Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations – August 2012
I’m going to do this a little differently this month, since I just added my author recommendation to the Cozy Mystery site. Rather than tell you why I am nominating Tarquin Hall in this entry, I will refer you to the Tarquin Hall: Vish Pury Mystery Series entry I just posted, telling you why I like Tarquin Hall so very much.
(I actually found out about Tarquin Hall because Sally recommended his books in last month’s recommendations. THANK YOU!!! I am so glad you made me aware of Tarquin Hall.)
Please do not just list a bunch of authors without telling us WHY you like each one. It’s your reasons that we would appreciate knowing, since you might enjoy the very same things we do. (And, I hate to keep adding this, please do not tell us about the authors you tried reading who you did not like.) I will add the recommended authors to this entry as they come in.
What Cozy Mystery book (or author) have you read during July 2012, 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:
Ellery Adams (aka J. B. Stanley, Jennifer Stanley, & 1/2 of Lucy Arlington): Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery Series
Donna Andrews: Meg Langslow Mystery Series
Connie Archer: Soup Lover’s Mystery Series
Kathleen Bacus: Tressa Jayne Turner Mystery Series
Ella Barrick (aka Laura DiSilverio & Lila Dare): Ballroom Dance Mystery Series
M. C. Beaton (aka Marion Chesney): Agatha Raisin Mystery Series
Josie Belle (aka Jenn McKinlay & Lucy Lawrence): Good Buy Girls Mystery Series
Dorothy Bodoin: Snowhedge, Secret of the Satyr, and The Cameo Clue
Melissa Bourbon (aka Misa Ramirez & Melissa Bourbon Ramirez): Magical Dressmaking Mystery Series
Rhys Bowen: Evan Evans Mystery Series
Mollie Cox Bryan: Scrapbook of Secrets
Meg Cabot: Heather Wells Mystery Series
Kate Carlisle: Bibliophile Mystery Series
Heron Carvic: Miss Seeton Mystery Series
Bailey Cates (aka Cricket McRae): Magical Bakery Mystery Series
Joelle Charbonneau: Glee Club Mystery Series
Erika Chase: Ashton Corners Book Club Mystery Series
G. K. Chesteron: Father Brown Mystery Series
Margaret Chittenden: Charlie Plato Msytery Series
Peg Cochran (aka Meg London): Gourmet De-Lights Mystery Series
Sheila Connolly (aka Sarah Atwell): Orchard Mystery Series
Lesley Cookman: Libby Sarjeant Mystery Series
Cleo Coyle (aka Alice Kimberly): Coffee House Mystery Series
Isis Crawford (aka Barbara Block): Mystery with Recipes Mystery Series
Bill Crider: Dan Rhodes Mystery Series
Mary Daheim: Bed-and-Breakfast Mystery Series
Maryjanice Davidson: Undead and Unreturnable
Claire Donally: The Big Kitty
Kaitlyn Dunnett (aka Kathy Lynn Emerson): Liss MacCrimmon Scottish Mystery Series
Janet Evanovich: Stephanie Plum Mystery Series
Amanda Flower: Appleseed Creek Msytery Series
Anne George: Southern Sisters Mystery Series
Rebecca M. Hale: Cats and Curios Mystery Series
Tarquin Hall: Vish Puri Mystery Series
Victoria Hamilton: Vintage Kitchen Mystery Series
Lynette Hall Hampton: Jilted by Death
Janice Hamrick: Jocelyn Shore Mystery Series
Veronica Heley: Ellie Quicke Mystery Series
Miranda James (aka Honor Hartman, Jimmie Ruth Evans, & Dean James) Cat in the Stacks Mystery Series
P. D. James: Adam Dalgliesh Mystery Series
J. A. Jance: Joanna Brady Mystery Series
Dardyna Jones: Second Grave on the Right
Rita Lakin: Gladdy Gold Mystery Series
Victoria Laurie: Psychic Eye Mystery Series
Victoria Laurie: Ghost Hunter Msytery Series
Joyce and Jim Lavene: Sheriff Sharyn Howard Mystery Series
Nancy Martin: Blackbird Sisters Msytery Series
Francine Mathews (aka Stephanie Barron): Jack 1939 (This is a Stand Alone)
Members of the Detection Club: The Floating Admiral
Katherine Hall Page: Faith Fairchild Mystery Series
Elizabeth Peters (aka Barbara Michaels): Jacqueline Kirby Mystery Series
Cynthia Riggs: Martha’s Vineyard Mystery Series
Ann B. Ross: Miss Julia Mystery Series
Mary Saums: Thistle and Twigg Mystery Series
Maggie Sefton: Molly Mallone Mystery Series (not Cozy)
J. B. Stanley (aka Jennifer Stanley, Ellery Adams, & 1/2 of Lucy Arlington): Supper Club Mystery Series
Leann Sweeney: Cats in Trouble Mystery Series
Marcia Talley: Hannah Ives Mystery Series
Charles Todd: Ian Rutledge Mystery Series
Kari Lee Townsend: Fortune Teller Mystery Series
Peter Tremayne: Mystery of Ancient Ireland
♦To access more Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations, click on this link♦
Tarquin Hall: Vish Puri Mystery Series
I just added a new (to me) author on the Cozy Mystery site. I was in a hurry to add him, since I will be recommending him as my July 2012 Cozy Mystery Books Recommendation in just a few minutes.
Tarquin Hall writes the Vish Puri Mystery Series, which is an absolute delight to read. It is set in Delhi, India – not your typical mystery series setting. (Last month, it was recommended as one of June 2012 Cozy Mystery Books Recommendations, so this series will be making the list two months in a row.)
Tarquin Hall, a journalist, has begun a mystery series that I will liken to three of my favorite mystery series. I can definitely see some Hercule Poirot in Vish Puri, as well as some Sherlock Holmes, mixed in with a little No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series. (Yes, I am aware that Vish would not like me to say he is anything like Sherlock Holmes!)
Vish reminds me a lot of Poirot because of his inflated (but accurate!) view of his own abilities, especially vis-à-vis the police. Vish (or “Chubby” – as his close friends and family call him) is the founder of the Most Private Investigators agency, and seems genuinely preoccupied with righting wrongs. Vish is able to overlook a lot of society’s prejudices, and seems comfortable relating to both rich and poor. Vish, like Poirot, seems to have a canny ability to size up people.
Vish reminds me of Sherlock Holmes because of his inflated (but accurate!) view of his own abilities, especially vis-à-vis the police. (Hmmm, haven’t I said this very same thing before?) Vish enjoys amazing people with his powers of deductions, almost to the point of playing parlor tricks. Vish uses all sorts of disguises for himself, as well as his staff. He involves himself in the actual story, putting himself right into the action, rather than simply observing all of the facts.
Enter, the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series. As I have said many times, I am a huge fan of Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series. Hall manages to do for India, what McCall Smith does for Botswana. Hall is able to fill all of our senses with India. He acquaints us with the sounds, smells, bright colors, and human conditions of Delhi. Tarquin Hall is a wonderful storyteller. As in McCall Smith’s series, we are able to see Vish in both his professional capacity, as well as his home life. (I hope to see a lot more of his interfering Mummy-ji in the following mystery books!) All of the characters are three dimensional, and have back stories.
If you are looking for a new a mystery series to follow that is humorous, smart, entertaining, different, and downright fun, I recommend you take a look at Tarquin Hall’s Vish Puri Mystery Series. I’m glad I did!
If you’re interested in reading more of these brief revisits of some of the more popular Cozy Mystery Series that I’ve written in the past, you can find them at the Most Recommended Cozy Mystery Series page on my site.
Mystery Books that Take Place in New York:
Here are some fun New York facts:
The capital is Albany.
The largest city is New York City.
State motto is “Ever Upwards” (“Excelsior”).
State nickname is “Empire State”.
State flower is the Rose.
State bird is the Eastern Bluebird.
Authors who are found on the Cozy Mystery Site and who feature New York locations in their books:
Lydia Adamson: Alice Nestleton Mystery Series AND Deirdre Quinn Nightingale Mystery Series AND Lucy Wayles Mystery Series
L. L. Bartlett (aka Lorna Barrett & Lorraine Bartlett): Jeff Resnick Mystery Series
George Baxt: Celebrity Sleuths Mystery Series
Cynthia Baxter: Reigning Cats & Dogs Mystery Series AND Murder Packs a Suitcase Mystery Series
Carol Lea Benjamin: Rachel Alexander Mystery Series
Carole Berry: Bonnie Indermil Mystery Series
Claudia Bishop (aka Mary Stanton): Hemlock Falls Mystery Series AND the Casebook of Dr. McKenzie Mystery Series
Barbara Block (aka Isis Crawford): Robin Light Mystery Series
Lawrence Block: Bernie Rhodenbarr Mystery Series AND Matthew Scudder Mystery Series AND John Keller Mystery Series
Lisa Bork: Broken Vows Mystery Series
Rhys Bowen: Molly Murphy Mystery Series
Ali Brandon (aka Diane A.S. Stuckart): Black Cat Bookshop Mystery Series
Susan Breen: Maggie Dove Mystery Series
Kathleen Bridge: Hamptons Home & Garden Mystery Series
Maggie Bruce (aka Marilyn Wallace): Gourd Craft Mystery Series
Catherine Bruns: Cookies & Chance Mystery Series
Carole Buggé: Claire Rawlings Mystery Series
Meg Cabot: Heather Wells Mystery Series
Joyce Christmas: Lady Margaret Priam Mystery Series
Jill Churchill: Grace and Favor Mystery Series
Harlan Coben: Myron Bolitar Mystery Series
Meredith Cole: Lydia McKenzie Mystery Series
Amanda Cooper (aka Victoria Hamilton & Donna Lea Simpson): Teapot Collector Mystery Series
Cleo Coyle (aka Alice Kimberly): Coffee House Mystery Series
Isis Crawford (aka Barbara Block): Mystery with Recipes Mystery Series
Amanda Cross: Kate Fansler Mystery Series
Elizabeth Daly: Henry Gamadge Mystery Series
Jeffery Deaver: Lincoln Rhyme Mystery Series AND Rune Mystery Series
Jane Dentinger: Jocelyn O’Roarke Mystery Series
Lesley A. Diehl: Microbrewers Mystery Series
Joanne Dobson & Beverle Graves Myers: Helluva War Mystery Series
Elizabeth J. Duncan: Shakespeare in the Catskills Mystery Series
J.C. Eaton: Wine Trail Mystery Series
Grace F. Edwards: Mali Anderson Mystery Series
Selma Eichler: Desiree Shapiro Mystery Series
J. F. Englert: Bull Moose Dog Run Mystery Series
Chrystle Fiedler: Natural Remedies Mystery Series
Rae Foley: Mr. Potter Mystery Series
Shelley Freydont: Celebration Bay Mystery Series
Kinky Friedman: Kinky Friedman Mystery Series
Gallagher Gray (aka Katy Munger): Hubbert & Lil Mystery Series
Lena Gregory: Bay Island Psychic Mystery Series
Martha Grimes: Emma Graham Mystery Series
Kathryn Miller Haines: Rosie Winter Mystery Series
Victoria Hamilton: Merry Muffin Mysteries
Susannah Hardy (aka Sadie Hartwell): Greek to Me Mystery Series
Lee Harris: Christine Bennett Mystery Series AND Manhattan Mystery Series
April Henry & Lis Wiehl: Triple Threat Club Mystery Series
Mary Ellen Hughes: Pickled and Preserved Mystery Series
Kate Jacobs: Friday Night Knitting Club Series (not a mystery)
Diana Killian: Mantra for Murder Mystery Series
Cecile Lamalle: Culinary Mystery Series
Emma Lathen (aka R. B. Dominic): Wall Street Mystery Series
Lucy Lawrence (aka Jenn McKinlay & Josie Belle): Decoupage Mystery Serie
Richard & Frances Lockridge: Mr. & Mrs. North Mystery Series AND Captain Heimrich Mystery Series AND Paul Lane Mystery Series
Mary Jane Maffini: Charlotte Adams Mystery Series
Margaret Maron: Sigrid Harald Mystery Series
Rosemary Martin (aka Rosemary Stevens): Murder a-Go-Go Mystery Series
Amanda Matetsky: Paige Turner Mystery Series AND Annie March Mystery Series
Jennifer McAndrews: Stained-Glass Mystery Series
Judi McCoy: Dog Walker Mystery Series
Jenn McKinlay (aka Lucy Lawrence & Josie Belle): Library Lover’s Mystery Series
Amy Patricia Meade: Rosie the Riveter Mystery Series
Annette Meyers (aka 1/2 Maan Meyers): Smith & Wetzon Mystery Series AND Olivia Brown Mystery Series
Maan Meyers (aka Martin & Annette Meyers): Dutchman Historical Mystery Series
Miriam Grace Monfredo: Seneca Falls Mystery Series
Marie Moore: Sydney March Mystery Series
J. J. Murphy: Algonquin Round Table Mystery Series
Beverle Graves Myers & Joanne Dobson: Helluva War Mystery Series
Kris Neri: Tracy Eaton Mystery Series
Leslie O’Kane (aka Leslie Caine): Molly Masters Mystery Series
Linda Palmer (aka Melinda Wells): Daytime Mystery Series
Stuart Palmer: Hildegarde Withers Mystery Series
Barbara Paul: Marina Larch Mystery Series AND Opera Mystery Series
Thomas Perry: Jane Whitefield Mystery Series
Sandra Scoppettone: Faye Quick Mystery Series AND Lauren Laurano Mystery Series
Roz Siegel: Emily’s Place Mystery Series
Julia Spencer-Fleming: Adirondack Mystery Series
Wendy Corsi Staub: Lily Dale Mystery Series
Rex Stout: Nero Wolfe Mystery Series AND Tecumseh Fox Mystery Series
Jennifer Sturman: Rachel Benjamin Mystery Series
Victoria Thompson: Gaslight Mystery Series
Radha Vatsal: Kitty Weeks Mystery Series – Kitty is a journalist in New York during the 1910s.
Noreen Wald (aka Nora Charles): Jake O’Hara Mystery Series
Christine Wenger: Comfort Food Mystery Series
Anne White: Lake George Mystery Series
Lis Wiehl & April Henry: Triple Threat Club Mystery Series
Lis Wiehl & Pete Nelson: East Salem Trilogy
Barbara Jaye Wilson: Brenda Midnight Mystery Series
And, Katherine Hall Page’s Faith Fairchild went to New York in The Body in the Big Apple.
Please feel free to comment if you see an author from the Cozy Mystery Site who belongs on this list, or if you have any corrections.
♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦
