The Cozy Mystery List Blog

Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV

Whatever Happened to This Mystery Book?

When I organize my monthly Mystery Book New Releases pages, I go through a list of seven books that were slated as being published some time in the past, but that haven’t seen the light of day yet. For some reason or another, the books simply didn’t get published when they were due to be released.

My list of “CHECK FOR THESE BOOKS“:

Madelyn Alt: In Charm’s Way

Jill Churchill: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

Nancy Fairbanks (aka Nancy Herndon): Blood Pudding

Jerrilyn Farmer: Desperately Seeking Sushi

Alice Kimberly: The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller

Diana Orgain: Nursing a Grudge  – I’m happy to say that as I am editing this blog entry, Diana Orgain is writing up a storm!

Melinda Wells (aka Linda Palmer): Seven-Layer Death – This news is very sad, but  Lynn S just showed us Linda Palmer’s obituary.

I occasionally hear from Cozy Mystery readers who ask about the release dates of the above seven books. My responses back to them say (essentially) “I don’t know.” I know they are disappointed by not getting a letter back saying “That book will be out next month.” It’s always a disappointment for a fan of an author to find out the long-awaited book won’t be published quite yet or worse, ever.

So each month I’ll continue to check for these mysteries. And hopefully, one of these days, I will get the very happy news that our wait is over.

*** *** Here’s part of an update that I received from Janet, a very, very helpful librarian:

Madelyn Alt: In Charm’s Way – currently scheduled for publication November 11, 2013

Nancy Fairbanks (aka Nancy Herndon): Blood Pudding – it says November 11, 2013, but it looks kind of iffy.

Alice Kimberly: The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller – currently scheduled for publication December 30, 2013

Thanks, Janet! (As you can see, I didn’t post the ones you weren’t quite sure of.)

Comments

  1. Goodreads lists an expected publication date for Madelyn Alt’s In Charm’s Way as November 30 (in hardcover). Unfortunately, Berkeley’s Prime Crime website only lists upcoming titles through October so no confirmation from them yet.

    Reply

  2. I still re-read Jill Churchill’s early Jane Jeffry mysteries. I always felt they were so well written and so, so, cozy. The later ones lost the magic as she got started on the historical series.

    I was also wondering about Carol Higgins Clark, I thought there was supposed to be a Regan Reilly book published at the same time as Mary’s latest back in April. Neither her website nor Facebook page have been updated in months.

    Reply

    • Just checked Simon & Schuster website and it says that Carol Higgins Clark’s new book, “Knocked,” will be released in February 2017. Every year it seems to be postponed for another year. Does anyone know what’s going on?

      Reply

        • I have also been waiting for Knocked for quite some time now. Just saw on Amazon the kindle edition will be available in Jan. 2019! Sure wish someone could tell me what the delay is. I hope she isn’t ill, because I also noticed she hasn’t posted anything on FB for about 3 years or so either.

          Reply

            • I know right? I mean, I love reading mysteries but this is the kind of mystery I’d like to have the answer to, if you know what I mean.

              Reply

              • The new release date for KNOCKED by Carol Higgins Clark, according to Amazon.com, is April 1, 2022. Something is definitely wrong here.

                Anyone know what is happening with this book?

                Reply

                • I wish I did George! I have read all the other Regan Reilly books so it feels kind of like we just got left hanging.

                  Reply

                  • I am pretty sure that I read a synopsis of KNOCKED in 2016. So, apparently the book has been written. The question is what is causing the publishing delay?

                    I need to read this book. HELP.

                    George D.

                    Reply

                    • I am a fan of Carols for sometime I even send XMas cards to her and call her XMas card came back and phone doesn’t work My gut feeling something is not right Ted

  3. I am a fan of two of these series and have been patiently waiting for information on both. I love Madelyn Alt’s series, as a matter of fact it has been one of my “keeper series” which are the books I don’t trade or give away, anyway, I have been unable to find any info on what happened here. The other one I follow is the Alice Kimberly series. This author is also known as Cleo Coyle of the Coffeehouse mysteries, which is a huge bestselling series of course. It is my belief that when the Coffee series took off the ghost series got back burner’d. I read the coffee series but don’t enjoy it quite as much as the ghost series. I will tell you that on Coyle’s latest e-newsletter she mentioned that this one is finally going to be published but still didn’t give a time frame. So I will continue to hold my breath on it. I hate it when good series just stop or fade away. Usually I find it’s because the author gets a “hit” series and stops writing the others. I loved Sheila Connelly’s glass blowing series, under her pseudonym Sarah Atwell. I loved Rhett Macphearson’s Torie O’Shea series not sure why they ended, I love Sweeney’s Yellow Rose series which ended after only 5 books! Oh well, it’s a good thing I have many other favorites to comfort me! 🙂

    Reply

    • Angela, this is really good news about Alice Kimberly’s latest Haunted Bookshop mystery finally being published. I have several authors who have simply stopped writing their series, and it’s always a disappointment. However I, too, have many authors on my favorite authors list. Having said that, I do wish all of the authors who have discontinued their series (for one reason or another) would be given a chance to wrap things up…

      Reply

  4. It is so annoying that books just disappear into the ether before they ever exist – I reckon I’ve had that Jerrilyn Farmer book on my “buy as soon as it is published” list for about 5 years – ever since I finished all the others in that series. I’ve accepted by now that it will never come to be

    Reply

    • Bernadette, I think I’m going to have to agree with you. When Farmer co-wrote Murder at the Academy Awards, I thought for sure she was going to be pairing up with Joan Rivers for more in that series. But since that was published in ’09, I somehow doubt it…

      Reply

  6. Alice Kimberly (AKA Cleo Coyle) has said that her publisher pushed for more emphasis on the coffee house series, and that pushed this series back (a lot!). Those of us on Facebook who have friended the ghost PI from the stories are putting pressure on for more books.

    Reply

    • Thanks, Libby, for the information AND for “putting pressure” on her publisher for more Haunted Bookshop mysteries.

      Reply

  7. Thank you much, for looking into the publishing of Madelyn Alt: In Charm’s Way. I so, so, so want to wrap up this fun Series.

    How can (some nebulous) “they,” do this????? Hold us on a string??? Harrrrumph…… I’m quite sure the author herself, wants it published.

    Do you have any suggestions, for who to write to, to complain about this???

    Please and thank you.

    Tessa~

    Reply

    • I’m sorry, Tessa, I really don’t have any idea of who to complain to. (My husband has never heard me utter anything like that before!)

      Reply

  8. Hi,

    I have written to two of these authors asking about the release of their books.

    In one instance I was told a definite date which has come and gone. I wrote again and no response.

    The second I have written three times with no response. I wrote using another email just saying how I loved the books, on that one I received a reply.

    It amazes me that they can not respond even with an “I don’t know” but will answer to you telling them you like their work.

    I will just sit and wait and hope they actually do come out.

    Busymother

    Reply

    • Busymother, I wonder if the authors didn’t write back because they didn’t know. (Although a quick form letter saying “I don’t know.” would probably have sufficed.) The publisher probably controls when books are released.

      Reply

  10. Thank you! I have been wondering about Madelyn Alt’s book–I really like the series. I am a new reader of cozies and I love your website!!

    Reply

    • Welcome to the Cozy Mystery site, Laura. I’ll be posting Madelyn Alt’s book on her page just as soon as I hear about it.

      Reply

  11. I just posted this on the above entry, but thought I had better write it in a comment for those of you who have already read the post.

    *** *** Here’s part of an update that I received from Janet, a very, very helpful librarian:

    Madelyn Alt: In Charm’s Way – currently scheduled for publication November 11, 2013

    Nancy Fairbanks (aka Nancy Herndon): Blood Pudding – it says November 11, 2013, but it looks kind of iffy.

    Alice Kimberly: The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller – currently scheduled for publication December 30, 2013
    Thanks, Janet! (As you can see, I didn’t post the ones you weren’t quite sure of.)

    Reply

  12. I have to echo the others who say “THANK YOU” for all the work you do to keep us up to date.

    Another author who has a “missing” book is Sue Henry in her Alaska Mysteries. In 2010, she was supposed to come out with a new book – Cold As Ice.

    Thanks again!!!

    Reply

    • You’re welcome, Angie, and thanks for the Sue Henry reminder. I just added her to my “CHECK FOR THESE BOOKS” list.

      Reply

  13. I peeked in on Amazon earlier and found 2 or 3 of Dorothy Sayers’ on for 99 cents. While Agatha Christie was my first intro. to mysteries as a young adult Dorothy Sayers is in a class of her own.IMHO. I am also a Ngaio Marsh fan among others.

    Reply

    • Thanks, NancyB, for telling us about the Dorothy Sayer’s Kindle books being on sale. I am (very slowly) making my way through the Ngaio Marsh mysteries in audio format. I really like them.)

      Reply

    • You and me both! I loved the early Jane Jeffries mysteries, and then got a little tired of them, but that was when the Grace & Favor mysteries started coming out and I adored them. In time frame and pacing they remind me a lot of the Asey Wentworth mysteries by Phoebe Atwood Taylor, although of course without Asey.

      Reply

      • I thought that Smoke Gets in Your Eyes was published in 2010, but our librarian, Lynn for the Iowa City Public Library, cannot get hold of it by ILL (Inter-Library Loan). I am very interested in receiving #7 in the Grace and Favor Series. I have already read the 1st 6 books in that series.

        Reply

        • Claudia GC, Jill Churchill’s Smoke Gets in Your Eyes was supposed to be released way back, but it hasn’t. I’ll keep looking for it, but at this point, I don’t have a great feeling about whether or not we will be seeing it any time soon.

          Reply

          • It was published in 4 different versions from 2010 to 2013 by Avon, a division of HarperCollins Publishing Company. You might be able to get it from Amazon, if anyone has a copy, they might.

            Reply

            • I have looked everywhere. All lending libraries list their copies as “on order”. I don’t believe it was ever published.

              Reply

    • Lois, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes has been on the waiting to publish list so long that I have become wary of it actually happening.

      Reply

  15. I am trying to get some info on the Annie’s Attic Book Series. I have just finished reading Ring In The Attic and it seems to be the last in the series. This series has so many possibilities as now that
    **********SPOILER**********
    **********SPOILER**********
    **********SPOILER**********
    **********SPOILER**********
    **********SPOILER**********
    **********SPOILER**********
    **********SPOILER**********
    **********SPOILER**********
    **********SPOILER**********

    Annie has married Ian and her daughter and her family have moved to Stony Point, there are endless stories to be told. Why, when there are so many authors contributing to the story, why do they end it??? Thank goodness that the Nancy Drew series did not follooooooow this same road! Sincerely, Patricia M

    Reply

    • It’s funny, Patricia M, that you brought up Nancy Drew. I thought about all of the authors it took to put that series together, especially when I found out there would be a new author of Christie’s Poirot character.

      Reply

  16. Thanks Danna,
    I’ve been waiting patiently checking each month for all 3 that hopefully will come out this year. Good to know to look again in November and December!

    Reply

  17. Oh, I certainly hope that In Charm’s Way is published, although it would be nice to see all of them published at some point. I never read the Annie’s Attic Book series but it sounds like a series I’d enjoy.

    Reply

  18. Nancy Fairbanks is a member of our Sisters In Crime group. I will ask her about Blood Pudding release at our next meeting which will be the second week in October and let you know what she says.

    Reply

    • Thank you so much, Mary. If you happen to see your fellow Sisters in Crime member, it would be great if you would solve the mystery of the missing Blood Pudding!

      Reply

  19. Danna I always enjoyed Nancy Fairbank’s novels. Faithfully I would add my name to a reserve list at our library, nothing ever appeared. I wonder if this book will finally be published or is it a dream.

    Reply

    • Regina, it looks like we will find out about Nancy Fairbank’s Blood Pudding after Mary goes to her next Sisters In Crime meeting. (Cross your fingers!)

      Reply

  20. I’ve had Seven-Layer Death pre-ordered since November 2012 – the latest publication date listed on Book Depository is 12 July 2014.

    The date has been changed so frequently – I really hope it’s published cos I love the series!

    Reply

  21. I spoke to Nancy Fairbanks (aka Nancy Herndon) about her book Blood Pudding. She informed me that due to problems with Sciatica, she has not been able to finish writing the book. She states that she can not sit for long periods of time to write at this time.

    Reply

  22. Amy Patricia Meade wrote Don’t Die Under the Apple Tree (Rosie the Riveter mystery) in may 2012. I enjoyed it greatly. I preordered the 2nd on amazon. Then received email that it wasn’t available with no date. Listed on publisher Kensington & then disappeared. I emailed both publisher & author with no response. Any ideas? I’m checking to see if I can find my note as to the title.

    Reply

    • Libbykat, thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will add Amy Patricia Meade’s Straighten Up and Die Right to my monthly make-sure-to-check list.

      Reply

  23. Amazing! Found it quicker than anticipated. Straighten Up and Die Right Amy Patricia Meade. Scheduled for 2013 publication.

    Reply

    • Libbykat, I know that’s when it was planned to be released, but I have no idea what is holding it up…

      Reply

  24. I’ve done a bit of snoooping on the web and it seems Madelyn Alt’s In Charms Way release date has been pushed back again. The current release date is January 31 2015.

    Reply

  25. Since it is now June 2015 and there is still no current release info for Madelyn Alt’s In Charms Way, plus the lack of activity on twitter, blog and such since 2012 do we know if this book will ever hit shelves?

    Reply

  26. Madelyn Alt’s newest book is “In Charm’s Way”. It was due to be released in Nov. 2011, and now it’s July 2015 and we still haven’t seen it. Is the publisher who’s falling down or the author? Does she have health problems or family crisis that prevents her from finishing the final editing of the book? What gives? My daughter and I love her Bewitched series.

    Reply

  27. Madelyn Alt addressed the delay on her blog. She apparently has been thru a divorce, moved to Charlotte NC and has other problems. She said she is trying to finish In Charms Way and another both to be published around the same time. I’m hopeful but not holding my breath.

    Reply

  28. Is it true Laura Planer (Melinda Wells) author of The Daytime Mysteries and The Della Cooks series passed away? How sad I will miss her writing.

    Reply

  29. Hi, Danna, It’s great to find your blog. I was looking for anything new about Madelyn Alt. I, too, discovered the info Maura found and that Ms Alt says her publisher moved the publishing date to 2025 to remove the pressure off her to finish writing the book. This is actually old information. I do hope she is able to complete the series.

    Reply

  30. I would like to know when carol higgins clark plans to write another book in her series. I have read all of the ones in print. I haven’t seen one in the last two years. If I’m wrong please print the names of the books.

    Reply

  31. Does anyone know why the huge delay in the publication of Knocked by Carol Higgins Clark? Is she sick? It was due to release in 2017 and now 2022. I hope that she is not ill. I just can’t seem to find any info on why the delay. I love her series of books.

    Reply

  32. Wondering about Carol Higgins Clark and her never released 16th book- Knocked. Does anyone have ANY NEWS on what happened..???

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Please don't tell us about Cozy Mystery authors or books you don't enjoy.

Please use a nickname or your first name and last initial (unless you are an author and want your full name to appear).

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

MENU