Cozy Mysteries discussion

Okay guys here is the new challenge:

You have from today until January 1st to complete this challenge. ( I meant to post this yesterday but it was a crazy day)

Choose one book from a cozy author that has a Christmas/ Holiday theme.

Remember it must be an author that you haven't read before.

Please post your choice and review here by January 1st.

Happy Reading!

I am going to read Mistletoe Murder by Leslie Meier. I have never read any by her. I can't think of a better time to start this series!!! Thanks Candace!

Sounds Great, Christina!

I don't know, but I will be participating.

I am so backed up on books right now, that I figured it would be Feb before I could choose a book of choice or do a group selection, but I will attempt A Christmas Journey by Anne Perry. She is someone who I have not read before. This is a really short book and since we have until Jan 1st, I think I can squeeze this in over a weekend somewhere.

My pick is Six Geese A -Slaying by Donna Andrews.

I plan to read The Christmas Cookie Killer: A Fresh-Baked Mystery by Livia J. Washburn. I have never read one of this author's books yet. The synopsis sounds interesting and I'm looking forward to it.

I am going to read The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen. I can't resist an English village at Christmas time.

I read Six Geese A-Slaying by Donna Andrews. I liked it very well. My only complaint was this was book # 10 I believe and I felt a little disconnected with the characters because I didn't know their history. I do plan on reading the rest of this series. She had me laughing through the whole book. I did enjoy it!

Trish, I LOVE the Fresh Baked Series.

I read Mistletoe Murder by Leslie Meier for this challenge. I gave this book 3 stars. I really enjoyed the characters and Lucy really grew on me. I just feel that the plot was not so much about the death and mystery that most cozies are famous for. The way Lucy figured out who, what and why for the murder was pretty lame. I was able to figure out who did the murder before it was brought to Lucy's attention. I guess that is why I feel that the mystery was lacking. I like to be surprised and to realize that I wasn't right in the end. Love twist and turns! I will read more in the series since Lucy did grow on me but I just hope the plots for the mysteries get better.

If anyone else has read this series, your input into it would be nice to hear. Happy reading to everyone!!

Murder in Christmas River was pretty good. There is not a lot of mystery, but it is an enjoyable introduction to the characters of Christmas River. The story revolves around the annual gingerbread house decorating contest; the event is such a big deal that the prize is tickets to Hawaii and Cinnamon has been competing in it since she was a young girl. Christmas was in the background except for the contest.

This books is the first in a series, and I look forward to spending more time in Christmas River and expect to find more mystery in the next one, Mayhem in Christmas River.

You have 1 month from today to finish the current challenge! :)

Hi everyone.

Last night I finished reading The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen. I enjoyed it very much. The story, set in 1933, features Lady Georgiana Rannoch. To fight off Christmas boredom, Georgie takes on a job as hostess at a house party thrown by Lady Hawse-Gorzley in the English village of Tiddleton-under-Lovey. On the very day Georgie arrives, villagers start dying in terrible accidents. One a day, until Georgie starts to think the seemingly unrelated accidents are actually murders committed by one person. Georgie turns sleuth and, with the help of her love, Darcy, her grandfather and the local inspector, she starts following leads to find the killer.

The story weaves back and forth between the mystery and the Christmas festivities. I think the deaths were tied together in a clever way and the killer's identity well-hidden until the end.

This is the sixth book in Bowen's Royal Spyness Mystery series. Thanks to Candace's challenge, I've found a new series to read!

That's fantastic, Jeanne!

Just put mine on hold at the library yesterday. Should have it by midweek.

I just finished The Christmas Cookie Killer by Livia J. Washburn (book #3 in her Fresh-Baked Mystery series). It was a really quick read (I finished it over the course of three hours this afternoon). I agree with you, Tonya, I liked the characters and am interested in seeing how the dynamic in Phyllis' boarding house progresses. I plan on reading the other books in The Fresh-Baked Mystery series, beginning with #1, A Peach of a Murder and then #2, Murder by the Slice (but, I'm actually more interested in reading #4, Killer Crab Cakes, to see how Phyllis and Sam's relationship develops). Thanks for the challenge, Candace! Like Jeanne, I now have another series to read! :)

You are welcome, Trish!

You have about 2 weeks to complete the current challenge. Please have your choice and review posted by Jan 1st. Happy Reading! A new challenge will be posted Jan 1st!

Hi Trish! Livia Washburn has another series that I really enjoy and you might like- the Delilah Dickinson Mystery Literary Tour series.

by Anne Perry

I chose this book because I had never read Anne Perry before.

This Christmas story came with a moral. It was not the light airy feel good story you would expect. This story dealt with secrets, judgements, regrets and forgiveness. Writen by an English/Scottish author it is was more crisp and formal than the normal American Christmas read. Once that slight transition was made the story swept you along. The good character development was a help. Different, but decent Christmas story.

Anne Perry has a long series of Christmas stories, each book with its own set of characters and the ability to stand on its own.

Reminder this challenge is due Jan 1st. Please post your choice and review on this thread, thanks!