Here are some Fun Iowa Facts:
State capital is Des Moines.
State bird is the Eastern Goldfinch
State flower is the Wild Prairie Rose.
State motto is “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.”
Iowa gets its name from the French word that was used to describe the region’s Bah-kho-je Indian tribe.
Authors who are found on the Cozy Mystery Site and who feature Iowa locations in their books:
Barbara Allan (aka Barbara & Max Allan Collins): Trash ‘n’Treasures Mystery Series…
Kathleen Bacus: Tressa Jayne Turner Mystery Series…
Shirley Damsgaard: Ophelia & Abby Mystery Series…
Maddy Hunter: Passport to Peril Mystery Series…
Leslie Langtry: Merry Wrath Mystery Series…
Fay Risner: Amazing Gracie Mystery Series…
Please feel free to contact me if you see an author from the Cozy Mystery Site who belongs on this list, or if you have any comments.
♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦
Tori Lennox says
The Calamity Jayne series by Kathleen Bacus is mostly set in Iowa. Not sure if they exactly qualify as cozies, though.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
You are so right, Tori. I just added Bacus to the Iowa list. I don’t know how I missed her series…
Donna says
Donald Harstad wrote a series about a deputy sheriff (Carl Houseman) in Iowa that was outstanding — excellent. I don’t know what’s become of Mr. Harstad but he hasn’t brought out any new books for several years, much to my profound disappointment. He’s one of the best mystery writers I’ve read.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Donna, for telling us about Donald Harstad!
ML says
Does anyone know of a bed & breakfast mystery series set in the state of Iowa? A patron knows we have this series but cannot remember the author, or of the title of one of the books or the series’ name. I’ve been searching through the Internet but the most I’ve come up with are lists of bed & breakfast lodging in Iowa.
I’m counting on someone to help me with this investigation.
May the Dewey be with you – ML P
Danna - cozy mystery list says
ML, I’m sorry, but it doesn’t look like we know…
ML says
Thank you for your help. If anyone should have a sudden recall just let me know. Like most librarians I haven’t given up!!!!
PS
I love this blog!!
ML
Alicia says
Not exactly mystery, though there are parts, but could you be thinking about books by Sherrie Hansen? She runs the Blue Bell Inn and uses it in some of her books. Sorry if this isn’t it.
Angie says
Do you know of a mystery set in northwest Iowa?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Angie, I think the Calamity Jayne series by Kathleen Bacus takes place in the northwest part of Iowa.
Meic Alger says
My book, the first in the Iowa Noir series, The Last Generation To Ever Get Old, starts in NW Iowa and ends in Chicago…the two main characters are from there…as am I (though I now live in Barcelona) It is available on Amazon…