I just started a new mystery book series that I am really enjoying. It’s the Stanley Waters Mystery Series co-written by Bill Crider and Willard Scott. Yep! Willard Scott! Some of you may remember waking up with him every weekday morning, as he would tell us what type of weather we could expect AND bring us information about centenarians (sponsored by Smucker’s, of course!) all over the country >>> on the OLD Today Show… way back to the time when Jane Pauley, Tom Brokaw, and Bryant Gumbel held the helm.
The Stanley Waters Mystery Series features a retired, nationally-recognized weatherman who, after becoming a widower, opens a Bed & Breakfast in the Virginia town he grew up in. I am truly enjoying the first book in the series.
As I sit here typing this entry, I am mentally going through some of the characteristics of a Cozy Mystery, and this book has several: It has characters who I really enjoy “spending time with” and takes place in a town where everybody seems to know each other. Some of the characters are a little odd, some of the characters gossip, there are three cats thrown into the mix, and the authors (I know I have said this very same thing before… while describing other authors!) have a great command of the English language, thus not necessitating swearing all the way through the book.
So far, I have only come up with one bad thing about the Stanley Waters Mystery Series… there are only TWO books in the series, and since the last one was written in 1999, I doubt there will be any more in the future. But, there is a bright side to this particular problem… Bill Crider has written several other mystery series from which to choose!
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
What I want to know is how did we get to hot summer weather without a nice Loooong spring??? I am not ready for 90. I am sure not ready for 100…and we hit 98 last week!!!
Wilted near Austin…
Maria
Danna - cozy mystery list says
For those of you who are still enjoying beautiful springtimes, we are already in the throes of summer high degrees and humidity down here in Texas!
Dennis says
I came across one of the two books cowritten by Willard Scott. It was a fun read. Of course I have been a big fan of Bill Crider and have read lots of his books including the sleuths Sheriff Dan Rhodes, Dr Sally Good, Truman Smith, and Carl Burns.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sheriff Dan Rhodes is my next Bill Crider series…
birdermurdermomma says
This sounds like a good read, but I hate to start a series, fall in love with it, then have the ‘series’ end with a second book. When I started writing my Birder Murder mysteries, I thought of myself as birthing my characters, and as their mom, I want to see how their lives turn out! Book three in the series – “A Bobwhite Killing” will be out this September, and I’ve already started writing the fourth book, and plotting the fifth. I don’t know if I’ll get to write their whole life histories, but I’m sure enjoying spending time with them, and like my own kids, they continue to surprise me!
Ann says
Thanks for the info on the series. I’m always on the lookout for a new mystery to read.
Ann Summerville
Cozy In Texas
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I agree with you, Birder, it’s always great to find a new Cozy Mystery series, but it’s also a little disappointing to find out that there are only two in the series. Oh well… you know what they say about good things coming to an end…
And, Ann, if you enjoy a good Cozy with good characters, I am guessing that you will enjoy this one.
Pat W says
So why are there no more. They’re wonderful!!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I totally agree with you, Pat. I would have loved to see more of these Stanley Waters mystery books. I am sorry Bill Crider and Willard Scott didn’t bring us more.