The Cozy Mystery List Blog

Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries … Series 3?!!

June 14, 2014

Back in July of 2013, I wrote a TV and Movies post about the Australian Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries television series. (Yes, they are based on Kerry Greenwood‘s very popular Phryne Fisher Mystery Series!) I went ahead and added the link to my original entry – in case you haven’t read it and would enjoy seeing what the mystery shows are about.) Suffice it to say that I really enjoy this series!

I believe some of us speculated about the show continuing. Of course, none of us knew if it would, but there’s always hope!

Well, today, there is more than hope! Today I got an email (Thank you so much, Fran!) giving us the wonderful news: The production company is going to be making a third season of this terrific mystery show! Yippee!

And there is even more news, we have our very own favorite Cozy Mystery authors (amongst others) to thank for this third season. Yes, the Sisters in Crime apparently lobbied for Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries to continue (for at least another season.) That’s quite a feat when you consider that the leading role is a woman! I mean how many shows are there who dare to have a female lead?

So, the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) will start production of this terrific Australian period-piece mystery show in October.

Pretty terrific news, isn’t it?

If you would like to see the original article which was sent to me, click on this Sisters in Crime, Australia link.

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

Capitol Hill Mystery

June 13, 2014

white house I get quite a few letters from Cozy Mystery readers who need help identifying either an author or an author’s series. Some of the time I am able to go ahead and provide an answer. But as many of you know, a lot of the time I ask for your help.

Here is a letter with which I need your help. A little while back, I received this letter from Tom:

…I am looking for what must qualify as a very obscure book because I cannot find it anywhere — in stores or on line. It was written by a local mystery writer in the late 80s or early 90s. It is set on Capitol Hill and features, as I recall, a female police investigator. Also as I recall, the guilty party is a high level aide (maybe chief of staff) to the Speaker. I served as a technical adviser to the author (on the workings of Congress) and received an acknowledgment. Unfortunately, my copy of the book got away in a book donation frenzy and I would love to get another copy. If I had to guess, Id say the author’s name is Carol — but I really don’t remember.

Does this ring any bells?…

At first I wondered if he could be thinking about Margaret Truman‘s Capital Crimes Mystery Series, or Elliot Roosevelt‘s Eleanor Roosevelt Mystery Series, but since both of those are series, I doubt Tom is looking for either of them. I sure hope that one of you knows the answer that Tom is looking for.

Thank you!

Cozy Mysteries with Product Placement?

June 9, 2014

Last month, a Cozy Mystery reader sent me a letter asking if I had noticed any product placements appearing in some of our favorite Cozy Mystery authors’ books.

By the way, I’ve been thinking for awhile now about another possible blog topic. Do you (and others) think there is ‘product placement’ in some of the cozy mystery books? I was going to keep a list every time I saw this so I could give examples in specific books. However if I didn’t do it right away, I’d forget it (thus the list is non-existent). Just in the past couple of months, the sleuths of three different authors have mentioned ‘Hershey Kisses’.

It would be expected that an author might mention a brand name when it relates to the core of the story – teas in Child’s books, coffees in Coyle’s books, or even yarns in a book set in a craft store. Fluke always gives a certain brand name of products in her recipes. I don’t consider that product placement, I think she is just informing the reader of how she made the recipe.

It makes sense if an author is trying to emphasize wealth she/he may mention a BMW/Mercedes. But, many times an ordinary car is mentioned by brand (Prius and Civic are two that come to mind) several times throughout a story. One book I read even cited the brand name of an eye liner used.

Do you think an author gets a ‘monetary bonus’ by mentioning a certain brand of something a few times within a story? I really don’t think there is anything wrong with it because it doesn’t influence me. However since I’ve noticed it a lot, I was curious.

The Cozy Mystery reader later sent me this:

I am currently reading ‘Death Runs Adrift’. On page 77, Natalie (main character) mentions that Charlene (best friend), “had discovered Twinings Black Currant tea over the winter, and drinks gallons of it”.

I only mentioned the Twinings Black Currant tea as an example of ‘product placement’ . It’s in McInerney’s latest book that I’m currently reading. I don’t drink tea, so it wouldn’t entice me to try it.

What I don’t know is if it’s intentional ‘product placement’, or if McInerney is offering a ‘suggestion’ of something she really likes to her readers.

I’ve noticed it several times in books that I read. I’m quite sure there was something in the latest Dams book, but I don’t remember what it was (goes to show how effective it is!).

If indeed they get paid for this, I think it’s great the cozy authors we love to read can make a little extra money (as long as it’s not over done and detracts from the story).

I personally had not noticed any product placement, but I have a feeling that if one of my Cozy Mysteries has it, I will notice it from now on!

What about you all? Other than obvious things like when a culinary Cozy has a recipe in it, have you noticed any product placement? And, if you have, does it bother you or do you think it’s a great idea?

Summer Cozy Mystery Books Theme

June 6, 2014

With summer soon approaching (June 21), what better time than right now to list all of the Summer Cozy Mysteries that are out there? I know I can start the list with some very obvious mysteries: Fourth of July Mystery Books theme and Father’s Day Mystery Books theme. Also, there are other very obvious Summer Cozy Mysteries that have the word summer in the titles, or a reference to a beach, barbeque, or summer month. And then of course, there are those that we know about because we have read them.

If I have missed any Summer Cozy Mystery theme books, please post a comment. Thank you!