Here are some Fun New Mexico Facts:
State Motto: “It grows as it goes” (“Crescit eundo”)
State Flower is the Yucca.
Capital is Santa Fe.
Largest City is Albuquerque.
State Bird is the Roadrunner.
State Nickname is “Land of Enchantment”
New Mexico got its name as a reference to Mexico by the Spanish.
The Four Corner Monument can be found in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.
New Mexico’s official state animal is the Black Bear, in honor of the little cub that was found in a fire in 1950. The cub became Smokey, the Bear.
During the first weekend in October, the world’s biggest enchilada is made in Las Cruces. Yum!
Mystery authors who are found on the Cozy Mystery Site who feature New Mexico locations/settings in their books:
Sandi Ault: Wild Mystery Series
Vannetta Chapman: Jacobs Family Mystery Series
Alice Duncan: Annabelle Blue Mystery Series
Tony Hillerman: Joe Leaphorn & Jim Chee Mystery Series
Michael McGarrity: Kevin Kerney Mystery Series
Ann Myers: Santa Fe Cafe Mystery Series
Paula Paul (aka Paula Carter): Irene Seligman Mystery Series
J. Michael Orenduff: Pot Thief Mystery Series
Carolyn J. Rose: Casey Brandt Mystery Series
Walter Satterthwait: Joshua Croft Mystery Series
Maria E. Schneider: Catch an Honest Thief AND Under Witch Moon
Connie Shelton: Charlie Parker Mystery Series AND Samantha Sweet Mystery Series
Pari Noskin Taichert: Sasha Solomon Mystery Series
Aimée and David Thurlo: Sister Agatha Mystery Series AND Ella Clah Mystery Series AND Lee Nez Mystery Series
Judith Van Gieson: Claire Reynier Mystery Series AND Neil Hamel Mystery Series
Please feel free to comment if you see an author from the Cozy Mystery Site who belongs on this list, or if you have any corrections.
♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
My “Catch an Honest Thief” is set in Socorro, New Mexico!
Not a cozy, put a paranormal mystery, “Under Witch Moon” is set in Santa Fe, New Mexico (sequel due out late this year!)
I grew up in New Mexico and it holds a special place in my heart (my parents still live there.)
Bring on the enchiladas!!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sorry, Maria, I will definitely add you to the New Mexico list when I get home….
Gloria says
From Sadie’s in Albuquerque of course.
Larraine says
Nothing to do with New Mexico, but ……I just finished reading Town in a Blueberry Jam & Town In A Lobster Stew by B.B. Haywood. Liked them. This could be a fun series. It will be interesting to see how the character evolves. Did you know that BB Haywood is actually two people, a husband and wife? Not a cozy, but the WWI books by Charles Todd: mother and son and in two different states.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Larraine, for the information on pseudonyms. I knew about Charles Todd being a mom and son, but did not know about B. B. Haywood. I will add that Beth and Robert Feeman are B. B. Haywood when I get home…
Lynn (NM Enchantment) says
Great list! Thank you for putting it together- I will share it with my readers.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Lynn, for sharing the list with your readers!
Denise Z says
What do you think of J.A. Jance’s series with Joanna Brady, I think it is New Mexico or maybe it is Arizona – oh well I tried and it is a really good series. Thanks for sharing today.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Denise, you are right, Joanna Brady “lives” in Arizona…
Gloria says
I have read many of J.A. Jance, McGarrity and all of Hillerman. His daughter is continuing the series and I haven’t read her books. I lived in New Mexico 25 yrs. and found only a few errors on places in NM.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Gloria, it looks like you have the New Mexico mystery theme covered!
Suzy says
The Kevin Kerney series by Michael McGarrity is another New Mexico series that I really enjoyed. It isn’t a cozy, but the author develops the characters and makes you care about them through the series. I don’t know if he is working on another book. I have read everything he has written thus far. If anyone knows, would you let me know?
I really enjoy this website and find the month-by-month publishing list invaluable.
Thanks, Suzy
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Suzy, for both the kind words about the site and for reminding me to add Michael McGarrity to the New Mexico list.
Edie Dykeman says
I’m a huge Tony Hillerman fan and not only read each of his mysteries more than once, but also read all of his nonfiction books as well. Also, there is a three movie DVD set that I really like as well.
I lived in Arizona for a year (2006) and visited the four-corners area, and traveled all around the area where the Hillerman books were based. Spent several weeks in the area.
Also, to respond to an earlier comment, just finished the latest J.A. Jance – Fatal Error – with Ali Reynolds. Have you done an Arizona list yet? (This isn’t a cozy, though, is it?).
Love how you collect these state-related mysteries.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Edie, we visited Mesa Verde and the Grand Canyon one year, stopping at Four Corners area for our perfunctory pictures. (You know the ones>>> four members of a family in four states… really original… NOT!!!)
steve says
Some time ago I read a couple of books set in the Santa Fe area (I think, although it could have been Gila/Silver City) in which the main crime solver is a blind native american sculptor. I can’t remember the author and wonder if he/she has any more books out. Can anybody out there ID the author for me?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Steve, I believe you are looking for the author Jake Page. The first book in his Mo Bowdre (Santa Fe) series is The Stolen Gods.
Sue says
I did not see Steven Havill in the New Mexico list. His Posados County mysteries have given me many hours of enjoyable reading. I am also a Kevin Kearney fan. Both authors make you come to feel as if the characters are real friends of the reader
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Sue, for telling us about Steven Havill’s Posados County mysteries.
Hyacinth says
And they are terrific reads!
Suzi says
Anne Hillerman has published a sequel to her dad’s series and it is great. It features Bernadette, who married Jim Chee, and is a continuation with the same characters I’ve loved for decades in Tony Hillerman’s books.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Suzi, for telling us about Anne Hillerman’s new mysteries.
Phil says
Why don’t you list the Posadas County Mysteries series by Steven F Havill. A great series of 18 ( so far ) with memorable characters and a realistic portrayal of life in Southwestern New Mexico
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Phil, for telling us about Steven F. Havill’s Posadas County Mysteries.
Gloria says
I spent over 30 yrs in NM and Hillerman and McGarrity were my favorites. I have read every book by Hillerman a couple of times each. I like J.A Jance series too.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Gloria, it sounds like you enjoy southwestern mysteries.
Kim says
Patrice Greenwood has a tearoom themed mystery series set in Santa Fe, The Wisteria Tearoom Mysteries. The tearoom tea and foods are always a part of the story I enjoy!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Kim, for letting us know about Ptrice Greenwood’s Wisteria Tearoom Mystery Series (A Fatal Twist of Lemon is book #1).
maya says
The Rachel Blackstone Paranormal Mystery Series by G G Collins. Santa Fe, New Mexico.
GG Collins says
I write two series set in Santa Fe:
Taylor Browning Cozy Mysteries (2 books)
Rachel Blackstone Paranormal Mysteries (4 books)
Thank you.
Ann Gutierrez says
I’ve read most of the books/series mentioned and I enjoyed/loved them all. Hillerman and David & Aimee Thurlo mysteries are wonderful! Havill’s books are great! I’m so glad I accessed your website, found some authors/books I have not read. I’m leaving my email address just in case new authors/books become available. I love to read about New Mexico, I lived there for 3 years and cried when I had to leave. Thank you so much for the list and info.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Anne, I hope you are able to check back occasionally to see if/when we add new authors. I just finished reading one of Ann Myer’s Santa Fe mysteries and enjoyed how much she highlighted about this beautiful city.
Pam L says
I was reading a mystery taking place in Albuquerque by a woman author, main character a 40 year old defense attorney named Tara. Then somehow I erased it from my Kindle before the mystery was solved. Now I cant find any record of it and dont remember the author. Any ideas?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Pam, I’ve found a few things that are sort of close, but nothing that hits every note, so I’ve put this up as part of a front page post in the hope that someone would come up with an answer.
K Miller says
Deadly Little Angel: A Silver City Cozy Mystery (Kris Freeman Cozy Mysteries Book 1) by Dana Kilpatrick takes place in Silver City, NM
Dawn says
I have a couple mysteries set in New Mexico. They’ren cozies, but, one of them is similar to Stephanie Plum, and they’re by the same auor. O I haven’t read yet, and the other I’ve read the first 4-5 books. The author is Darynda Jones, and the series are:The Sunshine Vickram series, and the Charley Davidson series. I absolutely enjoy this web site! 🙂
TawnyaT says
Thank you for this amazing list of Cozy Mystery authors and books! I’m looking forward to reading them.