The Cozy Mystery List Blog

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

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Television series (HBO)

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: Season 1 [DVD] I should preface this entry by saying that I absolutely love Alexander McCall Smith‘s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency mystery books. While I have them listed as Cozy Mystery books, I have to say that in my opinion, they are more beautiful, character-driven pieces of fiction>>> in which the “mystery part” of the novel is secondary. (I emphasize that this is only my opinion! I consider Alexander McCall Smith one of today’s best storytellers.)

This HBO series was a collaboration with the BBC, and it shows! The episodes are quite true to Alexander McCall Smith’s mystery books, except for the addition of a secondary character (hair dresser) who, to me, is a nice addition. HBO has not added (again my opinion!) their almost-perfunctory nudity and sex scenes… which totally delights me.

The African (Botswana) setting is phenomenal. I am struck by the realistic “look” of the episodes… no slick Hollywood gloss-overs here! The cattle you see are not corn-fed, “beefed-up Hollywood” animals. The roads are dusty, the houses are modest, and the cars look like the type which would keep Mr. J. L.B. Matekoni (Lucian Msamati) busy at his auto repair shop.

Mma Ramotswe (Precious) is superbly played by Jill Scott, but to me, the stand-out performance is Anika Noni Rose as Mma Makutsi (Grace).

I strongly recommend the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency television series. In the past, I have often had problems watching a screen production of a favorite book/series of mine. There have been a few exceptions to this, the Princess Bride is one that comes to mind. This production of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency is yet another exception!

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

My Current Reading Picks: Phoebe Atwood Taylor and Ellery Queen

I just finished one of my Christmas mystery books, but have decided that since frosted windows and swirling snowflakes are really what I was missing, I’m going to go ahead and make my way through some Snowed-In/Snow Bound mystery books in my TBR bookshelf. There will be plenty of time for my Christmas theme mysteries a little later.

I am currently reading my first of Phoebe Atwood Taylor‘s Asey Mayo mysteries. I know I never read mystery series books out of order… but never say never. As I have never read any of Taylor’s mysteries, you might be surprised to see that  Death Lights a Candle is the second in this particular mystery series. Yes, that’s right! I am breaking one of my own “Rules to Read By” >>> and so far, I am enjoying it. The gathering takes place in a huge estate in Cape Cod, during a blizzard in March. Lots of snow, snow, and more snow.

As for the audible book in my car, I am reading Ellery Queen‘s The Siamese Twin Mystery. The gathering in this book is at a large house, but so far there is no sign of snow, icicles, or one cup of  hot chocolate. But, that’s OK with me>>> I didn’t expect it to be a Snowed-In/Snow Bound mystery.

I would love to know what mysteries (Cozy and not so Cozy) you all are currently reading. Please post a comment if you don’t mind telling us…

I Know This Sounds Materialistic, but I Finally Finished My Christmas & Birthday Wish List!

It’s that time of year again, when I start hounding my son, daughter, and husband for their Christmas and birthday wish lists. I know it sounds like I am way too early on this particular task, but with all of our birthdays ranging from November to January, this just seems to be the time of year that best suits me – as well as them.

My husband, being the November birthday, was ready for me this year. His list was actually posted by the middle of October. Most of it consists of Kindle books, downloadable music, and a hark-back-to-the-past REAL charcoal barbecue! Yep… the kind we couldn’t wait to get rid of – when we finally could afford a gas barbecue!!! I don’t know if this is simply a case of a Baby Boomer’s nostalgia, or the fact that Peggy and Bobby Hill (from one of our absolute favorite 1/2 hour television shows King of the Hill) finally got to taste a “real” barbecued hamburger while Hank (a propane sales man) was in Austin for Bill’s birthday. Either way, he gets the Baby Boomer look of “better days” just talking about one of these back-to-the-past charcoal barbecues!

As for me, I have finally decided that it is time for me to join the 21st century! I have been on the fence about getting a Kindle since… I guess since they first hit the market. My husband finally convinced me to take a look at his Kindle. Yes, he had to actually convince me! I was so set in my ways >>> I did not want to leave my “real books” and wouldn’t even pay attention to his Kindle until recently… I believe the exact time was when I (again!) complained about trying to read my Mass Market sized “real book” while lying on my side in bed. He pretty much had to beg me to just try his Kindle… fait accompli!

We bought the Kindle Touch, which is not even out yet. Since I’m not big on advertisements, we are paying $40. extra to not get any ads on the device. (I already get way too many ads in my e-mails!) I have to admit that I am pretty excited about getting the Kindle… I am simply tired of little, itty, bitty font.

December 2011 Mystery Book New Releases

The following Mystery Books will be released in December 2011:

Ellery Adams (aka Jennifer Stanley, J. B. Stanley, 1/2 of Lucy Arlington): The Last Word (This will be the 3rd in the Books by the Bay Mystery Series…)

Sandra Balzo: Triple Shot (This will be the 7th in the Maggy Thorsen Mystery Series…)

Juliet Blackwell (aka Hailey Lind): Dead Bolt (This will be the 2nd in the Haunted Home Renovation Mystery Series…)

Barbara Bretton: Spells & Stitches (This will be the in the 4th in the Chloe Hobbs’ Paranormal Mystery Series…)

Stephen J. Cannell: Vigilante (This will be the 11th in the Shane Scully Mystery Series…)

Patricia Cornwell: Red Mist (This will be the 19th in the Kay Scarpetta Mystery Series…)

Monica Ferris: Threadbare (This will be the 15th in the Needlecraft Mystery Series…)

Christopher Fowler: Hell Train (This will be a Stand Alone…)

Gar Anthony Haywood: Assume Nothing (This will be a Stand Alone…)

Tami Hoag: Down the Darkest Road (This will be the 3rd in the Oak Knoll Mystery Series…)

Deryn Lake: Death at the Wedding Feast (This will be the 14th in the John Rawlings, Apothecary Mystery Series…)

Victoria Laurie: Ghoul Interrupted (This will be the 6th in the Ghost Hunter Mystery Series…)

Joyce & Jim Lavene: A Spirited Gift (This will be the 3rd in the Missing Pieces Mystery Series…)

Virginia Lowell: A Cookie Before Dying (This will be the 2nd in the Cookie Cutter Shop Mystery Series…)

Edward Marston (aka Keith Miles & Conrad Allen): A Bespoke Murder (This will be the 1st in the NEW Home Front Detective Mystery Series…)

Ralph McInerny (aka Monica Quill): The Compassion of Father Dowling (This will be a collection of Father Dowling short stories…)

Leslie Meier: Chocolate Covered Murder (This will be the 18th in the Lucy Stone Mystery Series…) (This is a Valentine theme mystery…)

J. J. Murphy: You Might As Well Die (This will be the 2nd in the Algonquin Round Table Mystery Series…)

Amy Myers: Murder in Abbot’s Folly (This will be the 8th in the Marsh and Daughter Mystery Series…)

Ann Purser: Foul Play at Four (This will be the 11th in the Lois Meade Mystery Series…)

Al Roker & Dick Lochte: The Talk Show Murders (This will be the 3rd in the Billy Blessing Mystery Series…)

Mark Schweizer: The Christmas Cantata (This will be the 10th in the Liturgical Mystery Series…) (This will be a Christmas theme mystery…)

Paige Shelton: Crops and Robbers (This will be the 3rd in the Farmers’ Market Mystery Series…)

Alexander McCall Smith: The Forgotten Affairs of Youth (This will be the 8th in the Isabel Dalhousie Sunday Philosophy Club Series…)

Ann Summerville: The Berton Hotel (This will be a Stand Alone…)

♦To go back to the Cozy Mystery New Book Release page, click here.♦

MENU