The Cozy Mystery List Blog

Cozy Mystery News – January 2016

January 24, 2016

Every once in a while I have Cozy Mystery news that I simply cannot keep to myself. Of course, I share it with my husband, but that almost doesn’t count. (I usually get a “That’s nice.” type of response from him…) I have a feeling that some of you all will be happier about some of these Cozy Mystery tidbits than my husband was!

If you’re all caught up with Allyson K. Abbott‘s Mack’s Bar Mystery Series, you can look forward to at least three more books in that series. And, as if Allyson K. Abbott’s news isn’t great enough, her “AKA” Annelise Ryan has gotten the go-ahead for at least three more Mattie Winston Mystery Series books! That’s double the terrific news for this talented author and her fans.

Good news for fans of Juliet Blackwell‘s Haunted Home Renovations Mystery Series. She is scheduled to bring us a 7th book in that series.

Here’s super good news for Cajun Country Mystery Series fans: Ellen Byron has the green light to release books 3 & 4 in that very Cozy New Orleans series. (I told you it was good news!)

And, for those of you who are fans of Jane K. Cleland‘s Josie Prescott Antiques mysteries AND fans of audiobooks: her Ornaments of Death (Christmas theme) is already in audio format, and three more of her mysteries are set to be made audible as well (Deadly Threads, Lethal Treasure, & Blood Rubies).

I know there are a lot of Amanda Flower fans out there. Well, you will probably be over-joyed to find out that she will be writing a new Amish-themed Cozy Mystery series: the Amish Sweetshop Mystery Series. The sleuth is a chocolatier who visits her Amish grandparents in Ohio, and stays for a longer amount of time than she had expected. (No spoilers here!)

OK, so I know everyone who reads Cozy Mysteries has heard about Carolyn Hart. Her Death on Demand series is going strong, and she will be bringing us a new one. Carolyn Hart is also scheduled to bring us a new Bailey Ruth Ghost Mystery. (How about that for good Cozy Mystery news?)

Calling all D.E. Ireland fans! Remember, Ireland is a duo of authors. One of them (Sharon Pisacreta) will write the new Berry Basket Mystery Series using the Sharon Farrow moniker. The Berry Basket series will take place near Lake Michigan and will feature a berry shop owner.

Also, Laura Levine‘s Jaine Austen Mystery Series fans will be happy to see that she will be writing at least three more mysteries after this year’s release in June. Great news!

Jess Lourey (of the Murder by the Month series) will be starting the new Witch Hunt Mystery Series, which she will be writing as Jessica Lourey. (This is a non Cozy series.)

OK, now this is great news for the Margaret Maron fans amongst us. She will be be bringing back Sigrid Harald. Sigrid is a New York City homicide detective, and she hasn’t been around for us to read about since 1995.

Those of you who follow Marcia Muller‘s San Francisco private eye, Sharon McCone, rest assured that there will be more mysteries in that series. She has just gotten the OK for at least two more.

If you’re a fan of Carol J. Perry‘s Witch City Mystery Series, you’ll be pleased to know that she will be releasing three more Cozies in this series. Pretty exciting!

Hank Phillippi Ryan has gotten a contract for two more Jane Ryland mysteries. I know some of you who will be absolutely delighted by this news!

Well, as I said, I just couldn’t keep these great Cozy Mystery tidbits to myself. I hope some of you are as pleased by some of these new-sy announcements as I am!

P.S. Any time you hear something that you think might interest the rest of us, please post a comment or drop me a note. I must warn you though, I’m not good at keeping secrets. Thanks!

Four New-to-the-Site Mystery Authors: Susan M. Boyer: Liz Talbot, Kay Finch: Bad Luck Cat, Cheryl Hollon: Webb’s Glass Shop, Anna Lee Huber: Lady Darby

January 22, 2016

Well, it’s that time again >>> time to add more authors to the Cozy Mystery site! As usual I try to post recommended authors Cozy Mystery readers who comment here on the site have told me about in comments and letters, so it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise if site “regulars” have already seen a name or two of these authors. I’m trying to add authors more frequently, with the goal of one post like this (about) once a month. We’ll see if that ends up being a reasonable possibility…

Susan M. Boyer – A South Carolina native, it’s no surprise that Susan M. Boyer has set her Liz Talbot Mystery Series in that scenic state. Her first book in this series won the prestigious Agatha Award! The series features Liz Talbot, a private investigator who just so happens to see ghosts!

Kay Finch – A paralegal in Houston, Texas, Kay Finch has used her professional career to good use as inspirational material for her two series. The Bad Luck Cat Mystery Series stars Sabrina Tate, an aspiring mystery author and her black cat, Hitchcock. Her Corie McKenna Mystery Series stars a private investigator.

Cheryl Hollon – Cheryl Hollon was once an engineer living in amazing places like England, Australia, and Taiwan, but now she’s fulfilling her lifetime dream of writing full-time in Petersburg, Florida. She and her husband create glass artwork, which is highlighted in her Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery Series. This series stars Savannah Webb, a glass shop owner in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Anna Lee Huber – Anna Lee Huber earned a bachelor’s degree in music (with a minor in psychology) and began writing after spending a brief period as an administrative assistant. She has lived in many places throughout the United States and now lives in Indiana. Her Cozy Mystery series, the Lady Darby Mystery Series, is set in 1830’s Scotland and stars the wife of a deceased anatomist.

And of course you can find these authors and many many more on the Cozy Mystery site.

Adult Coloring Postcards, Stationery, & Calendars

January 17, 2016

First off, I want to say that if you’re looking for an entry about Cozy Mysteries, this entry isn’t for you. However, if you’re looking for a phenomenal way to be Cozy while watching an old movie, then read on!

Way back in September, I asked what types of things you all do for relaxation. I mentioned that a friend of mine enjoys adult coloring books, and some of you commented that you do, too. My daughter suggested that I might enjoy adult coloring books >>> so I bought a three (Halloween, autumn, and Christmas) themed adult coloring books.

Most of you have probably gathered (from my monthly mystery television entries) that I love old, black and white movies. If I’m relaxing, I’m either reading a Cozy or watching an old movie. However (and that’s a big HOWEVER!) I’m not good at just sitting and watching a movie. I have to actually be doing something else while I watch a movie.

Getting back to my adult coloring books…

After I finished a few of the pictures, I didn’t know quite what to do with them. When my children were little, the refrigerator door was a great candidate for “storing” them, but at my age, well, you understand…

That’s when I started thinking about other types of coloring that adults can do, that would enable us to put them to good use. I went online and immediately discovered three ways that I can actually put my adult coloring to good use >>> calendars, stationery, and postcards. (Who’d ‘a thunk it?!)

Now that I have finally solved the question of what to do with my masterpieces, I just have to decide how to prioritize my relaxation time: reading, crocheting, bead cross-stitching, puzzle-making, or adult coloring!

Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen Mystery Series

January 15, 2016

The Hannah Swensen Mystery Series (sometimes called the Cookie Jar Mystery Series) by Joanne Fluke is another of the most recommended series by Cozy Mystery site readers on the monthly Cozy recommendation lists. The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (published in 2000), is the first in what now extends to more than 20 mystery novels and novellas.

These mysteries are so popular with Cozy readers for good reasons, which is why the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel chose to feature Hannah in their rotating series of mystery movies. Hannah is a classic Cozy Mystery character. Hannah is an (almost) thirty-ish woman who moved back to her hometown, Lake Eden, after her father who had owned the town’s hardware store passed away. Hannah came back to Lake Eden at the request of her younger and more glamorous sister, Andrea, who along with her even younger sister Michelle, could not cope with their mother who was a “basket case” when their father died. Moving back to town was okay with Hannah since she was tired of pursuing her PhD in English (maybe because of at least one failed romance!).

Lake Eden is a small town in Minnesota which borders on Eden Lake. The distinction between Lake Eden and Eden Lake confuses visitors to the town, and there are a lot of visitors because the lake is a vacation draw in the summer. The town swells in the summer months to nearly four times its normal population of 3000.

All of the elements of a great modern Cozy series are here. After Hannah moved back to town, she opened a bakery/coffee shop at the suggestion of her sister, Andrea. Andrea is conveniently married to a police officer (hopefully soon to be a detective), Bill. With her frizzy red hair, ultra casual dressing style, and 20 pounds or so to lose, Hannah considers herself frumpy and unsophisticated next to her glamorous sister (who sells real estate); and yet, the eligible men in Lake Eden seem to circle around Hannah like bees around flowers. To Hannah’s annoyance, her mother frequently interferes in Hannah’s life. Her mother is especially concerned with what her mother considers Hannah’s lack of a love life. And, Hannah has a half-blind 25 pound tomcat, Moishe, who features prominently in her home life.

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder is a fun read. Hannah gets involved in solving the murder mystery because she discovers the body (who was eating one of her chocolate chip cookies when he died) and to help her brother-in-law, Bill, who is trying to make detective. Between her coffee shop, the Cookie Jar, and her catering refreshments to every club, group or meeting in Lake Eden, Hannah has ample opportunity to gather information by talking to what seems like nearly everyone in Lake Eden.

The mystery is the type I especially enjoy because it is fair to the reader; all the clues are given to the reader who has an equal chance with Hannah to solve the case. The main characters are interesting and the setting has the charm of a small town. Finally, the icing on the cake (yes, pun intended!) are the many detailed recipes (cookies and candy in the first book) scattered around the books.

The Kindle edition currently includes a Christmas novella, Candy for Christmas, which is a cute little Cozy Mystery that does not include a murder. I guess the novella is really the icing on the icing!

I know we have lots of other Hannah Swensen readers, so if you’d like to add something to this entry, please post a comment. (Please try not to give away too many things from future Hannah Swensen books >>> since some people will be starting the series.) Thanks!

P.S. If you’re interested in other entries about some highly recommended Cozy Mystery series, you can see them on the Most Recommended Cozy Mystery Series page on my site.

« Previous Page