There are many cozy mystery authors who have series that have a culinary theme. Because the list of culinary-themed cozy mysteries is so long, I have decided to devote several blogs in order to provide more than just the “grocery store list” approach of just listing the names of the authors. So, if you don’t see your favorite culinary-theme cozy mystery series in this blog, rest assured that there will be more authors in the near future!
Avery Aames (aka Daryl Wood Gerber) writes the Cheese Shop Mystery Series which has, as its sleuth, the co-owner of the cheese shop.
Kathy Aarons: Chocolate Covered Mystery Series features sleuth Michelle Serrano, co-owner of Chocolates and Chapters, a combination bookstore and chocolate shop.
Allyson K. Abbott (aka Annelise Ryan & Beth Amos) writes the Mack’s Bar Mystery Series, which features recipes for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The series is set in a bar which she (Mack) owns.
Riley Adams (aka Elizabeth Spann Craig) pens the Memphis Barbeque Mystery Series which (of course!) takes place in Tennessee.
Rebecca Adler writes the Taste of Texas Mystery Series starring a head waitress in Texas.
Ellie Alexander writes the Bakeshop Mystery Series. Jules Capshaw works at her family’s Torte Bakeshop in Oregon.
Ellie Alexander (aka Kate Dyer-Seeley): Sloan Krause Mystery Series. Sloan is a brewmaster in Washington state.
Robin Allen writes the Poppy Markham: Culinary Cop Mystery Series which is set in Austin, and features a health inspector.
Connie Archer pens the Soup Lover’s Mystery Series. It is set in a little Vermont skiing town.
Sandra Balzo writes the Maggie Thorsen Mystery Series which takes place in Wisconsin, where Maggie owns a coffee shop.
Maggie Barbieri writes the Maeve Conlon Mystery Series which features a bakery owner.
Jessica Beck writes the Donut Shop Mystery Series which features the owner of Donut Hearts Coffee Shop as the sleuth… (Doughnut recipes are included!)
Maymee Bell (aka Tonya Kappes): Southern Cake Baker Mystery Series – Sophia Cummings is a pastry chef in Kentucky who owns the For Goodness Cakes bakery.
Claudia Bishop writes two series, one of which is the new Dr. McKenzie series about a veterinarian and his wife. The other series is her hugely successful Hemlock Falls Series. This series features two sisters, one who owns the Hemlock Falls Inn and the other who is the Inn’s chef.
Miranda Bliss writes the Cooking Class Mystery Series which features two best friends who get involved with solving murders when they venture into a world previously unknown to them: the kitchen! Neither of these two can cook, so they take a Cooking Class (thus the title of the series) in which they meet their side-kick sleuth… the cooking class instructor!
Ginger Bolton (aka Janet Bolin): Deputy Donut Mystery Series – Emily Westhill runs a donut shop along with her retired chief of police dad and her Tabby cat, “Deputy Donut” >>> in Wisconsin.
Michael Bond is the author of the Monsieur Pamplemousse Series (as well as the children’s Paddington Bear series!) Monsieur Pamplemousse, who along with his bloodhound (Pommes Frites) solves crimes when not critiquing restaurants. (Some of the books have recipes, others, don’t.)
Jacklyn Brady (aka Sherry Lewis) writes the Piece of Cake Mystery Series which is set in New Orleans, and features Rita Lucero, a pastry chef.
Catherine Bruns is the author of the Cookies & Chance Mystery Series, featuring a baker.
Julia Buckley writes the Undercover Dish Mystery Series which is set in Illinois and stars Lilah Drake, owner of a catering company where the clients can claim to have cooked the meal.
Lynn Cahoon writes the Farm-to-Fork Mystery Series which features Angie Turner, the owner of a farm-to-table restaurant in Idaho.
Janet Cantrell (aka Kaye George): Fat Cat Mystery Series – Charity (Chase) Oliver makes both people and cat treats in Minneapolis.
Joanna Carl writes the Chocoholic Cozy Mystery Series, and need I say more!?! I must warn you, though… If you are trying to lose weight, and you have the same penchant for chocolate as I do… read these books on a full stomach! (Carl is aka Eve K. Sandstrom)
Sammi Carter writes the Candy Shop Mystery Series which features an ex-lawyer who now owns the Divinity Candy Shop in Colorado. Recipes are included!
Bailey Cates (aka Cricket McRae) writes the Magical Bakery Mystery Series which takes place in Savannah, Georgia. This is a paranormal mystery series.
Chris Cavender (aka Elizabeth Bright, Melissa Glazer, & Tim Myers): Pizza Mystery Series
Laura Childs writes the Cackleberry Club Mystery Series, which is set in a delightfully cozy cafe that has a book-nook corner and knitting shop area.
Mary Jane Clark : Piper Donovan Wedding Cake Mystery Series
Peg Cochran (aka Meg London): Gourmet De-Lite Mystery Series (Low calorie recipes are included.)
Nancy Coco (aka Nancy J. Parra): Candy-Coated Mystery Series (Includes recipes)
Susan Conant, along with her daughter, Jessica Conant-Park writes the Gourmet Girl Mystery Series.
Maya Corrigan: Five-Ingredient Mystery Series, featuring the manager of a fitness club’s café.
Shelley Costa: Miracolo Mystery Series is set in Philadelphia and features a chef in her family’s Italian restaurant.
Isis Crawford is the author of the Mystery with Recipes Series that features two sisters who own the Little Taste of Heaven Catering and Bake Shop in New York. (Some of you might be familiar with more of Crawford’s work as Barbara Block… and her Robin Light mystery series.)
Jessie Crockett: Sugar Grove Mystery Series – Dani Greene works at her family-owned maple sugar farm in Sugar Grove, New Hampshire.
Carol Culver (aka Grace Carroll) pens the Pie Shop Mystery Series which features Hanna Denton as the sleuth who moves back home to take over her grandmother’s pie shop.
Diane Mott Davidson‘s Goldy Bear Catering Mystery Series is probably one of the most recognizable culinary theme cozy mystery series. The series is set in a picturesque area of Colorado and features Goldy (the caterer) who provides the best catered food in town and manages to solve a lot of the best crimes in town, also! (The books include recipes.)
Krista Davis writes the Domestic Diva Mystery Series which centers around Sophie Winston, a… (What else?!) domestic diva! Since the series is a culinary mystery series, it includes recipes to follow along with the clues.
Maddie Day (aka Edith Maxwell & Tace Baker): Country Store Mystery Series – Robbie Jordan owns the Pans ‘N Pancakes Country Store restaurant in South Lick, Indiana.
Gale Deitch writes the Trudie Fine Mystery Series. Trudie is the co-owner of a catering company in Washington, D.C.
Devon Delaney: Cook-Off Mystery Series – Sherry Oliveri-Frazzelle is a competitive cook who works part-time with her dad AND Chutney, her Jack Russell Terrier in Connecticut.
Christine DeSmet writes the Fudge Shop Mystery Series. This series features a sleuth (Ava Oosterling) who is the owner of a copper kettle fudge shop which is located in her grandfather’s bait shop in Wisconsin.
Lesley A. Diehl writes the Microbrewers Mystery Series which features Hera Knighsbridge, a master brewer in New York.
Leighann Dobbs: Lexy Baker Mystery Series – Lexy is a baker who gets help from her grandmother and her friends when solving a mystery.
Pamela DuMond writes the Annie Graceland Mystery Series which features a psychic owner of a bakery.
Here are some more of my CULINARY – COOKING THEMES:
Mysteries with Recipes AND Recipe Books by Mystery Authors
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!
Where to Start with Culinary Cozy Mystery Series…
♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦
I happen to be someone who loves beads. I don’t actually make any wearable things out of beads, but I love to look at all types of beads. I do happen to be someone who cross stitches, and a few years ago, I started adding the little, bitty glass beads into all of my cross stitch projects. I have to admit that since I started this web site… devoted to another passion I have (cozy mysteries!)… I have not cross stitched/beaded (for a lack of a better descriptive phrase) as much as I used to.