Cozy Mysteries discussion

Okay will give it a try:

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona --SKINWALKERS --TONY HILLERMAN
Arkansas --SHAKESPEARE'S LANDLORD--CHARLAINE HARRIS
California --KING CON--STEPHEN J. CANNELL :(
Colorado --DYING FOR CHOCOLATE--DIANE MOTT DAVIDSON
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia --MURDER AT THE KENNEDY CENTER-- MARGARET TRUMAN
Florida --THE GIRL IN THE PLAIN BROWN WRAPPER-- JOHN D MACDONALD
Georgia--REAL MURDERS--CHARLAINE HARRIS
Hawaii--Hawaii --James Michener
Idaho
Illinois---BURNING SEASON--WAYNE D DUNDEE
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana--NEON RAIN--JAMES LEE BURKE
Maine
Maryland----WREATH OF DECEPTION --MARY ELLEN HUGHES
Massachusetts --HUSH MONEY --ROBERT B PARKER
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire --MYSTERY ON THE MOUNT--SPENCER CHARLES
New Jersey --ONE FOR THE MONEY--JANET EVANOVICH
New Mexico --THE BLESSING WAY--TONY HILLERMAN
New York --MURDER ON ASTOR PLACE--VICTORIA THOMPSON
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas--THYME OF DEATH--SUSAN WITTIG ALBERT
Utah
Vermont--O'ARTFUL DEATH--SARAH STEWART TAYLOR
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Twelve states done (original post with titles #32). I sure am enjoying this "reading travel vacation".

I have twelve left to read. I have been posting my list in my challenge list in the personal challenge list further down.

12/51 Done

Alabama
Alaska Murder on the Iditarod Trail by Sue Henry
Arizona Through a Glass, Deadly by Sarah Atwell 8/15/10****
Arkansas
California Murder Uncorked By Michele Scott 9/21/10 ****
Colorado Ill Wind by Nevada Barr 7/6/10 ****
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia Designer Knockoff by Ellen Byerrum
Florida Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois Knight Fall by Mary Monica Pulver
Indiana Sleeping With Anemone by Kate Collins
Iowa Witch Hunt by Shirley Damsgaard
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana Unlucky by Jana Deleon 10-31-10 ****
Maine The Dead Cat Bounce by Sarah Graves
Maryland
Massachusetts One Bad Apple by Sheila Connolly 9/29 ****
Michigan
Minnesota Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke 7/11/10 ****
Mississippi Bone Appetit by Carolyn Haines 8/20/10****
Missouri Dying in Style by Elaine Viets 9/14/10 ***
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada The Missing Ink by Karen Olson
New Hampshire Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York Unorthodox Practices by Marissa Piesman 8/30/10****
North Carolina Up Jumps the Devil by Margaret Maron
North Dakota
Ohio Trouble in Spades by Heather Webber
Oklahoma
Oregon Sink Trap by Christy Evans
Pennsylvania How I Spent My Summer Vacation by Gillian Roberts 9/5/10 ***
Rhode Island
South Carolina Death by Darjeeling by Laura Childs 7/15/10 ***
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas Thyme of Death by Susan Wittig Albert 10/9/10 ****
Utah
Vermont
Virginia The Diva Runs Out of Thyme by Krista Davis
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Got another state read. This time Indiana. Thirteen down, fifty-one to go! (Original post #32).

I think I've got something like 25 of them done. Hope to get a few more done this month.

I'm stuck on 27. I hope to read a few more this month too.

I've got the same problems as Kari. Keep reading books set in states I've already got.

I think both coasts and large cities are hit frequently. It's in the north and middle that tend to be written about less than others. I'm curious to see what mysteries folks come up with for places like Montana, or say Idaho. I'm not restricting myself to just mysteries for mine so can use some westerns (when I find some not set in Texas, lol) and some romances as well. I know most here are trying to use only mysteries and that should be interesting for a few of the less populated states.

The only states I've had trouble finding books for are the Dakotas and West Virginia. I'm still looking for one for South Dakota. 33 done so far.

For West Virginia I have checked A Misty Mourning. For South Dakota 61 Hours and Funeral Food. My problems are with North Dakota.

Sandy wrote: "The only states I've had trouble finding books for are the Dakotas and West Virginia. I'm still looking for one for South Dakota. 33 done so far."

For SD try Kathleen Taylor's Tory Bauer books.

Thanks

Check my list in the member's challenge area. I have found books for all states, and only have three more to go. I am nearly finished with Nebraska and the library is holding the last two for me.

Miki wrote: "Check my list in the member's challenge area. I have found books for all states, and only have three more to go. I am nearly finished with Nebraska and the library is holding the last two for me."

Wow, you are doing great! I'm not even half way done yet but I did pick up Hooked Up: A Stock Car Racing Mystery yesterday for DE.

Hooked Up:A Stock Car Racing Mystery was a much more interesting read than I expected. Enjoy it.

Another state conquered (Maine). Original list posted in message#32.

Updated message 19: Murder, She Wrote: A Fatal Feast for Maine.

I have finished all the states! I used only mysteries, and most of them are cozies. I loved this challenge because I found so many new authors and series. Now I am on to the next challenge and having a great time reading.


Alabama – Murder Boogies with Elvis by Ann George
Alaska – A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow
Arizona – Pane of Glass by Sarah Atwell
Arkansas – Busy Bodies by Joan Hess
California – U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton
Colorado – Dropped Dead Stitch by Maggie Sefton
Connecticut – Please Omit Funeral by Hildegard Dolson
Delaware - Hooked Up by J. and J. Lavene
District of Columbia – Bad Moon Rising by Barbara Johnson
Florida – Murder Under the Palms by Stefanie Matteson
Georgia – Death and the Family Tree by Linda Berry
Hawaii - The Mamo Murders by Juanita Sheridan
Idaho –Killer Weekend by Ridley Pearson
Illinois - Grime and Punishment by Jill Churchill
Indiana - Mums the Word by Kate Collins
Iowa - Antique Road Kill by Barbara Allen
Kansas – A Murder of Taste by Sally Goldenbaum
Kentucky – A Simple Shaker Murder by Deborah Woodworth
Louisiana – Tragic Magic by Laura Childs
Maine – Fatal Fixer Upper by Jennie Bentley
Maryland - Wreath of Deception by Mary Ellen Hughes
Massachusetts – Death by Cashmere by Sally Goldenbaum
Michigan - The Chocolate Cat Caper by JoAnne Carl
Minnesota – Blackwork by Monica Ferris
Mississippi – Elvis and the Grateful Dead by Peggy Webb
Missouri - Blooming Murder by Jean Hager
Montana - Never Turn Your Back by Margaret Scherf
Nebraska - Money Trouble by William J. Reynolds
Nevada - The Missing Ink by Karen E. Olson
New Hampshire - Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett
New Jersey - Crushing Crystal by Evan Marshall
New Mexico - Bad Faith by Aimee and David Thurlo
New York – Murphy’s Law by Rhys Bowen
North Carolina - A Killer Collection by J.B. Stanley
North Dakota - After the Rain by Chuck Logan
Ohio – Clouds Without Rain by P.L. Gaus
Oklahoma - Death Books a Return by Marion Moore Hill
Oregon - The Quick and the Thread by Amanda Lee
Pennsylvania – Eat Drink and Be Wary by Tamar Myers
Rhode Island - The Ghost and Mrs. McClure by Alice Kimberly
South Carolina - Blood Orange Brewing by Lauren Childs
South Dakota - Hotel South Dakota by Kathleen Taylor
Tennessee - Dead on Arrival by Jackie Griffey
Texas – Holly Blues by Susan Wittig Albert
Utah - Pointe and Shoot by Natalie M. Roberts
Vermont - A Murderous Glaze by Melissa Glazer
Virginia – Merlot Murders by Ellen Crosby
Washington - Lye in Wait by Carmen McRae
West Virginia - Stonewall Jackson's Elbow by John Billheimer
Wisconsin – Grounds for Murder by Sandra Balzo
Wyoming - Blue Wolf by Lise McClendon

Guau, Miki! Congrats!

Miki wrote: "I have finished all the states! I used only mysteries, and most of them are cozies. I loved this challenge because I found so many new authors and series. Now I am on to the next challenge and h..."

Congratulations. You finished this really quick considering the size of the challenge, and you also used the option of only using mysteries. Well done.

Wow -- that's impressive. Congratulations!

Wow Miki! Great job.

Wow that is awesome. Great Job.

Miki, you traveled the country and back! Must have been fun. I was delighted to see my Wreath of Deception in the Maryland slot. Several people seemed to have trouble finding a Maryland book. There's my series, plus Marcia Talley's books are mostly in Maryland. Then there's Laura Lippman, as well as Chassie West, to name a few more.

Updated message 19: Undone for Georgia.

Interesting idea - making it only mysteries would be nearly impossible as some states have slim pickings there.

Since June 1st, since the thread started that month, I've read (mystery states in bold) ...

Alabama: Shaking the Family Tree: Blue Bloods, Black Sheep, and Other Obsessions of an Accidental Genealogist (nonfiction)

Arizona: An Idiot Girl's Christmas: True Tales from the Top of the Naughty List (nonfiction)

District of Columbia: The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court (nonfiction)

Georgia: Angel's Advocate

Hawaii: Aloha Candy Hearts

Illinois: Never a City So Real: A Walk in Chicago (nonfiction)

Iowa: Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World (nonfiction)

Massachusetts: Insignificant Others: A Novel

Montana: Loco Motive

New Jersey: Last Exit In New Jersey

New York: Murder on The Mind

North Carolina: Sand Sharks

Washington: The Remains of the Dead

Wisconsin: Yarn: Remembering the Way Home (memoir)

Great Idea!!!! I'm in!


Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

John wrote: "Interesting idea - making it only mysteries would be nearly impossible as some states have slim pickings there."

I agree John that using only mysteries would be difficult, that's why it's a bonus option not a requirement, but we've got a few ladies who are trying it using only mysteries and doing quite well so far. So not quite impossible, but not easy.

Challenge completed 51/51

Start Date July 1, 2010 - End Date Dec 18, 2010

This was fun and I found several new series to read.

Alabama - Thistle & Twigg by Mary Saums
Alaska - White Sky, Black Ice by Stan Jones
Arizona - The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman
Arkansas - Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris
California - Appearances of Death by Dell Shannon
Colorado - Dead in the Scrub by B.J. Oliphant
Connecticut - Putt To Death by Roberta Isleib
Delaware - Hooked Up by Joyce Lavene
District of Columbia - Murder at Union Station by Margaret Truman
Florida - Death Dines Out by Claudia Bishop
Georgia - A Bloodhound to Die For by Virginia Lanier
Hawaii - Right From The Gecko by Baxter
Idaho - The Double-Jack Murders by Patrick McManus
Illinois - Loose Ends by Terri Reid
Indiana - On This Rockne by Ralph McInerny
Iowa - The Witch's Grave by Shirley Damsgaard
Kansas - There Goes Santa Claus by Nancy Mehl
Kentucky - Sins of a Shaker Summer by Deborah Woodworth
Louisiana - No Quater by Robert Asprin
Maine - Repair To Her Grave by Sarah Graves
Maryland -Wreath of Deception by Mary Ellen Hughes
Massachusetts - A Vineyard Killing by Philip R Craig
Michigan - The Chocolate Bear Burglary by Joanna Carl
Minnesota - Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
Mississippi - Bone Appetite by Carolyn Haines
Missouri - Sew Deadly by Jean Hager
Montana - Coyote Wind by Peter Bowen
Nebraska - The Potbellied Pig Caper by Georgette Livingston
Nevada - An Eye For Gold by Sarah Andrews
New Hampshire - Chapter & Hearse by Lorna Barrett
New Jersey - Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich
New Mexico - Heartshot by Steven F. Havill
New York - Roast Mortem by Cleo Coyle
North Carolina - Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder by Chris Cavender
North Dakota - After the Rain by Chuck Logan
Ohio - The Chick And The Dead by Casey Daniels
Oklahoma - The Fire Carrier by Jean Hager
Oregon - Lead-Pipe Cinch by Christy Evans
Pennsylvania - Fundraising The Dead by Sheila Connolly
Rhode Island - The Secret Ingredient Murders by Nancy Pickard
South Carolina - Six Strokes Under by Roberta Isleib
South Dakota - Mourning Shift by Kathleen Taylor
Tennessee - A Brisket, A Casket by Delia Rosen
Texas - Fax Me A Bagel by Sharon Kahn
Utah - Fault Line by Sarah Andrews
Vermont - A Murderous Glaze by Melissa Glazer
Virginia - Pay Dirt by Rita Mae Brown
Washington - Demon Hunts by C.E. Murphy
West Virginia - Dismal Mountain by John Billheimer
Wisconsin - Dead Frenzy by Victoria Houston
Wyoming - The Eagle Catcher by Margaret Coel

Sandy wrote: "Challenge completed 51/51

Start Date July 1, 2010 - End Date Dec 18, 2010

This was fun and I found several new series to read.

Alabama - Thistle & Twigg by Mary Saums
Alaska - White Sky, ..."

Great job Sandy!

Well done Sandy.

Congrats, Sandy! Impressive!

Good job, Sandy!

WOW That is terrific. Great Job.

Awesome!

Read Around the USA Challenge
Jan 1, 2011 - ?????
11 read and 41 to go ......

Alabama (AL):On the Run by Iris Johansen 1/10/11 ****4 stars
Alaska (AK)
Arizona (AZ)
Arkansas (AR)
California (CA)
Colorado (CO)
Connecticut (CT):Vision in White by Nora Roberts1/23/11****4 stars
Delaware (DE)
District of Columbia
Florida (FL)
Georgia (GA)
Hawaii (HI)
Idaho (ID)
Illinois (IL)
Indiana (IN)
Iowa (IA)
Kansas (KS)
Kentucky (KY)
Louisiana (LA: Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris1/17/11***3 stars
Maine (ME)
Maryland (MD)
Massachusetts (MA): The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner1/21/11*****5 stars
Michigan (MI)
Minnesota (MN):Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag1/22/11****4 stars
Mississippi (MS)
Missouri (MO):The River Wife by Jonis Agee1/15/11****4 stars
Montana (MT)
Nebraska (NE)
Nevada (NV)
New Hampshire (NH)
New Jersey (NJ)
New Mexico (NM)
New York (NY)
North Carolina (NC)
North Dakota (ND)
Ohio (OH)
Oklahoma (OK)
Oregon (OR)
Pennsylvania (PA)
Rhode Island (RI)
South Carolina (SC):Death on Demand by Carolyn Hart1/24/11****4 stars
South Dakota (SD)
Tennessee (TN):Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts1/30/11****4 stars
Texas (TX)
Utah (UT)
Vermont (VT)
Virginia (VA)
Washington (WA: That Summer Place: Old Things\Private Paradise\Island Time by Jill Barnett1/19/11***3 stars
West Virginia (WV)
Wisconsin (WI)
Wyoming (WY): The Eagle Catcher by Margaret Coel1/21/11***3 stars
U.S. Virgin Islands: Twenty-Seven Bones by Jonathan Nasaw1/19/11****4 stars

Got back to this challenge this week and added NH and VT. Only 19 more to go. The best part of this challenge is I've found some new-to-me authors and enjoyed them enough to read more in the series.

What series have you found for these two States? I live in Vt on the border with NH so am always interested to read books set in the area.

This is not a quick challenge, but one I'm finding fun just the same.

Katherine: The Booktown mystery series by Lorna Barrett is set in NH (this is the one I read for the challenge), and the book Kaye read, Antiques to Die For, is by Jane K. Cleland. I haven't crossed VT off my list yet. Must check out Kaye's personal challenge list to see what she read...

I read A Murderous Glaze by Melissa Glazer for VT and Chapter and Hearse by Lorna barrett for NH.

Katherine wrote: "What series have you found for these two States? I live in Vt on the border with NH so am always interested to read books set in the area."

I'm obviously having a brain cramp or something when I wrote VT. I meant to write MO and the book I read for that was Dead and Buried. For VT I read From Away by David Carkeet, a somewhat crazy story but still fun. Antiques to Die For, set in NH was more enjoyable to me than the Barrett books.

Katherine wrote: "What series have you found for these two States? I live in Vt on the border with NH so am always interested to read books set in the area."

I absolutley adored Barbara Bretton's Casting Spells, set in Sugar Maple VT. Very witty!

I'll give this challenge a try.

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California ~ Hooked on Murder
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine ~ Murder on the Rocks
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan ~ Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey ~ High Five, Hot Six, Seven Up
New Mexico
New York ~ Murder 101, Better Read Than Dead
North Carolina ~ A Slice of Murder
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas ~ Since You're Leaving Anyway, Take Out the Trash
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Amy wrote: "Katherine wrote: "What series have you found for these two States? I live in Vt on the border with NH so am always interested to read books set in the area."

I absolutley adored Barbara Bretton's..."

Ooh, I liked that one too!

Read Around the USA Challenge
Jan 1, 2011 - ?????
26 read and 26 to go ......

Alabama (AL):On the Run by Iris Johansen 1/10/11 ****4 stars
Alaska (AK):Cruisin' For a Bruisin' by Gayle Wigglesworth2/20/11*****5 stars
Arizona (AZ)
Arkansas (AR)
California (CA):The Little Sister by Raymond Chandler4/1/11***3 stars
Colorado (CO):The Potluck Club by Linda Evans Shepherd2/28/11****4 stars
Connecticut (CT):Vision in White by Nora Roberts1/23/11****4 stars
Delaware (DE)
District of Columbia (DC):The Camel Club by David Baldacci2/7/11****4 stars
Florida (FL): Predator - Kay Scarpetta Mysteries by Patricia Cornwell4/4/11****4 stars
Georgia (GA): Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson5/22/2011****stars
Hawaii (HI)
Idaho (ID): Five Skies by Ron Carlson5/6/2011****stars
Illinois (IL)
Indiana (IN)
Iowa (IA)
Kansas (KS)
Kentucky (KY)
Louisiana (LA: Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris1/17/11***3 stars
Maine (ME)
Maryland (MD):Hardly Knew Her: Stories by Laura Lippman2/23/11****4 stars
Massachusetts (MA): The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner1/21/11*****5 stars
Michigan (MI): What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary DayPearl Cleage
Minnesota (MN):Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag1/22/11****4 stars
Mississippi (MS)
Missouri (MO):The River Wife by Jonis Agee1/15/11****4 stars
Montana (MT)
Nebraska (NE)
Nevada (NV)
New Hampshire (NH)
New Jersey (NJ)
New Mexico (NM)
New York (NY): Queen of Babble in the Big CityMeg Cabot
North Carolina (NC):Down River by John Hart1/30/11***3 stars
North Dakota (ND):Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich2/26/11****4 stars
Ohio (OH):Winesburg, OhioSherwood Anderson2/19/11****4 stars
Oklahoma (OK)
Oregon (OR)
Pennsylvania (PA)
Rhode Island (RI)
South Carolina (SC):Death on Demand by Carolyn Hart1/24/11****4 stars
South Dakota (SD)
Tennessee (TN):Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts1/30/11****4 stars
Texas (TX):Lookin' Back TexasLeanna Ellis2/3/11****4 stars
Utah (UT)
Vermont (VT)
Virginia (VA): Wish You Well by David Baldacci4/22/11****4 stars
Washington (WA): That Summer Place: Old Things\Private Paradise\Island Time by Jill Barnett1/19/11***3 stars
West Virginia (WV)
Wisconsin (WI)
Wyoming (WY): The Eagle Catcher by Margaret Coel1/21/11***3 stars
U.S. Virgin Islands: Twenty-Seven Bones by Jonathan Nasaw1/19/11****4 stars

The Challenge is almost up and I have only 35 books read. I think I am going to continue with it until I get it finished. I like the idea of finding books from all over the states. I am going on vacation and will not have time to read much. I am taking a couple of books with me.

Linda,
If you are lookig for books set in New Jersey three authors (actually 4) I have liked

Mary Higgins Clark
Carol Higgins Clark (her daughter, not all are set in NJ)
David Rosenfelt (One Dog Night is a lot of fun)
and of course
Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum series

Linda wrote: "The Challenge is almost up and I have only 35 books read."

Hi Linda! This is actually an open-ended challenge, meaning no set end date. You can take as long as you want to complete the challenge. After a year of working on it, I only have 27 of 51 books completed myself. I have several other "states" siting in the TBR pile, just haven't got round to them yet, and a few states that have been difficult to find.