I just received this letter from a Cozy Mystery Site reader:<\/p>\n
“Subject: Help with Author List
\nDear Danna: I mostly read Christian fiction because it is clean and glorifies Christ. I read your web page definition of a cozy mystery and it said\u00a0 that \u201ccozy mysteries are considered \u201cgentle\u201d books\u2026 no graphic violence, no profanity, and no explicit sex\u201d. I tried a few books from your list and within the first chapter there was profanity. I guess not all authors follow the guidelines for a cozy mystery. If you know of any that are a good clean read please send me a list of the authors that do follow the guidelines.
\nI appreciate any help you can give me.
\nThank you, Tina”<\/p>\n
Here is my (+\/-) answer:<\/p>\n
I know exactly what you are talking about… I recently finished\u00a0a book by one of my favorite cozy authors, and had that very same problem! I wonder if their publishers tell them to “spice things up” these days…<\/p>\n
I just went through the site and found these authors who might be of interest to you. Also, since I initially posted this entry, I have received suggested authors (from Cozy Mystery readers just like you and me!) who I have also included to this entry. (*So, I have not read every book by every author on this list.*)<\/p>\n
Hannah Alexander<\/a><\/strong> is a writing husband\/wife team who write the Hideaway Mystery Series<\/strong>. This Christy award-winning team\u00a0mixes medical suspence with romance.<\/p>\n Donald Bain<\/strong><\/a> & “Jessica Fletcher” write the Murder, She Wrote Mystery Series<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Christy Barritt<\/a><\/strong> writes\u00a0the Squeaky Clean Mystery Series <\/strong>which features the owner of a very unusual business: a crime scene cleaning service. The amateur sleuth almost completed her college degree in forensic science, which comes in very handy while being able to get a first hand view of the evidence!<\/p>\n Ron & Janet Benrey<\/a><\/strong>: the Pippa Hunnechurch Mystery Series <\/strong>features an executive recruiter\u00a0AND the Royal Tunbridge Wells Mystery Series<\/strong> which is set in England and, along with the “real” people features Lapsang & Souchong (2 British Shorthair cats), Cha-Cha (a Shiba Inu… dog) and Earl, an African Grey Parrot. The Benreys also write the Glory, North Carolina Mystery Series<\/strong>, which also belongs on this list.<\/p>\n Susan Bernhardt<\/strong><\/a>: Kay Driscoll Mystery Series<\/strong><\/p>\n Laura Bradford<\/a><\/strong>:\u00a0Amish Mystery Series<\/strong><\/p>\n Emily Brightwell<\/strong><\/a>: Mrs. Jeffries Mystery Series<\/strong><\/p>\n Lynn Bulock<\/a><\/strong> pens the Steeple Hill Cafe Mystery Series<\/strong>. I have not read any of the books yet, but from what I could find, it is a mystery series with a Christian theme.<\/p>\n Anne Canadeo<\/a><\/strong>: Black Sheep Knitting Mystery Series<\/strong> (Also co-authors the fiction series “Cape Light” with Thomas Kinkade, as Katherine Spencer.)<\/p>\n JoAnna Carl<\/a><\/strong>: Chocoholic Mystery Series<\/strong><\/p>\n Laurie Cass<\/a> <\/strong>(aka Laura Alden): Bookmobile Cat Mystery Series<\/strong><\/p>\n Lynne E. Chandler<\/strong><\/a>: Mrs. Baul Investigates<\/strong>: Bishop Kidnapped in Egypt<\/p>\n G. K. Chesterton<\/a><\/strong> writes the Father Brown Mystery Series<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Agatha Christie<\/a><\/strong> (aka The Queen of Cozy Mysteries!):\u00a0Miss Marple Mystery Series<\/strong> and Hercule Poirot Mystery Series<\/strong>, Superintendent Battles<\/strong>, and Tommy & Tuppence Mystery Series<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Mary Higgins Clark<\/strong><\/a> has written many stand alone mysteries and is one of the authors on the\u00a0Mystery Writers of America \u2013 Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mindy Starns Clark<\/a><\/strong>: the Million Dollar Mystery Series AND the Smart Chick Mystery Series.<\/strong><\/p>\n Christine E. Collier<\/a><\/strong>:\u00a0 the Writer’s Club Mystery Series<\/strong> has four women who make up the club and not only write, but “right” mysteries.<\/p>\n Sheila Connolly<\/a><\/strong>: Orchard Mystery Series<\/strong> AND Museum Mystery Series<\/strong><\/p>\n Alisa Craig<\/a><\/strong> (aka Charlotte MacLeod): Inspector Madoc Rhys Mystery Series AND Grub-and-Stakers Mystery Series<\/strong><\/p>\n Jeanne M. Dams<\/a><\/strong>: Dorothy Martin Mystery Series<\/strong> AND Hilda Johansson Mystery Series<\/strong><\/p>\n Kathie Deviny<\/strong><\/a>: Grace Church Mystery Series<\/strong><\/p>\n Elizabeth J. Duncan<\/a><\/strong>: Penny Brannigan Mystery Series<\/strong><\/p>\n Sharon Dunn<\/a><\/strong> writes the Bargain Hunters Mystery Series<\/strong>, as well as the Ruby Taylor Mystery Series<\/strong>. Dunn describes herself as a “Christian author” who mixes the mystery genre with some of\u00a0 the humor you find in “Chick-Lit”.<\/p>\n Monica Ferris<\/a><\/strong>: Needlecraft Shop Mystery Series<\/strong><\/p>\n “Jessica Fletcher<\/strong><\/a>” & Donald Bain write the\u00a0Murder, She Wrote Mystery Series<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Amanda Flower<\/a><\/strong>: Appleseed Creek Mystery Series<\/strong><\/p>\n Joanne Fluke<\/a><\/strong> writes the exceptionally popular Hannah Swenson\/Cookie Jar Mystery Series<\/strong>. Hannah manages to sleuth while managing her Minnesota bakery, the Cookie Jar.<\/p>\n Dorothy Gilman<\/a> <\/strong>writes the Mrs. Pollifax Mystery Series <\/strong>which features Emily Pollifax, a woman you would absolutely never think is a CIA agent. Emily is a senior citizen with a penchant for hats.<\/p>\n Sally Goldenbaum<\/a><\/strong>:\u00a0Seaside Knitters Mystery Series<\/strong><\/p>\n Margaret Grace<\/a><\/strong> (aka Camille Minichino<\/a>): As Camille Minichino she writes the Periodic Table Mystery Series<\/strong>. As Margaret Grace she writes the Miniature\u00a0Mystery Series<\/strong>. I am making my way (2009) through both of the series and enjoying them immensely.<\/p>\n Hazel Holt<\/a><\/strong>: Mrs.Malory Mystery Series<\/strong><\/p>\n Jan Karon<\/a><\/strong> is on the Cozy Mystery Site\u00a0even though she does not write mysteries. The Mitford Series<\/strong> AND the Father Tim’s Novels<\/strong> belong to her.<\/p>\n Josi S. Kilpack<\/a><\/strong> writes the Culinary Mystery Series<\/strong>, which features a stay-at-home mom\/sleuth.<\/p>\n Charlotte MacLeod<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(aka Alisa Craig): Peter Shandy Mystery Series AND\u00a0Sarah Kelling & Max Bittersohn Mystery Series<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Blanche Day Manos<\/strong><\/a> & Barbara Burgess<\/strong> <\/a>write the Darcy\/Flora Mystery Series<\/strong> which feature a mother and daughter sleuthing duo.<\/p>\n Blanche Day Manos<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>also writes the Ned McNeil Mystery Series, set in\u00a0Oklahoma.<\/p>\n Edith Maxwell<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(aka\u00a0Maddie Day<\/a>\u00a0&\u00a0Tace Baker<\/a>) writes the Quaker Midwife Mystery Series, which features a Quaker wife in 1880s Massachusetts.<\/p>\n Lorena McCourtney<\/a><\/strong>, armed with a college degree in agriculture, is listed under “Christian Mysteries” on her site… She writes the Ivy Malone Mystery Series<\/strong> (which features senior citizen sleuths), the Andi McConnell Mystery Series<\/strong>, the Sparrow Island Mystery Series<\/strong> (which features a bird watcher) and the Julesburg Mystery Series<\/strong>…<\/p>\n K. D. McCrite<\/strong><\/a>: Eastgate Mystery Series<\/strong>:\u00a0Carrie Jean Lockwood is an Assistant Pastor in Arkansas.<\/p>\n Camille Minichino<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(aka\u00a0Margaret Grace<\/a>): As Camille Minichino she writes the\u00a0Periodic Table Mystery Series<\/strong>. As Margaret Grace she writes the\u00a0Miniature\u00a0Mystery Series<\/strong>. I am making my way (2009) through both of the series and enjoying them immensely.<\/p>\n Tyora Moody<\/strong><\/a>: Eugeena Patterson Mystery Series<\/strong> – Eugeena is a recently widowed, Diabetic, retired social studies teacher in South Carolina.<\/p>\n Gilbert Morris<\/a><\/strong> was a pastor for ten years and has written many different novels, including three mystery series: the Jacques & Cleo, Cat Detective Mystery Series<\/strong>, the Lady Trent Mystery Series<\/strong>, and the Danielle Ross Mystery Series<\/strong> (which sometimes is refered to as the Dani Ross Mystery Series<\/strong>).<\/p>\n Katherine Hall Page<\/a><\/strong> has\u00a0a BA from Wellesley, an MA from Tufts, and a Doctorate from Harvard…\u00a0She\u00a0is\u00a0the first person to ever receive Best First Novel, Best Novel, and Best Short Story Agatha Awards (Malice Domestic), and writes the Faith Fairchild Mystery Series<\/strong>, which features a caterer\/sleuth who is married to a minister.<\/p>\n Dani Pettrey<\/strong><\/a> is a homeschool teacher from Maryland who writes the Alaskan Courage Mystery Series<\/strong>, starring a family living in small town Yancey, Alaska.<\/p>\n Cyndy Salzmann<\/a><\/strong> writes the Friday Afternoon Club Mystery Series<\/strong> which features a group of stay-at-home mothers who are good friends, and great sleuths! (Salzmann bases her novels on her Christian faith.)<\/p>\n Susan Sleeman<\/a><\/strong> pens the Garden Gate Mystery Series<\/strong> which features a landscaper in Oregon. (Sleeman is an advocate for Christian suspense.)<\/p>\n Alexander McCall Smith<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0writes\u00a0The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Mystery Series<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Patricia Sprinkle<\/a><\/strong> has two established series: the Sheila Travis Mystery Series<\/strong> is set in Georgia, AND the MacLaren Yarbrough Thoroughly Southern Mystery Series<\/strong>. She is currently starting a new Family Tree Genealogy Mystery Series<\/strong> which her readers are sure to enjoy.<\/p>\n Jennifer Stanley<\/strong><\/a> (aka J.B. Stanley & Ellery Adams) writes the Hope Street Church Mystery Series.<\/strong><\/p>\n Nancy Jill Thames<\/a><\/strong> writes the Jillian Bradley Mystery Series<\/strong> which features a gardening\u00a0 columnist and her Yorkie.<\/p>\n Janice A. Thompson<\/a><\/strong> writes the Bridal Mayhem Mystery Series<\/strong>. She describes herself as a Christian author. She home-schooled her four daughters and has done her part in planning several weddings.<\/p>\n Debbie Vigui\u00e9<\/strong><\/a> writes the Psalms 23 Mystery Series<\/strong>. The series features a church secretary and a Reformed Rabii as its sleuths.<\/p>\n Chris Well<\/a><\/strong> writes Christian crime thrillers with a lot of humor thrown into the mysteries. His Kentucky Geezers Trilogy<\/strong> will be hitting the bookstores soon. Well also includes both writing and\/or editing for such publications as the Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine.<\/p>\n Patricia Wentworth<\/a><\/strong>: Miss Maude Silver Mystery Series<\/strong><\/p>\n Valerie Wolzien<\/a><\/strong>: Susan Henshaw Mystery Series<\/strong><\/p>\n Annie’s Attic Mystery Series<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>: This series follows a woman who, upon cleaning out her grandmother’s attic, finds some very baffling items. These puzzling items are the starting points of the mysteries she and her friends solve.<\/p>\n Annie’s Mysteries Unraveled Mystery Series<\/strong><\/a>: This series is an Annie’s Crafts Company series. Each mystery book is written by a different author, and they star Kate Stevens, a single mom. She works as a crochet designer in Texas.<\/p>\n Annie’s Quilted Mystery Series<\/strong><\/a>: This is another Annie’s Crafts Company series. Like the other (currently three) series from this publisher, the books are written by different authors. They follow Emma Cotton and Kelly Grace, both members of the Nimble Thimbles quilting group in Mystic Harbor, Massachusetts.<\/p>\n Annie’s Secrets of the Quilt Mystery Series<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nHere are a few Series:<\/h3>\n