Cozy Mysteries discussion

is there one book you turn to, when you're feeling low? no matter how many times you've read it, what's the one book or author or series you want? think of it as comfort food... whats your ben and jerry's?

Any of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books work for me. They always make me smile, if not laugh.

I know many don't think of them as cozies (I do for lack of a better place to put them), but I like the Stephanie Plum books. My dad passed away this past June and the new one in the series had arrived a few days before that. I took it with me on the plane and it was just what I needed. God knows they're not great literature, and the mystery part is usually almost an afterthought, but they never fail to make me laugh and that's what I needed then.

It varies but I read something I enjoy and tried to relax. A favorite is Helen McInnis REST AND BE THANKFUL. JoeGrey mysteries help also.

Donna Andrews' series is light-hearted and amusing. She has a wacky extended family. The first one is Murder with Peacocks

Cozies in general put me in a good mood :)

Melodie, I'm so sorry.

I normally reach for a fix of the Plum series as well. A little Lula can get me laughing. I will say though that sometimes I will reach for any of Fannie Flagg stories.

My current Ben & Jerry's book is A Discovery of Witches - I can't say why, but I've read it at least 3 times since it came out.

Tuesdays with Morrie always makes me feel better. :)

They are not cozies or even mysteries, but to lighten my world, I read P. G. Wodehouse books. All are hilarious with convoluted plots.

Ivy wrote: "is there one book you turn to, when you're feeling low? no matter how many times you've read it, what's the one book or author or series you want? think of it as comfort food... whats your ben and ..."

Yep but not mysteries. My 'comfort food' books are romances and children's stories -- Georgette Heyer books especially.

Oh, I do also love the P.G. Wodehouse books!!

I always find that something light helps me when I'm not feeling "up", and recently I started the County Cork mysteries by Sheila Connelly. I can see myself returning to them when I feel the need for a pick me up.

Melodie--I'm so sorry for your loss. Laughter is certainly the best medicine (such a cliché, but I don't care! :)) and I'm happy you've found books that give you a good feeling.

Leslie wrote: "Ivy wrote: "is there one book you turn to, when you're feeling low? no matter how many times you've read it, what's the one book or author or series you want? think of it as comfort food... whats y..."

Same here, my Ben & Jerry books are romances mostly.

Anything with real humor picks me up. Depending on my mood, I might reread To Kill a Mockingbird, too.

Marja will you be reading Harper Lee's newly found old book?

Ivy wrote: "Marja will you be reading Harper Lee's newly found old book?"

Absolutely. I hope it's as good as TKAM, but you never know. Crossing fingers. : ) Will you?

fingers crossed here too! I'm very excited about it.

Ivy wrote: "fingers crossed here too! I'm very excited about it."

There have been so many stories about Lee and how this came about. I hope only the good ones are true. Like you, I'm excited!

I still can't understand why TKAM is still banned by some schools.

Ivy wrote: "I still can't understand why TKAM is still banned by some schools."

I don't believe in banning but I think that the rationale is that the stuff about the so-called rape isn't suitable for students of school age.

ah. thanks Leslie. I can respect that.

Hmm. I had the blues this morning, but no time to read anything. Instead I have to go run errands. sighing loudly

I download one of the In Death audiobooks.

I'm off on Fridays so I was able to take advantage of another blues fighter - sitting in the backyard with the latest J.D. Robb book and a tall glass of lemonade, soaking up the sun.

My blues went away. My new book just came out and I'll be announcing it quite soon. That always makes a day brighter. : )

I have to add Sarah Addison Allen and Kristin Hannah books as well.

PG Wodehouse is a great one to cure the blues, but I most often turn to old childhood favorites--L.M. Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott, and a particular favorite of mine that I managed to pick up in a used book sale (long out of print, I think), is The Lion's Paw.

Ivy wrote: "I have to add Sarah Addison Allen and Kristin Hannah books as well."

Oh my gosh! Sarah's book make me super happy!

Heidi (Yup. Still here.) wrote: "Ivy wrote: "I have to add Sarah Addison Allen and Kristin Hannah books as well."

Oh my gosh! Sarah's book make me super happy!"

Yes! I am re-reading .

Her books are so sweet, poignant and creative stories

Not cozies really, but for me it's Debbie Macomber books when I need something really light and to cheer me up.

One of my comfort reads is Little Women. Nothing like a trip back in time with four young girls who gather around a fireplace in an old house waiting for their lives to begin.

For me, there're who authors (none of them are cozies): Jayne Ann Krentz (mainly JAK / Jayne Castle) and Shelly Laurenston. From time to time I reread their books, and I have a lot of them always in my ereader.

Karen M wrote: "One of my comfort reads is Little Women. Nothing like a trip back in time with four young girls who gather around a fireplace in an old house waiting for their lives to begin."
That's one of mine, too! And quite a number of books by L.M. Montgomery.

I always pick up a Stephanie Plum book that I’ve read before and get lost on the humor and great characters. Takes me away for a bit to regroup.

I love the Stephanie Plum books. They are laugh out loud funny. Or I try to find a comedy movie on tv that I haven't seen in a while like Animal House or The Great Outdoors.

I usually download an In Death or Lady Georgianna audiobook and disappear into another world.

Count me in as another Stephanie Plum fan. They make me laugh. They are always good brain candy. I call them "Cozy Heavy." :) For "Cozy Light" a little "The Cat Who...." always makes me smile.

I love the Stephanie Plum books too. I read every one and laugh along with them. Definitely great when you are feeling blue.

"The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin always puts me in a good mood. I think it was written mainly for middle schoolers, but it's still one of my favorites.

I always grin and giggle when reading one of Gemma Halliday's High Heels Mysteries.

What a great topic! My mystery rereads for brightening a mood would be any of Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce series or Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness series. For super serious silliness and satire I go non-mystery to (almost) any of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels: 'Equal Rites' is one of the better early novels for introducing his female characters.

I was trying to stay in the mystery genre. If I wander outside of it
Keith Laumer's Retief Series
Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat Series
Robert Aspirin's Myth Series
Craig Shaw Gardner's Ebenezum series
Piers Anthony's Xanth series
Pratchett's Discworld series
Douglas Adam's Hitcherhikers Guide series

and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few.

I love Terry Pratchett's Discworld series and Douglas Adams Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy but they're not what I'd call cozy mysteries. I've just started Julie Henze Whitehouse Cook series and so far it's good. And of course if you want one based on a chocolatier and caterer (great recipes but her catered events tend to be deadly) you my want to pick up the 1st (Chocolate Worth Dying For) and the 4th (Soul Mates) of my Death By Chocolate series which are FREE on Amazon May 22 and 23rd.

Australian mystery writer Kerry Greenwood's Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries featuring the fabulous Miss Phyrne Fisher. Really well written, very funny, great setting, feminist theme, and a whole lot more.

Charlene wrote: "Australian mystery writer Kerry Greenwood's Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries featuring the fabulous Miss Phyrne Fisher. Really well written, very funny, great setting, feminist theme, and a whole lot m..."

Yes! I love those. And they are definitely comfort food.

Charlene wrote: "Australian mystery writer Kerry Greenwood's Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries featuring the fabulous Miss Phyrne Fisher. Really well written, very funny, great setting, feminist theme, and a whole lot m..."

Like so many other favorites, I saw the PBS series and wasn't happy until I had the first book in my possession. Phyrne was definitely ahead of her time. ;)

Agatha Christie's books transport me away to wherever they are taking place.

Julie Austin wrote: ""The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin always puts me in a good mood. I think it was written mainly for middle schoolers, but it's still one of my favorites."

The Westing Game is a great book.

I love mysteries but usually stick to series UF favorite re-reads if I need consoling and the most distraction during rough times.

I also love the Stephanie Plum series and anything P. G. Wodehouse.
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin is not only a great book, but it won the Newbery Award for children's literature in 1979.
For those who have never heard of the Newbery Award, it is an annual award sponsored by the American Library Association, awarded to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. (And Westing Game well deserved the award!)