Cozy Mystery Corner discussion

I know a lot of us are sometimes hesitant about starting a new series. We're not sure if it's something we'll like. Will there be too much sex or profanity? How much romance is there? Are the characters developed, or one dimensional? Is the main character someone we'll like? Does the series improve or go downhill?

Here's the place to ask your questions to help you decide whether or not you want to try a series. For those answering, please avoid spoilers, or use the spoiler feature.

Hi all, I am in a mood to start three 'new-to-me' cozy mystery series. I have already decided upon two. For the third selection, "A Chocoholic Mystery Series" by "JoAnna Carl" is a strong contender. I love chocolates, but whenever I sit down to order the first book in the series, comments like 'juvenile and dull writing', start alarm bells ringing in my head...! I would have tried checking it myself by reading the first few chapters, but I can't find any book in this series in libraries or book stores in Frankfurt. For this reason, your feedback regarding this issue would be much appreciated :-) Thanks...!

By the way, Jaxnsmom, thanks a lot for initiating this topic :-) I am sure it will be especially useful for readers like me, who like to conduct a detailed research before starting each new series...!

Ramla Zareen wrote: "Hi all, I am in a mood to start three 'new-to-me' cozy mystery series. I have already decided upon two. For the third selection, "A Chocoholic Mystery Series" by "JoAnna Carl" is a strong contender..."

I read 5 or 6 of the Chocoholic mysteries, but grew tired of the main character's "tangled tongue". It was okay for a book or 3 and then it just started to drive me up the wall. I got a kick out of one of them because the victim had the same name as my dad! Haven't read one in some time.

Melodie wrote: "Ramla Zareen wrote: "Hi all, I am in a mood to start three 'new-to-me' cozy mystery series. I have already decided upon two. For the third selection, "A Chocoholic Mystery Series" by "JoAnna Carl" ..."

Yes, I also read in few reviews that this factor could be quite irritating ...and sometimes spoilt the writing flow and dialogues etc. Anyway Melodie, thanks for your feedback...! :-)

I had the same problem with that series, although Melodie made it farther than I did - I dnf'd the first book before the half-way mark. I found the tangled tongue thing not only really distracting, but the author used it as a device to embarrass the MC and make her timid. I have no doubt she rises above it as the series goes on, but I wasn't interested in the characters enough to stick with it.

could not stay with that author

Hmmm... well, thanks for your feedback, Jennifer and Rosemary...! :-)

I love the chocolate trivia, and while I find the tongue-tied aspect a little weird, I have been able to get past that to enjoy the series! It is not one of my must-read as soon as they come out series, but definitely a series I like to catch up I. When I have time! I like these books!

Ok, here are three series I am considering starting that I would appreciate opinions on - Final Sentence, the Coobook Nook Series, Cookie Dough or Die, the cookie cutter shop mysteries, and Town in a Blueberry Jam, the candy Holliday series. (I don't necessarily need to have a food theme. There just seem to be so many of them, and this is what I found at the library.)

Jennifer wrote: "Ok, here are three series I am considering starting that I would appreciate opinions on - Final Sentence, the Coobook Nook Series, Cookie Dough or Die, the cookie cut..."

I thought the Cookie Dough or Die series started off pretty well, and I read the first few, but they weren't able to hold my interest over the long haul, and I decided to drop the series. I can't point out any one thing that made me say "no more" - I think it was just the building sense of "meh".

I'm current on the Final Sentence series but I don't know if I'd recommend them - there's a lot to like and a lot that irritates. This author is unable to include cookbook titles without sounding like a marketing plug and the inclusions are often placed in places that make the narrative awkward. But I like the characters and there's been a small over-arcing mystery concerning the MC's dead husband that's held my interest.

Jennifer wrote: "Ok, here are three series I am considering starting that I would appreciate opinions on - Final Sentence, the Coobook Nook Series, Cookie Dough or Die, the cookie cut..."

I read a couple of the Cookie Cutter books, but like Jennifer, they just didn't hold my interest for some reason. I also agree with her assessment of the Cookbook Nook series. I have the 3rd book in The Pile, but haven't felt compelled to get to it. I do like the Candy Holliday books for the most part. One of them pissed me off with the ending, but I kept reading them.

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Ok, here are three series I am considering starting that I would appreciate opinions on - Final Sentence, the Coobook Nook Series, [book:Cookie Dough or Die|8553757..."

I agree with Jennifer about the Final Sentence series. I only read one. I got overwhelmed with the names of cookbooks and all the silly names of the shops in town. I couldn't remember which character had which shop. I thought the crime was absurd. No more for me.

Jennifer wrote: "Ok, here are three series I am considering starting that I would appreciate opinions on - Final Sentence, the Coobook Nook Series, Cookie Dough or Die, the cookie cut..."

Final Sentence is written by Daryl Wood Gerber and I do like it and have found that it has improved as the series goes on. She also writes under Avery Aames and I do prefer her cheese shop series to the cookbook nook one. I read Cookie Dough or Die series and like that one as well.- you have to be willing to suspend your disbelief that anyone could make a living just selling cookie cutters though.

Ramla Zareen wrote: "Hi all, I am in a mood to start three 'new-to-me' cozy mystery series. I have already decided upon two. For the third selection, "A Chocoholic Mystery Series" by "JoAnna Carl" is a strong contender..."

Well, there are two more strong contenders for my third selection:

1) The Maine Clambake Mystery Series by Barbara Ross

The few things that are making me hesitate about this series are that first of all, I have heard that the protagonist's confusions and speculations regarding her personal issues is creating an uncertain ambience in the books ...and I worry that it might even distract from the mystery itself.

Plus also read that the writing is a bit heavy and serious for a Cozy.

Can anyone please comment on this?

2) A Book Club Mystery Series by Laura DiSilverio. 

The first book in this series The Readaholics and the Falcon Fiasco: A Book Club Mystery, is due to be released in April so I am waiting for the reviews before I make the final decision but the premise and the plot description sounds very interesting to me. Have you read anything by this author? I believe she writes few other series as well, including the Mall Cop Mystery Series. Can you comment a little on the author's writing style? Is it even paced? Entertaining? Reasonably decent language? Smooth and interesting dialogue? Skillful characterizations? Does she write more in a traditional style or click-lit way?

Thanks...!

Ramla Zareen wrote: "Ramla Zareen wrote: "Hi all, I am in a mood to start three 'new-to-me' cozy mystery series. I have already decided upon two. For the third selection, "A Chocoholic Mystery Series" by "JoAnna Carl" ..."

I've only read the first Maine Clambake book and I liked it quite a bit.

I have the Readaholics book on order. She has written several series under different names. Mall Cop was one, she also wrote the Ballroom Dancing series as Ella Barrick and the Southern Beauty Shop series as Lila Dare (the last of those was written by someone else). I think there might even be another one or 2 series. Anyway, I've enjoyed all of those series that I named, especially the Southern Beauty Shop books. I like her style and it's a little different in each series.

Melodie wrote: "Ramla Zareen wrote: "Ramla Zareen wrote: "Hi all, I am in a mood to start three 'new-to-me' cozy mystery series. I have already decided upon two. For the third selection, "A Chocoholic Mystery Seri..."

Thanks for your feedback, Melodie :-)

I think that while I am at it, I should just ask about the last three serious contenders for my third selection as well.

Then hopefully I won't have to bother you all for a long, long time...! :-)

So what are your thoughts about the following three series?

1) Merry Muffin Mystery Series by Victoria Hamilton

I am especially concerned about comments regarding the many grammatical errors in these books. Is this factor very distracting? Are the other factors good enough to ignore this drawback?

2) Teapot Collector Mystery Series By Amanda Cooper (aka Victoria Hamilton)

3) Piece Of Cake Mystery Series by Jacklyn Brady.

I am especially concerned by the reviews to the effect that the author introduced a love triangle, and now has been neglecting this issue, which is creating an uncertain ambience. 

Well, thanks again, everyone, for making such an effort to help me in my research :-)

Ramla Zareen wrote: "Ramla Zareen wrote: "Hi all, I am in a mood to start three 'new-to-me' cozy mystery series. I have already decided upon two. For the third selection, "A Chocoholic Mystery Series" by "JoAnna Carl" ..."

The Main Clambake series I've read the first two and enjoyed both of them, although the first one started off quite slowly and her brother in law is an ass. The mystery plot of the first one was exceptionally good. I'll definitely be reading the third book.

I have the Book Club series on pre-order, like Melodie. She and I sort of diverge on our thoughts about the author's work overall though: I thought the ball room dancing series was o.k. but I'd probably have stopped reading it eventually if it had continued. I liked the Southern Beauty Shop series, but I thought the last one (written by someone else) was the best of the bunch and was disappointed that the series didn't continue on with that author. (I never read the Mall Cop books.)

Merry Muffin series - I read the first one and it was better than I expected it to be; there's hint of a treasure in that first book and I hope the author continues with that through the books - it could be fun. I have the second one on The Pile to read.

Teapot Collector series: I read the first one and thought it was "o.k." but I decided I wasn't going to read any more of them. Because of where I live (AU) I buy all my cozies, and I can't afford to spend money on books that are just "o.k." when there are so many good books to buy. Plus, I'm in imminent danger of being crushed by the books I already own in my TBR pile. :)

Piece of Cake Mystery series - I'm in the minority here, I think, in that I thought these weren't bad, but not good enough to continue on with after, I think, 4 books. The romantic possibilities lacked zing for me (probably because of the stupid triangle) and the MC's employees treated her like dirt. The last book I read her mother in law manipulated her something awful. But take all of this with a grain of salt, because a lot of people whose opinion I trust like these books.

Ramla Zareen wrote: "Melodie wrote: "Ramla Zareen wrote: "Ramla Zareen wrote: "Hi all, I am in a mood to start three 'new-to-me' cozy mystery series. I have already decided upon two. For the third selection, "A Chocoho..."

I have the first Merry Muffin book in The Pile, but haven't gotten to it yet. I don't like the Vintage Kitchen series she writes.

Read the first Teapot Collector book and was thoroughly underwhelmed.

I like the Piece of Cake series. The main character, Rita Lucero, is okay, but I like a lot of the other characters, most notably her mother-in-law. I also love the New Orleans setting. There is a bit of a triangle, but it hasn't annoyed me too much yet because no one in it is serious.

Thanks everyone, for your feedback so far on all my queries :-) I appreciate the time and effort you all have put in to help me reach a final decision on which of the three 'new-to-me' series I should start this summers...! :-)

Ramla,

I love the Chocoholic series. Yes, the tangled tongue gets on some people's nerves, but I find it funny. There were a couple of books where it started to be overused, but she's cut way back on it. They are fast, fun reads. I haven't made it to the most recent one, but that's because I'm reading too many series these days.

I also love the Maine Clambake series. The first one was very slow for the first quarter, and then suddenly it took off and I couldn't put it down. Seriously. I finished the rest of the book in one day.

I'm also planning to start Laura DiSilvero's new book when it comes out in April. Her Ballroom Dancing series written as Ella Barrick was fun despite some flaws, but I read the first in a series she wrote under her own name and absolutely loved it. Need to get back and finish that series.

Thanks for your feedback, Mark :-) 

Actually, all the series I mentioned will continue to remain in my personal TBR list. I am just trying to priorities which of the three 'new-to-me' series I should start this year ...along with about 30 to 35 series that I am already currently reading...! Lolz :-) 

As you can all imagine, it's a very difficult decision ...but thanks to everyone's help in this discussion, I think I am almost there...! :-)

Ramla Zareen wrote: "2) A Book Club Mystery Series by Laura DiSilverio.

The first book in this series The Readaholics and the Falcon Fiasco: A Book Club Mystery, is due to be released in April so I am waiting for the reviews before I make the final decision but the premise and the plot description sounds very interesting to me. Have you read anything by this author? I believe she writes few other series as well, including the Mall Cop Mystery Series. Can you comment a little on the author's writing style? Is it even paced? Entertaining? Reasonably decent language? Smooth and interesting dialogue? Skillful characterizations? Does she write more in a traditional style or click-lit way?"

I haven't read this series, but I liked the Mall Cop one. My favorite though, is the Charlie Swift series. Charlie is serious about her work, but her new "inherited" partner is having one misadventure after another while doing the easy jobs. This makes the book a combination of serious mystery and humorous situations, which might put off some readers.

jaxnsmom wrote: "Ramla Zareen wrote: "2) A Book Club Mystery Series by Laura DiSilverio.

The first book in this series The Readaholics and the Falcon Fiasco: A Book Club Mystery, is due to be released in April so..."

Thanks for your feedback, Jaxnsmom...! :-)

I appreciate everyone's comments on these series. Most of them have been on my list to check out for a while, especially the Chocoholic series since I can get the first book on audio. But I think I will pass on it even if I can get the first book at a good whispersync deal.

I do like the Southern Beauty Shop series and am anxious to read the last book since it' written by Joanna Cambell-Slan. That's too bad the Cookie Cutter or the cake series by Jacklyn Brady are so-so since I've been eyeballing them for a while.

Julesy wrote: "That's too bad the Cookie Cutter or the cake series by Jacklyn Brady are so-so since I've been eyeballing them for a while...."

Julesy, you should still definitely check them out - maybe if your library has them? Those two series are the ones that have lots of things going for them, so the wishy-washy feelings some of us have might just be a personal preference thing. There are enough of us in the group that do find a lot to like in both series, and I'd hate to dissuade you from books you might enjoy. :)

I read the first book of the Piece of Cake series, and didn't care much for it. It was hard to keep track of all the characters, and I didn't care about the main character at all. It wasn't a bad book, I just didn't enjoy it enough to continue. There's so much out there.

I appreciate everyone who is commenting here. All the series mentioned so far are new to me so the info is very helpful in deciding which ones I might like and which to add to my tbr shelf.

I am up-to-date on Jaclyn Brady's Piece of Cake series. I really like the characters and the setting in New Orleans. The main character is a fish out of water. The mysteries are challenging - not easy to figure out the motive or the culprit. There is a love triangle but it's pretty low-key.

Thanks everyone, for your feedback so far on all my queries :-) 

Nell wrote: "I am up-to-date on Jaclyn Brady's Piece of Cake series. I really like the characters and the setting in New Orleans. The main character is a fish out of water. The mysteries are challenging - not e..."

Agreed. I really like this series, too. The New Orleans setting is just a bonus!