The Cozy Mystery List Blog

Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV

New Releases – December 11 to December 17, 2017

Here is the list of new releases for December 11 to December 17!

Mary Daheim: Alpha Alpine (This will be the 27th in the Emma Lord Mystery Series.)

Dawn Eastman: Unnatural Causes (This will be the 1st in the NEW Dr. Katie LeClair Mystery Series.)

Katherine Bolger Hyde: Bloodstains with Bronte (This will be the 2nd in the Crime with the Classics Mystery Series.)

Karen MacInerney: Mistletoe Murder (This will be the 4th in the Dewberry Farm Mystery Series.) (This is a Christmas themed mystery.)

Gail Oust: Ginger Snapped (This will be the 5th in the Spice Shop Mystery Series.)

Nancy J. Parra (aka Nancy Coco & Nell Hampton): A Case of Syrah, Syrah (This will be the 1st in the NEW Wine Country Mystery Series.)

Six Soon to be Released Cozy Covers

Here are some of the upcoming Cozy Mystery covers that I’ve found recently!

Dawn Eastman: Unnatural Causes (This will be the 1st in the NEW Dr. Katie LeClair Mystery Series.)
Molly MacRae: Scones and Scoundrels (This will be the 2nd in the Highland Bookshop Mystery Series.)
Donna Huston Murray: For Better or Worse (This will be the 8th in the Ginger Barnes Main Line Mystery Series.)
Sharon Pape: Magick Run Amok (This will be the 3rd in the Abracadabra Mystery Series.)
Victoria Thompson: Murder on Union Square (This will be the 21st in the Gaslight Mystery Series.)
Marty Wingate: Farewell, My Cuckoo (This will be the 4th in the Birds of a Feather Mystery Series.)

The Doctor Blake Mysteries (TV Mystery Shows)

For those of you who enjoy the Miss Fisher Mysteries, here’s some good news. Australia is back! This is another very good Australian television mystery series. It’s well-worth your time, mate!

The Doctor Blake Mysteries series takes place in Ballarat, Australia,  which looks like an absolutely beautiful, serene place – other than the occasional, weekly murders! Dr. Lucien Blake returns to his hometown after a long time away to take over his late father’s medical practice. He doesn’t seem particularly happy to be back, nor does he seem to have been missed very much while he was away. Lucien had been captured by the Japanese during WWII and had been held in a prisoner of war camp. He was separated from his wife and daughter during the war and does not know where they are.

Lucien inherited his father’s large Victorian house, which came with a few boarders: a young police man, a young nurse, and a beautiful middle-age housekeeper. At the beginning of the series you see Lucien interact with his patients a lot of the time. However, in later shows, Lucien’s job as police surgeon seems to dominate his time – which is fortunate for viewers with a penchant for well-told and thought-out mysteries.

The acting in The Doctor Blake Mysteries is terrific. Craig McLachlan plays Lucien Blake, housekeeper Jean Beazley is played by Nadine Garner, and Joel Tock is Chief Superintendent Matthew Lawson. All three of them are very, very convincing as three adults who grew up knowing about each other’s secrets. Cate Wolfe plays the young nurse, Rick Donald is the young constable who is then replaced by Charlie Cousins.

The late 1950s atmosphere is also very convincing. It’s very reminiscent of old 1950 television shows/movies. Of course, since Lucien inherits his father’s old Victorian house, a lot of the furniture dates way back.

I should mention that since the police chief and Lucien go way back, they share a friendship and mutual respect that is really enjoyable to see. This is rather refreshing because many TV mystery shows display an antipathy between the police and an amateur sleuth. Lucien is actually encouraged to do more than just the forensic necessities and to involve himself in the mysteries.

All in all, this is another beautiful Australian mystery series. The acting, writing, wardrobe, scenery, and yes, the mysteries are all very good. I highly recommend watching The Dr. Blake Mysteries, and from the letters I’ve received recommending the series, many other Cozy Mystery readers also enjoy watching the show.

P.S. This show is available on Netflix.

For more Cozy viewing ideas, click on my Cozy Mystery TV & Movies page.

Name That Cozy – December 2017 Edition

One of the recurring questions that I get asked a lot is “what book is this from?”, usually from people who are looking to revisit a book they vaguely remember from . While I can answer a fair number of these on my own, there are some that stump even me – but thankfully, rarely you, the site readers! So without further ado, here are a few of the more recent Cozy Mystery identification questions!

First, from Marion B:

Trying to find this book I read about 1980, it was the first book published by this man, his name was Jonathan and I cannot remember his last name. Book takes place in New Orleans about a mother and young son who run a boarding house for the elderly. There is corruption in the local government and voodoo too. It was exceptional! I would love to read it again and find the author.

And the second, from Paul P:

I am searching for the name of a female author I read several years ago, I think at least three mysteries. All took place in Minneapolis-St Paul. The heroine/detective was a lawyer and I believe worked in the DA’s office. There was a Christian-religious theme to the books. Does this ring a bell with anyone? Would greatly appreciate.

EDIT: Possibly the Rachel Flynn Mysteries, by Susan Meissner?

EDIT AGAIN: Paul posted in the comments below, and agrees that this seems to be the Rachel Flynn Mysteries by Susan Meissner!

So, if you think you’ve got the answer to either of these stumpers, please let us know in the comments below! Thank you!

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