Cozy Mysteries discussion

I joined this group because I do like mysteries but I'm still trying to get a feel for what is a "cozy". I'm thinking that a lot of the ones I like might not be so cozy. :-) Has anyone read the Benny Harper series by Earlene Fowler? Is that a cozy? How about the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear? I'm assuming that Faye Kellerman is not a cozy writer but Maggie Sefton is?

I'm really enjoying picking up new ideas about what to read! Thanks everyone (and especially Kelley for putting this on her Goodreads list so I could see it)!

Lori

The Benni Harper books are cozies....and probably my very favorite cozy series, with Susan Wittig Albert's China Bayles series being a very close second. I haven't read Maises Dobbs, but they are, too. Faye Kellerman's are not!

I got a shout out :) Thanks Lori! Earlene Fowler books are cozies and I have read a lot of them, but got burnt out on the series. I just started my first Maisie Dobbs book and so far I would think it was a cozy. Anything with graphic violence, harsh words, or sex scenes would not be considered cozies, in my opinion. And Maggie Sefton is a definite cozy. Most of what I read is considered cozies, so just check my lists :) Glad to see you posting on here! You're the one that got me to read Maisie Dobbs.

What about the Victoria Thompson "Gaslight" series?

Lori wrote: "What about the Victoria Thompson "Gaslight" series?"

Love that series. It also has the benefit of staying consistently good throughout, even the later books.

It's hard to say if the "Gaslight" series is a cozy...there are some elements that make me lean towards it being a cozy. Whatever the classification, it's a really good series and it's probably one of my favorites right now.

Some of the cozy authors I really enjoy are Cleo Coyles Coffeehouse mysteries and Rhys Bowens Molly Murphy mysteries,Nancy Athertons Aunt Dimity mysteries,Annette Blairs Vintage mysteries.

Re: Cleo Coyle

Just wanted to inform (remind?) folks that she's the same writer as Alice Kimberly of the "Haunted Bookshop" series.

I like Tamar Myers her earlier books are good. Sue Grafton is a must read. Nancy Atherton Aunt Dimity books are cute. Nancy Fairchild, the Carolyn Blue series, Diane Mott Davidson, anything Agatha Christie, Kate Collins, all good reading material in my estimatiion.

@Lori & @ John-
I love the coffeehouse mysteries too! I'm about to start the Holiday Grind after my current non-cozy read.
I'm originally from NJ so it makes me feel like I'm back in the city.
I also read the first Alice Kimberly book! It was actually hard to find in my local library system.

Technically, both Alice Kimberly and Cleo Coyle are pen names of the husband and wife writing team Alice Alfonsi and Marc Cerasini. But I don't care what name they use for writing, I love both the Coffeehouse series and the Haunted Bookstore series. I'm hoping there'll be another one in the HB series soon since I just finished

Would Carla Neggers be considered a cozy read?

Caroline: There's a new Haunted Bookstore due out in March 2011, The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller.

Thanks, Heather! I'll be eagerly awaiting it!

Robin wrote: "Would Carla Neggers be considered a cozy read?"

She does several series, doesn't she? The one I've read is set in New Hampshire- I don't think it's a cozy because it seems to violent to me. I think she does an FBI series, but one of the "requirements" of a cozy is that the sleuth is an amateur. Although, I think we've had this discussion on another thread about how sometimes a book can be sort of considered a cozy even when it "violates" some of the rules. (Like the Hamish Macbeth series- he's a policeman, yet it still seems like a cozy.)

Robin wrote: "Would Carla Neggers be considered a cozy read?"

I love her books but I classify them as suspensful romances not cozy mysteries.

Yeah, I thought so. Thought I would ask, Thanks.

I like several of the cozy authors that are mentioned in comments above..plus I enjoy cozies by Monica Ferris, Joanne Fluke and Miranda Bliss.
Happy Holidays everyone!

Happy Holidays, Melissa, or we say Mele Kalikimaka in Hawaii. It means Merry Christmas in Hawaiian.

Mele Kalikimaka Robin! =)

Mahalo, Melissa, this means thank you in Hawaiian:)

Thank you Robin! =)

Sure anytime.

Mahalo Robin, it has been a long time since I have heard that. It brought back a lot of very fond memories. Especially this year as I look at about 8 in and snow and 14in more expected...Guess I will just dream :)

you are welcome, Dian. I know sometimes I want to be in snow too, but to see it from the inside, and looking at it outdoors.LOL

I;ve heard Cozy described as several things. A strong Atmosphere was one desciption - but I've wandered across some that seem to have a strong atmosphere or setting but are violent. Someone else once told me anything where the murder happens "off camera". I actually even consider Janet Evanovich cozy, because of the strong atmosphere, and despite the occassional stalker/rapist, you know in your hear Stephanie, Lula, and Grandma are always going to be okay.

I just discovered the Maisie Dobbs series, and am so excited! Not only are there a bunch of them, but they;re available on Audio at my library, so I can listen and knit. Love it!

I love cozies on audiobook Zoe.

The Maisie Dobbs series is one of my favorites and I think a new one has just been released or will be soon.

Hi Zoe,
Cozy mysteries are also called traditional mysteries, and the main features are minimal violence, drug use, and foul-language and sex is off-screen. A good list of authors and books that are considered to be cozy/traditional mysteries are those that were nominated for or won the Best Novel or Best First Novel Agatha Awards each year (named for Agatha Christie). Here's the list:

http://www.malicedomestic.org/agathaa...

y question is what do we do here? i mena is it like a group book club thing or sumthing else?

Cassa wrote: "y question is what do we do here? i mena is it like a group book club thing or sumthing else?"

We're a group of people who share an interest in and love of "cozy" type mysteries. Most of us also read other things, too, but this is primarily for talking about cozies.

k thanks

whats oyur definition of a cozzy mystery
?

AND COLD-EEZE COUGHDROPS TASTE DISUGSTING

Cassa: Check out the following thread for the answer to your question:

What do you consider a cozy mystery?

oh thnx

has anyone ever read the bride collecter by ted dekker
or any other ted dekker books?

Cassa, please ask that question in another thread. We have folders set up for favorite series, or looking for books. Folks aren't going to stop in here unless they have questions about the group.

ok sorry its just that there are so many threads it gets a little confusing, but it wasnt just for a favorite book, i was ondering if you would consider the bride collecter as a murder mystery?

anyway sorry

It's okay Cassa. You'll learn your way around. Look first at the folder names, then at the individual thread names. That should narrow down where you need to look to find what you want. It's just not many folks will swing by this thread to see your post about the book. They'll find it in the threads that are for looking for books. I havn't read that book so don't know.

ok thanks extreamly helpfull person!!

Your welcome.

I feel really stupid, but have two questions. First I posted something in a wrong section and was told to move it to the introduction area which i thought I did, but still see the posting of just the title "Hi" still in the wrong spot. I do not know how to get it off there? (looks foolish)Then(and I am somewhat computer illiterate)but how do you put book cover images in with your posts like you all seem to know how to do. i seem to be missing out on a lot of the fun around here (scavenger hunt as example) by being slow in this area. appreciate any assistance in this.

Karen (no need to feel stupid, btw. I work in IT and found navigating this site less intuitive than most at first) -

I'm not sure about deleting the post - our moderator might have to do that, or, if you go into the post you might see a 'delete' option next to the 'reply'. That might work.

About the covers, when you click on 'add book/author' at the top of the comment box and search for a book title, there are two small options at the bottom of that search box - add: link cover, with buttons. Just choose "cover" than choose your book. :)

Can anyone start a thread and if so how?

Karen wrote: "I feel really stupid, but have two questions. First I posted something in a wrong section and was told to move it to the introduction area which i thought I did, but still see the posting of just t..."

I asked you to move your introduction simply because if every person who joined our group started their own introduction thread (we have over 1,000 members) we'd have huge folders with countless threads. To simplfy it, we just have one thread where everyone introduces themselves and folks welcome you.

The only folks who can delete a thread is either a moderator, or the person who created it. You had deleted your post in that thread, but not the thread itself. I went back later and removed it.

Deborah wrote: "Can anyone start a thread and if so how?"

Yes, anyone can start a thread. Find the folder that's most appropriate to what you want to talk about (I sometimes move a thread if there is a better place for it as folks would be more likely to look for it a different folder depending on your topic.) Click on the folder you want, and after it's open with a list of topic threads, look at the upper right corner where it says "New topic". Then create your own.

Thanks for those that replied to my question on posting.

Now I have another question.I do read other mysteries than cozys, but prefer them because I do not like too much violence, cussing or sex and sometimes a book sound good on this site (outside group), but I cannot tell by reviews, nor have never read the author if i would enjoy the book. My library is so limited and I have seen these authors names. I saw one mentioned in an earlier post as cozy, but never would have thought Sue Grafton or Lisa Gardner was? Thoughts?

Karen wrote: "Now I have another question.I do read other mysteries than cozys, but prefer them because I do not like too much violence, cussing or sex and sometimes a book sound good on this site (outside group..."

I would not call Sue Grafton cozy at all. Have never read Lisa Gardner so can't comment on her.

Everyone's definition of what could be considered "cozy" may vary slightly. There is an entire thread dedicated to that exact question here in our group.

"What do you consider a cozy mystery"
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/5...