Cozy Mysteries discussion

Caroline Walken

I don't know what it is but I love a good Gangster story; old style back in the 20' & 30's with all the glitz and crime! I am not certain if it was the stories I heard from my Grandparents while growing up or if there is a paranormal connection. Whichever it is; if you have a speakeasy in the story line this girl is hooked!

This influences my writing as well, I love weaving a tale in the backroom of a mobster's den. Men in suits and fedora's, women brassy and confident; I can become lost in time while writing.

What about you, do you have a era in history you cannot get enough of?

It's more that I have places and eras that I'm *not* interested in, and everything else is fair game. And it also depends on the kind of book -- for example, I like historical novels that center on the royal dynasties of Europe, but I turn away from mysteries set in them. However I do love the '20s and '30s and '40s. Your post made me think of a series you should check out if you haven't already: - the main character is saddled with the ghost of a dead mobster sidekick from the 30s.... he's a hoot!

I love a good Victorian era cozy, but sometimes I find the writing is either too vague and doesn't really have that Victorian "feel" or the author is trying too hard to impress readers with her or his research and throws in terms and expressions just to show how much she or he knows. Not a big fan of Anne Perry or Emily Brightwell, though they are popular.
I have liked Jess Faraday, Carole Nelson Douglas, Joan Lock, Sherry Thomas, Lynn Shepherd, M.J. Trow, Michael Cox.

I particularly enjoy the mysteries set between WWI & WWII. Many of the Victorians I've read (& I realize this is strictly my experience, not data) are grittier than I want to read.

My favorite time period has always been the Regency. I find that I'm also enjoying mysteries set in the 1920's and 30's.

Meg wrote: "My favorite time period has always been the Regency. I find that I'm also enjoying mysteries set in the 1920's and 30's."

There were some good Regency mysteries written some time ago by Kate Ross, the Julian Kestrel books. Sad to say that Ross died quite young not long after the 4th book was published.

Barbara wrote: "Meg wrote: "My favorite time period has always been the Regency. I find that I'm also enjoying mysteries set in the 1920's and 30's..."

...There were some good Regency mysteries written some time ago by Kate Ross, the Julian Kestrel books. Sad to say that Ross died quite young not long after the 4th book was published.
..."

Wow, brought back old memories...this was recommended on an old bulletin board that I frequented, and a bunch of us Regency readers got excited. I think I was able to find one, and, of course, it got buried in the tbr. Thank you for reminding me! Maybe I'll get lucky and find it. If not I put one on Amazon WL.

I pretty much enjoy all eras before the 20th century in historical fiction. I haven't read a good medieval in a while. Are there any cozy mysteries for that time era?

Hi Tammy! Amanda Carmack has an Elizabethan series, first book is Murder at Hatfield House.

I don't have a favorite time period. Although they are not mysteries, my favorite historical fiction of all time is the Poldark series by Winston Graham. I have read the first seven books many times. I love that all the characters are flawed because they are all human. Graham also conveys how poorly treated women were.

Honestly, I usually prefer modern-day reads.

Part of the challenge with a historical work is that it needs to give you a sense of the era that you are in. Not every historical fiction book has to be completely historically accurate of course! But sometimes, I can be taken out of the book if the history is really off.

Maybe I'm just more critical because I've taken my fair share of history courses during my degree and I'm generally interested in history?

If I had to pick a favourite historical era though, I generally tend to gravitate towards reads that are really historical, like going back to Classical Greece or the Middle Ages. Something like the Cadfael series by Ellis Peters, which is set in 12th century England.

As in my Jana Lane mysteries, I love the 1980's, since so many new ideas, fashions, and fads began to surface. JoeCosentino.weebly.com

I enjoy the late 1800's to the mid 1900's. Such a simpler time.