Cozy Mysteries discussion

Have you ever watched a tv show or movie that you thought was as good as, or even better than the book?

I usually refuse to watch movies that have been adapted from books I've read, because they have always disappointed. I might even go so far as to say they have ruined the book for me.

One exception: I absolutely loved the 'Agatha Raisin' tv series and when I tried to read one of M.C. Beaton's books afterward, I was thrown off by the differences. (This might be because I watched the show first and the MC was so very flamboyant)

Another exception (possibly in the ludicrous category) was the supposed film adaptation of Agatha Christie's 'Halloween Party.' Other than the inclusion of characters Poirot and Adrienne Oliver, and the out of context apple bobbing, 'A Haunting in Venice' was nothing like the book. In fact, I don't think I would have recognized it at all. It wasn't a bad movie, but the connection was so loose as to be practically non-existent.

What do you think?

I've been on a Hallmark Movies and Mysteries kick lately. Most are adapted from cozy-mystery books and most of them are good, some better than others. Overall, I enjoy the adaptations, they make for decent entertainment.

Do you read the books as well, Anita? I usually like those Hallmark movies too, but haven't ever read the books.

I rarely watch movies/TV of any kind (other than [American] football, which is my vice lol), but I refuse to watch the adaptation of any book I really liked. I don't want to see someone else's vision of what the book was supposed to be.

That's why Sue Grafton refused to allow her books to be made into movies - she worked as a screenwriter for a while, and she saw how books were 'butchered' for the sake of the big screen :)

I'm in the same camp, Barb. As a cozy reader, you may get this, but I don't tend to generate ugly pictures in my head when I read. 'Watership Down' was a childhood favorite until I saw the movie and was horrified.
The beauty of reading is that we can filter the words through our own imagination.

I always read the book first and then complain through the whole movie about that's not how it happened in the book.

@Paula, that might be a fun outing with a friend! 😄

Alice wrote: "@Paula, that might be a fun outing with a friend! 😄"

I'm sure it would. I know my husband doesn't enjoy it but then again he is not a reader.

I went to see 'A Haunting in Venice' with the ladies in my bookclub but I don't think any of them are Agatha Christie fans. I kept my thoughts to myself. 🫢

I refuse to watch the Branagh remake of Hallowe'en Party — for one, it is not set in Venice, and I could tell from the trailer that I would not like it. There was another Christie movie in which he added a character from a completely different book. At least the David Suchet adaptations stick fairly close to the original book.

I also cannot watch any of the Hallmark cozy-based mysteries. I have friends who watch a lot of them, but they haven’t read any of the books (though one is an avid reader). I tried watching the first episode of the Flower Shop series by Kate Collins and there was soooo much wrong in the first fifteen minutes that I couldn’t do it.

Paula wrote: "I always read the book first and then complain through the whole movie about that's not how it happened in the book."

One of the funnest book discussions I’ve ever had was with a friend’s son when he was in middle school (he’s in college now!). His class read Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, then watched the movie and they had to write a paper on differences between book and movie. It got him interested in reading more of the series. He was reading a subsequent book in the series (which I had already read), so we started talking about the differences between the book and movie and what he thought about them. Meanwhile everyone else had paused their conversation(s) to listen to us. Most of my book conversations are with his sister, so it’s a great memory.

@Heather L I remember reading rhe Lightening Thief with my daughter. She had to make a board game based on the book and I still have it!. While also fun, I think the idea of having kids make comparisons between the book and movie is marvelous. Such discussions rely on so many different skills.

Heather L wrote: "Paula wrote: "I always read the book first and then complain through the whole movie about that's not how it happened in the book."

One of the funnest book discussions I’ve ever had was with a fri..."

I would love to be able to have someone to talk to about books. My sister and I used to but she doesn't read as much as she used to due to life.

I enjoy the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries more as a TV series than the books. The tv series changes the story a lot and is also a lot cosier than the books which I found became darker as the series went on.

Alice — Creating a board game based on the book sounds like a fun, creative idea!

Paula wrote: "I always read the book first and then complain through the whole movie about that's not how it happened in the book."

Hubby gets annoyed when I do that LOL

Barb wrote: "Paula wrote: "I always read the book first and then complain through the whole movie about that's not how it happened in the book."

Hubby gets annoyed when I do that LOL"

Mine just ignores me most of the time. If it's something I'm watching at home, then he has his nose buried in his ipad watching some political podcast. Boring!!

Ruth wrote: "I enjoy the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries more as a TV series than the books. The tv series changes the story a lot and is also a lot cosier than the books which I found became darker as the series we..."


I read the books as they were published, but only started watching the series last year. I'm pacing myself! I loved the book series, but I also really enjoy the tv movies. As you said, they are... lighter, and the casting is superb.

Oddly enough I can separate the two; I can read the book and enjoy it, then watch an adaption and enjoy it on its own merits. Two different forms of entertainment is how I look at it. I got 'cured' in middle school or thereabouts when I watched Mary Stewart's The Moonspinners shortly after having read the book. I kept waiting for scenes to appear that didn't and it drove me crazy. Or there would be scenes that had me going "Huh, where did that come from?" Halfway through I decided to simply watch the movie. Since then I've been able to separate the two. That's not to say that there aren't awful movies out there that were adapted but they're awful not because of the adaption.

Actually, @Meg that is brilliant. If I think back carefully, there are movies I would never have even considered watching if I hadn't read the book and of Course I didn't like them. Jurrasic Park is one that comes to mind. I will try to remember that.

I think they are both different mediums. I try to appreciate each for what they have to offer. I wish they would do more film and TV adaptations of cozy novels. JoeCosentino.weebly.com