Cozy Mystery Corner discussion

A little late, but I thought it was time to start a new thread for this topic.

I finished To Brew or Not to Brew and really enjoyed it. Likeable characters, a romantic interest, and interesting facts about the brewing process.

I've started Death Takes Priority which is off to a good start.

I just finished Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas.

I'm really trying to make progress in my already-started series this year, and most of my series are cozies, so I've put a good dent in my list already. Cozies I read in January:


Innkeeping with Murder (Lighthouse Inn #1), by Tim Myers, finished 1/2 ★★★.5
No Nest for the Wicket (Meg Langslow #7), by Donna Andrews, finished 1/7 ★★★★
The Alto Wore Tweed (Liturgical Mysteries #1), by Mark Schweizer, finished 1/14 ★★★
Crops and Robbers (Farmers’ Market #3), by Paige Shelton, finished 1/17 ★★★.5
Arsenic and Old Books (Cat in the Stacks #6), by Miranda James, finished 1/21 ★★★★
Home of the Braised (White House Chef #7), by Julie Hyzy, finished 1/25 ★★★★
A Lie for a Lie (Ministry is Murder #4), by Emilie Richards, finished 1/28 ★★★.5
To Helvetica and Back (Dangerous Type#1), by Paige Shelton, finished 1/30 ★★★★

I read in January:

Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came (Agatha Raisin Mystery) by M.C. Beaton
Canterbury Serenade: Ein Krimi aus Kent (Ella Martin Mystery) by Gitta Edelmann
Aufschrei in Ascot (Arthur Escroyne Mystery) by Arthur Escroyne
Die Katze, die den Braten roch (The cat, who ...) by Lilian Jackson Braun
Die Katze die ins schwimmen kam (The cat, who ...) by Lilian Jackson Braun
Odds and Ends (Margot and Odds Cozy Mystery) by Audrey Claire
Muhkübchen (Thüringen-Krimi) by Katharina Schendel
Mord zu Halloween (Honey Driver Mystery) by Jean G. Goodhind

Err I'm on my 25th Cozy of the year at the moment! ( )

Started - great series!

Tracey wrote: "Started - great series!"

This is the last book in the series. Can you tell that it's written by a different author?

Nell wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Started - great series!"

This is the last book in the series. Can you tell that it's written by a different author?"

Did she pass away? I have not done too much research on this author...you know it's funny I felt something was different but could not really place my finger on it. I thought it was just me being mad when they would reference anything that made it seem like the series was ending! LOL

Tracey wrote: "Nell wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Started - great series!"

This is the last book in the series. Can you tell that it's written by a different author?"

Did she pass away?..."

No, the books have always been written under a pseudonym. The first three were written by Laura DiSilverio. The last one is written by Joanna Campbell Slan. Both write other series under their own names. That's good news unless you're trying to control your TBR stack.

In January I read Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams and I've started the the series that I've seen recommended and everyone says is so good the Domestic Diva Mystery Series by Krista Davis. I'm reading the first book The Diva Runs Out of Thyme.

So far this year, I'm reading humorous cozies. Starting with Donna Andrews' mysteries, two of them Christmas themed. Now I'm getting caught up with Duffy Brown's Consignment Shop mysteries. They are fun to read. The only downside is laughing out loud in public places like airport gates and restaurants.

Donna Andrews, Meg Langslow:
Duck the Halls
The Good, the Bad, and the Emus
The Nightingale Before Christmas



Duffy Brown, Consignment Shop:
Killer in Crinolines
Pearls and Poison

Barb wrote: "I'm really trying to make progress in my already-started series this year, and most of my series are cozies, so I've put a good dent in my list already. Cozies I read in January:

[book:Innkeeping..."

And how does starting 3 new series help that dent? ☺
It's almost impossible to finish a series without adding more than one to my tbr.

jaxnsmom wrote: "And how does starting 3 new series help that dent? ☺"

Yeah, well ... At least I continued more old series than started new ones :) I'm starting to get caught up in some of my series, so I have to have some new ones to fill in the gaps, right? And I'll read book #2 in the Liturgical series (because I own it), but I'm not sure I'll go beyond that.

jaxnsmom wrote: "And how does starting 3 new series help that dent? ☺
It's almost impossible to finish a series without adding more than one to my tbr. ."

That's why I am glad for the serial reader challenge on here!

Nell wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Nell wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Started - great series!"

This is the last book in the series. Can you tell that it's written by a different author?"

..."

Why would a different author finish the series???

Tracey wrote: "Nell wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Nell wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Started - great series!"..This is the last book in the series. Can you tell that it's written by a differet author?...
Why would a different author finish the series??? "

Laura DiSliverio probably wants to focus on the series that she writes under her own name. It may be similar to what's happening with the White House Chef series where the book author doesn't own the series idea.

Nell wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Nell wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Nell wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Started - great series!"..This is the last book in the series. Can you tell that it's writt..."

I figured it might be like the Julie Hyzy situation. I do like the Readaholics series by L.D. I am just so sad this series is ending. :(

Reading The Cakes of Monte Cristo: A Piece of Cake Mystery

Hilary wrote: "jaxnsmom wrote: "And how does starting 3 new series help that dent? ☺
It's almost impossible to finish a series without adding more than one to my tbr. ."

That's why I am glad for the serial reader challenge on here!"

I thought about joining that, but I really don't like reading two books from the same series in such a short time. I like to spread out my series books -- which is probably why I have so many series started but not finished LOL

Finished yet another book by Sally Goldenbaum . Just as wonderful as all of the others I've read. I'll be sad when I've read every book in this series. I'm about to start . I'm excited to find out what the characters are all involved in this time!

Penny wrote: "Finished yet another book by Sally Goldenbaum . Just as wonderful as all of the others I've read. I'll be sad when I've read every book in this series. I'm abo..."

Fortunately for her fans this is an on-going series with a new one coming out later this year.

Hilary wrote: "That's why I am glad for the serial reader challenge on here!"

I thought about joining that, but I really don't like reading two books from the same series in such a short time. I like to spread out my series books -- which is probably why I have so many series started but not finished LOL "

That's a very good point! I don't mind with some series so it does work for me

Starting today! Really liked the first one...hoping the second one is as good...or better!

Nell wrote: "Penny wrote: "Finished yet another book by Sally Goldenbaum . Just as wonderful as all of the others I've read. I'll be sad when I've read every book in this s..."

I know, right? I saw that. Yea!

This week, I enjoyed:
A Disguise to Die For by Diane Vallere
Scene of the Brine by Mary Ellen Hughes

This week, I finished two cozies:


  Dark Chocolate Demise (Cupcake Bakery #7)], by Jenn McKinlay, finished 2/2 ★★★★
  The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum (Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum #1), by Kirsten Weiss, finished 2/4 ★★★.5

The Museum book is an ARC from NetGalley; the book is due to be released on March 8. I enjoyed it and will definitely look for the next in the series.

The Cupcake Bakery is one of my favorite series, but I'm starting to get a little annoyed with the romantic side of the story. (view spoiler)[Is anyone else tired of all the interruptions in the Mel & Joe story line? At the end of book 5, I was so frustrated, I literally threw the book across the room when I finished -- the first time I've *ever done that! I almost did the same when I finished this one, because now it will probably be at least one more book before things finally get straightened out. How frustrating! (hide spoiler)]

I read for my February Serial Challenge the first book of the housekeeper Lucie serie , a german Cozy Mystery serie and new to me. It's really good!

Barb,

I'm definitely with you on the Cupcake Bakery. At the end of Sugar and Iced, soap opera came to mind. However, the one thing I would point out is that from book 2 to Dark Chocolate Demise, it's only been a year for the characters. We need to try to remember book time vs. our time.

And authors need to remember to avoid the soap opera. Both are true.

You make a good point, Mark, thanks for the reminder :) It's hard to remember that four books have happened in such a short time period. (view spoiler)[At least Mel made a choice in just a few books, unlike Hannah in the Joanne Fluke books LOL (hide spoiler)]

You can definitely say that again, Barb.

Starting today! Hope I enjoy it as much as I did the first one

I started . I am enjoying it so far.

Currently reading

I recently finished the book It Takes a Witch by Heather Blake, the first in the Wishcraft mystery series. I enjoyed the book and found the characters interesting and fun.

Finished and closely followed by , next up is

Hilary wrote: "Currently reading "

Love that series!

Brandi wrote: "I recently finished the book It Takes a Witch by Heather Blake, the first in the Wishcraft mystery series. I enjoyed the book and found the characters interesting and fun."

One of my favorite series!

just started - I really like this series.

This week, I enjoyed:

For Cheddar or Worse by Avery Aames

Beauty, Beast, and Belladonna by Maia Chance

Melodie, I think this series might become one of my favorites. I picked up the next two books in the series. Plan to start one once I am done with my current book I'm reading.

I read The Readaholics and the Falcon Fiasco and loved it.

Now I'm reading Tailing a Tabby and enjoying it so far.

I'm just finished Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti and I'm reading Daisies For Innocence. Enjoying them so far.

Currently working my way through Virginia Lowell's cookie shop books again :D

Just started Hooked on Ewe by Hannah Reed

Just started

Paisley wrote: "Just started Hooked on Ewe by Hannah Reed"

I ordered this book some days ago :) Do you like it? Is it like the first book?

Now on Haunt Couture and Ghosts Galore by Rose Pressey

In the middle of

jaxnsmom wrote: "I read The Readaholics and the Falcon Fiasco and loved it.

Now I'm reading [book:Tai..."

The second books in the Readaholics series is even better :)