The Cozy Mystery List Blog

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

October 16 to October 22

Here is the list of new releases for October 16 to October 22!

Connie Berry: Mistletoe and Murder (5th in the Kate Hamilton Mysteries)

Jacqueline Frost (aka Julie Chase, Julie Anne Lindsey, & Bree Baker): Stalking Around the Christmas Tree (4th in the Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries)

Sofie Kelly (aka Sofie Ryan & Darlene Ryan for Young Adult): Paws to Remember (15th in the Magical Cats Mysteries)

Leslie Langtry: Monster Mash Murder (28th in the Merry Wrath Mysteries)

Spencer Quinn (aka Peter Abrahams): Up on the Woof Top (14th in the Chet & Bernie Mysteries) 

 

Cozy Mystery News – October 2023

I have one piece of good news for you from an established Cozy Mystery author – well, technically two pieces of good news, but about the same author!

Clea Simon will be releasing two novels that appear to be disconnected from any of her existing series, which should be coming out in 2024 and 2025. The first will be Bad Boy Beat, starring a rookie female reporter assigned to the police beat, while the second will be The Blue Butterfly, which will be a darker psychological suspense about a struggling Boston artist and a doctor in training. Simon has written a number of mystery series over the years, including the Pru Marlowe, Pet Noir Mystery Series, the Dulcie Shwartz Mystery Series, and the Witch Cats of Cambridge Mystery Series.

October 9 to October 15

Here is the list of new releases for October 9 to October 15!

Donna Andrews: Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! (34th in the Meg Langslow Mysteries)

Sarah Fox: Baking Spirits Bright (2nd in the True Confections Mysteries)

Jenn McKinlay (aka Josie Belle & Lucy Lawrence): Sugar Plum Poisoned (15th in the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries)

David Rosenfelt: ‘Twas the Bite Before Christmas (28th in the Andy Carpenter Mysteries)

Connie Shelton: Haunted Sweets (17th in the Samantha Sweet Magical Cozy Mysteries)

British Television Mystery Series: Bergerac

Move over Tom Barnaby: let’s focus on Jim Bergerac! Not having grown up in (or visited) England, I didn’t know that before John Nettles starred as Tom Barnaby he was another British detective: Jim Bergerac. The TV series Bergerac is set on Jersey, one of the Channel Islands. It is a mixture of French and English cultures and is known as a vacation destination for people who want to enjoy its beautiful beaches. The scenery of this 1980s television series is beautiful… absolutely beautiful.

Jim Bergerac (John Nettles) is a detective who works in an office that does not investigate any of the island’s inhabitants – only visitors. The fictitious police department is called the “Foreigner’s Office”. As such, the viewer sees the ferry, boat docks, and airport in many of the shows. There is also a focus on the trails of the island that overlook the channel – providing beautiful views.

Jim Bergerac is a recovering alcoholic, who still has a lot of contact with his very rich ex-wife. I’m especially glad about that because his ex-wife’s father is my favorite character in the show. Bergerac’s ex-father in law is played by Terence Alexander. His remarkably good portrayal of a man who would do almost anything for money was such that you probably wouldn’t see fault in him bending the rules. He seemed to do everything with great panache.

Bergerac is not only a great detective, but he’s also a ladies’ man. And, when he doesn’t have a new girlfriend, he’s hanging out with his ex-wife. I don’t think there has been one episode where he hasn’t had a woman in his life!

I should warn you: don’t expect the Cozy, quaint village feel of Midsomer Murder. Also, I have been watching the Bergerac series on BritBox and (unfortunately) season four is not included. So I missed the “Foreigner’s Office” move to a new building, Jim’s office secretary transferring to some unknown place, or Jim moving on to a new woman in his life. Speaking of which, Annette Badland played the secretary from 1981 to 1984 in Bergerac, and in 2018 she started appearing in Midsomer Murders as the forensic pathologist.

My husband and I enjoy several shows that we have on our nightly TV rotation, and this is one of them. We’re both enjoying Bergerac, and you may too!

Bergerac is available on Britbox through Amazon Prime Video.

Also, if you’re interested in taking a look at some other good mystery shows, make sure to go to my Cozy Mystery TV and Movies page.

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