Looks like we’ll be able to enjoy not only a lot of new holiday-themed Cozy Mysteries upcoming in November, but also a lot of new Cozy Mystery Series by established Cozy Mystery authors! Seven, in fact!
First will be Elizabeth J. Duncan‘s Shakespeare in the Catskills Mystery Series, starting with Untimely Death. This series will follow costume designer Charlotte Fairfax, former costume mistress of the Royal Shakespeare Company and current costume designer of an upstate New York’s resort’s production of Romeo and Juliet. When the leading lady turns up dead, Charlotte’s natural curiosity will lead her to help discover the true killer. Duncan also writes the Penny Brannigan Mystery Series, starring a manicurist in north Wales.
Next up is Jean Flowers‘s Postmistress Mystery Series, which will have its first novel, Death Takes Priority, in November. When her old life turns upside down, former Boston main postal office manager Cassie Miller will return to her hometown of North Ashcot, Massachusetts, to become the town’s Postmaster. When stacks of telephone books go missing, and two days later a body turns up in the woods, she’ll need to help get to the bottom of the case. Flowers also writes the Miniature Mystery Series under the name Margaret Grace, the Sophie Knowles Mystery Series as Ada Madison, and the Periodic Table Mystery Series as Camille Minichino.
Also out in November will be Sadie Hartwell‘s Yarned and Dangerous, the first in her new Tangled Web Mystery Series. This novel will see Josie Blair, newly unemployed designer, returning home to take care of her great-uncle and also to take over her great-aunt’s yarn shop – at least until she can sell off the remaining stock. But when a local troublemaking knitter turns up dead, Josie will be up to her neck in the mystery! Hartwell also writes the Greek to Me Mystery Series under the pen name Susannah Hardy, starring the owner of a Greek restaurant and historic landmark.
Joyce and Jim Lavene will be putting out A Dickens of a Murder, the 1st in their Canterville Book Shop Mystery Series. (I’ve already briefly discussed this novel since it is also Christmas themed…) In this novel, a dead man opposing the opening of the Canterville Book Shop turns up on the roof, forcing Lisa Wellman and Simon Canterville to solve the murder >>> with the help of the ghost of Charles Dickens. The Lavenes write multiple other series, including the Sheriff Sharyn Howard Mystery Series, the Stock Car Racing Mystery Series, the Pet Psychic Mystery Series, the Pumpkin Path Mystery Series, and the Purple Door Detective Mystery Series… among many others. They also write as J.J. Cook and Ellie Grant.
Nancy Martin will be releasing the novel Miss Ruffles Inherits Everything, the first in her Miss Ruffles Mystery Series. When Miss Ruffles, a Texas Cattle Cur (a type of cattle-herding dog) inherits a large fortune from a woman who dies a suspicious death, Sunny McKillip, Miss Ruffles’s dogsitter, will need to keep her safe. Nancy Martin also writes the very popular Blackbird Sisters Mystery Series starring a trio of sisters and the Roxy Abruzzo Mystery Series, starring an architectural salvager.
Next will be Karen E. Olson‘s Hidden, the 1st in her Nicole Jones Thriller Mystery Series. (Though not a Cozy, I am listing this since her other two series are more Cozy.) Nicole Jones tries to live off the grid, trying to avoid technology because of her past history with hacking. When her old life starts closing in on her again, she’ll need to dust off her old skills to help escape once again from the past. Olson also writes the Tattoo Shop Mystery Series, starring a tattoo shop manager in Las Vegas, and the Anne Seymour Mystery Series, starring a reporter in Connecticut.
Last on our longish list will be Diana Orgain‘s Roundup Crew Mystery Series, which will be beginning with its first entry, Yappy Hour. When non-pet friendly, non-business owner Maggie is asked to run her neighborhood dog-friendly wine bar, Yappy Hour, for her sister Rachel, she arrives to find a dead body and a letter incriminating Rachel nearby. Though Maggie impulsively hides the letter, Rachel still turns up as the top suspect >>> and of course Maggie will need to clear her name. Orgain also writes the Love or Money Mystery Series and the Maternal Instincts Mystery Series.
As always, you can find these new series and many more at the New Cozy Mystery Book Series page on the site.
Marja says
Danna, thanks for including some non-cozies in your listings … I will definitely check out the Olson series.
There are some cozies, of course, on my list as well!
I wonder if other readers have the same dilemma I do: although cozies are *beginning* to penetrate the trade paperback and hardback markets, it’s otherwise hard to find many cozies at the public library.
Seeing this need while moving house, I took some cozies I had bought in more prosperous years over to the public library so others could enjoy them: cozies don’t seem to be tops among the purchasing priorities in the public library.
It seems that gory thrillers are more in demand among the public (yecch), but at least the library also has historical and foreign-based mysteries, which I love. Thank heaven they have Kerry Greenwood’s series, Stephanie Barron’s, Anne Perry’s, Donna Leon’s, and so many more. Whew!
Jan says
I’m with you about cozies not being at the local library, I should know since I worked at a library for a few years. My reading has skyrocketed since I discovered this web site…thanks!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marja, I’m never quite sure about how people feel about the non-Cozies I add, so I was glad to see this comment. I’m sorry I can’t comment about Cozies in the library, however, what you wrote about “gory thrillers are more in demand among the public” reminded me of years ago, when I would check out my audio books from the library. They carried almost all male mystery authors, and some Agatha Christie books. It got to be a bit much! (Or in this case, a bit too few…)
Margaret M. says
Okay, I just found two new series to try, DEATH TAKES PRIORITY and YARNED AND DANGEROUS. Thank you Danna, I have found so many great series thru your site!!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Margaret M, I sure hope you enjoy them. (I couldn’t wait until Camille Minichino started this series!)
Amy says
The concept of the Karen Olson book sounds intriguing!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Amy, kind of like The Fugitive or even Les Misérables, only this time with i-phone technology…
jojo says
Love this site I go on to see what books I want to read and what books are coming out.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Jojo, welcome to the Cozy Mystery site! I’m glad you’re enjoying it and getting use out of it!