December will be a decent month for Cozy Mystery releases, with one new Cozy Mystery series by an established site author and one new Holiday-Themed Cozy Mystery.
First up, Amanda Flower (aka Isabella Alan) will be putting out the first in her new Amish Matchmaker Mystery Series, titled Matchmaking Can Be Murder. Millie Fisher is returning to her hometown of Harvest, Ohio, after the death of her husband, and has decided to branch out from her normal trade, quiltmaking, and begin matchmaking, with her niece being her first target. Unfortunately, her niece is already betrothed to a thoroughly unsuitable candidate, but Millie manages to convince her to break it off. But when the jilted lover turns up dead, Millie’s niece quickly becomes a prime suspect, and Millie will need to work hard to keep her out of jail! Amanda Flower also writes (among others) the Amish Candy Shop Mystery Series, the Magical Bookshop Mystery Series, and the Magical Garden Mystery Series.
Also, Cynthia Baxter will be releasing Last Licks, the third in her Lickety Splits Ice Cream Shoppe Mystery Series. Kate McKay, owner of Lickety Splits is preparing for Halloween, but she’s derailed somewhat by the offer of an offer by a Hollywood movie crew to use her shop as part of the production. Unfortunately, someone else seems to have more sinister motives than making a movie, and one of the actresses ends up dead by poison – poison apparently delivered by ice cream. Cynthia Baxter is also the author of the Reigning Cats & Dogs Mystery Series and the Murder Packs a Suitcase Mystery Series.
For more Halloween Cozy Mysteries, check out the Halloween Mystery Book Series page on the site.
For more new Cozy Mystery Series, check out the New Cozy Mystery Book Series page on the site.
Jeanne L. says
For Cozy Mysteries I adore Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Books, Laura Childs’ Cackleberry Cafe Books, Miranda James’ Cat in the Stacks Series, Donna Andrews, Leslie Meier & Sofie Kelly’s Invisible Cats Owen & Hercules & several others.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Jeanne, that’s certainly a good list!
MJ says
Millie Fisher was introduced in the last Amanda Flower Amish Candy Shop book. Both series are set in Harvest, Ohio. I don’t know how much crossover (if any) of the characters will take place. It’s a bit unusual that both series are set in the same community. How many ‘murders’ can one small town withstand? Will law enforcement be the same in both series?
Needless to say, I’m looking forward to this first book in the series, as I’m a fan of this very prolific author. And, it’s amazing she’s also an academic librarian at a small college in addition to all her writings. I bet she NEVER sleeps!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, it’s definitely a dangerous community! Still, I suspect Cabot Cove (from Murder, She Wrote) might still be in more trouble.
Bek says
Nothing this time, but I may have to peek at the “Reigning Cats and Dogs” series…that’s right up my alley!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bek, it definitely sounds worth picking up!
shan says
I miss the Reigning cats and dogs series if it’s the one about the mobile vet.
I do like the ice cream series too!
As for Amanda Flower, I believe she resigned from her library job to concentrate on writing full time. Yippeeeeee.
Susy S says
I like Amanda Flower, but since it is a new series, I can wait to pick it up. Maybe after I get caught up on all her other books waiting on my shelves….
Bek says
I’m with you, Susy S. It’s on the list, but fairly low down. There are other series that I’ve been waiting so long to catch! LOL, the trick is deciding which one to collect next! I’m getting ready to jump into Leephorn and Chee, the Hillerman (Tony and Ann) in a few days. Reading a couple of stand-alones first…they tend to get pushed back, then not read!
Lynn T says
I love the cover on Last Licks. It would stop me in the store to pick up and look at.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lynn, good covers are certainly an appealing way to get people to pick up a book!
Susy S says
Well, it was good enough to make me pick up the Baxter book waiting on my shelves to be read. I have not read her before, but I had picked up one book to check them out, but never got around to reading it.