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

Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations – April 2013

I’m home from our California trip just in time to ask you all about your favorite Cozy Mystery reads of April 2013. I hate to keep repeating myself, because I know those of you who follow this particular entry know the drill, but for those of you who are new to this very helpful entry: these should be authors (books) about whom (which) you really want other Cozy Mystery readers to know. They should be the authors (books) you enjoyed so much during April that you want to let the rest of us know about them. Please include WHY you enjoyed these authors.

What Cozy Mystery book (or author) have you read during April 2013, and why did you enjoy it (or him/her)?

Here are the current authors who some of you have read this past month, and wanted to tell the rest of us about:

Susan Wittig Albert: China Bayles Mystery Series

Esri Albritten: The Portrait of Doreene Gray

Connie Archer: Soup Lover’s Mystery Series

Lucy Arlington (aka Jennifer Stanley & Sylvia May): Novel Idea Mystery Series 

Nancy Atherton: Aunt Dimity Mystery Series

Donald Bain & “Jessica Fletcher”: Murder, She Wrote Mystery Series

Jessica Beck: Donut Shop Mystery Series

Jessica Beck: Ghost Cat Cozy Mystery Series

C. L. Beville: Bubba and the Dead Woman

Annette Blair: Vintage Magic Mystery Series

Heather Blake (aka Heather Webber): Witchcraft Mystery Series

Simon Brett: Mrs. Pargeter Mystery Series

Emily Brightwell: Mrs. Jeffries Mystery Series

Duffy Brown: Consignment Shop Mystery Series

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

Laura Childs: Cackleberry Club Mystery Series

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

Sheila Connolly (aka Sarah Atwell): County Cork Mystery Series

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

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

Philip R. Craig: Martha’s Vineyard Mystery Series

Jeanne M. Dams: Hilda Johansson Mystery Series

Lila Dare (aka Joanna Campbell Slan): Southern Beauty Shop Mystery Series (book #4)

Anna Dean: A Woman of Consequence

“Jessica Fletcher” & Donald Bain: Murder, She Wrote Mystery Series

Amanda Flower: Applecreek Creek Mystery Series

Joanne Fluke: Hanna Swensen Cookie Jar Mystery Series

Erle Stanley Gardner: Perry Mason Mystery Series

Robert Goldsborough: Archie Meets Nero Wolfe: A Prequel to Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe Mysteries

Sue Grafton: Kinsey and Me

C. S. Harris: What Darkness Brings

Maddy Hunter: Passport to Peril Mystery Series

Dolores Johnson: Mandy Dyer Mystery Series

Sofie Kelly: Magical Cat Mystery Series

Victoria Laurie: Ghost Hunter Mystery Series

Mary Lou Kirwin: Librarian Mystery Series

Liz Lipperman: Clueless Cook Mystery Series

Charlotte MacLeod (aka Alisa Craig): Professor Peter Shandy Mystery Series

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

Leslie Meier: Lucy Stone Mystery Series

Marcia Muller: Carpenter & Quincannon, Professional Detective Services Mystery Series 

Deborah Sharp: Mace Bauer Mystery Series

Denise Swanson: Devereaux’s Dime Store Mystery Series

Victoria Thompson: Gaslight Mystery Series

Kari Lee Townsend: Fortune Teller Mystery Series

♦To access more Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations, click on this link♦

Back Home Again

We got home on Thursday afternoon, and it seems like I have been busy since then! We had a great time in California, and think all of those who are lucky enough to live out there are just that: lucky to live out there. It is absolutely beautiful!

I spent Thursday afternoon and all day Friday catching up on household chores like washing clothes. I’m certainly glad we have a washing machine and dryer, but it sure would have been faster to go to a laundromat and do all of the loads at one time.

Today we drove up to see our daughter in Austin, and had an extremely nice day. Our son usually doesn’t go up there with us, but today he did. So, the four of us were able to spend some time together.

I’m going to keep this pretty short today. Just wanted to say I’m back home, and California is terrific. [There’s a reason Frankie and Dee Dee (Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello) had so much fun in the sun!]

Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder

Julian Fellowes Investigates - A Most Mysterious Murder Before leaving home, my husband and I started watching Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder.  Written and presented by Academy-award winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes, A Most Mysterious Murder is a five episode “docudrama”, a crime drama based off of real-world unsolved murder mysteries.

Each episode of A Most Mysterious Murder is completely self-contained.  The only character appearing in each is Julian Fellowes, who narrates the episode and presents the possible solution he feels most fits the evidence available.  He also has writing credits on each episode.  The rest of the acting stands up as well.

Production values are very high.  The periods shown feel authentic, the costuming, sets, and language all giving a strong feeling of immersion in the appropriate atmosphere to the time.  According to what I’ve read elsewhere, the actual locations where the crimes were committed were used when possible, leading to an extra level of authenticity that would be hard to beat.

So far I’ve only seen the first two episodes of the five episode series, but what I’ve seen so far leaves me confident in recommending this for most cozy fans.  A Most Mysterious Murder isn’t completely fiction, so it isn’t a cozy but the episodes so far have shared a lot in common with cozies.

The first episode was a bit better than the second, and the solution provided seemed a bit more clever.  That said, the other episode I’ve seen was also very good, just not quite as strong as the first.

Overall this seems like a series I would definitely recommend.  I’ll post in later if the rest of the episodes go downhill, but for now I feel confident in saying that most cozy fans interested in some real-world unsolved murder cases should find a lot to like in Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder. 

P.S. >>> Julian Fellowes won an Academy Award for his writing and original screenplay for the 2001 movie Gosford Park. He also is the creator, executive producer, and writer for the very popular Downton Abbey television series.

If you would like to see more TV and Movies suggestions, click here.

Where to Start with Culinary Cozy Mystery Series…

On April 19, Lindsay P posted this comment:

“Hello Danna!! I stumbled upon your side from a google search I did on similar culinary mystery series to the Goldy Bear series by Diane Mott Davidson. I am quite the picky reader, and the books I read really need to keep me reeling for more. I read this series in three months, which is quite a feat for me! Now I need some help from you…..there seem to be many culinary theme mystery series and I do not know where to start. The librarian at my local library gave me two books; needless to say I have renewed both books twice. I just cannot seem to quite get into them like I did with Davidson’s series. So, here is the big question…..what culinary mystery series should I start with next?

I think I need to quickly clarify my form of “picky” when it comes to reading. My mind tends to wander if I do not have a book that keeps me wanting more. That is what Davidson’s Goldy Series did for me. I loved that her books were real and I could completely paint a picture of the story line in my head. Goldy’s life was real and not far fetched. Her stories are not dark or scary…..I am not one that likes gore. I hope that explains how I am “picky” when it comes to my reads.”

Between all of us here, we should be able to come up with some really good Cozy Mystery authors who write culinary themed mystery books. Here are some that MJ and I have come up with so far:

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

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

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

Laura Childs: Tea Shop Mystery Series AND Cackleberry Mystery Series

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

Diane Mott Davidson: Goldy Bear Mystery Series

Krista Davis: Domestic Diva Mystery Series

Joanne Fluke: Hannah Swensen Mystery Series

Katherine Hall Page: Faith Fairchild Mystery Series

J. B. Stanley: Supper Club Mystery Series

Livia J. Washburn: Fresh-Baked Mystery Series

Yesterday MJ submitted this really good comment, which is well-worth checking out.

Here are some more recommendations for people who are starting to read Culinary Cozy Mystery Series:

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

Jessica Beck: Donut Shop Mystery Series

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

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

JoAnna Carl (Eve K. Sandstrom): Chocoholic Mystery Series

Bailey Cates (aka Cricket McRae): Magical Bakery Mystery Series (paranormal)

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

Ellen Crosby: Wine Country Mystery Series

Kerry Greenwood: Corinna Chapman Mystery Series

B. B. Haywood: Candy Holliday Mystery Series

Julie Hyzy: White House Chef Mystery Series

Karen MacInerney: Gray Whale Inn Mystery Series

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

Paige Shelton: Country Cooking School Mystery Series

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

Here are some more of my CULINARY – COOKING THEMES:

Mysteries with Recipes AND Recipe Books by Mystery Authors

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!

If you have a Cozy Mystery author who writes a culinary theme mystery series who you think would be a great author for a novice Cozy Mystery Culinary theme lover, please post a comment. Thank you!

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