Well, March is coming to an end, so it is time to once again review one of the most popular recommended mystery series put forward by site readers. This time I’ll be going with a relatively new series, the By the Book Mystery Series by Tamara Berry, starting with the first entry, Buried in a Good Book.
As with so many other Cozy protagonists at the beginning of their sleuthing careers, mystery author Tess Harrow is at a low point at the beginning of the series, hoping to recover and bond with her teenage daughter Gertie after Tess’s recent divorce. To that end, she and her daughter arrive at her grandfather’s cabin – and not minutes after arriving, the cabin is shaken by a series of explosions from the nearby woods, the last of which launches the arm of a several-days-old corpse directly at them when they go to investigate.
Supposedly, the explosion were the results of blast fishing gone wrong in a nearby pond – or at least, so claimed the man who immediately arrived and just as quickly fled the scene, long before Tess could so much as inform the local sheriff. However, even if that was the case, the discovery of the corpse in the lake is decidedly less innocent. Before long, Tess is wrapped up in the case, her curiosity sparked and her creative drive thriving from the real-world crime case that has fallen into her lap
Unsurprisingly, the few people located out in the tiny mountain town way out in the woods prove to be a somewhat eccentric group. The local sheriff looks just like the sleuth of Tess’s own mystery series, and seems to know almost as much about her books as Tess does. Someone dressed up in a bear costume is lurking in the woods, spurring an unsurprising number of ‘Bigfoot’ reports.
One thing I really appreciate about this mystery is that it really starts off with the mystery – the explosion mentioned above occurs within pages of the book’s beginning, so the entire novel is phrased at least partially around solving the case. And while there are certainly plenty of other features to the novel, the mystery really is the centerpiece here. Since Tess’s primary personal interest is in crime fiction, this is an excellent mystery for people who are looking to spend most of the reading time on sleuthing, not on descriptions of other hobbies like soap-making or baking. As lovely as those thematic diversions might be from time to time, there are also occasions where I really appreciate just getting down to some crime-solving!
I suppose that is the strongest recommendation I would make for Buried in a Good Book – this is definitely a modern Cozy for readers more interested in the mystery element of Cozies than the side elements.
As always, if you want to read more of these brief discussions of some of the more popular Cozy Mystery Series that I’ve written in the past, you can find them at the Most Recommended Cozy Mystery Series page.
Pat Richardson says
Have read this series and really enjoyed it.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Pat, it’s definitely a good one!
Joyce Rongo says
Thoroughly enjoyed this series. Hope there will be more
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Joyce, I hope so too! It’s been a few years, but not too long for there to be a new entry.
Kim says
I really enjoyed this series. It was a bit more gritty than most cozies and I loved that. I’ve been disappointed there hasn’t been in a new titles in the series in the past two years.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kim, yes, it’s a disappointment – but a few years isn’t too long for a surprise continuation to show up.
Kathleen says
I loved everything about this book. It has one of the most explosive openings of any book I have read. The other two books in this series were also entertaining and unique.
Alas, I saw on GoodReads that the author commented that this series was not picked up by the publisher, even though the first book won the “Edgar Award for Lilian Jackson Braun Memorial Award” (2023).
I highly recommend this series and all of the cozy mystery books written by Tamara Berry. I’ve enjoyed them all.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kathleen, that’s a shame to hear, though it isn’t necessarily the end of a series these days as many authors move away from traditional publishers. Here’s hoping that might be the case here.
Jerry says
As an avid mystery fan, I, too, enjoy an occasional incident-centered story. I am also a fan of Alfred Hitchcock and Ellen Queen Magazine. I love the variety in their short stories. Thank you for your critique. I will read the book now. I am glad I found your site and will be a frequent visitor. Thanks, J.W. P/S. Keep writing, for the night is rapidly approaching.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Jerry, welcome to the site! I hope you enjoy the book.
Taylor H says
I’m so happy I found this blog! None of my friends or family read cozies, so I’m delighted to join this community of readers! I just finished all of the Clambake Mysteries by Barbara Ross (a new favorite!)
I’m looking forward to checking this one out, especially since it features a cryptid…possibly?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Taylor, welcome! I hope the site can help you find many new authors!
Flisa says
I have read the series several times after a hiatus between them and reading other series such as Amanda Flower’s books, Laura Pauling, Lauren Elliott. Tess Harrow remains a favorite character, and I am ever hopeful for a continuation. So glad I found other like-minded cozy enthusiasts.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Flisa, it’s always wonderful to be able to return to an old favorite series! I hope the site can help you find many other mysteries to enjoy.