court case, this was a continuation from that earlier book. Many of the same characters were in this book. Which brings me to a little pet peave of mine.
    These two books were written, or at least released several years apart. I think that unless “A Time To Kill” made a strong impact on the reader a lot of what goes on in “Sycamore Row” might be lost to the reader. I don’t know if a person not reading the first book would understand how the events in the first book relate to the second book.
    It would be nice to read others’ opinions as to whether others think “Sycamore Row” could stand on its own.
    It seems to me also that the ending of “Sycamore Row” was a sort of cliff hanger, with maybe another in this series on it’s way. I just hope that book arrives before my memory takes a complete hike!! Remember John Grisham, your loyal readers aren’t as young as we used to be!!
    Other series seem to have this impact on me. I am now reading Joan Hess’ “Murder As a Second Language.” Love the book, as I do all of Joan Hess’ books. But sometimes I get the impression some authors think every reader is an old faithful reader, not a new one. Am I wrong for thinking this??

    Love your books, John Grisham and Joan Hess. I am an old faithful!! Keep writing forever!!!

    Reply

    • Linda C, you make a good point about authors who think we can remember all of what their characters were up to in a previous book, years ago…

      Reply

  7. We are still waiting for winter in California, especially rain and snow. The fruit trees and flowers are starting to bloom and the temperatures have been above average for this time of the year.

    I read many books this month, some cozies and some not. I loved them all. I am especially grateful to be retired and to have the time to read that I never had when I was teaching.

    I have to mention Jeffrey Archer’s Clifton Chronicles. I read Only Time Will Tell and The Sins of the Father. Mr. Archer is a great story teller and I am looking forward to reading the next installment.

    The next book I read was Joanna Fluke’s The Chocolate Chip Murder. This is the first book in her Hannah Swenson series. I usually always read books in a series in order. However, for some reason I failed to do so in this instance. It was interesting to read this book after reading her others. I can really see how she improved as a writer and developed her characters throughout the series.

    Louisiana Longshot by Jana DeLeon – a laugh out loud funny book
    Death of A Gossip by M.C . Beaton – A new series for me. Love Hamish!
    Hide and Seek by Ian Rankin (Inspector Rebus book) Not a cozy

    Reply

  8. Ah-h-h-h, the warmth of the south! Lucky you. I talked with a friend in Austin, TX yesterday and she said she was enjoying the warmer weather, anticipating a warm spring. To me, anything above 50 degrees is a heat wave! I know what you mean about TX hot summers. When I visited her a few years ago, it had been over 100 degrees for 50+ straight days!

    We will have another ‘Polar Vortex’ cold snap – supposed high tomorrow will be 10 degrees. Then the meteorologist on tonight’s news had the “audacity” to mention that four letter word again – SNOW! Yup, just when one is hoping it’s all done, we might be looking at another 6” on Sunday (OR, if it warms up a tad, we’ll look at snow, sleet, and ice). Ugh! On the otherhand, it’s an excuse to stay inside and read, and read, and read.

    My February recommendations are the following:

    Gluten for Punishment — Nancy Parra

    After I read, ‘All Fudged Up’ (recommended last month) by Nancy Coco (pseudonym), I looked for other books by this author. ‘Gluten for Punishment’ is the first in a new series. The main character (Toni) returns to her hometown in Kansas and begins a gluten free, allergy free bakery. I do not have a sensitivity to gluten, but I found the gluten free storyline quite informative without overwhelming the main story. It is intertwined with the murder mystery which involves a local wheat farmer accusing Toni of trying to ruin his farm and run him (and other local farmers) out of business. Her shop is vandalized several times. Parra introduces some great characters, especially her smoking grandma (so much fun!). This is an intriguing mystery, holding the readers attention throughout the book with its many twists. There are two romantic interests introduced with probable appealing storylines in future books. I’m looking forward to the second book in this series, ‘Murder Gone A Rye’ to be released in May.

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    Death Al Dente — Leslie Budewitz

    I don’t know if this book was recommended on this blog or if I just happened across it, but this cozy was a real find. So many of the cozies I read are set on the East coast or eastern US. This story is set in scenic Montana community near the Rockies. The author does a good job with descriptive narrative to bring those picturesque scenes to the story.

    Erin Murphy gives up a position with a company on the west coast to move back home to Jewel City. She is helping her mother save their family store which has been in the community for generations. A former employee and friend of the family returns to town and is murdered.

    The characters are realistic – some good, some not so good. But they all make the story very interesting with dynamic character interaction. Mother and daughter have conflicts, but this is a heartwarming family. The story is almost totally focused on the murder with its numerous twists and turns. This author also writes with a lot of humor. I really was surprised at how good this book was. It’s a quick read because any reader will have a difficult time putting it down. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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    Home of the Braised – Julie Hyzy

    Another winner in this White House Chef series. Ollie is the White House chef. She is now engaged to Gav, a secret service agent. They plan to ask a friend of Gav’s to officiate the marriage ceremony and come upon a scene where his friend has been murdered. A cabinet member is also murdered. Is there a connection? I like the fact that Gav treats Ollie as an equal, valuing her insights.

    Hyzy writes an edgier/intense mystery series than many of the other cozy authors. It keeps one glued to the pages. There is the ongoing character conflict among the WH kitchen staff, mainly because the antagonist in the kitchen is there because of nepotism and unlikely will be fired. All the characters are intriguing, believable, and yet developed with growth throughout the series. The pace is spot on, moving along quickly. I really think it’s important to read this series sequentially, mainly because one can see growth in the characters from one story to another.

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    Scandal in Skibbereen — Sheila Connolly

    I’ve enjoyed Connolly’s (and Atwell’s) cozy series, but in my humble opinion, this series (so far) is the best. I highly recommended the first book last year and am now recommending the second one. Her writing in this story is different than her other books. I guess I can’t articulate why, but it seems to have a different voice. Perhaps she has more passion for this series. She treats the reader to some Irish history throughout this series. It is set in a small Irish town where everyone gathers in a pub owned by the main character, Maura Donovan.

    The story is highly character driven. In fact, the murder mystery is more or less a background story. However, Connolly successfully intertwines many aspects of the story together. The focus is on three women working together to find a 16th century painting. Although there is animosity to begin with, they slowly develop a respect (and friendship) for each other. There are several other engaging characters (some very colorful!), all developed with great skill. Connolly captures an ‘essence’ in this story that sticks with you. It’s a story with great pacing which you don’t want to put down. This book reads more like a novel (think Binchy, Pilcher) than a cozy, but I loved, loved it!

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    Tale of Two Biddies – Kylie Logan

    I just finished this book this past Sunday. As I began reading this book, I thought I wouldn’t recommend it. I enjoy the books I’ve read by this author, however this one started out a little ho-hum. I really liked the first book in this series. Although you can read this book as a stand alone, you don’t get the complexity of the main characters without reading the first book. For those with broad literary interests, this series has many references to the literary world.

    This story is totally written in the first person with plenty of dry humor. I chuckled a lot. The main character, Bea, owns a B&B on an island in Lake Huron. Again, how she came to be there is somewhat explained (just bits and pieces) in the first book, but not the second. She has a secretive past, centered in NYC. She is attracted to the bar owner who also has a dark secretive past. I assume to get the reader interested in the next book, the author makes no revelations in this storyline. Their ‘possible romance’ is progressing slowly. However, the mystery storyline is multifaceted, with many possibilities. It’s generally a well paced book, perhaps a little slow in parts.

    I know it’s cliché to constantly say the ending is a surprise. And I say it often, because I usually am surprised. HOWEVER, this time the ending was a total shocker!! NO WAY could I have predicted it. I thought the author was so creative with the conclusion — it’s the biggest reason I ran to my computer to tell all of you about this book! I must add that it’s a logical ending, not one of those, “huh? it doesn’t make any sense!” endings. Read it, you won’t be disappointed.

    This is a prolific author with three ongoing series. So far, I’ve found each quite varied and imaginative.

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  9. I received some book vouchers for my birthday at the end of January, and went on a bit of a spree.
    Among other things, I bought Carolyn Haines’ “Bonefire of the Vanities”. One of her best yet!!
    A phony psychic (Or is she?) and an exclusive ‘retreat’ with a bullying butler, add up to an unusual case for Sarah Booth Delaney, accompanied of course, by the usual suspects of Sarah Booth’s partner Tinkie, and her family ‘haint’ Jitty.
    “Laced With Poison” by Meg London (A ‘Sweet Nothings’ Lingerie Mystery) was also an interesting read. Lots of different characters, not just the usual young and lovely heroines. (Does anyone else get as tired of them as I do?) and some interesting info on all sorts of things – not just lingerie retail.
    Plus, it’s nice to see a cover without the ubiquitous skull hidden somewhere in the picture that’s been so prevelant the last few years.
    I’ve also been reading – and enjoying – some vintage mysteries.
    Many of you have probably heard of Gypsy Rose Lee, the strip teaser. Her “The G-String Murders” is a favourite that I’ve read several times, but I keep coming back to.
    Whoever wrote it (I have heard that it was ghost-written by Craig Rice) knew how to write, and knew what they were writing ‘about’. Backstage, and the interactions of the people there, are spot-on.
    There’s no unnecessary details (No sex or excess gore) but lots of suspense. Highly Recommended if you can get hold of it.
    Also an old Penguin crime by Roy Vickers. “The Department of Dead Ends”. It’s a collection of short stories, sort of murder mysteries in reverse. The crime is told, and *then* how the murderer is found out: by a department of Scotland Yard, which collects all the bits and pieces of unsolved crimes – rather like the Dead Letter Office in the Post Office – and every so often puts things together to produce a solution to a crime.
    Penguin are re-printing a lot of these at the moment, and this one is well worth looking out for.
    Arthur Upfield’s “The Bachelors of Broken Hill”. Set in 1930’s Australia. A mining town called Broken Hill and a series of murders of elderly bachelors…
    Upfield’s books aren’t always well known outside of Aus, but they are a fabulous read. Written in the 1930’s, they have been called racist, but like the more famous Mark Twain, the author wrote what he saw.
    Aboriginal people were not always treated well, or fairly, at the time, but the half-caste detective of these books overcomes this prejudice, even as he uses knowledge from both races to solve crimes. Again, Highly Recommended if you can find them. They were re-printed as late as the 1990’s, so there are a few around.
    Cheers, all!

    Reply

  10. I’m relatively new to the Cozy genre being newly retired from the Navy. I started reading Mark Schweizer’s Liturgical Mysteries and they are a hoot. The book centers around the life of Hayden Konig who wears many hats. He is the Chief of Police for the tiny burg of St. Germaine, NC, he is the organist and choir director for the local Episcopal Church, he recently purchased a typewriter formerly owned by Raymond Chandler in hopes of publishing his own mystery novel, and he owns a dog, feeds an owl, enjoys cigars, beer, and good food. And there always seems to be a body turning up in the Episcopal Church. He writes with flair and humor often landing, lightly, on contemporary issues in the Church. The reading is light, quick and funny. Highly recommended. You can visit his website at sjmpbooks.com.

    Reply

  11. I have read the following:

    Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich
    Home of the Braised by Julie Hyzy
    Killer in Crinolines by Duffy Brown

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  12. Sure isn’t spring here. It snowed again last night and yesterday morning and in fact it is still snowing. I am so ready for spring.

    Reply

    • Joan in VA, I probably shouldn’t have talked about the great weather we were having. We’ve had to turn the heat on both yesterday and today. That’s what I get for showing off!

      Reply

  13. I just finished reading “In Milady’s Chamber” by Sheri Cobb South which I very much enjoyed and recommend. It’s a Regency mystery very much in the vein of those descended from Georgette Heyer’s Regency world. Sometimes I can only take those in small doses because the language/writing style doesn’t always welcome me. But I really enjoyed this author’s style and dove right in and was really compelled to keep reading. There’s definitely a strong element of romance to the mystery, and though it is not a sad/unhappy ending, I liked that she left the relationship open and didn’t tie it all up with a perfect happy ending. Really made me want to read the next book. I love historical mysteries and I really like how she wove in the historical information without being heavy handed. She clearly knew her stuff and played out well in the small details. Really vivivd characters and I had a great sense of the time and setting.

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  14. This month I read the following by Sally Goldenbaum:

    Death by Cashmere
    Patterns in the Sand
    Moon Spinners
    A Holiday Yarn
    The Wedding Shawl (just about finished with this book)

    Thoroughly enjoyed all the books.

    Reply

  15. I am searching for a mystery that I have read and now can not remember the title or author. The main characters are Catholic school children, maybe about 12 or 13. It takes place in a city similar to Milwaukee around the 1960s. The children are coping with the adult world, a series of burglaries and a friend who is missing. The author has a wicked sense of humor. Any suggestions?

    Reply

  16. Currently reading Seed No Evil by Kate Collins with Throw in the Trowel waiting for me next. Just finished The Lavene’s Treacherous Toys (renaissance mysteries). Joyce and Jim spin a great tail; I have the next one in that series waiting for me as well).

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  17. I just finished the latest Flower Shop mystery by Kate Collins. I’ve read all of these and now I have to wait a FULL year for a new one. The books (if you haven’t read them), should be read in order and there are lots. They are well written, have great and memorable characters and have an innocence that I like in a cozy.

    Reply

  18. I’m not sure why but I have been reading cooking mysteries, mainly Laura Childs, tea shop mysteries, I read these in order. I also caught up on my Carolyn Hart, and am waiting to get newest Joanne Fluke. Have made a lot of the recipes from the Laura Childs books so it does keep my hubby from giving nasty looks when my nose is in a book. As for winter weather, here in Toledo, Oh. where the heavy snow usually passes us by, we have broken the ’77-’78 blizzard record of 77″ and are gearing up for another 2-4″ this week-end. At least I have plenty of books. everyone else hits the stores I hit the library.

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  19. For a buddy read on my blog we read and loved Louisiana Longshot by Jana DeLeon. In Feb, I continued reading the series: Lethal Bayou Beauty–and I loved it too! Good series. I already have book 3 ready to go as soon as my work schedule allows some reading time! These are fun and crazy books.

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  20. My favorite book this month was Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen. I love all of Rhys Bowen’s series, but Lady Georgie is my favorite. This is the third book in the series (I’m a little behind on my TBR pile) and once again Lady Georgie (the penniless great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria) is asked to use her position to discover why the various heirs to the throne (including her brother) are having suspicious accidents.

    I also enjoyed the latest Flavia de Luce book by Alan Bradley, The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches. Flavia is almost 12 and growing up in post WWII England. She is a strange child, devoted to the study of chemistry, and determined to learn the truth about everything. In this instance, learning more about the man who fell under the train after talking to Flavia – or was he pushed? Also, Flavia deals with the fact that her long, lost mother has been found.

    Another historical mystery that I enjoyed this month was Mortal Arts by Anna Lee Huber. This is the second Lady Darby book. These are slightly darker as Lady Darby helps to investigate whether her old art tutor, who was wrongfully committed to a lunatic asylum by his father because he was suffering from what would today be diagnosed as post-traumatic stress syndrome, was responsible for harming a young woman who was missing.

    On the contemporary front, I read the first book in a new series by Krista Davis, Murder, She Barked. I really enjoyed the setting, a town that had established itself as a vacation resort for pet owners who do not want to leave their pets behind. Holly Miller comes rushing to town when she receives a message that her grandmother needs her.

    Finally, I read the latest Novel Idea Mystery, Books, Cooks and Crooks by Lucy Arlington. The agency is one of the sponsors of the culinary festival and have brought several celebrity chefs, who are cookbook author clients, to participate. Lila Wilkins learns that the chefs do not live up to their television personalities, but who would want to kill them?

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  21. Hey guys the only thing I read this month was a western. I looking at the list and there are 28 authors that I read. keep up the good work. I love reading everybody’s take on the books. Makes me want to go back and read those books to find the things that I had missed the first time.

    Reply

    • Ginger, no doubt this month has been a busy one for you. Did you enjoy your western? Every once in a while I go for a non-mystery novel, also. (I hope all is well with you.)

      Reply

  22. Can’t remember if I already submitted this and it hasn’t been checked yet, but I read “Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death” recently – very cheap Nook book and genuine old-fasioned cosy mysteries…several stories as opposed to one novel. By James Runcie, set in post – war England. Sidney is a Church of England priest who is also an amateur sleuth. Thoughtful stories with characters we want to know more about. I definitely want to find out what happens in Sidney’s almost non-existent love life since Anglican priests can marry.

    Reply

  23. I haven’t written about any authors but feel I should as I have benefitted from reading everyone’s recommendations. M.C. Beaton is a favorite author as is Joan Hess. Robert B. Parker, who is deceased, was a wonderful and very prolific writer. His books are not cozies but they do hold my attention. One of my favorite authors of all time is not a mystery writer but he is oh so good! His name is Patrick Taylor and he writes a series about an Irish doctor Dr. O’Reilly and the young doctor who comes to work for him in Ballybucklebo, Ireland. An Irish Country Doctor is the first of the series which should be read in order. I wish I were eloquent enough to say how wonderful these humorous, memorable books are but I
    do highly recommend his series. I finally bought them so I could reread them whenever I want.
    Enjoy,
    Karen

    Reply

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