Cozy Mysteries discussion

Spring is right around the corner. Mar 20th - June 20th

This challenge is the same previous read the seasons. Spell out the word spring using the first word of book titles or author's first or last names.

Example

S -
P -
R -
I -
N - Nancy Atherton - Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree
G - Ghost at Work by Carolyn Hart

READ-THE-SEASON CHALLENGE: S-P-R-I-N-G
Duration: March 20, 2011 - June 20, 2011

S: Murder Uncorked (A Wine Lover's Mystery, #1) by Michele Scott
P: Crocodile on the Sandbank (An Amelia Peabody Mystery, #1) by Elizabeth Peters
R: Silent in the Grave (Lady Julia, #1) by Deanna Raybourn
I: The Incredible Theft by Agatha Christie
N: Nighttime Is My Time by Mary Higgins Clark
G: The House of Scorta by Laurent Gaudé

I love these challenges! Rarely finish them, but I do love them! LOL

Martha, it doesn't really matter if you finish them or not. The whole idea is for it to be fun and to encourage you to read. And I know personally, that I've read alot of things I wouldn't have otherwise to fit challenges expanding my horizons. Didn't necessarily end up liking them all, lol, but found many I really enjoyed too.

AAAAH! And I'm with the last one for winter! *sniff, sniff* Well, I'll try to dig in my TBR ;)

S- Stiffs and Swine by J.B. Stanley
P- Prime Cut by Diane Mott Davidson
R-
I- Icing Ivy by Evan Marshall
N- New Year's Eve Murder by Leslie Meier
G- Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Could not for the life of me think of a book I've read that started with an R. It's gonna bother me until I figure it out. lol

Another season and more good reads!


S - Swan for the Money - Donna Andrews
P - Pardonable Lies - Jacqueline Winspear
R - Royal Flush - Rhys Bowen
I - An Incomplete Revenge - Jacqueline Winspear
N - Nancy Atherton - Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree
G - Graham Moore - The Sherlockian

Looking through my TBR.

Nina wrote: "Could not for the life of me think of a book I've read that started with an R. It's gonna bother me until I figure it out. lol "

This challenge doesn't start until Sunday Nina. You can make your lists ahead of time but you can't start reading until then.

Opps played wrong. I'll start over again when I start reading some books. Thanks for letting me know!

Yay! Spring has Sprung (well, almost)!

0/6 Done

S: Skating Around the Law by Joelle Charbonneau
P: A Pedigree To Die For by Laurien Berenson
R: A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen
I: India Ink - Glossed and Found
N: Natalie Roberts - Tutu Deadly
G: The Ghost and Mrs. McClure by Alice Kimberly

This looks like a lot of fun! I'll have to study my TBR pile and do some rearranging :)

1/6

S - Stewart, Fran - Orange as Marmalade 4/1
P - Plaster and Poison by Jennie Bentley
R -
I -
N -
G -

Scrounged around my shelves and found 6 books that fit the challenge - they are all mysteries but not cozies.

S - Suspicion of Guilt - Barbara Parker
P - Patterson, James - Roses are Red
R - Ruth Rendell - Going Wrong
I - Iris Johansen - The Killing Game
N - No Mardi Gras for the Dead - D.J. Donaldson
G - Grave Concerns - Rebecca Tope

Can't wait for spring to start!

S - Some Like it Lethal
P - The PMS Murder
R - Emilie Richards Beware False Profits
I - India Ink Glossed and Found
N - Nancy Cohen Killer Knots
G - Guess Who's Coming to Die?

Well, let's see a first list (it will change with the mood ;) )

S.- Dogs Don't Lie by Clea <S>imon
P.-
R.-
I.- <I>f You Can't Stand the Heat by Robin Allen
N.-
G.- <G>race Interrupted by Julie Hyzy

S- The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
P- Peril at End House
R- The Ruby in the Smoke
I- The Inspector and Mrs. Jeffries
N- Nancy Atherton Aunt Dimity and the Duke
G- Anne George Murder on a Girls' Night Out

Not sure if they're all cozies but they are all mysteries.

6/6


S - So Little to Die For Lucretia Grindle (finished 3/27/11)
P - Poisoned Pins Joan Hess *finished 5/1/11)
R - Ruffled Feathers Taylor McCafferty (finished 4/11/11)
I - In Dublin's Fair City Rhys Bowen (finished 3/31/11)
N - Not That Kind of Place Frances Fyfield (finished 4/21/11)
G - The Gallows Murders Michael Clynes (finished 6/9/11)



COMPLETED!!

0/6 Done

S: Skating Around the Law by Joelle Charbonneau
P: Purser, Ann Sorrow on Sunday
R: Rhys Bowen The Last Illusion
I: India Ink Glossed and Found
N: Natalie Roberts Tutu Deadly
G: Ghost at Work by Carolyn Hart

ஐ Briansgirl "Book Sale Queen"ஐ wrote: "Martha, it doesn't really matter if you finish them or not. The whole idea is for it to be fun and to encourage you to read. And I know personally, that I've read alot of things I wouldn't have oth..."

I love that you said this. There are so many challenges that I would love to do and so much reading I want to do. I've enjoyed the challenges just because they've pushed me to read some things I had but might not have read right now that I have found to be wonderful.

Your welcome Deborah. The whole idea is to have fun and enjoy reading. For those of us without a local bookclub, it's also a way to talk with others who share our hobby. I've found so many more books/series/authors to read since I've joined Goodreads and after joining in challenges too.

Well, here's my list for this challenge:
S-Stay Tuned for Murder: A Talk Radio Mystery by Mary Kennedy
P-Paige Shelton's Fruit of All Evil
R-Fran Rizer's A Tisket, A Tasket, A Fancy Stolen Casket
I-Isis Crawford's A Catered Valentine's Day
N-Nina Wright's Whiskey on the Rocks: A Whiskey Mattimoe Mystery
G- A Glimpse of Evilby Victoria Laurie

I'll give it a shot - have to check my TBR pile and see what's there

S - The Sugar Queen
P
R - Remembered Death 3/22
I - In the Woods 3/30
N
G

I'll try it to but have to check out my TBR pile.

Okay, I dug through my owned books and my to-read list and I came up with a few options for each letter. So I think I'll give this challenge a try (my first). Book budget is tight so I'm trying to stick to books already owned, inexpensive, or available at my local library without needing to go through an interlibrary loan. I found N and R particularly difficult, which surprised me a bit.

List is of course subject to change based on mood and any additions to my book collection as my birthday lands during this challenge :-)

1/6

S - Spying in High Heels by Gemma Halliday - currently reading
P - Perry, Marta's Hide in Plain Sight
R - Rockwell, Patricia's Sounds of Murder
I - Identity Crisis by Debbi Mack 3 of 5 stars, not a cozy but a mystery/suspense
N - Nadia Gordon's Murder Alfresco
G - G. A. McKevett Murder A' La Mode

Kristi wrote: "Okay, I dug through my owned books and my to-read list and I came up with a few options for each letter. So I think I'll give this challenge a try (my first). Book budget is tight so I'm trying to ..."

Same here. Luckily I found 5 books that I owned and ran to the library for a Rhys Bowen to complete the challenge. Tomorrow I will start In Dublin's Fair City since that came from the library (along with 3 other books that had nothing to do with the challenge...oops!).

Count me in again. I'll post my books as I read them.

3/6 READ; UPDATED 5.18

* * R I * G

I read:

R: Richard Castle; the book Naked Heat (5.3)

G: Glazed Murder by Jessica Beck (5.9)

I: The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer (5.18)

Spring Challenge:

S - The Shooting in the Shop by Simon Brett
P - The Kenken Killings by Parnell Hall
R - Ruby in the Smoke (currently reading)

3 read/3 to go

I'll update as I read!


S: Sara Rosett Moving is Murder
P: Peggy Webb Elvis and the Dearly Departed
R: Roast Mortem 3/31
I:
N:
G: Grace Under Pressure

Here's my list for now:
S: Sprinkle with Murder or Sew Deadly
P: Pickard, The Virgin of Small Plains
R: Royal Flush Rhys Bowen
I: Isleib, A Buried Lie or Deadly Advice
N: Nora Roberts, The Search
G: Ghost at Work Carolyn Hart


All are in my TBR. Let's see how well I do with this one. Sometimes my challenge gets derailed when I decide to read more books by a new or new-again author. That's what happened with my WINTER challenge. lol

I know the feeling, Nell. I haven't been reading that many cozies lately so not doing well on the challenges. I'm ever hopeful though. Looks like you have some good ones picked out!

Some Must Watch - Ethel Lina White
Piper, Henry Beam - Murder in the Gunroom
R. Austin Freeman - The Vanishing Man
Innocence of Father Brown, The - G. K. Chesterton
Ngaio Marsh - A Man Lay Dead
Green, Anna Katherine - XYZ

Well, let's continue with the list (it will change with the mood ;) )

1/6
S.- Dogs Don't Lie by Clea <S>imon
P.-
R.- Loose Ends by Terri <R>eid (03/24/11 - ★★★★)
I.- <I>f You Can't Stand the Heat by Robin Allen
N.-
G.- <G>race Interrupted by Julie Hyzy

I am curious, I am reading by Jessica Conant-Park, and am wondering if I could use Park for the P in Spring. I have not had this happen before.

S - The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy (28/3/2011)
P -
R -Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
I -
N - Writing a Novel by Nigel Watts
G -

Well, let's continue with the list (it will change with the mood ;) )

2/6

S.- Dogs Don't Lie by Clea <S>imon
P.-
R.- Loose Ends by Terri <R>eid (03/24/11 - ★★★★)
I.- <I>f You Can't Stand the Heat by Robin Allen
N.-
G.- <G>ood Tidings by Terri Reid (03/31/11 - ★★★★)

2/6 Done


S: Skating Around the Law by Joelle Charbonneau 3/29 ★★★★★
P: A Pedigree To Die For by Laurien Berenson
R: A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen
I: India Ink - Glossed and Found
N: Natalie Roberts - Tutu Deadly
G: The Ghost and Mrs. McClure by Alice Kimberly 3/27 ★★★★

Well, let's continue with the list (it will change with the mood ;) )

3/6

S.- Dogs Don't Lie by Clea <S>imon
P.-
R.- Loose Ends by Terri <R>eid (03/24/11 - ★★★★)
I.- <I>f You Can't Stand the Heat by Robin Allen
N.- <N>ever Forgotten - A Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery by Terri Reid (04/01/11 - ★★★★)
G.- <G>ood Tidings by Terri Reid (03/31/11 - ★★★★)

I've decided to do this one too, since I have until late June and I have books on my To Read list to fill up a few of the letters.

S (4/25)

P

R (Reading Now)

I (5/15)

N

G (4/12)

I strayed from cozies, but they are all mysteries (and I already have them all on my Nook Color!)

I've been in somewhat of a reading rut, but I think I'm finally breaking through it, so I'll give this a try!

S - Stillwatch ~ Mary Higgins Clark
P - Pretty in Plaid ~ Jen Lancaster
R -The Rana Look ~ Sandra Brown
I - I'll Walk Alone ~ Mary Higgins Clark
N - The Night Season ~ Chelsea Cain
G - Glitter Baby ~ Susan Elizabeth Phillips



They're not all cozies, or even all mysteries, but they're on my list to read soon.

Judy wrote: "I've decided to do this one too, since I have until late June and I have books on my To Read list to fill up a few of the letters.

Judy, I've started reading one of the books on your list - The Phantom of Pemberly. It was a free B&N download (something I learned about here) and I have a brand new Pandigital ereader which takes Nookbooks. I'm loving my new ereader and so far am enjoying "Phantom". It seems more romance than mystery at this point, but it also seems to be keeping pretty true to the Jane Austen characters - a major point for me. I'll see how I like the whole book.

Finally have some books chosen for this challenge ... I'll try to finish it before the end of April.
S - Secret of the Mansion (Trixie Beldon)
P - Password to Larkspur Lane (Nancy Drew)
R - Red Trailer Mystery (Trixie Beldon)
I - I'll Walk Alone - Mary Higgins Clark
N - Never Give Up - Grace Chapel Inn
G - Gunpowder Green - Laura Child
Some of these are remembered treasures from my childhood, and I thought I'd enjoy re-reading them. I added one author new to me (Mary Higgins Clark) and a couple from series I've enjoyed but not read these books. I'm anxious to get started, but working on a couple other challenges first.

2/6

S - Stewart, Fran - Orange as Marmalade 4/1
P - Plaster and Poison by Jennie Bentley 4/5
R -
I -
N - Night of the Loving Dead by Casey Daniels 4/20
G -

I'm done with the first four books: and . I'm taking a break now from the Spring Challenge and I'm currently reading for the April Challenge.

2/6

S - Spying in High Heels by Gemma Halliday - 4 of 5 stars
P - Perry, Marta's Hide in Plain Sight
R - Rockwell, Patricia's Sounds of Murder
I - Identity Crisis by Debbi Mack 3 of 5 stars, not a cozy but a mystery/suspense
N - Nadia Gordon's Murder Alfresco
G - G. A. McKevett Murder A' La Mode



I'm taking a break to read a book that I was just loaned. Then I think I might move on to Murder A' La Mode...

"Reading the season" SPRING challenge:


S: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
P: The PMS Murder by Laura Levine
R: Master of the Moor, Ruth Rendell 4/28/11
I: The Bernini Bust, Iain Pears 4/27/11
N: The Nine Tailors, Dorothy L. Sayers 4/29/11
G: The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax, Dorothy Gilman 4/24/11

Updating my list for the Read the Season challenge. I was frustrated when the library didn't have what I had planned ... and I don't want to buy more books ... so I found some from my shelf that will work.
S - Secret of the Old Mansion (Trixie Beldon) DONE
P - Password to Larkspur Lane (Nancy Drew) DONE
R - Red Trailer Mystery (Trixie Beldon) DONE
I - I'll be Seeing You (Carol Higgins Clark)
N - The Nervous Nephew (Church Choir Mysteries)
G - The Greedy Auctioneer (Church Choir)
I forgot I had these Church Choir mysteries ... got them at an auction a while back. Need to add them all to my to-read list, then I'll likely donate them to our church library.

Well, let's continue with the list (it will change with the mood ;) )

4/6

S.- The Cat, the Lady and the Liar by Leann <S>weeney (04/11/2011 - ★★★★)
P.-
R.- Loose Ends by Terri <R>eid (03/24/11 - ★★★★)
I.- <I>f You Can't Stand the Heat by Robin Allen
N.- <N>ever Forgotten - A Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery by Terri Reid (04/01/11 - ★★★★)
G.- <G>ood Tidings by Terri Reid (03/31/11 - ★★★★)

Well, let's continue with the list (it will change with the mood, ;) , but we're almost there )

5/6

S.- The Cat, the Lady and the Liar by Leann <S>weeney (04/11/2011 - ★★★★)
P.- Murder at the War by Mary Monica <P>ulver (04/13/2011 - ★★★)
R.- Loose Ends by Terri <R>eid (03/24/11 - ★★★★)
I.- <I>f You Can't Stand the Heat by Robin Allen
N.- <N>ever Forgotten - A Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery by Terri Reid (04/01/11 - ★★★★)
G.- <G>ood Tidings by Terri Reid (03/31/11 - ★★★★)

N - Night of the Living Dandelion