COZY MYSTERIES . WHO-DUN-IT?
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The detectives in such stories are nearly always amateurs and frequently women. Miss Marple and Murder She Wrote are good examples. They are typically well-educated, intuitive, and often hold jobs (caterer, innkeeper, librarian, teacher, dog trainer, shop owner, reporter, author) that bring them into constant contact with other residents of their town. Like other amateur detectives, they typically have a contact on the police force who can give them access to important information about the case at hand, but the contact is typically a spouse, lover, friend or family member. Dismissed by the authorities in general as nosy busybodies (particularly if they are middle-aged or elderly women), the detectives in cozy mysteries are thus left free to eavesdrop, gather clues, and use their native intelligence and intuitive "feel" for the social dynamics of the community to solve the crime. Cozy mysteries often have repeating themes like art, food, crafts or whatever the author/heroine is into.
The murderers in cozies are typically neither psychopaths nor serial killers, and, once unmasked, are usually taken into custody without violence. They are generally members of the community where the murder occurs, able to hide in plain sight, and their motives—greed, jealousy, revenge—are often rooted in events years, or even generations, old. The murderers are typically rational and often highly articulate, enabling them to explain, or elaborate on, their motives after their unmasking.
The supporting characters in cozy mysteries are often very broadly drawn and used as comic relief. The accumulation of such characters in long-running cozy mystery series frequently creates a stock company of eccentrics, among whom the detective stands out as the most (perhaps only) truly sane person. Send me a list of your favorite cozies and authors. [This is my personal favorite mystery genre. ~ EMAIL ME.
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Mug Shot by Caroline Fardig (A Java Jive Mystery, Book 2)
JUST RELEASED
This is the second in the series that I have read, and I really enjoy the bumbling efforts of Jules from Java Jive to help her friends. When her best friend Pete is jailed for the murder of his bitchy fiance, Jules is completely distraught, but determined to prove his innocence. She is fearless in confronting would be killers and driving her sometimes boyfriend/police investigator crazy with her dangerous antics. With a broken finger, a bruised face, and a raging headache, she soldiers on to find the guilty party. Once you start, you'll want to finish it. Can't wait for more caffeine driven escapades. Witty, fun and a rip-roaring romp. Review by Sandy Penny . SweetMysteryBooks.yolasite.com - Five stars *****
Click this Amazon link for a list of Caroline Fardig's Novels.
Death Before Decaf by Caroline Fardig (Java Jive Mystery 1)
Java Jive Killer and The Red Headed She Devil - When Jules takes a job with her college crush at his family's coffee house, the Java Jive, she never expects to be accused of murder on her first day at work. And, it doesn't seem like the police have any intention of helping clear her name, so she sets out to clear her own name, with the help of the mysterious college professor who looks more like a marine. The mystery just keeps getting more complicated and her stress is through the roof and her Redheaded She-Devil is about to break free and take on all threats. Can she save the little coffee house and save herself in the process, or will everything come crashing down on her? There's plenty of caffeine-fueled action, a little romance, and a fast-moving plot. I love Caroline Fardig's work, and I can't wait for more Java Jive mysteries to come. ~Review by Sandy Penny, SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com - Five Stars *****
It's Just a Little Crush by Caroline Fardig . A Lizzie Hart Mystery
The sleepy town of Liberty hasn’t seen murder in…well…ever. Residents are stunned when the body of a young woman is found strangled, and reporters at the Liberty Chronicle are thrilled, rather disturbingly. Lizzie Hart has even bigger problems. Lately, she can’t seem to concentrate on her job as Chronicle copy editor when she’s using all her energy combatting Blake-induced hot flashes and struggling to repress the giggly inner schoolgirl who's constantly rearing her dorky head? Blake barely knows Lizzie exists. When Lizzie and Blake find a co-worker dead, Blake’s personality changes completely—and not in a good way. Even though the police rule the death an accident, Lizzie immediately suspects foul play and senses a connection to the recent murder. She is determined to bring the killer to justice, but is having some trouble getting her Nancy Drew on thanks to the pesky stalker she’s picked up—Blake Morgan. Blake has turned from cool and smooth to cold and downright scary, making Lizzie wonder if he should be at the top of her suspect list. ~Review by Sandy Penny, SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com - Five Stars *****
Rosemary's Gravy (We Sisters Three Mystery Book 1)
by Melissa F. Miller
When Rosemary Field, former chemist turned personal holistic chef to the stars, is accused of murdering her unlikable employer by putting nuts in her vegan gravy and triggering anaphylactic shock, she thinks she has lost her job/career and will be put in prison if she doesn't prove her innocence. Now she's being pursued by her former employer's hot son, and she doesn't know if he is the actual killer. Lord knows he had reason enough to do it. Did her gay husband do it to be free to be with his lover? Did her secret lover murder her to protect their affair? Did her angry personal assistant get fed up and take her down? Whoever it was, they're trying to pin it on Rosemary, and she's not having it. Detective Sullivan realizes she won't stop meddling, so he enlists her to help in trapping the perp. Will she end up with a hot new romance, or will her goose be cooked? It's a good story, well told, although not that unique a plot. Still, I was entertained, and that's what I want. Will read more in the series and more by this author. It's a romp. ~Review by Sandy Penny, SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com
Murder in Cuba by Dianne Harman
As relations with Cuba begin to open up again, a group of recreational fly fishing guides vie for the rights to bring fishing parties to the land of beautiful beaches, fresh seafood, salsa music and great cigars. The competition turns deadly when one of the competitors has a heart attack that is found to be murder. Jack becomes a suspect as are all the competitors, and his friend Mike, a sheriff from Cedar Bay is enlisted by local authorities to assist in the investigation. Their wives, Carola and Kelly, decide to do some investigating of their own to make sure their men are proved innocent. When a second competitor is killed, the investigation gets decidedly more dangerous. Even a hurricane does not deter these two women from standing by their men. With the help of the local free cat, they set their hooks to catch a killer. I enjoyed the story. A little more serious than the Liz Lucas series, but well written with local color and insights into the opening borders of Cuba. Very timely. Four Stars**** ~Review by Sandy Penny, SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com
Murder in Cottage #6 (Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery Series Book 1)
by Dianne Harman
Red Faced & Furious: Liz Lucas owns a quiet little bed and breakfast/spa, and she loves what she does. When one of her clients is found dead on the premises under mysterious circumstances, in addition to being shocked and saddened, she's at a loss as to how to protect her business from the horrible publicity. When she and her best friend end up with inflamed purple faces after a facial, and the esthetist suddenly disappears, they're pretty sure she's the murder culprit. They take off after her to try to prevent her from killing or maiming others. It's pretty hilarious imagining a couple of purple faced women trying to be inconspicuous while following a crazy woman. I enjoyed the humor, the action, and the ironies. Definitely a fun read. Four Stars**** ~Review by Sandy Penny, SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com
NEW CLASSIC COZY AUTHOR ON THE SITE: Charlotte MacLeod
Sometimes called America's Agatha Christie, Charlotte is the author of The Peter Shandy Mystery Series and Sarah Kelling & Max Bittersohn Mystery Series as well as several stand-alone novels and collections of short stories. Peter Shandy, college botany professor, and librarian Helen Marsh Shandy solve murder mysteries in Balaclava County, Massachusetts. Max Bittersohn, art detective, and his socially connected wife, Sarah Kelling, solve mysteries in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Case of the Screaming Beauty (An Inspector David Graham Cozy Mystery, Book 1) by Alison Golden/Grace Dagnal
Amazon Description: The prestigious Lavender Bed and Breakfast in Chiddlinghurst, England has a rich Tudor atmosphere, an enviously manicured lawn … And a deadly problem. A young, beautiful woman, Norah Travis, has been found murdered in one of the rooms with no witnesses and seemingly no motive. Detective Inspector Graham, a man with a singular drive, a penchant for tea, and silent demons of his own, has been brought in to ferret out the perpetrator. Joining Sergeant Harris at the sprawling estate, the duo set their caps to solving a mystery that leaves them frustrated. It’s a “whodunit” of crafty design with suspects on all sides and nothing clear cut. The proprietors, Amelia and Cliff, have jokes to share and almost nothing to hide, while their long time guest, Tim, seems shiftier. There is an ex-husband, a housekeeper, an old man, and questions galore. But who could it be? It’s a conundrum Inspector David Graham will lose a little sleep over.
Review by Sandy penny, SweetMysteryBooks.com - A Scream, A Murder, A Secret: I found this to be an intriguing cozy mystery that keeps its secrets until the very end. I didn't find Inspector David Graham to be as well defined a personality as I would expect from this author, but I liked the story and the fact that the unsub is definitely not one of the obvious suspects. Since this is a prequel, there's plenty of opportunity to further develop the main character and to include a strong ensemble cast for future mysteries. We'll see what develops. Worth a read, especially if you like a true cozy that has no obvious blood and gore. ****Four Stars
Death at the Cafe (A Reverend Annabelle Dixon Cozy Mystery Book 1)
by Alison Golden
Prequel to the rest of the series. When Anabelle is a new Vicar living in the city before she moves to the village of Upton St. Mary, it's pretty hectic and not really what she wants to do. Still, she is great working with the inner city kids and makes a name for reaching those hard cases on their own level. After all that's where she came from. When she goes for coffee with her longtime friend, Sister Mary, a Catholic nun who has been living in W. Africa, she doesn't expect to find her with a dead body at her feet. Even worse, it's the woman Sister Mary was supposed to meet about funding for her African project. The police seem quite suspicious of the two women, especially when they witness another death while having tea with the the aunt of the dead woman from the coffee shop. As they are about to be arrested, Annabelle runs away and leads the police to another potential killer. Things get complicated and they have to enlist Bishop Murphy to try and get Sister Mary out of jail and back to Africa. It's a good story, well told, and sets the pace for the series. Loved it, will read more of the series for sure. *****Five Stars. Review by Sandy Penny,SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com
Murder at the Mansion (A Reverend Annabelle Dixon Cozy Mystery Book 2)
by Alison Golden
When a handsome new resident moves into town, Rev. Annabelle Dixon, Vicar of St. Mary's Church in the village of Upton St. Mary, Cornwall, England, decides to dispel rumors about him by making a visit. Unfortunately, she finds him with an arrow sticking out of his dead body. How did that happen? Since it happened in her parish, she feels obliged to help solve the crime. It wouldn't hurt to impress the handsome Constable Jim Raven either. Who are those mysterious French women who have shown up in town? And another mystery, who's eating all the cupcakes? Is Annabelle a sugar addicted kleptomaniac? Or is there a hidden culprit in the house? This series is definitely reminiscent of Agatha Christie, and I can't wait to read more. Excellent characters, well defined stories and professional presentation. Love those cute covers too. *****Five Stars. ~Review by Sandy Penny, SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com
Dying for a Date (A Laurel McKay Mystery, Book 1) by Cindy Sample
When Laurel's friends convince her it's time to join a dating site, The Love Club, after her divorce, she never expects her dates to be murdered on the very night she goes out with them. And, of course, she's suspect #1 with the hard-nosed woman-hating police Detective Bradford breathing down her neck. He's convinced she's the killer and is out to get her. Two dates, two deaths, case closed. She decides she better find another suspect or two before they lock her up and throw away the key. She's not exactly subtle in her investigation either, much to the chagrin of her one ally in the police department, hunky heavenly Detective Tom Hunter. He keeps warning her to stay away from the investigation, but she's having none of it, and she enlists her kooky friends to help her track down some leads. She stumbles through and actually finds out more than anyone expects, but it might get her killed, and that would be a shame for Tom and her. Lot of fun in the midst of chaos. I highly recommend it. *****Five Stars. ~Review by Sandy Penny, SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com
The Count's Baby by Linsey Lanier
A Prasala Romance, Book 3
Amazon Description: When Megan Russell’s life is shattered after her politician husband leaves her for another woman, she flees to Prasala for solace where her best friend, Katy, is now a princess. Megan hopes to get a new start here and put the pieces of her life back together. She can’t go on as an emotional basket case because of what her husband did to her. She has to move on. She needs to find a meaningful career. Especially now. But the handsome Count with the wicked smile is making her mind go in other directions. Count Philippe de BelleBourge enjoys his reputation as Europe’s most notorious playboy. He longs to get back to that life. But he has been saddled with handling his late father’s estate. And now the intriguing divorcee from Kentucky has caught his attention. If only he could get her into his bed, she would realize what pleasures he could show her. Megan senses danger around this man—that only makes him more interesting. But she can’t risk another betrayal. Can she hold her own against the Count’s wiles? Or will she lose her heart to a man she can never have?
Engaged in Danger by Barbara Venkataraman
(Jamie Quinn Mysteries - Book 4)
Family Lawyer Jamie Quinn is getting better known, busier and making connections in the legal world. When a super high-profile divorce case comes her way, she feels unprepared to handle it and tries to pass it off to her friend Grace's big time law firm. No one seems to want to take the case and poke a big grumpy bear. Grace says she will do it if Jamie will be her co-counsel. Will their friendship survive the assaults on their character launched by Marvin Glasser, the shady political/legal husband in the case? Will they make it out alive with the Russian mafia connected to Glasser? Jamie is trying to prepare to go visit her father in Nicaragua, but not only does this case show up, but her neighbors across the street who lost their sister in a shady plane crash need help too. The author has woven a complex and dangerous story, and Jamie Quinn is having to grow up and get smarter. In the midst of all this, her boyfriend goes off to Australia to help save the wombat from extinction. Will he be seduced by the beautiful red head also on his team? Jamie is worried, and there is plenty to worry about in this novel. I enjoyed it and will continue to read the series. It's well written and could give Stephanie Plum a run for her money. *****Five stars. ~Review by Sandy Penny,SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com
Jamie Quinn Mysteries by Barbara Venkataraman
This collection includes the first three books in the Jamie Quinn Mystery Collection.
Death by Didgeridoo (Book 1) - When an unlikable owner of a music store is killed with didgeridoo; Adam, a young autistic man is accused of the murder. After all, it was his didgeridoo. He just happens to be Jamie Quinn's cousin. Jamie is a family law attorney, but she seems to have a penchant for getting drawn into murder cases. Jamie's aunt begs her to defend her son. Spike, the deceased, was a rock star, drummer for The Screaming Zombies, and pretty much everybody wanted to kill him, so there are plenty of suspects, but Jamie's nephew was the one who found the body, owned the murder weapon and says it's his fault. It's a difficult case, but Jamie knows her gentle cousin could not have killed his friend. Yes, Spike was his friend, and he was maybe Spike's only friend. Jamie stirs up a lot of trouble for herself when she starts pulling skeletons out of everybody's high-profile closets with the help of her drunken womanizing P.I. buddy, Duke Broussard, who owes her a favor. A fun read with lots of kookie characters and plot twists. I liked this cozy whodunit and went on to read the other two in this box set. A secondary story woven through these three novels has to do with Jamie wanting to find her father. Her aunt has information that she never revealed after Jamie's mother died, and now it's time for the truth to come out.
The Case of the Killer Divorce (Book 2) - When Jamie's divorce client's husband is murdered just before the divorce comes to court, Jamie's client is the main suspect. Still, Jamie thinks her client is innocent and teams up with her favorite P.I. to ferret out the real killer. In the meantime, Jamie finds out her father's identity, after a lifetime of not knowing him and begins her search to find out if he's alive and if so to find him.
Peril in the Park (Book 3) - Jamie's love life takes off as she reconnects with a high-school crush, and he draws her into a mystery that has political underpinnings. How can Kip, a clean cut boy next door type and a parks and recreation manager end up in the middle of a murder mystery? This book has romance, political intrigue, corruption, murder and a rogue graffiti artist all mixed up in a dangerous caper that could be the end of Jamie's life or at least her love life. This box set is a bargain right now, so I highly recommend getting it while it's hot. ~Review and info by Sandy Penny, SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com
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Death By Diploma by Kelley Kaye
Emma Lovett leaves her southern comfort, or discomfort, with high hopes for her new life as a high school teacher in Pinewood, Colorado. Right off the bat, she finds the beloved janitor murdered in the school office. Now she's a suspect, and her new high-spirited teacher friend, Leslie Parker, thinks they should conduct their own investigation. With the lazy bumbling policeman in charge of the case, it may be Emma's only chance to prove her innocence, but it could be the death of them. This school has more secrets than a clown car, and that's a story hint. A secret romance comes to light, and corruption in the teachers lounge runs rampant. Can one of their coworkers be the murderer? Can it be the handsome coach who is blatantly wooing Emma? Can it be the kookie skateboarding principal? How about the twitchy librarian? He's acting like a cat on a hot tin roof. A student, a parent? So many suspects, so little time to find a killer. It's a rip roaring scandalous romp with a Southern accent. I grade it an A+ for all ages, freshmen through senior ciitzens. What a fun debut novel, more please. ~Review by Sandy Penny, Founder, SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com
Duffy Brown Mysteries, Consignment Shop Mysteries
Murder with a Southern Accent & a Feminine Touch
Check out Duffy Brown's new Cycle Path Island Series ...
Mackinac Island is a peaceful summer resort town where everyone coasts through the streets on bicycles. But after someone sends a prominent local on her final ride, it’s up to one resourceful visitor to get things running again… Hoping to shift her chances of a promotion in her favor, Evie Bloomfield heads to Mackinac Island to assist her boss’s father. Rudy Randolph has broken his leg and operating his bike shop, Rudy’s Rides, is too much to handle by himself. But Evie’s good turn only leads to more trouble… After Evie’s arrival, wealthy resident Bunny Harrington dies in what looks like a freak bike accident. Upon closer inspection, Bunny’s brakes were tampered with, and now the prime suspect in her murder is also Bunny’s number one enemy: Rudy. So if Evie hopes to stay on her boss’s good side, she’ll need to steer Rudy clear of jail. Now she must quickly solve this mystery so she can put the brakes on the real killer’s plan…
Dead Man Walker by Duffy Brown
(A Consignment Shop Mystery Book 4)
It's springtime in Savannah, the azaleas and magnolias are in bloom, and Reagan Summerside’s consignment shop, the Prissy Fox, is bustling with customers out to enjoy the beautiful weather. On a day like today, what could go wrong? As a mortician beautician and housekeeper, Mercedes is no stranger to corpses or messy bathrooms. But the last thing she expects to find in a client’s bathtub is a dead body! Now she’s a murder suspect and it seems like her life is going down the drain. She turns to local lawyer Walker Boone to get her out of hot water. But Walker has his own surprising connections to the dead man in the tub, and now he needs Reagan’s help to clear his own name—and keep him alive.
Includes a preview of the Consignment Shop Mystery, Demise in Denim.
Pearls & Poison by Duffy Brown . It’s election time in Savannah, Georgia, and Judge Guillotine Gloria—aka Reagan Summerside’s mom—is neck and neck in the polls with Kip “Scummy” Seymour. But the already dirty campaign is about to get downright filthy—with one candidate getting buried six feet under…
With her strong opinions and knack for getting into trouble, Reagan is not an ideal volunteer for her mother’s alderman campaign. Plus, she’d rather be running her consignment shop, the Prissy Fox, and eating doughnuts with her dog, Bruce Willis. But when her mother’s opponent, Kip, is found poisoned and her mother is pegged as a suspect, Reagan nominates herself as lead murder investigator.
Reagan is intent on finding Kip’s killer and clearing her mother’s good name, but she soon finds herself on the bad side of Kip’s enemies-turned-suspects. This time, no amount of costumes and makeup can keep her inconspicuous and out of danger. Because the closer Reagan gets to the truth, the hotter things get.
Iced Chiffon by Duffy Brown . At the consignment shop, it's murder and mayhem for the ex, his Cupcake and the badass attorney. Murder is good for business. A Consignment Shop Mystery.
Duffy Brown introduces her southern belle heroine, Reagan Summerside, who is beautiful, financially challenged and a little bit crazy. She has more nerve than she out to, and gets into more trouble than her protectors can keep up with. What fun to watch her try to help others when she can barely keep her house from being sold out from under her.
Killer in Crinolines by Duffy Brown . When Reagan Summerside is asked to make an emergency bowtie delivery to Magnolia Plantation for a wedding, she finds the groom facedown in five tiers of icing and fondant, a cake knife in his back and her good friend and UPS driver accused of the murder. Can Reagan find the real killer without winding up in the local swamp as alligator meat? Will Walker Boone, badass attorney and one time gang member, help her out feed her to the alligators himself? Click to Read My Preview Review.
Murder in Aix by Susan Kiernan-Lewis
Book 5 in The Maggie Newberry Mystery Series
Pregnant Sleuth on the Edge of Death, January 12, 2016 [ 4.0 out of 5 stars]
I like this series a lot. I like the French countryside setting and life in a 300 year old house in a vineyard. Although I like Maggie Newberry's dedication to solving a mystery, I don't like that she lies to her very dedicated husband who is perfectly capable of handing the truth. I find her a little selfish, although she is mellowing a little with time. In this book, she's pregnant, and puts herself and her unborn baby in harm's way. As a mother, I'm a little disturbed by that. Still, she really believes in the innocence of her best friend Julie who is accused of murdering her unpopular ex-lover with deadly mushrooms, and she goes the distance to try and prove her innocence. When it turns out her friend may really be guilty, she is stunned. Although the story slows down in places, when it's moving fast, it's really rolling along. There are a lot of mean people and drama enough to take your breath away. I'm finally beginning to feel like I know the characters in the series enough to care about them, although some are quite neurotic, as a good French cast should be. If you want to get caught up in the evolution of the characters, I recommend this book and the whole series. However, the book can stand alone as a single read, and that's rare these days. ~Review by Sandy Penny, SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com
Key Lime Blues by Mike Jastrzebski
A Wes Darling Sailing Mystery, Book 1 - Diamonds are a P.I's Worst Enemy
This was a fun read with a good story that sets the tone for the series. A P.I. is not cut out for the family business, so he leaves town and runs off to the Florida Keys where he tends bar. But his past follows him there, and he is quickly involved in a murder investigation, and the tough police woman investigator is not sure she can trust him. He might be the killer. Pretty soon, everybody he knows in the Keys is somehow involved, and he's back in the thick of the P.I. business. Full on crazy characters, funny circumstances, a little romance and a lot of diamonds. I liked it, and will read more by this author. It's a lightweight cozy mystery, but wholly entertaining. ~Sandy Penny, Founder of SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com -
Murderous Muffins by Lois Lavrisa
Killer Muffins with Poison Sugar - A Chubby Chicks Cozy Mystery
A delicious cozy mystery covered in sugar or is it poison? When Bezu's illegal boarder gets murdered by her muffins laced with ant poison, she is on the line for it. One of her chubby chicks club friends who is also staying at her home helps her investigate the crime and find the real killer. It's a crazy romp and a fun read. Lots of eccentric characters that make for a great distraction from every-day life. Confusion reigns, and liars abound. You won't be able to put down. And you might have to grab a cookie or a muffin of your own. I highly recommend it the cozy lovers. Five Stars ~ Review by Sandy Penny, SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com
Tidings of Murder and Woe by Cathy Spencer
[An Anna Nolan Cozy Mystery]
The Reluctant Detective - Although this looks like a Christmas mystery, it's really not. Anna Nolan is the personal assistant of Dr. Magdalena Lewis, the chair of the Kinesiology Department at Calgary's Chinook University. When Julia Moreland, one of their wealthy endowment benefactors and stepmother to Magdalena's boyfriend, is killed, Anna is forced into helping find out who committed the murder. Having had two other encounters with death in the last year, she is none too happy to be back in the path of danger, but her job depends on it, and who can refuse the charismatic and commanding Magdalena? Suspects abound, Julia was not exactly the nicest person; they include her two stepsons, her daughter-in-law, Magdalena, a mysterious man she was arguing with on the night of her murder, and a host of others who would benefit from her death. Anna and Magdalena forge a friendship that transcends their employee/boss relationship and team up to clear Warren, Magdalena's boyfriend and Julia's stepson, soon to be C.E.O. But, Warren is behaving erratically, could he be the killer? Danger begins to stalk Anna, and she's not sure why. She must be getting too close to the truth. With Christmas fast approaching, everyone wants the murder over and done. It's a good story, a light read, and keeps you guessing until the end. ~Five Stars. ~Review by Sandy Penny, SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com
Click the Books for Lynn's new
author/book page on SweetMysteryBooks.com
Reviews, Bio, Background
and Character Profiles.
#1 on Amazon UK Cozy List
J. B. Clemmens
The author of Mystery at Pima Point, JB Clemmens enjoys writing after sixteen years as a high school math teacher. The Lieutenant James series includes Something Fishy in Manhattan, A Substitute for Murder, and Mystery at Pima Point.
Mystery at Pima Point - When Christa, the bride-to-be disappears from a cave above the fabulous Pima Point Resort, Lieutenant James and her fiance, Drew, search for her. What they find is a dead girl, not Christa. Can James and his nephew solve the murder and find the bride before the wedding?
Something Fishy in Manhattan - A Japanese fugu chef is suspected of murdering an evil man by blowfish poisoning. Lieutenant James finds other suspects coming out the woodwork when he investigates.
A Substitute for Murder - Substitute teachers are used to lots of things, but murder isn't one of them. When a body is found in the gym at Winburg High, Lieutenant James goes back to school to find the murderer.
Jigsaw - Her first book, Jigsaw, is the fictional adventure of two women, who decide to walk from one city to another after a gasoline ban.
The Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club, by Liz Stauffer, is an entertaining cozy mystery with great characters and a community that bands together to help free a friend and solve the murders threatening their town's serenity. The author, in her first published novel, did a great job of creating enough potential murderer threads to keep the solution from being apparent until the end. The hidden life of the small town residents begins to surface as accusations are thrown out in all directions. It's a romp for sure. If you're looking for a quick read and a good story, this is it. I hope this is the first in a series as this lady's group is a force to be reckoned with. It takes a village to solve this crime. I'm not sure how much more drama this little town could stand though, so they might have to go traveling for the next installment. Looking forward to seeing what happens next in Mount Penn. - Review by Sandy Penny, SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com
A Needle and a Haystack by B. W. Wrighthard . Robin Wright and Maryanne Burkhard write together under the name B. W. Wrighthrd. In River City, Indiana, local cake baker Charly Angell thinks she has her hands full dealing with the new dynamic of her long marriage to a husband turned rocker wannabe, her teenage son's bedroom, which resembles the local dump, and the absence of her sweet daughter, newly installed at an out-of-town university. But those things pale when there's a murder in town and Charly's son becomes a person of interest in the case. She and new friend Violet Shades, aka "Boots," a divorcee, freelance advertising agent, and California transplant, join forces to investigate the crime. As they eat cake, drink wine, and fumble their way through the investigation, the two women uncover shocking secrets and lies in the city that's home to the Addicted to the Arts Co-op. While they try to absolve Charly's son of any involvement in the murder, another murder, related to the first one, occurs, escalating their sleuthing to new and more dangerous heights.
Ghost Orchid by B. W. Wrighthard . Follow Sara's journey from San Francisco to River City, Indiana to reconnect with the mother who abandoned her years earlier. Once she is in Indiana, Sara blends in with the artists at Addicted to the Arts Co-op, where her mother is a vital member. She also meets and befriends Jane, and before they know it, the lies and truths that weave through their parallel lives are exposed in a crashing reality.
The Jessica Hart Series by Jenn Brink
Black Roses (Book 1) ... Jessica Hart is new to Seattle, days away from the big three-o, and just about to marry the perfect man when her fiancé, Jim Carozza, gets into a car with a creepy stranger who looks like a Vegas pit boss. Suddenly, her seemingly perfect life takes a bizarre turn. Everyone tells her to go home; unfortunately, Jessica has never been the kind of girl to do as she’s told. Instead, she dives head first into trouble looking for answers but soon finds out that every answer leads to more trouble. Before she knows it, her world has turned upside down. Jim is missing and he’s got secrets. Greg has moved in and he’s got secrets. Her new friend, smoking hot and mysteriously irresistible Eric Wolf, even has secrets. Now, a crazed killer stalking Jessica wants something she doesn’t have.
Cerulean Seas (Book 2) ... Merely days after her 30th birthday, Jessica Hart has been forced (by attempted murder and homelessness) to move back in with her parents and begin the painful process of rebuilding her life, starting with getting a job. As she endures the rejection of multiple job interviews, and her parents irksome attempts to marry her off to any bachelor in town, she feels herself sinking into a deep depression. To top it all off, it’s been three weeks since she’s heard from the ever elusive Eric Wolf. But, she could swear she saw him the other day at the Gas ‘n’ Go. And, who was that strange man built like a rhino on steroids who followed her around the mall last Tuesday? Her cousin, Barbie O’Grady, invites her on the vacation of a lifetime to Phuket Island. Warned by everyone not to go, before they know it, the cousins are pursued by strange men, kidnapped, drugged, and stranded in the Jungle by an elephant named Bessie. Now, Jessica and Barbie have questions that need answers before they turn up dead or worse.
The Max & Michelle Series . by L. A. Noble
Meet amateur sleuths Max and Michelle in About Time Already, the first Max and Michelle mystery novel. In Blessington, Illinois, Michelle helps run her family's garden shop while Max owns and runs a computer business. Theirs is an unconventional thirty year relationship that includes plenty of romance, adventure, and some creative crime solving. Their friend Jenny Masters needs help. She has returned to her hometown and is being threatened - also blamed and framed for murder, kidnapping, and blackmail! Convinced of her innocence, Max and Michelle rush to help. After meeting an assortment of friendly neighbors, fun-loving local gossips, and the proud Roberts family, Max and Michelle finally unravel the mysteries buried just below the surface of small town and seemingly picture-perfect, placid New Attica, Illinois.
Review: I enjoyed the book. It had an interesting plot, and few surprises, which I liked. I had a hard time staying focused, and it took me longer to read this one than some others. I can't put my finger on why that is, but it's just my opinion. I could very well just be tired of reading. If you like mystery stories that include healing the past and starting fresh, this is a good one.
Storyline: When Jenny's mother gets sick, Jenny has to return to the town she vowed never to go back to. Too many bad memories still haunted her. And her disappointment at losing the man she loved back then because he couldn't handle that she was pregnant and he thought he could not have children. She knew it was his, but when she lost the baby at birth, she just couldn't handle any more sadness. Now she would have to face those who had hurt her, and it could even be dangerous for her to return. Her return strikes fear in the hearts' of many in her hometown, and the past will have to be faced and resolved. It's a good story, well written and has plenty of action. I highly recommend it and look forward to more from this author. ~Sandy Penny, SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com
Mary Higgins Clark Mysteries. Best selling author year after year.
Tom Collins features his Mark Rollins Mysteries. His latest is The Claret Murders.
P. G. Wodehouse
Traditional Cozy Mysteries featuring
The Jeeves series
This beloved author recently died at 85. Click the book for the Amazon list of her books.
The Devil Drinks Coffee . Angela Corbett/Destiny Ford .
A cow suicide, a revolving door rescue, and the birth of a bright purple pig are starting to make Kate Saxee wonder if taking a job in her small hometown of Branson Falls, Utah, was such a great idea. As The Branson Tribune editor, Kate covers local news, which, more often than not, involves her accident-prone mom. Nothing truly newsworthy has ever happened in the quiet town until local teen Chelsea Bradford turns up dead in a Branson Falls lake. The police rule Chelsea's death an accident, but Kate suspects there's more to the story-and two of Branson's most eligible bachelors are determined to help her solve the crime. But the small town social network is faster than Twitter, and gossip about Kate's love-life is quickly branding her the Branson Falls hussy. As Kate learns more about Chelsea, she discovers that plenty of people are trying to cover up the real story behind the girl's death. Now Kate has to juggle work, men, her mom's most recent disaster involving a low-speed John Deere Combine chase on the freeway, and fend off the Mormons heaven-bent on saving her soul, all while solving Chelsea's murder. This is going to require a lot of coffee and chocolate frosted donuts, Neil Diamond's greatest hits, and a slew of words not on the town-approved imitation swear list.
Agatha Christie is one of the most prolific, best known and best loved mystery authors of all time. Her books have been repeatedly made into some of our favorite films, stage plays and TV series. Murder on the Orient Express was a blockbuster film.
With warm and very human characters, many feel as if Miss Marple is their favorite nosy old English aunt, and Hercule Poirot is their French uncle. Find your favorites below and click to go directly to the Amazon purchase page. Is it time to put your favorites on Kindle? It's just a click away.
Miss Prentice Cozy Mysteries by E. E. Kennedy
Coming Soon ...
Murder in the
Past Tense
Voodoo, Lies, and Murder
Feisty insurance investigator Amber Fox is back in her deadliest case ever...
When Chantal Langton, the daughter of a famous voodoo high priestess, goes missing, is it a simple case of a rich girl looking for adventure, or is it something more sinister? Amber Fox aims to find out, and soon finds herself slap bang in the middle of voodoo curses, a trail of missing women, and a labyrinth of deceit. And, if that wasn't enough, her ex-fiancé-turned-boss-turned-fiancé again is pressing her to set the wedding date. Can Amber find Chantal and hunt down a cold-blooded killer... or will she become the prey this time?
(Note: Formerly published under the title "Voodoo Deadly")
"If you like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum I think you will really like Amber Fox - I know I do." ~ Martha's Bookshelf
"Amber Fox is a modern, career-driven woman who seems to be a cross between Kinsey Milhone and Gracie Hart (Miss Congeniality). I enjoyed the great mixture of action adventure and slapstick. I found myself chuckling out loud and on one occasion snorting water out my nose." ~ Coffee Time Romance & More
"Amber Fox was hilarious with her tough as nails outer persona and her hysterical one-liners that were frequently laugh out loud funny.
I definitely recommend picking this book up!!" ~ The Caffeinated Diva reads.
A few Cozy Mystery authors you may have missed: Frances Devine, Edie Claire, Rae Davies, Teresa Watson, Joan H. Young, Suzanne Young, L. K. Ellwood & Heather Horrock. Click the book covers below to link back to a list of the author's books on Amazon.
Coffee House Mysteries
"I haven't had my coffee yet, don't make me kill you." In a little coffee house in Greenwich Village, you never know what might be brewing or what you'll find when you come in in the morning.
C. S. Lakin, Conundrum . Deadly Mission . Judith Campbell . Highball Exit . Phyllis Smallman
Larry Winebrenner's The Case of the Locked Apartment and The Case of the Locked Drawer
The Case of the Locked Drawer . The victim was found sprawled on a desk in which a locked drawer contained the murder weapon. Who killed the victim? Why was the weapon in the locked drawer? How did the weapon get into the locked drawer? All these questions had to be answered to solve the crime - and the police hadn't done it in two years. How was Etta to do it using only her telephone and computer, Mephistopheles? The grandma raised the child when Etta's daughter, the girl's mother and father were murdered in a home-invasion robbery. Her granddaughter's billionaire boyfriend, to protect the older folk, provides a team of FBI-trained detectives to protect Etta. As if in response to this challenge, the murderer appears, after quarter of a century. The constant presence of the detectives is so intense that 92-year-old wheelchair bound Etta and her 96 year old husband decide to flee to the site of the locked drawer mystery to seek answers to the murder. This is the first in the Henri Derringer series.
The Case of the Locked Apartment . Who is the man involved in the woman's death? And how did he escape the locked, guarded room? The police detective on the case believes that, no matter how improbable it seems, it had to be suicide. Etta - pseudonym Henri Derringer - agrees. But her young friend, Ceal, doesn't believe her good friend did herself in. When another death takes place, the police detective believes Ceal. Then, when Etta apparently was the target of an arrow-shot, even she began to believe Ceal. Soon, it became apparent that the guilty party was a very dangerous threat. It takes all Henri Derringer's talent to uncover the whole plot.
Double Crossing by Meg Mims . WINNER of the 2012 BEST FIRST NOVEL Spur Award from Western Writers of America AND a 2012 FINALIST for the USA BOOK NEWS Awards - for Fiction: Western A murder arranged as a suicide ... a missing deed ... and a bereft daughter whose sheltered world is shattered. August, 1869: Lily Granville is stunned by her father's murder. Only one other person knows about a valuable California gold mine deed -- both are now missing. Lily heads west on the newly opened transcontinental railroad, determined to track the killer. She soon realizes she is no longer the hunter but the prey. As things progress from bad to worse, Lily is uncertain who to trust--the China-bound missionary who wants to marry her, or the wandering Texan who offers to protect her ... for a price. Will Lily survive the journey and unexpected betrayal?
Cozy Food-Themed Mysteries . Town in a Strawberry Swirl (Candy Holliday Mystery), Pecan Pies and Homicides (A Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery), Final Sentence (A Cookbook Nook Mystery), Billionaire Blend (A Coffee House Mystery), Charms and Chocolate Chips (A Magical Bakery Mystery), Freezer I'll Shoot (A Vintage Kitchen Mystery).
