Cozy Mysteries discussion

I have been contacted by a Goodreads Community Manager with the following message:

"This May, Goodreads will be celebrating Mysteries and Thrillers with a weeklong event focused on these genres. As a moderator in a successful Goodreads group, we’d like to feature you and your group in our coverage.

We would love to know what books have been your group’s favorite mysteries or thrillers? Please let us know your top three picks and tell us in a couple sentences why those books were such hits (avoiding spoilers, obviously). We think readers (and other groups) would love to hear your smart recommendations."

We have so many featured authors, some more popular than others, and authors featured always have multiple books and/or series, so it's hard to know what to recommend. I've discussed this with Heather and we've decided to open it up to the group with a poll.

The poll will have 2 parts. Any group member can vote in the poll - once. Anyone can add a book to the poll - once.

A few rules:

- If you add a book to the poll, you must also add it to this (pinned) post, as we need the .... "and tell us in a couple sentences why those books were such hits (avoiding spoilers, obviously). " So please give us your reason for adding it, because if it wins I'll need to describe it and say why. (I may not have read it.)

- Do NOT add your own book. We have a lot of member authors. If others add your books, that's great. And you are allowed to vote for yourself. Just don't add your own book to the poll.

I'll try to leave this open for about 2 weeks, if I can. I'm not sure how long I have to get my reply back to Goodreads. Sooner may be better than later, so don't delay in voting.

Poll is at the bottom of the group's home page, click on the link to the right labeled POLLS, or follow this link:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

I started the poll with 2 books (the minimum to start the poll). I chose the first books in 2 series that got me started on reading Cozy Mysteries.

Aunt Dimity's Death by Nancy Atherton. And Gin & Daggers, the first Murder, She Wrote book by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain. Jessica Fletcher is the easiest way to describe to others what a cozy mystery is as most were familiar with her on TV, but may not know it is a very prolific book series as well.

The Death Contingency (Book 1 of The Regan McHenry Real Estate Mysteries)

Please Janice give a short description of the book and why you think it should be the list we submit. If it wins, I have to include that.

I just added State of the Onion, the first in the White House Chef series, by Julie Hyzy. I've enjoyed this series because it gives the reader a small peek inside the workings of the White House, and because Ollie isn't your stereotypical damsel-in-distress who needs to be rescued by a man.

ஐ Briansgirl (Book Sale Queen)ஐ wrote: "Please Janice give a short description of the book and why you think it should be the list we submit. If it wins, I have to include that."

The Death Contingency by Nancy Lynn Jarvis

The Death Contingency introduces Regan McHenry, a Santa Cruz Realtor, whose work puts her in the midst of mystery, mayhem and even murder. The amateur crime solver uses tools and techniques she’s learned during her career and skills she’s honed as a keen observer of human nature to solve mysteries ─ just not always soon enough to stay out of trouble.
In The Death Contingency a seller disappears before signing a grant deed. He turns up dead, and his nephew, a realtor Regan has known for years, becomes a person of interest in his death. She’s convinced the authorities focus is all wrong and sets out to prove it.
Then there’s a second death in the neighborhood. When it’s ruled accidental, Regan again finds herself at odds with the police. She thinks its murder and even thinks she knows who the murderer is ─ but she has to unravel past secrets before anyone will take her seriously. And, the problem is, she doesn’t want to be right.

The Lover's Portrait by Jennifer S. Alderson

When a homosexual Dutch art dealer hides the stock from his gallery – rather than turn it over to his Nazi blackmailer – he pays with his life, leaving a treasure trove of modern masterpieces buried somewhere in Amsterdam, presumably lost forever. That is, until American art history student Zelda Richardson sticks her nose in.

After studying for a year in the Netherlands, Zelda scores an internship at the prestigious Amsterdam Museum, where she works on an exhibition of paintings and sculptures once stolen by the Nazis, lying unclaimed in Dutch museum depots almost seventy years later. When two women claim the same portrait of a young girl entitled Irises, Zelda is tasked with investigating the painting’s history and soon finds evidence that one of the two women must be lying about her past. Before she can figure out which one it is and why, Zelda learns about the Dutch art dealer’s concealed collection. And that Irises is the key to finding it all.

Her discoveries make her a target of someone willing to steal – and even kill – to find the missing paintings. As the list of suspects grows, Zelda realizes she has to track down the lost collection and unmask a killer if she wants to survive.

Rest Yellow Murdered Gentleman by Vicki Delaney

Story takes place in Rudolph, NY where the town is about Christmas year around, so it's as the Christmas town. Everything there has a Christmas reference, whether it's a shop, street signs or even people's name.

Someone gets murdered in one of the shops in town right before Christmas. As the investigation heats up on one of the residents the town rallies around her and tries to solve the murder themselves.

It was such a cute story. I liked how the town revolved around a holiday and be successful year around. The story sucks you right in all the way to the end.Very likeable characters. It's the start of a good series.

Britney wrote: "Rest Yellow Murdered Gentleman by Vicki Delaney"

I think you mean Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen? When I searched GR for the book, I couldn't find it, so I searched the author's name instead.

You are correct. I didn't check the a to correct on my tablet before I added the comment.

I guessed that's what had happened :) Darned autofill and autocorrect, they type things we don't really mean!

Be sure to add your book to the poll as well!

Since I am an author of mysteries I will recuse myself. I think I'd be tempted to vote for my own books! :-)

Leann Sweeney

Diane Mott Davidson's Catering to Nobody, first in a series of culinary mysteries, and my favorite series of mysteries. Goldy Bear is a divorced woman with a young son, trying to make ends meet by starting a catering business. Her best friend Marla is also an ex-wife of Goldy's ex-husband. But when an guest is poisoned at an event she catered, she is the prime suspect and has to do her own digging to clear her name. I love this whole series, as the back story of the characters continues, her son grows up, more people enter her life, circumstances change, and there is real character growth.

Louise's War by Sarah R Shaber. A widow from a small southern town leaves to work in Washington DC when WW2 breaks out. Ultimately, the story shows how women were treated and eventually what was expected of them after the war. All while murder occurs and Louise develops a nose for sorting out clues and finding the killers.

1st choice: The Walt Longmire Series by Craig Johnsonis a great character driven series of a sheriff in Wyoming. He investigates murders along with his deputies and best friend. The Cold Dish is the first book in the series and it hooked me.

2nd choice: Her Royal Syness series by Rhys Bowen is a quirky, fun series that follows Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie 34th in line to the Crown of England. She is nearly always broke and always smack dab in the middle of some murder mystery that involves the upper echelon. The first book in the series is Her Royal Spyness

Death on Demand series by Carolyn G. Hart got me into cozies. Annie and Max move to a small island in South Caroline as Annie takes over the successful mystery bookstore called Death on Demand. The characters are likeable and the paintings of mysteries in each book add a fun puzzle for readers.

The China Bayles series by Susan Wittig Albert. I was hooked by the first book, Thyme of Death. The characters well thought out and believable. The mystery is always intriguing. The research into the herbs is solid and very well presented. Not to mention that Susan is a lovely, giving person. I love her book signings. I once spent about an hour with her at the end of a signing and she very graciously signed every book I had which was about fifteen!

Death of a Ghost, M C Beaton's latest Hamish MacBeth book. Love the descriptions of Scotland. Her writing gets better all the time. This one had a lot of twists and turns to keep you reading into the wee hours

Favorite new cozy series:

The pet resort series by Krista Davis
The animal pyschic series by Laura Morrigan

Favorite older cozy series:

The dog lovers series by Susan Conant
The Alpine series by Mary Daheim

Favorite non-cozy series:

The Inspector O series by James Church
The In Death series by J.D. Robb

Favorite classic series:

Lord Peter Wimsey by Dorothy L. Sayers
Tommy & Tuppence by Agatha Christie

I love Sofie Ryan's Second Chance Cats series. Her heroine, Sarah Grayson runs "Second Chance," a shop in Maine where she sells refurbished and repurposed items. Elvis is a big black stray cat she adopted. Elvis has been helpful to Sarah in solving some mysterious deaths which seem to happen frequentty in North Harbor. There are some wonderful characters in this series--maybe best of all are Sarah's grandmother's mystery-loving "girlfriends" who call themselves Charlotte's Angels and work out of the shop. The books are carefully plotted, well written with a keen sense of humor. No wonder Sofie Ryan is a NYT best seller!

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "Death on Demand series by Carolyn G. Hart got me into cozies. Annie and Max move to a small island in South Caroline as Annie takes over the successful mystery bookstore called Death on Demand. The..."
I agree! Her Bailey Ruth books atre deluightful too!

I know some of you have nominated entire series. However, to reply to what GRs asked, I have to give them three books, not three series. So if a series is nominated, I'll have to pick the first in the series. (That way if someone is interested, they'd know where to start.)

I added The Caprice De Luca series by Karen Rose Smith. I love the series so obviously the first book would be fine. Staged to DeathThe De Luca family are wonderful. They are supportive of one another, involved in each other's lives and very real. An Italian family that could be your neighbours. Caprice is an above average amateur sleuth in my opinion. She has great instincts but does put herself in some dangerous situations. This book has everything I like I like in a cozy, a murder to solve, food with recipes included, some romance with a little bit of sexual tension, some pets or animals and a wonderful family. I couldn't ask for more.

I thought you said "a few words"? My choice is One for the Money by Janet Evanovich. My "few" words are that the books in this series are funny, have a mystery to solve and a romance for the ages.

Paige Shelton's To Helvetica and Back.

Within the first few pages I decided to move to Star City, Utah despite it's lack of kosher supermarkets! I was so immediately caught up with the people and the surroundings that I had to force myself not to finish the book in one sitting.

Of course I have to admit to a prejudice for old typewriters, stationery and, of course, old books which play a central role. This lead me to experiment by reading other books by the author as a control. I also found these delightful, even though, to be honest a Scottish Bookstore doesn't hold the quite the same attraction to me.

The second book in the series, just released, Bookman Dead Style, is waiting for me - but am saving it for a time of no distractions.

Heartsick by Chelsea Cain - Damaged Portland detective Archie Sheridan spent ten years tracking Gretchen Lowell, a beautiful serial killer, but in the end she was the one who caught him.

ஐ Briansgirl (Book Sale Queen)ஐ wrote: "I know some of you have nominated entire series. However, to reply to what GRs asked, I have to give them three books, not three series. So if a series is nominated, I'll have to pick the first in ..."

Oops. Didn't get it. First book in the Sofie Ryan Second Chance Cat series is "The Whole Cat and Caboodle"

I'd like to nominate Bubba and the Dead Woman by C.L. Bevill. This is the first book in the Bubba Mystery Series and they are sooooo much fun to read. :) Bubba is a good 'ole boy from Texas and acts like a redneck even though he's a smart cookie. ;) The dialogue is hilarious and the mystery is well done. Plus, there is a little romance between Bubba and a deputy sheriff. :) Who wouldn't love a humorous, romantic, cozy mystery. ;) :)

There are a lot of books listed. I think you should have taken nominations here then did a poll.

Marianne wrote: "Death of a Ghost, M C Beaton's latest Hamish MacBeth book. Love the descriptions of Scotland. Her writing gets better all the time. This one had a lot of twists and turns to keep you reading into t..."

I agree. This is one of my favorites as well! Marie

I added "Murder Boogies with Elvis" (Southern Sisters series by Anne George). This is the final book in the series, so that's possibly why it is my favorite. I love the sense of place and local color, as well as the loving family relationships. The two sisters are strong, interesting, eccentric, and often funny, even in difficult situations. Everything is an adventure for "Sister" and "Mouse," from eating fried chicken to catching a killer, and I enjoy joining them!

Susan wrote: "Paige Shelton's To Helvetica and Back.

Within the first few pages I decided to move to Star City, Utah ...
Of course I have to admit to a prejudice for old typewriters, stationery and, of course, old books which play a central role. This lead me to experiment by reading other books by the author as a control. I also found these delightful, even though, to be honest a Scottish Bookstore doesn't hold the quite the same attraction to me"

Shelton is one of my favorite authors, and while I enjoy all of her series, the Scottish Bookshop is my least favorite of the bunch, at least for now. I'm hoping it will pick up as more books follow.

Love that someone added Bailey Cates Magical Bakery series on there. I've been enjoying those.

I love the Witch City Mystery series by Carol J. Perry. Murder Go Round is the 4th book in the series set in Salem and it's her best yet! Sleuth Lee Barrett has paranormal visions that always conjure up murder. Along with her police detective boyfriend Pete, intuitive Aunt Ibby and tabby cat O'Ryan ( who was once the familiar of well known witch) this book has has romance mischief, murder and fun ++ Russian antiques and a bubble-gum chewing likeness of Grand Duchess Anastasia. She is one of my favorite authors and this book my favorite cozy of any series:-)

Two series are listed twice on the poll - White House Chef by Julie Hyzy and Death on Demand by Carolyn Hart.

btw - Both authors have announced that these series have ended. They've been favorites of mine too.

Favorite Cozy Author would be Tamar Myers who writes 3 different series Penn Dutch, Den of Antiquity and an African series. Penn Dutch is my favorite series, featuring Magdalena Portulaca Yoder, an (in the beginning) middle aged prudish virgin Mennonite Innkeeper with a free spirited sister Suzanne, and an Amish aunt who does the cooking. Magdalena is a very judgemental woman who disapproves of a great deal of human behavior. She drives a red convertible, at very fast speeds, and charges double rates to her customers who choose the true Amish experience, (which means they do all their own cleaning). She also has very famous guests like the Clintons, and Barbara Streisand, who never actually appear in the story. Very funny characters. She delivers wonderful opening lines that hook you in the first paragraph. It is hard to pick a favorite among the first 6 or so but I would I guess pick "Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth" the first one. Although first lines and silly situations of some of the others are burned into my brain, and I can quote them.

Another favorite of mine in the cozy genre is Rhys Bowen's Molly Murphy series, (which I prefer over her other series) featuring an Irish Immigrant to America at the turn of the last century, who is a very "modern" woman, leaning toward the suffragette and socialist movements. She takes on a career as a detective. While single she ends up in possession of immigrant children she thought she was escorting to family in America who cannot provide for them when she arrives with them. And her best friends are a lesbian couple who live down the street from her. They are quite a colorful pair and add greatly to the picturesque New York lifestyle of the period. And she has great friends in the theater world. She has the mandatory to the genre lover who is a widowed police inspector. The first in the series "Murphy's Law" is my favorite as it sets up all the characters and explains how she ended up in her situation, therefore the choices she makes. Good mystery too.

In the historical category, I would pick Michael Jecks whose main character is a former Templar Knight who escaped the massacre, and now lives in Devon. He has a good piece of land, is married and with the local bailiff investigates murders. I don't read many male authors because they tend to focus on action and don't paint good word pictures to envision their story. He is an exception and gives wonderful descriptions of the Devon countryside in general and life in his century. The mysteries are always intriguing and the solution process interesting because it can't use any modern investigative tools. I haven't read all of them yet, but of those I have my favorite is probably "Tournament of Blood" which features the whole cultural thing surrounding tournaments, some personal challenges of the main characters and is set at a tournament hosted by one of my real ancestors. I love all the historical detail, which he always does well anyway, but this time gave me a window to one of my ancestors.

A series which cannot be categorized really as can none of her books, I would suggest the Lord John series by Diana Gabaldon. He is a secondary but important character in her Outlander series, but in the main series he seems to be a vehicle to move the plot but has no real depth. In his own series, He lives a rich and full life as a British soldier in the period between 1745 and 1768, although in the main books he continues as a character into the American Revolutionary war. He serves in Germany, Canada, Jamaica, Scotland, and England and fights in some major historical battles.

Each of his stories, whether a short story or Novella include a mystery and there is an overall larger mystery which carries through the books. I do not like or read (in general) books about gay characters because most of them seem to lean toward forwarding a political agenda and I don't want that in my recreational reading. John is gay and living in a time when its death to be known gay. Over the course of many books he first loves Hector, then Jamie, then Percy, then others. Its all OK with me, even the rather graphic sex stuff, well written but inoffensive. Of all the Lord John books, my favorite is "The Scottish Prisoner" which sits somewhere between a Lord John and a main storyline in the Big Enormous Books of the Outlander series, which take John and Jamie on a post-'45 Jacobite rebellion adventure to Ireland. This one is well along in the Lord John series and reveals spoilers regarding earlier writings in the series. Since he and Jamie are never lovers there is no graphic homosexual sex in this one, but it does include some between Jaime and a female. Most sex in Gabaldon books is graphic and yet usually romantic. It always borders soft porn.

Another pretty much uncategorizable novel is James Michner's "Caravans", set in deserts for the most part it is a wholly exotic tale of the type of persons you rarely see in novels, and the ending is very surprising. It isn't really a who dunnit so much as a why and how.

In the retired / dead writers category, no one seems to have mentioned Dorothy Sayers, Cornell Woolrich, or John Mortimer, giants in their time. I cannot list a favorite.

Summer Prescott's Long running INNcredibly Sweet Series is my all time favorite! Toffee Apple Killer, book 11 in the series is by far the best. With a character driven plot, she draws her readers in with an edge of your seat mystery every time!

I added Cleo Coyle's Coffeehouse Mysteries.

I'm not sure how to add but I love the Bombay Family Assassins series by Leslie Langtry 'Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy

I also love the Tara Holloway series by Diane Kelly

I think they both borderline on being a cozy but that is usually where you find the books in the store

My TBR list is growing reading this thread. I'm discovering some new cozies to read!

My book BAD DAY FOR HARRY DAY is entered twice in The Mysteries Trillers Week... How do I delete one of them?
Jean Jacques
[email protected]

Jean wrote: "My book BAD DAY FOR HARRY DAY is entered twice in The Mysteries Trillers Week... How do I delete one of them?
Jean Jacques
[email protected]"

You nominated your own book. That's one of the Don'ts in message one.

Fine... made a mistake... the question is... how do I delete one ???

Your page is very complicated... confusing... I have to look all over to find a places to open anything... waisting a lotta time.

There are two "Carols" here. I'm one of them. Can I change my name to avoid confusion?
Carol J. Perry

(I wrote the messages about Sofie Ryan --message 28 and 21 but not the long message 38)

Carol wrote: "There are two "Carols" here. I'm one of them. Can I change my name to avoid confusion?
Carol J. Perry

(I wrote the messages about Sofie Ryan --message 28 and 21 but not the long message 38)"


Carol, if you go into your profile, you should be able to change your name, or add a last name.

Anita, I love Stephanie Plum, I just don't consider it cozy as it breaks the general rules of no violence and bad language. It's incredibly funny, but just isn't a cozy.

******UPDATE AND WARNING!!********

PLEASE don't add a book/series until you know it isn't already on the list. I've had to remove two duplicates, but that also removes the votes for the duplicate (I removed the one with less votes).

AUTHORS are reminded DO NOT ADD your OWN books. I've had to remove several books by two authors who added their own works. Ignore the group rules again and you'll be banned. Last warning.

Jean wrote: "Your page is very complicated... confusing... I have to look all over to find a places to open anything... waisting a lotta time."

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.........note to self, make sure NOT to vote for this one!