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Rita Lakin’s Gladdy Gold Mystery Series & Lee Harris’ Christine Bennett (Holiday) Mystery Series Have Finally Been Converted!

Every once in a while I go to some of my favorite authors’ pages to check to see if their Cozies are finally offered in Kindle format. Yes, I know this must seem strange to those of you who don’t use e-book formats to read your Cozies, but as I’ve written before, once I tried my husband’s Kindle (after years of refusing to even look at it!) I became a Kindle-maniac! I almost never read my Cozies in “real paper book” format now. I guess you could call me a Kindle addict! (And let’s face it, there are a whole lot of worse things a person could be addicted to!) But I digress…

Getting back to what I was going to tell you about…

I keep checking Cozy Mystery authors who I enjoy reading, hoping to find their books in Kindle format. Some of these authors include Patricia Moyes, Lee Harris, Valerie Wolzien, Rita Lakin, and Hazel Holt (some of her Cozies have already been converted). So, this past week, when I found that all of the Christine Bennett (Holiday) mysteries by Lee Harris and all of the Gladdy Gold mysteries by Rita Lakin have been converted to Kindle format, I was (quite literally) whooping it up while sitting at my computer! (My husband came downstairs when he heard me “talking to someone” >>> the “someone” happened to be my computer!)

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Rita Lakin‘s Gladdy Gold Mystery Series, let me tell you it’s a delightful series that features women who live in a retirement community as the sleuths. Gladdy is the most responsible, and she’s also the one who brings order to their sleuthing cases. These ladies may live at a retirement village, but let me tell you, they have not resigned themselves to sitting by the pool! I consider this one of my favorite Cozy Mystery series. (Rita Lakin wrote, produced, and edited for TV shows – including Peyton Place, Dynasty, Mod Squad, & Dr. Kildare. She also created Flamingo Road & The Rookies and wrote movies of the week and miniseries.) (Getting Old Is Murder is the first book in the series.)

The other Cozy Mystery author who I finally became aware of being Kindle-ized is Lee Harris. She writes the Christine Bennett (Holiday) Mystery Series. If you’ve been with me for a while, you probably know how much I love holiday themed Cozies. This was the primary reason I found Lee Harris (years ago) but the fact that she is a very good Cozy Mystery author is what made me become a fan of this series. This holiday Cozy series is unusual in that it features an ex-nun (Chris) as its sleuth. (The Good Friday Murder is the first book in the series.)

P.S. I’ll keep checking for Valerie Wolzien, Patricia Moyes, & the rest of Hazel Holt’s books!

Comments

  1. Thank you. I always meant to read Lee Harris’ Christine Bennett Mystery Series. (If I’m not mistaken one of her books was made into a movie on the Hallmark station a lonnnnnnng time ago.) Now that they are on Kindle I can. Just bought the first in the series.

    Reply

    • Sheila, I remember discovering Lee Harris sooo many years ago… and am glad to see her books have recently been re-issued for a “new generation” of Cozy Mystery readers. Of course, these don’t include smart phones, high-speed internet, or GPS technologies, which I appreciate quite a bit. This way the sleuth (Chris) can’t speed dial for immediate back-up!

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  2. Great News!! Some of your favorites are some of my favorites, too. I really really want to see Moyes in e-format. I have couple of Wolzien’s Susan Henshaw books that were available a few years ago and some Hazel Holt, but would like to get the full sets of both. I’m off to ruin my book budget for the next few months! ;>)

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    • Dragons3, I ?, ?, ? Patricia Moyes’ Henry Tibbett books! I am so sorry I missed out when Valerie Wolzien’s books were available in Kindle format. I hope they bring them back. As for Hazel Holt, I have all of her available Kindle books (1 – 7 and 18 – 21), but I wish they would hurry up and Kindle-ize 8 – 17! (Let me compliment you on your Cozy Mystery reading taste! 😉 )

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      • Did you know that there’s a new Hazel Holt coming out in May? It’s “Death Is A Word”, and it’s available for pre-order. I think I’ve read every Moyes. My dad introduced me to her books when I was in high school. Have you read Dorothy Simpson or Elizabeth Lemarchand? They remind me somewhat of her books — less humor but similar styles and sensibilities.

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        • Dragons3, yes, and I’ve already pre-ordered Hazel Holt‘s last Mrs. Mallory! Thanks for letting us know about Dorothy Simpson and Elizabeth Lemarchand. I just looked at my notes about the books I’ve read, and see that I read two of Simpson’s a while ago. Now that I know she’s similar to Moyes, I’ll make it a point to read another.

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  3. Great post. I’m a kindle convert as well although will buy the occasional book when not available on Kindle. I wish the Jenn Mckinlay library series was available on Kindle. Thanks for all your post and work compiling excellent information.

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    • Jenn Mckinlay’s A Library Lover’s Mystery Series, A Hat Shop Mystery Series & Cupcake Mystery Series are all on Kindle 🙂

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    • Valerie, I love being able to read in bed without using a flashlight like I did when I read “real” books. I also love taking my library with me wherever I go, not to mention a few games (Sudoku & MahJong).
      (By the way, Jenn McKinlay‘s Library Lover’s series is Kindle-ized.)

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  4. I have the Rita Lakin books in waiting, but not Lee Harris! Thanks for the heads’-up – I look forward to enjoying a new author.

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  5. Patricia Moyes is also one of my favorite authors and have all of the Henry Tibbett books. I am quite behind in the series tho as I keep finding new authors to read and have so many ongoing series now thanks to this blog. Appreciate all the information you share with us.

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    • PamB, I do exactly what you are talking about doing. I keep getting side-tracked by new-to-me authors. When I finally make the time to read one of my favorite authors, I actually sort of get giddy. I look forward to re-joining my sleuth and her neighborhood friends. That’s how excited I get when I return to one of my faves!

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    • Lois, I haven’t kept up with them, but have read more than half of the books in the series, and I (personally) consider them one of the Cozy series I read >>> though I don’t think they’re quite as “Cozy” as some sereis that are being written today.

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    • Lois, I’ve never considered the Demarkian series to be cozy, because he was an FBI agent, although they’re certainly cozy-like. The Patience McKenna series — originally published as by Orania Papazoglou — is definitely cozy, and absolutely fall out of your seat hilarious. Unfortunately, only 4 out of that series has been kindleized so far, but they are easily obtained from second hand stores and libraries.

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  7. Yay to Lee Harris’ Christine Bennett (Holiday) Mystery Series being on Kindle … I hope they put Valerie Wolzien … A Susan Henshaw Mystery Series & A Josie Pigeon Mystery Series on Kindle … Plus I was able to get all of Emily Brightwell … Mrs.Jeffries Mysteries Series 🙂

    Reply

      • Thank You!! On Amazon I keep clicking I would like to read this book on kindle on each book of Valerie Wolzien & other books I would like on Kindle at least once a month 🙂

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  8. OH I LOVE Gladdy Gold!!! I only wish there were more in the series! What can I say, but I’m getting to the age where I’m relating more to senior sleuths than to ditzy 20-something sleuths just on the lookout for the next latte, mani-pedi & boyfriend! (OK, I’m 56, but still closer to the 60+ set than to the 20ish set!)

    Reply

    • Margaret StashEmpress, these have the same exact problem as Anne George’s Southern Sisters series. There just aren’t enough of them!

      As for age determining our enjoyment of these series. My daughter read the Southern Sisters series when she was in college, and she enjoyed those two crazy “middle-aged” ladies!

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  9. Different strokes… I much prefer reading mass market paperbacks for several practical reasons, but I also read ebooks on occasion. What peeves me is reading a favorite series in print and then, suddenly, that author’s books are available in Kindle format only. I’ve stopped reading a few authors because of that. That said, I love Patricia Moyes and Jenn McKinlay… and connecting with other cozy mystery fans. It’s great fun to read everyone’s comments.

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    • Ingrid, I like it when an author continues to write books in her/his series after the publisher drops her/him. It beats having the author retire the series just because the publisher decided to terminate the author’s contract. I think that’s usually when the author makes the books available in only the e-book format…

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      • Hi Danna,
        I was just reading about the shakeup that took place at Berkley/Penguin/NAL publishing company. Seems that mass market paperback books (our beloved cozies!) have taken a real hit. A lot of authors have been told the company won’t continue to publish their books. (Examples: Melissa Bourbon, Janet Bolin, & Rosie Genova, and one site mentioned Krista Davis–to name a few.) I’m hoping some of these authors (if they own the rights to their series) will continue to write books and self-publish. I read LOTS of books on my iPad using the Kindle app, but I still buy the majority of my cozies in the paper format. I’m really sad that some of these series will just end. Do you have any information on this?

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  10. GOOD NEWS FOR ME I NEVER FOUND THE LAST RITA LAKIN’S LOST BOOK AND ALWAYS WANTED IT. I’V READ ALL OF LEE HARRIS’ BOOKS. BOTHOF THESE SERIES WERE VERY FAVORITE BOOKS.

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  11. Please do keep checking. Those 3 are some of my favorite authors. I have all of the Valerie Wolzien in paperback that I could find at Amazon. Completely understand your feelings about your Kindle. I received one from my daughter for Christmas & probably had it for 2 years before I would give it a try. Now it goes from room to room with me at home & with me everywhere I go. The only actual books I read are library books. Love your postings.

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  12. I love Lee Harris. So much so that I ordered the music played during the Good Friday Murder movie and have played it (not backwards) with 2 of my piano students. This is wonderful news!

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    • Marla, so The Good Friday Murder is the one that was made into a movie? Oh my gosh! I just looked it up and after reading the actors, I remember that I did see that movie! It was called Murder without Conviction, and Patty Duke was the Mother Superior! I see it was made in 2004, so that’s probably when I watched it. Thanks for the Memory Lane trip!

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  13. Love the Rita Lakin and wish there were more! Will be downloading these to read again. Thanks for the heads up!

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  14. I fought the Kindle format for years as well and finally got one….now I find it the most important thing I travel with. One of the tourmates had her carryon loaded with books! I asked her why she didn’t get a Kindle and she gave the usual party line…..then I told her I had 145 books on mine….and preloaded a whole bunch of those for this trip. I hope she thought about it later. In airport and other waiting areas, I see most of the passengers pull out an ebook of one kind or another! Also for those of us with severe arthritis in wrists and hands, Kindles are wonderful…..thanks again for new ideas of authors/series!

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    • Barb, I totally agree with you about traveling with a Kindle. I hope your tourmate took your advice!

      When I go to doctors’ offices and see people actually watching aimless TV in the waiting rooms, I wonder why more people don’t carry an e-book of some kind. I don’t have a fancy phone (am still clinging to my old flip-phone) but I think some people even read e-books on their smart phones.

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      • I was a Kindle holdout for several years, too. I finally allowed a friend to gift me one for my birthday. Three weeks later, I was hospitalized with pneumonia. The hospital has no library and the gift shop doesn’t even carry magazines or newspapers, so without my Kindle I’d have been climbing the walls. It was so nice to have an entire library at my fingertips. I even wound up buying a couple more books while I was there. Now I rarely buy a DTB and the ones I read are mostly library books.

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  16. Re : Rita Lakin’s – Getting Old Series

    Super Duper Terrific Series ! … wish there were more !
    Maybe just me, but doesn’t Gladdy look/remind anyone
    of Beatrice Arthur ?

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  17. YEAH!!! These are two of my favorite series! I have them all in paperback now, but would definitely get them for my Nook! Gladdy and crew are always fun and I loved the cold cases Christine Bennett worked.

    Thanks for the fantastic news!!

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  18. They must have taken Rita Lakin off kindle, because I bought most of them in the kindle format back in 2009, the last one 2011…

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      • I’ve had them all since 2011, I checked the date that is on them in my kindle library. They must have taken them away for a few years and just now brought them back. I’ve read the first one in that series and really liked it, need to go back and read the rest…thanks for the reminder.

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        • Liz, I noticed the publisher (?) did that with one of Mary V. Welk’s Cozies also. I have her 2nd book in Kindle format (The Rune Stone Murders aka Something Wicked in the Air) but it isn’t available now. Weird…

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          • I’ve seen others do it also, not sure why they take it away then bring it back…that’s why sometimes I end up buying more than one of the same book (it normally tells you when you have already purchased it)…I have thousands and thousands (you really don’t want to know how many), so it’s hard to keep track of which ones you have and which ones you don’t.

            Reply

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