The Cozy Mystery List Blog

The final Cozy Mystery author from the March 2012 Mystery Book New Releases page to be highlighted is Sheila Connolly, who actually debuted writing Cozy Mystery books as Sarah Atwell. Sarah Atwell (pseudonym) published the first in her Glassblowing Mystery Series in 2008. This was quickly followed with Sheila Connolly’s Orchard Mystery Series being published. Two years later brought us the Museum Mystery Series, under her own name, Sheila Connolly.

Sheila Connolly is a very prolific best selling author. So, for the last time this month I will pose the question: If you were to recommend one of these three mystery series to a “hypothetical newbie” (to Sheila Connolly/Sarah Atwell) – which of these Cozy Mystery series would you want the newbie to start with?

As Connolly:

Orchard Mystery Series: Our sleuth, Meg Corey, is an apple orchard owner in Massachusetts.

Museum Mystery Series: Nell Pratt is a fundraiser for the Preservation of Pennsylvania Antiques, and she happens to also be our sleuth.

As Atwell:

Glassblowing Mystery Series: The sleuth, Em Dowell, is an artist you owns a glassblowing studio in Tucson, Arizona.

Which one of Sheila Connolly’s/Sarah Atwell’s three series would you recommend a newbie to the Cozy Mystery genre to begin with? (And, would you mind telling us why?)

PS>>> Great news for all of you Sheila Connolly/Sarah Atwell fans: She will be publishing an Irish mystery series starting next year!

As I said in my entry from two days ago, I will highlight a few of the other “prolific” authors who are on the March 2012 Mystery Book New Releases list. Today I thought we could help the “newbie” to Cozy Mystery books hear from those of us who read another tremendously popular mystery author, Susan Wittig Albert.

So again, we have the hypothetical “newbie” person who (this time) has never read one of Susan Wittig Albert‘s mystery books. Yes, I know this sounds virtually impossible… since almost every Cozy Mystery reader has read at least one mystery book by this New York Times bestselling author!

China Bayles Mystery Series stars China Bayles, an ex-lawyer who now owns her own herbal shop in Texas.

Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter Mystery Series has, as its sleuth, early 1900s Beatrix Potter – the wonderful British author and illustrator.

Darling Dahlias Mystery Series features a group of garden club ladies during the Depression.

Victorian Kate Ardleigh Sheridan & Sir Charles Sheridan Mystery Series was written by Susan and her husband, Bill Albert.

Which one of Susan Wittig Albert’s four series would you recommend  a newbie to the Cozy Mystery genre to begin with? (And, would you mind telling us why?)

I started thinking about a comment Susie made two days ago. The comment was about how some of the authors on the March 2012 Mystery Book New Releases list are so prolific. It’s especially gratifying when one of your favorite authors is highly productive. When I finally “catch up” with a favorite author, I wonder what is taking them so long to write the next mystery in their series.

That started me thinking about the “newbies” amongst  us. When a newbie hears that a mystery writer is really, really good at his/her craft, how does the newbie decide which one of the author’s several mystery series he/she should start with.

So, I decided to take a look at the March release list, pick out a few authors, and see what we can come up with to help all of the newbies decide which series to begin with?

This entry will only be about Laura Childs. In the following days I will highlight some of the other mystery authors from the list.

Laura Childs is one of the most popular (bestselling New York Times) Cozy Mystery authors today. She has been writing the following three mystery series since the very early 2ooos.

Tea Shop Mystery Series features the owner of a Charleston Tea Shop.
Scrapbooking Mystery Series stars the owner of a scrapbooking shop in New Orleans.
Cackleberry Club Mystery Series is set in a midwestern cafe that specializes in food, knitting, and even has a book section.

I will start the ball rolling: I think I would recommend the Tea Shop Mystery Series to a newbie Cozy Mystery reader. It not only was Childs’ first mystery series, but it is also my favorite.

Which one of Laura Childs‘ three series would you recommend  a newbie to the Cozy Mystery genre to begin with? (And, would you mind telling us why?)