The Cozy Mystery List Blog

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

Romantic Cozy Mysteries Theme

As we just discussed, this may be a rather impossible theme, but let’s go ahead and try to make up a list of some Romantic Cozy Mysteries that are truly romantic. Let’s see if we can limit the list to those mysteries that have our sleuth meeting someone who, through either just one book or several books goes through a “courting” of sorts.

If you have any other Cozy Mysteries that you think truly qualify as romantic Cozy Mysteries, please post a comment.

I’m going to start the Romantic Cozy Mysteries theme with two of the most obvious authors: Victoria Holt and Daphne du Maurier. Let’s see what other authors Cozy Mystery readers think should be in this Romantic Cozy Mysteries theme!

Romantic Cozy Mysteries

Avery Aames (aka Daryl Wood Gerber): Cheese Shop Mysteries

P. J. Alderman: Port Chatham Mysteries

Conrad Allen (aka Edward Marston & Keith Miles): George Porter Dillman & Genevieve Masefield Mysteries

Donna Andrews: Meg Lanslow Mysteries

Nancy Atherton: Aunt Dimity Mysteries

M. C. Beaton: Agatha Raisin Mysteries

C. A. Belmond: Penny Nichols Rather Mysteries

Annette Blair: Vintage Magic Mysteries

Rhys Bowen: Royal Spyness Mysteries

Barbara Bretton: Chloe Hobb’s Sugar Maple Knitting mysteries

Rita Mae Brown: Mrs. Murphy Mystery Series

Dorothy Cannell: Ellie Haskell Mystery Series

JoAnna Carl (aka Eve K. Sandstrom): Chocoholic Mysteries

Kate Carlisle: Bibliophile Mystery Series

Agatha Christie: Tommy and Tuppence Mysteries

Agatha Christie: A lot of her Miss Marple Mysteries and Hercule Poirot Mysteries had secondary characters in the process of falling in love.

Jill Churchill: Jane Jeffry Mysteries

Kate Collins: Flower Shop Mysteries

Cleo Coyle (aka Alice Kimberly): Coffee House Mysteries

Mary Daheim: Hillside Manor Bed & Breakfast Mysteries

Diane Mott Davidson: Goldy Bear Mysteries

Jana DeLeon: Ghost-in-Law Mystery Series

Daphne du Maurier: Stand Alone Mysteries

Carola Dunn: Daisy Dalrymple Mysteries

Joanne Fluke: Hannah Swensen Mysteries

Earlene Fowler: Benni Harper Mysteries

Victoria Gilbert: Blue Ridge Library Mystery Series

Carolyn Haines: Sarah Booth Delaney Mysteries

Linda Hall: Whisper Lake Mysteries AND Shadow Mysteries

Charlaine Harris: Aurora Teagarden Mysteries

Carolyn Hart: Death on Demand Mysteries

Joan Hess: Claire Malloy Mysteries

Victoria Holt: Stand Alone Mysteries

Maddy Hunter: Passport to Peril Mystery Series

Julie Hyzy: White House Chef Mysteries

Sofie Kelly: Magical Cats Mysteries

Diana Killian: Poetic Death Mysteries

Kate Kingsbury (aka Allison Kingsley & Rebecca Kent) Pennyfoot Hotel Mysteries AND WW II Manor House Mysteries

Joyce and Jim Lavene (aka J.J. Cook & Ellie Grant): Renaissance Faire Mystery Series

Kylie Logan (aka Miranda Bliss & Casey Daniels): League of Literary Ladies Mysteries

Charlotte MacLeod (aka Alisa Craig): Peter Shandy Mysteries AND Sarah Kelling Mysteries

Margaret Maron: Deborah Knott Mysteries 

Nancy Martin: Blackbird Sisters Mysteries

Jenn McKinlay: Cupcake Bakery Mysteries AND Library Lover’s Mysteries

Elizabeth Peters (aka Barbara Michaels): Amelia Peabody Mysteries

Ann B. Ross: Miss Julia Mysteries

Hank Phillippi Ryan: Jane Ryland & Jake Brogan Mysteries

Dorothy L. Sayers: Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries

J.B. Stanley (aka Jennifer Stanley, Ellery Adams, & 1/2 of Lucy Arlington): Supper Club Mysteries

Denise Swanson: Scumble River Mysteries

Victoria Thompson: Gaslight Mysteries 

Heather Webber (aka Heather Blake): Lucy Valentine Mysteries

Phyllis A. Whitney: Stand Alone Mysteries

Lauren Willig: Pink Carnation Mysteries

♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦

A Little Romance with My Mysteries, Please

I have gotten quite a few letters and comments asking for me to add a Cozy Mystery theme that includes Romantic Cozy Mysteries. I have thought quite a bit about how long this list of romantic mysteries could end up being.

Should this list include every series of mysteries that has two characters who are clearly made for each other?

Should this list include only the mysteries you think of when you think of the Gothic romance mysteries?

Should this list include all authors who have a sleuth who just can’t seem to make up her mind between two (or more!) suitors?

Should this list include mysteries that have sleuths who are married couples?

Should this list include mysteries that I think are romantic, but that perhaps you wouldn’t?

I just keep coming back to the fact that romance is so subjective. Clearly some authors make it very easy to identify. Daphne du Maurier and Victoria Holt are two such examples. But they are both Gothic Romance Mystery authors, making it very easy to label them as Romantic Cozy Mystery authors.

However, how about  a series like the Leigh Koslow mysteries by Edie Claire? I think of those as romantic. Yep, Leigh and  Warren may not be as “romantic” as a Charlotte Brontë’s Jane and Rochester, but they are a very interesting couple to me.

I started to have this discussion with my husband because I told him I was at a loss as to how to proceed and he suggested that I ask you all. So I’m left with this dilemma: How would we define Romantic Cozy Mysteries when making up a list, keeping in mind that the list has to have some reasonable boundaries or else it won’t be a useful list for anyone?

If you have any ideas on how to define Romantic Cozy Mysteries for the purpose of this list, please post a comment. At this point I’m not asking for you to provide authors for inclusion to this hypothetical list. If you need to mention an author as an example for the point you are making, that would be fine. Once we determine if this list is even feasible (i.e. doesn’t include almost every author under the sun) then we’ll proceed to making the list.

Mysteries with Recipes AND Recipe Books by Mystery Authors

I have had several comments and letters asking me to compile a list of Mysteries with Recipes. At first I thought this would be a rather daunting theme. I mean, I don’t read all of the authors who happen to have recipes in their Cozy Mysteries. Obviously I know which of my favorite authors include recipes in their mysteries, but what about those who I don’t read? And what about those authors of mysteries who I do read, but have forgotten they include recipes?

Aha, that’s where you ALL come in. If you know of an author of mysteries books who I have forgotten to include, who has recipes in his/her books, please post a comment.

Authors Who Write Mysteries with Recipes:

Avery Aames (aka Daryl Wood Gerber): Cheese Shop Mystery Series

Kathy Aarons: Chocolate Covered Mystery Series

Allyson K. Abbott (aka Annelise Ryan & Beth Amos): Mack’s Bar Mystery Series (both alcoholic and non drinks)

Kristi Abbott: Gourmet Popcorn Shop Mystery Series

Ellery Adams (aka Jennifer Stanley, J. B. Stanley, & 1/2 of Lucy Arlington): Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery Series

Riley Adams (aka Elizabeth Spann Craig & Elizabeth Craig): Memphis BBQ Mystery Series

Susan Wittig Albert: Darling Dahlia Mystery Series

Susan Wittig Albert: China Bayles Mystery Series

Ellie Alexander: Bakeshop Mystery Series

Connie Archer: Soup Lover’s Mystery Series

Nancy Atherton: Aunt Dimity and the Lost Prince from the Aunt Dimity Mystery Series

Judy Baer: Recipes and Wooden Spoons (Book #3 in Tales from Grace Chapel Hill)

Mignon F. Ballard: Augusta Goodnight Mystery Series

Lorna Barrett (aka Lorraine Bartlett & L. L. Bartlett): Booktown Mystery Series

Jessica Beck: Donut Shop Mystery Series

Maymee Bell (aka Tonya Kappes): Southern Cake Baker Mystery Series

Claudia Bishop (aka Mary Stanton): The Case of the Ill-Gotten Goat from Casebook of Dr McKenzie Mystery Series

Claudia Bishop (aka Mary Stanton): Hemlock Falls Mystery Series

Bethany Blake: Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery Series (recipes for pets)

Miranda Bliss (aka Kylie Logan & Casey Daniels): Cooking Class Mystery Series

Jacklyn Brady (aka Sherry Lewis): A Piece of Cake Mystery Series

Kathleen Bridge: Hamptons Home & Garden Mystery Series

Julia Buckley: Undercover Dish Mystery Series

Leslie Budewitz: Food Lovers’ Village Mystery Series and Seattle Spice Shop Mystery Series

Lucy Burdette (aka Roberta Isleib): Key West Food Critic Mystery Series

V.M. Burns: RJ Franklin Mystery Series

Janet Cantrell (aka Kaye George): Fat Cat Mystery Series (recipes for people and cat treats)

Grace Carroll (aka Carol Culver): Accessory Mystery Series

Sammy Carter: Candy Shop Mystery Series

Bailey Cates (aka Crickey McRae): Magical Bakery Mystery Series

Chris Cavender (aka Elizabeth Bright, Melissa Glazer, Casey Mayes, & Tim Myers): Pizza Lovers Mystery Series

Laura Childs: Tea Shop Mysteries AND Scrapbooking Mysteries AND Cackleberry Club Mystery Series

Peg Cochran (aka Meg London ): Gourmet De-Lite Mystery Series

Peg Cochran (aka Meg London): Cranberry Cove Mystery Series

Nancy Coco (aka Nancy J. Parra): Candy-Coated Mystery Series

Susan Conant & Jessica Conant-Park: Gourmet Girl Mystery Series

Sheila Connolly (aka Sarah Atwell): Orchard Mystery Series

J. J. Cook (aka Joyce and Jim Lavene): Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery Series

Maya Corrigan: Five-Ingredient Mystery Series

Shelley Costa: Miracolo Mystery Series

Cleo Coyle (aka Alice Kimberly): Coffee House Mystery Series

Philip R. Craig:  Martha’s Vineyard Mystery Series

Isis Crawford (aka Barbara Block): Mysteries with Recipes Mystery Series

Carol Culver (aka Grace Carroll): Pie Shop Mystery Series

Kathi Daley: Zoe Donovan Mystery Series

Diane Mott Davidson: Goldy Bear Mystery Series

Krista Davis: Domestic Diva Mystery Series

Krista Davis: Paws and Claws Mystery Series (recipes for both pets and their owners)

Maddie Day (aka Edith Maxwell & Tace Baker): Country Store Mystery Series

Gale Deitch: Trudie Fine Mystery Series

Devon Delaney: Cook-Off Mystery Series

Christine DeSmet: Fudge Shop Mystery Series

Denise Dietz: Diet Club Mystery Series

Leighann Dobbs: Lexy Baker Mystery Series

Peggy Ehrhart: Knit & Nibble Mystery Series

Nancy Fairbanks (aka Nancy Herndon): Culinary Food Writer Mystery Series

Amanda Flower (aka Isabella Alan): Amish Candy Shop Mystery Series

Joanne Fluke: Hannah Swensen Mystery Series

Sarah Fox: Pancake House Mystery Series

Susan Furlong (aka Lucy Arlington & Susan Furlong-Bolliger): Georgia Peach Mystery Series

Rosie Genova: Italian Kitchen Mystery Series

Daryl Wood Gerber (aka Avery Aames): Cookbook Nook Mystery Series

Debra H. Goldstein : Sarah Blair Mystery Series (quick and easy recipes)

Sarah Graves: Death by Chocolate Mystery Series

Kerry Greenwood: Corinna Chapman Mystery Series

Nancy Haddock: Silver Six Crafty Mystery Series

Gemma Halliday: Wine & Dine Mystery Series

Victoria Hamilton: Merry Muffin Mystery Series

Susannah Hardy (aka Sadie Hartwell): Greek to Me Mystery Series

B. B. Haywood: Candy Holliday Mystery Series

Betty Hechtman: Yarn Retreat Mystery Series

A.L. Herbert: Mahalia Watkins Soul Food Mystery Series

Lee Hollis: Hailey Powell Food & Cocktail Mystery Series

Mary Ellen Hughes: Pickled and Preserved Mystery Series

Julie Hyzy: White House Chef Mystery Series

Leslie Karst: Sally Solari Mystery Series

Tina Kashian: Kebab Kitchen Mystery Series

Josi S. Kilpack: Culinary Mystery Series

Kelly Lane: Olive Grove Mystery Series

Joyce and Jim Lavene (aka J.J. Cook & Ellie Grant): Pumpkin Patch Mystery Series

Elizabeth Lee (aka Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli): Nut House Mystery Series

Liz Lipperman (aka Lizbeth Lipperman): Clueless Cook Mystery Series

Kylie Logan (aka Miranda Bliss & Casey Daniels): Chili Cook-Off Mystery Series

Kylie Logan (aka Miranda Bliss & Casey Daniels): Ethnic Eats Mystery Series

Colette London: Chocolate Whisperer Mystery Series

Virginia Lowell: Cookie Cutter Shop Mystery Series

Karen MacInerney: Gray Whale Inn Mystery Series

Edith Maxwell (aka Maddie Day & Tace Baker): Local Foods Mystery Series

Jenn McKinlay (aka Lucy Lawrence & Josie Belle): Cupcake Bakery Mystery Series

Donna McLean: Ms. Tilda’s Best Recipes (cookbook related to the Sparrow Falls Mystery Series)

Liz Mugavero: Pawsitively Organic Gourmet Pet Food Mystery Series (includes pet treat recipe)

Ann Myers: Santa Fe Cafe Mystery Series

Tim Myers (aka Elizabeth Bright, Melissa Glazer, Chris Cavender, Casey Mayes, Jessica Beck, & D.B. Morgan): Candlemaking Mystery Series

Katherine Hall Page: Faith Fairchild Mystery Series

Nancy J. Parra (aka Nancy Coco): Baker’s Treat Mystery Series

Allison Cesario Paton: Mrs. Bundle Mystery Series

Andrea Penrose: Lady Arianna Regency Mystery Series

Cate Price: Deadly Notions Mystery Series

Hannah Reed (aka Deb Baker): Queen Bee Mystery Series

Virginia Rich: Eugenia Potter Mystery Series

Delia Rosen: Deadly Deli Mystery Series

Ann B. Ross: Miss Julia Stirs Up Trouble from the Miss Julia Mystery Series

Michele Scott: Wine Lover’s Mystery Series

Paige Shelton: Farmers’ Market Mysteries AND Country Cooking School Mystery Series

Joanna Cambell Slan: Kiki Lowenstein Scrab-N-Craft Mystery Series

Karen Rose Smith: Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery Series

J. B. Stanley (aka Jennifer Stanley, Ellery Adams, 1/2 of Lucy Arlington): Supper Club Mystery Series

Lou Jane Temple: Spice Box Historical Mystery Series

Gayle Trent (aka Amanda Lee): Daphne Martin Cake Mystery Series

Teresa Trent: Pecan Bayou Mystery Series

Diane Vallere: Costume Shop Mystery Series

Ann Waldron: Princeton Murders Mystery Series

Livia J. Washburn: Fresh-Baked Mystery Series

Kirsten Weiss: Doyle Mystery Series – Susan Witsend is the owner of a UFO themed bed and breakfast. These mysteries contain breakfast recipes in them.

Melinda Wells (aka Linda Palmer): Della Cooks Mystery Series

Christine Wenger: Comfort Food Mystery Series

Linda Wiken (aka Erika Chase): Dinner Club Mystery Series

 

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Here are some Recipe Books by Cozy Mystery Authors:

Ellery Adams, Deb Baker, Lorraine Bartlett, Kate Collins, Maggie Sefton, Leann Sweeney, & Heather Webber:  The Cozy Chicks Kitchen

Tea Time with the Cozy Chicks – Ellery Adams, Lorraine Bartlett, Duffy Brown, Kate Collins, Mary Kennedy, Mary Jane Maffini, Maggie Sefton, & Leann Sweeney >>> Recipes, Tea Menus, and More!

Patricia Cornwell: Scarpetta’s Winter Table

Diane Mott Davidson: Goldy’s Kitchen Cookbook

Joanne Fluke’s Lake Eden Cookbook: Hannah Swensen’s Recipes from the Cookie Jar

Nancy Lynn Jarvis, editor: Cozy Food: 128 Cozy Mystery Writers Share Their Favorite Recipes

Julie Murphy & Sally Abney Stempinski: The Cat Who … Cookbook

Katherine Hall Page: Have Faith in Your Kitchen

The Cozy Cookbook: More than 100 Recipes from Today’s Bestselling Mystery Authors (with Avery Aames, Ellery Adams, Leslie Beudewitz, Laura Childs, Cleo Coyle, Victoria Hamilton, B.B. HAywood, Julie Hyzy, Jenn McKinlay, & Paige Shelton)

Here are some more of my CULINARY – COOKING THEMES:

Cozy Mystery Authors with Culinary Themes: A – D

Cozy Mystery Authors with Culinary Themes: F – K

Cozy Mystery Authors with Culinary Themes: L – R

Cozy Mystery Authors with Culinary Themes: S – W Plus Some!

Cozy Mystery Authors with Culinary Themes: Even More!

Where to Start with Culinary Cozy Mystery Series…

For any additions or corrections, please post a comment. Thank you!

♦To access a whole lot more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦

Who Are These Mystery Characters In My Mystery Book?!?

A while ago (and I’m embarrassed at how long it has taken me to post this!) Regina sent me a letter about the following:

“… I am becoming a little annoyed with authors who write long series of books and in the latest book refer to characters who have appeared in previous books. If an author writes a book every year in a series, I, for one, can only remember the basics of the last book but not every minor character. This has happened to me again as I started to read ***** *****’s newest book and I could not remember most of the characters. I bought the last book for my Nook so I could become familiar with the newest book characters.”

This sort of has a connection with what I feel about the times my favorite Cozy Mystery authors have their sleuths visit a far away place. I don’t  usually like the out of town trips because I feel like I get invested with the main character’s small circle of secondary and tertiary home town characters.

I liken what you are talking about with my sleuth coming back to her home town for the next three books and then in the fourth book, one of the secondary or tertiary characters from out of town comes to visit. It’s at those times that I think “Who is this person?”

How do you feel about an author bringing back a character from a long time ago? Do you think the author is simply trying to “liven things up”? Do you find yourself having to “look up” who that character is/was? OR Is your memory better than ours?

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