The Cozy Mystery List Blog

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

Mr. Holmes – the Movie

Mr. Holmes [DVD + Digital] My husband and I watched the movie, “Mr. Holmes” a little while ago. This is a terrific story about Sherlock Holmes living in retirement. To me, at least, this movie seems like it could be a continuation of the British Sherlock Holmes television series starring Jeremy Brett. The movie is based on “A Slight Trick of Mind” (the novel is by Mitch Cullin) and is directed by Bill Condon.

There are three main characters in the movie – all three superbly played. Sherlock (Ian McKellen), his housekeeper Mrs. Munro (Laura Linney), and the housekeeper’s little boy (Milo Parker). Whereas Poirot retired to the county to raise “tubers” this Sherlock has retired to become a beekeeper in the country. The housekeeper’s young son becomes a fan of Sherlock’s – both in the criminal and the beekeeping arenas.

Sherlock has decided to write his own version of this last case – which took place some thirty years ago. Dr. Watson wrote about the case – unsatisfactorily >>> anyway that’s what Sherlock thinks! Unfortunately, Sherlock is having a difficult time remembering all the details of this particular case which convinced him it was time to retire.

I’m not going to say anything more about the plot because I strongly urge you to see the movie. I will warn you, though, that if you’re looking for car chases or lots of computer-generated action, this movie isn’t for you.

I will tell you, though, that the acting, costumes, makeup, scenery, and ambiance are absolutely terrific.

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

Rita Lakin: Gladdy Gold Mystery Series

As you know if you have been around this blog for awhile, I have been working my way through some of the most popular and recommended Cozy Mystery series. Up next is the Gladdy Gold Mystery Series by Rita Lakin. I recently finished re-reading and thoroughly enjoying the first book in this popular series – Getting Old Is Murder. 

The series centers around a Ft. Lauderdale retirement community where Gladdy Gold is the 75 year old primary sleuth. She works with a group of similarly elderly friends – almost all women.  I use the term “works with” loosely since sometimes it seems the other women are (unintentionally) working against Gladdy in their well meaning but often befuddled way.

In the first book of the series, Gladdy finds herself trying to find a serial killer of several of the residents of the retirement community. Gladdy recognizes that there is something fishy with the way some of her old friends are dropping dead seemingly from natural causes. Of course, the police detective whom Gladdy goes to report her suspicions does not take her seriously >> at least at first. However, when another death occurs, though, it becomes all too clear to Gladdy that she is onto something. Soon Gladdy and her friends form a murder-detection group called “Gladdy’s Gladiators”.

This book has a refreshingly slow pace with the murders not really dominating the story telling until well into the last half of the book. Rather, the author introduces us to many of the condo complexes residents while slowly providing the clues necessary for the reader to try to solve the mystery.  This Cozy community really comes to life and the book is sprinkled with gentle humor about the foibles of people and aging. And, for those of you who enjoy some romance in your Cozies, there is one here too!

I’ve written about Rita Lakin before (back in March of 2015), and I have to say that what I said then still applies upon me re-reading this first book of the series. The relationship between Gladdy and her friends really makes the book enjoyable.

Rita Lakin has a background in TV as a writer, creator and producer. (She wrote a memoir about her life in TV, The Only Woman in the Room: Episodes in My Life and Career as a Television Writer which I have not yet read >>> but I am very tempted to do so soon!) Her writing is top-notch and what she has created here is what I think is a fine example of a modern Cozy. If you like your sleuths with a bit of seasoning behind them, I highly recommend Rita Lakin’s Getting Old Is Murder.

P.S. If you’d like to see more highlights of some of the most recommended or popular Cozy Mystery authors/series, visit the Most Popular & Recommended Cozy Mystery Series page on my site.

One New Cozy Holiday Release and One New Cozy Mystery Series Coming June 2017

There will be one new Cozy Holiday release nad one Cozy Mystery Series coming out in June 2017. Since there’s only one of both, I’m going to cover them both in this post.

First, the new series will be Maia Chance‘s Agnes and Effie Mystery Series, which will be beginning with Bad Housekeeping. Academic Agnes Blythe has just been dumped by her boyfriend when her Great Aunt Effie arrives with an offer to help her restore the old Stagecoach Inn to greatness. At loose ends, Agnes agrees – but she likely didn’t expect to find the body of a woman both Agnes and Effie had argued with shortly before as one of the first chores at the inn! Obviously framed, Agnes and Effie will need to locate the true killer in order to clear their own good names. Maia Chance also writes the Fairy Tale Fatal Mystery Series and the Discreet Retrieval Agency Mystery Series.

The holiday mystery we can look forward to isn’t exactly a Halloween Cozy and not exactly a Thanksgiving Cozy, but a “Pumpkin Day Festival” mystery… still, I say it counts! The Black Cat Sees His Shadow will be the third book in Kay Finch‘s Bad Luck Cat Mystery Series, starring aspiring mystery author Sabrina Tate. Sabrina is attending the first night of the pumpkin festival when she meets Tia, a woman who happens to look just like her. When a rival of Tia’s turns up dead, Sabrina takes it upon herself to clear the name of her new friend. Kay Finch also writes the Corie McKenna Mystery Series.

For more upcoming new Cozy Mystery Series, visit this page on my site:

New Cozy Mystery Series

And if you want to see more Halloween or Thanksgiving themed Cozies, be sure to check out their theme pages:

Halloween Mystery Books

Thanksgiving Mystery Books

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