Cozy Mysteries discussion

It seems there are fewer male cozy authors to choose from, so went with something a little different this month. I haven't personally read any of these yet but they're described as comedic myteries.

Our featured author this month is Ben Rehder. His official website is:http://benrehder.wordpress.com/

A Blanco County Mystery series

About John Marlin, game warden, and Herbert Mackey, a sheriff, in Blanco County, Texas

1. Buck Fever
2. Bone Dry
3. Flat Crazy
4. Guilt Trip
5. Gun Shy
6. Holy Moly

The author is already a member of our group. I've sent him a message letting him know he's our featured author this month so hopefully he'll drop by and answer your questions and read your comments.

STANDALONE NOVELS


The Driving Lesson
Gone the Next
The Chicken Hanger

I read BUCK FEVER several years ago and really liked it. Even got my husband to read it and he also read the 2nd one. I know I have that one and probably at least one more of his around here somewhere. Will have to go looking! I met Ben at a Bouchercon a few years ago. Very nice man...and funny, too!

I have Flat Crazy in the TBR somewhere. I'll read it if I can find it (reorganizing and purging-sigh-really messes up my ability to find things).

Well I can either borrow it for free from amazon (prime member) or listen to it via audiobook. Don't know which yet, but look forward to a new author and intro to cozies!

Going to try to get a hold of one. sound interesting.

Karen wrote: "Going to try to get a hold of one. sound interesting."

Me too. I was disappointed that B&N does not have it available :(. I would have loved to pick up a paperback and send it to my Dad who is a big time game hunter.

I just bought a used copy off Amazon's used marketplace for a penny plus postage. Looking forward to reading this.

Bandmama wrote: "Karen wrote: "Going to try to get a hold of one. sound interesting."

Me too. I was disappointed that B&N does not have it available :(. I would have loved to pick up a paperback and send it to m..."

Some books are so hard to find unless you can order on internet which right now I am not able to do at this time.

It was free for kindle on Amazon a while ago. I got it I have not read it yet, but it sounds very interesting.

I ordered a couple from Amazon. I don't know this author, so I'm excited to read these new books!

Anne wrote: "It was free for kindle on Amazon a while ago. I got it I have not read it yet, but it sounds very interesting."

Drat. Missed that. Used to check and download free kindle books daily but after having 250+, I had enough and quit.

Just found this thread. I appreciate the interest in my books. Happy to answer any questions.

FYI, my novel THE DRIVING LESSON will be free for Kindle for three days, starting tomorrow.

Ben

Thanks for letting us know about the special offer Ben!

Got The Driving Lesson! Look forward to reading it. Sounds really good.

I just downloaded the book too, thanks Ben!

I downloaded The Driving Lesson, Ben back in August and now look forward to finding some spare time to read what sounds like a great story.

Thanks, all! Hope you enjoy it.

Ben wrote: "Just found this thread. I appreciate the interest in my books. Happy to answer any questions.

FYI, my novel THE DRIVING LESSON will be free for Kindle for three days, starting tomorrow.

Ben"

Ha! I just posted this info on the free ebooks thread and then saw this thread!

Thanks, Heidi!

Thanks, Ben. I just downloaded it. Now to find the time to read it. LOL

I haven't heard of this author but the first two of his books are at the public library. I'm looking forward to reading something from this featured author. Thanks for choosing him.

Ben wrote: "Thanks, Heidi!"

No problem! Thank you! I am looking forward to reading it :)

Just curious if these books can be considered cozies? I have just started Buck Fever and I am finding the language offensive. There are also other references that lead me to think this is not a cozy. I like cozies because they have little or no sexual content, very limited vulgar language, and lack the graphic details of violence. Just wondering if anyone else is having this question.

I definitely would not consider my books cozies, but I'm not enough of a cozy reader to know what qualifies. Emily, based on your comments, you should probably set my book aside. Sounds like it's not for you. Thanks for the comment.

Thanks, Ben, for the comment. I was asking the question because your books were selected in the cozy mystery group. I guess the question is directed more towards the group and what is the definition of cozy.

I wouldn't call them cozies myself. Definitely not hardboiled, so maybe softboiled. Language doesn't bother me at all.......I work quite well in "colorful metaphors" myself, so no problem here. However, I do know that some of you are bothered by that. (so, you probably wouldn't like me if you met me in real life since those are my "go to" words when I'm irritated!)

☯Emily wrote: "Just curious if these books can be considered cozies? I have just started Buck Fever and I am finding the language offensive. There are also other references that lead me to think this is not a c..."

We have a whole thread where it's debated what is a cozy and what isn't. There are general ideas but sometimes it comes down to individual taste. In this particular case, I choose an author I havn't read but wanted to. I noticed it had been discussed in several threads in our group already so I know folks were interested and talking about it. It's hard for me to always know what to pick but I havn't read everything or every author. Sorry if this didn't work out for you. They sounded so funny I thought it would be an interesting mystery series to read. My other problem is that it's a featured author not a featured book each month, and this is I believe the third year I've been doing this. I'm not saying I'm running outta authors to choose from but it does make choosing more difficult depending on what's out there. I never expect to please everyone every month but I don't want to offend anyone either.

ஐ Briansgirl (Book Sale Queen)ஐ wrote: "☯Emily wrote: "Just curious if these books can be considered cozies? I have just started Buck Fever and I am finding the language offensive. There are also other references that lead me to think ..."

I think you do a great job with your choices! Throwing a little something different in there keeps things interesting!

Thanks Melodie. I'm looking forward to my copy of Buck Fever to arrive shortly so I can read this for myself. :)

I think you do an excellent job - the cozy definition is a tough one; I'm like Melodie - I welcome color in all it's forms, especially colourful language! :D And I prefer my cozies to have sexual tension as well. Not 'sex', but well, hopefully you know what I mean.

A lot of people prefer the more sanitised cozies and that's totally understandable.

Perhaps someone who's previously read the author of the month can comment on the thread if there are language/sexual situation issues so that people can make more informed choices before committing that month? I'm happy to do this going forward (if it's someone I've read)...

❂ Jennifer wrote: "Perhaps someone who's previously read the author of the month can comment on the thread if there are language/sexual situation issues so that people can make more informed choices before committing that month? I'm happy to do this going forward (if it's someone I've read)..."

I think that would be helpful.

I concur with Melodie and Jennifer that you do a great job Brainsgirl! Emily if I have read any of the future featured author books I will try to make note if they contain any language or sexual content. :)

I read the first one in this series, but it's been several years ago. Obviously there was some "language", but again wouldn't have registered with me. I don't remember any sex, but like I said, it's been awhile. I have the 2nd one so am going to dig it out. I got it signed at the B'con where I met Ben several years ago so I know I still have it.

❂ Jennifer wrote: "I think you do an excellent job - the cozy definition is a tough one; I'm like Melodie - I welcome color in all it's forms, especially colourful language! :D And I prefer my cozies to have sexual..."

I don't mind some "sex" either, but I haven't come across a cozy yet that had overt sex in it. If I want SEX I know what to read to get it! LOL

Thank you. And yes, if someone has read alot of a featured author can comment on it's content, it's always helpful. With so much out there, it's hard for any one person to have read it all. And even cozies very and it isn't always easy to know what fits and what doesn't. And even an author with one cozy series might have another series that isn't, and I usually list all of their published works. It's getting harder each month to pick our featured authors. I really apprecate the suggestions in our featured author suggestion thread for when I need help.

I don't envy your task at all Briansgirl - I've started to make some suggestions in the thread, but the ones I have that haven't already been done/suggested are older and I think would be a challenge for a lot of people to find easily.

I'll take a look at the shelves again and see if I can find some authors to suggest...

Do you have a master list somewhere of the authors that have been used already? That would make it easier for us to suggest new/different authors.

Barb wrote: "Do you have a master list somewhere of the authors that have been used already? That would make it easier for us to suggest new/different authors."

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/3...

Thanks, Heidi :)

I have to reference that list every month because I've been doing this long enough now that I've forgotten who I've featured in the past. And I regularly go through the suggestion thread as well. I've tried featuring an author with at least one series of 5+ books so there are several to choose from. Alot of newer authors with nitch cozies (DIY, crafts, etc) sometimes only have 1-3 books out and hard to feature them. Sometimes the "classic" mystery authors may not be considered cozy. And I havn't read everything, so I have to do research to figure out who to feature. Not always easy but hopefully I've been doing okay.

ஐ Briansgirl (Book Sale Queen)ஐ wrote: "I have to reference that list every month because I've been doing this long enough now that I've forgotten who I've featured in the past. And I regularly go through the suggestion thread as well. I..."

I think you've been doing a great job. Not every author will appeal to every reader; that's all part of the experience in my opinion.

I think you are doing a terrific job. I have to agree with Leslie not every author is going to apeal to everyone. I have just finished reading this month's selection and enjoyed it. Keep up the great work.

Thank you Leslie and Anne.

Well I've been listening to the audio version of Buck Fever, and I'm liking it. Wasn't what I would consider the definition of a cozy, but I love all types of mysteries. Getting real concerned now over "Buck". Can't wait to find out more and how much trouble some of the characters get themselves into.

Well, I finished the book. It is definitely not a cozy and is not a series I will continue reading. None of the characters were likable and most were rather ridiculous caricatures of Texan stereotypes.

I know that we all have different tastes in books, so I'm sure that others will enjoy the series.

Kari, after a five-year pause, I'm currently writing the seventh Blanco County mystery. I might not have returned to the series, except that the books were optioned for television, and a series is in development with Warner Brothers and USA Network. It's amazing how much inspiration something like that will give you. :)

No, the crime in BUCK FEVER wasn't based on a real case, though I've seen several similar cases since then.

Thanks for the questions.

Kari wrote: "Thanks for another different suggestion "

You're welcome. Sometimes it's nice to try something different. My copy arrived yesterday so will start it this weekend.

Kari wrote: "I am reading Buck Fever and I am really enjoying it. I am finding the book and the characters rather funny. I will be reading the rest of the series. Not sure if I woul..."

I would second this. The hunting bothers me a little bit but that is just my own squeamishness. The language really isn't an issue for me - it seems quite realistic for the characters.

Ben wrote: "Kari, after a five-year pause, I'm currently writing the seventh Blanco County mystery. I might not have returned to the series, except that the books were optioned for television, and a series is ..."

Congrats on the TV series!