Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

Ive been a member of goodread for a while..but Im slowly learning my way "around". I have always enjoyed romance books ( favorite author is Debbie Macomber ) but since I joined PBS over a year ago..Im also enjoying cozy mysteries. :)
My reading blog - http://readingnks.blogspot.com/

Would love to hear from other Debbie Macomber or cozy mystery fans!
Melissa

HI Melissa
Welcome. I also like Debbie Macomber. My friend got me started on her books. I like the Blossom St. books.

Hi Melissa,
Welcome. I'm not romance or cozie fan, but there are many on this board who like both. Dan/AZ

Welcome. I'm not a cozie fan but, I like some of Macomber's books.

What is a cozie?
Thanks

Amy wrote: "What is a cozie?
Thanks"

I'm not entirely happy with this blurb from Wikipedia, but it's a start.

"Cozy Mysteries usually take place in a small town and often include extra material such as recipes."

I would add that cozies also usually have as the main character (and erstwhile detective) someone who is not a detecting professional. i.e., is not a cop, private eye, forensic scientist, etc.

Would it also be safe to say that in cozies the crime usually happens off stage, and are less bloody?

Using this made-up definition, I would say that Agatha Christie's Miss Marple series are cozies, but the Hercule Poirot's are not.

Discuss.

Oh and P.S., welcome Melissa! It's great to have new members. I am not a big cozy fan, and am a romance reader in spurts. But there are plenty here who will be happy to talk cozies, and I'm guessing with the definition of a cozy being loose, there are more of us who have read a particular author, even if you classify him or her as a cozy writer.

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Amy wrote: "What is a cozie?
Thanks"

I'm not entirely happy with this blurb from Wikipedia, but it's a start.

"Cozy Mysteries usually take place in a small town and often include extra material s..."

Some authors that are routinely classified as cozy authors are Diane Mott Davidson, Joanne Fluke, Susan Wittig Albert and the like. I suppose some people would consider the Stephanie Plum books cozies, since they really aren't violent.

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome!! :)

I agree with Melodie and Carols descriptions of cozy mysteries - Im finding there are so many authors that write cozy mysteries! There is a good discussion thread at Paperback Swap, where a lady lists MANY of the cozy authors! I have read books by Monica Ferris, Joanne Fluke and Miranda Bliss...in the past recent months. Monica Ferris writes her stories around a
Knitting/crochet shop, Joanne Fluke's book are based in a cooking enviroment, and Miranda Bliss's characters work in a restaurant.
I find that cozy mysteries are not so "graphic" with gory details and the settings for the books are unique.

Melissa wrote: "Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome!! :)

I agree with Melodie and Carols descriptions of cozy mysteries - Im finding there are so many authors that write cozy mysteries! There is a good disc..."

I like Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swenson books. I used to like Monica Ferris' books but she just phones them in anymore and I am done with her after THAI DIE, her newest one. REALLY didn't like it. Diane Mott Davidson is pretty much the same with her Goldy books. Done with her, too, after FATALLY FLAKY, tho she herself is a real sweetheart. You should try Susan Wittig Albert's China Bayles series and Earlene Fowler's Benni Harper series. Those are 2 favorite cozy series around here.

Melodie

welcome, melissa!
not a cozy reader (i like the more hard boiled stuff..lol) but a fan of debbie macomber- especially her blossom street book!

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and reviews! Im adding Susan Wittig Albert and Earlene Fowler's names to my Must read Author list!

Carol said: "Would it also be safe to say that in cozies the crime usually happens off stage, and are less bloody?"

Carol, to me this is the defining characteristic of a cozy though I agree with the rest of what you wrote. In my mind cozies are generally as much about the life/profession of the mc as the crime. So you get bookshop details or catering business details. With Miss Marple you get small-town life details.

I tend to be medium-boiled. I read only a handful of cozies a year and can't read them one right after the other. On the other hand, the very violent and graphic stuff equally turns me off. I like some good characters and an interesting setting coupled with a good mystery, not too much gore.

Welcome, Melissa, and thanks for re-igniting this perennial discussion on our board. I think Susie and Diamond are cozy readers, but neither has been posting much.

Jan O'Cat

Hi Melissa! Glad to see my Kansas buddy made it here :) Be prepared to add lots of new authors to your PBS list!

Susie

Susie in KS wrote: "Hi Melissa! Glad to see my Kansas buddy made it here :) Be prepared to add lots of new authors to your PBS list!

Susie"

hey susie- totally off topic here, but ask to follow my (very boring) stuff on twitter. i accidentally hit decline. ;)

Thanks everybody for telling me what a cozy is. I thought it was a book that you curled up with during the winter. LOL I know better now. I don't like very graphic books, and I don't like blood and guts. I like to be able to read a book when I eating lunch and not lose my apetite.LOL

Re medium boiled--That's a good one, Jan. It should be added to our M/T board glossary of terms. I think I'm also medium boiled. I think that my favorite mystery writers are neither cozy nor hard boiled.

Shomeret

Melissa:
It is nice to meet you here on GR. I have read a couple of Debbie Macomber books and quite a few cozy mysteries with my Mom and we have enjoyed them. We especially like the Anne George books with sisters Patricia Ann and Mary Alice set in Birmingham, AL.

Melissa wrote: " Would love to hear from other Debbie Macomber or cozy mystery fans!
Melissa "

LOL Amy, I was with you! Thought they were books that you loved to curl up with and were like a "comfort" book to you. See, learning every day here!

I'm with Sherry too. I haven't really gotten into any cozy books but I have read Macomber and enjoy her Cabot Cove (think that's the name) and the Bloosom Street series. I actually have one on hold but I'm 12th on the list.

Welcome to the group!

I think it's Cedar Cove.

Cabot Cove is Jessica Fletcher although those could also be classified as cozies.

wow!... I love everyones input for their favorite authors! Im going to search everyones suggestions and add them to my reminder list on paperbackswap.

Thanks again!

Hi Melissa,
I'm not a cozy fan but I do like to rotate my m/t's with general fiction. I've been known to read a romance or two. :)

Welcome to the group! You'll get lots of suggestions here.

That's it, Cedar Cove. Don't start giving tests, I'll fail! I don't even know how I retained the name Cabot Cove, I've never watched that show.

Hi Melissa welcome! I haven't posted much (AOL board to hard to get to) since we are here I do get to see what everyone is reading, and I like it!
I like the cozy mysteries too.

Hi Melissa Welcome. I love Debbie Macomber. I get her newsletters online also snail mail from her. The online ones come more often. Love the both her series only up to reading in the Cedar Cove though the 5th one I believe but have them all. Should really get caught up with the. The other I'm caught up. Maybe need to read the one that came out at christmas. Her probably read or on the bookcase unread her other books. Love Janet Evanovich too. Read most of her's. not caught up with her Nascar last one still have that one to read and a few of her's with the other author which are in the Full series left I have to read. There really is a Cedar Cove I believe it's in Washington and they are doing a festival all around her books this year.

Donna jo

I didn't think I'd read anything by Debbie Macomber, but I have read a couple of books by her that take place at Christmas with 3 angels. I need to look them up and them to my "read" shelf!

Melodie wrote: "I didn't think I'd read anything by Debbie Macomber, but I have read a couple of books by her that take place at Christmas with 3 angels. I need to look them up and them to my "read" shelf!"

lol, melodie. i told my sister i'd never read any debbie macomber- read one of her blossom street books when i was visiting my sister. so when i got home i decided to read the earlier blossom street books (gasp! i read them out of order).. got to the second one and realized i'd read it already..lol
that happened with a stuart woods book too.

Just to let you know I just got a email from Debbie and a new Blossom book is coming out next week. Summer on or at Blousson. They are doing something special and she said another email will be sent on monday explaining it.

donna jo

I love the Angel books by Debbie Macomber. I think those are the books that first got me "hooked" on reading books by her. I get the email newsletters and snail mail notifications also..love them!

I really haven't tried the angel books unless it was long ago. I tried last year or the year before to find the first one since I read in order but didn't find them. I'll have to put them on the list to try and get from my shore ubs.

Donnago~ I checked a website featuring Debbie Macomber, and noticed that this book was written in 1993. - it looks like the first book in the Angel Series. A Season of Angels
I checked paperbackswap.com - and they have about 27 copies available to trade ( if your a member of paperbackswap..this might be a good way to start your collection~)
:o)
Melissa

I have Angels Everywhere sitting in my TBR pile. I really need to get to it someday :) Unfortunately, I just discovered how to reserve books from the library, so I'm getting a little behind on my own books.

Susie!
LOL, I understand the addiction. I hope they allow more than ten books on hold at a time! (grumble, grumble, especially after getting used to twenty-five)I didn't have any books to pick up this week or last. Very unusual for me.

Susie in KS wrote: "Unfortunately, I just discovered how to reserve books from the library, so I'm getting a little behind on my own books."

Ann wrote: "Susie!
LOL, I understand the addiction. I hope they allow more than ten books on hold at a time! (grumble, grumble, especially after getting used to twenty-five)I didn't have any books to pick up ..."

Ann ~ That's a very good question! I guess I need to do some research and see how many you can do at one time :) I've only got one on hold right now, so I can dig back into my own pile :)

Ann said: "I didn't have any books to pick up this week or last. Very unusual for me. "

Ann,this is breathtaking! Has it ever happened before?

Jan O'Cat

LOL, Ms O'CuriousCat:
Having no books to pick up at the library has happened before on rare occasions. And, didn't end up happening yesterday after all. I got a notice about 10PM last night that an Overdrive audio book I was on hold for - Harlan Coben's Long Lost was available for download. I retrieved it, so did actually have a pickup for Library Saturday! I just started it tonight.

JanOMalleycat wrote: "Ann said: "I didn't have any books to pick up this week or last. Very unusual for me. "

Ann,this is breathtaking! Has it ever happened before?

Jan O'Cat"

Ann said: "I got a notice about 10PM last night that an Overdrive audio book I was on hold for - Harlan Coben's Long Lost was available for download. I retrieved it, so did actually have a pickup for Library Saturday! I just started it tonight. "

Well, I'm a little relieved, but "available for download" is hardly the same as on the hold shelf, is it? I'll bet the gold-plated Ann's Hold Shelf is feeling a little lonely right now.

Jan O'Cat

Re library holds to pick up--Mine have been pretty steady lately, but many have been for library school papers ordered through inter-library loan from university libraries.

You may have noticed a couple of library science books added to my GR bookshelves. That's because there are librarians on GR who may be interested. I haven't put them in my book journal and won't discuss them here. I'm only counting recreational reads in my monthly total.

Shomeret

Ann wrote: "LOL, Ms O'CuriousCat:
Having no books to pick up at the library has happened before on rare occasions. And, didn't end up happening yesterday after all. I got a notice about 10PM last night that a..."

whew. and all's right with the world again.
we were off kilter for a little bit

Melissa wrote: "Ive been a member of goodread for a while..but Im slowly learning my way "around". I have always enjoyed romance books ( favorite author is Debbie Macomber ) but since I joined PBS over a year ago...."

Melissa, welcome to the board. No, I'm not a romance, chick lit, self help book reader, but there are members on this board that like romance. Enjoy your stay.

Thanks Lorraine!

The new Debbie Macomber book is in B&N just thought I would pass the info on. And no I didn't buy it. Just went there for a Robin Thicke CD (also got Seal's new one) I did get a book on Gustave Kilmt and a few one or two other beach type reads. Also two mags. Now I really need to stop going to book stores for awhile. I have to go to Borders maybe in two week for a signing that I got the book for. Maybe I can make it that long. Started reading yesterday and more than 1/2 way though The Prey by Allison Brennan. Which is 1st in a trilogy. Very good book so far. Maybe I'll finish it tonight.

I saw Robin Thicke on Oprah last Friday~ awesome singer! Ive been thinking about getting his CD -
Donnajo, how do you like the CD that you purchased?

The cd was good. I listened to it coming home today. They have him under Hip hop and I wouldn't consider him that. Oprah made you think it was a new cd and so did the other show I saw him on. Also I think he's on Dancing with the stars tonight. The CD came out in 2008. So it's not new. And it's the one they were talking about on the shows I saw him on. I guess because he's on tour with Jen Hudson. And the songs she sang on Oprah aren't on the cd. I think they were just songs he sang for her show.

Donnajo wrote: "The cd was good. I listened to it coming home today. They have him under Hip hop and I wouldn't consider him that. Oprah made you think it was a new cd and so did the other show I saw him on. A..."

I just can't get past the idea that the poor kid is Alan Thicke's son. He can't help that, but I just can't stand his dad!! I must be a bad person!