The Cozy Mystery List Blog

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

Authors Similar to Charlaine Harris, Can't/Won't Eat, AND What about Elaine Flinn & Charlene Weir?

I am (again) going to ask for help from you all. I have three Cozy Mystery site readers who would like some information.

Stephanie asked:

“Could you give some recommendations for those who love the Charlaine Harris mysteries? I loved the Lily Bard, Harper Connelly, Aurora Teagarden, and Sookie Stackhouse series immensely and don’t know what to read next now that I’ve finished them all.”

JoAnn asked:

“There are a couple of series that both my sister and I really miss, the first is the “Molly Doyle” series by Elaine Flinn and the other was Chief Sue Wren series by Charlene Weir. I really loved these characters and miss them. Can anyone find out what happened?”

Maureen asked:

“… I read a cozy sometime last year and can’t remember what the title is. I’d like to read another in the series and I looked through your culinary cozies but didn’t see it. The main female character was divorced and had a young man living in her house that wouldn’t couldn’t eat and she would cook different foods to tempt him to eat. I believe she had a son and his father was accused of murder… Does anyone remember the author or the series?!”

If you can help Stephanie, JoAnn, and/or Maureen, please post a comment. Thank you!

PBS New Sherlock Mysteries…

I was going to absolutely make myself not say anything about this new PBS Sherlock series. I was going to follow Thumper’s father’s advice:  “If you can’t say anything nice…” I REALLY was! And actually, if you think about it, I have been very good >>> PBS just aired the third Sherlock episode last night, and I have “don’t say nothing at all” (second part of the quote) until I absolutely could not contain myself anymore!

I tried. Honest, I tried!!!

I tried to watch the first episode, and did pretty well. Of course, it did take me a whole lot shorter than the allotted ninety minutes. I could not keep my remote “trigger finger” off of that doggone fast-forward key. I tried to enjoy the “Jeremy Brett in the 21st century” action. Remember what they say about imitation being the best form of flattery? And I saw a whole lot of flattery going on!

As for the second episode (last week)… after watching Alan Cummings’ introduction, I tried to stay with the show. I simply couldn’t watch any longer than ten minutes. I decided that fast-forwarding through the whole show just wasn’t going to cut it for me.

BUT… Last night I couldn’t even get past Alan Cummings’ introduction: “Gay, straight, or bi?” WHAT?!?!?!?!?! I imagine that Sir Conan Doyle is rolling in his grave! OR… perhaps I missed all of those sexual references when I read  Doyle’s works of literature. Good grief!!!

I try to make it a policy not to be negative in my entries. So, I am going to offer a positive solution to this very negative entry. Check with your libraries and see if they have the much superior Sherlock Holmes television movies with Jeremy Brett. If they do, check them out!

One Last Book in a Cozy Mystery Series…

I have often been asked (by Cozy Mystery site readers) if a particular author has stopped writing his/her mystery series, or not. Lilian Jackson Braun is probably the author who has been asked about the most. There are so many fans who miss Quill, Koko, and YumYum…

This whole question about Cozy Mystery authors stopping a mystery series without “wrapping up” all of the story lines got me thinking… I wonder how many people wish that one of their favorite authors hadn’t stopped writing his/her mystery books. So, today I am asking this question:

If you could add one last book to a Cozy Mystery series, what series would that be, and why?

I am going to start the ball rolling with Anne George‘s Southern Sisters Mystery Series. I believe that I would never have gotten tired of the Mouse and Sister duo. These two sister-sleuths are truly believable opposites who solve crimes while really appreciating each other. The humor in these mystery books is present, without it being forced, which is one of my top peeves in any book I read. I love humor sprinkled throughout my books, but when an author tries too hard to be funny>>> he/she loses me FAST!

If you could add one last book to a Cozy Mystery series, what series would that be, and why?

Thanksgiving Mystery Books…

I am currently reading Kate Borden‘s Death of a Turkey, which is reminding me of just how neat living in a small hometown can be. Of course, it is also reminding me that not all of the goings-on in a small town are “good, clean fun”… especially when there is a murderer in your midst.

I am again asking for help in updating my seasonal book lists. I recently updated my Thanksgiving Mystery Books theme page, and hope I didn’t miss any new mystery books that take place during that holiday. (I know there are a lot of Cozy Mystery site readers who don’t live in the USA, so please bare with me…) If you happen to notice that I am missing a book, would you please post a comment. Thank you!

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