Cozy Mysteries
I grew up reading Trixie Belden mysteries. I’d read a Nancy Drew if I was desperate, but my first love was always Trixie and the gang. 
So before I found romance, my first love was the mystery.
I’ve read every Mary Higgins Clark, and all but the last two of Lillian Jackson Braun’s The Cat Who books. I love the community LJB has created in her books. And of course, I love cats. Especially ones with extra whiskers.
My favorite mysteries, though, are the cozies written by Anne George , the Southern Sisters mysteries. The Southern Sisters are “Mouse,” Patricia Ann and “Sister,” Mary Alice two elderly ladies who find themselves in strange situations, usually because of eccentric Mary Alice, who’s married and buried a number of husbands but kept their bank accounts. We live the mysteries through Patricia Ann’s eyes, the steady sister. There are a number of other characters, Fred, Patricia Anne’s husband, her daughter Haley, and cousin Pukey Lukey.
These stories are an absolute hoot. Set in Birmingham in the shadow of the Vulcan statue, these books have a strong Southern flavor. So many things remind me of things my grandmother has said, and she read all the books before she died. The books are fun, and sweet, and I’ve given them away to recruit new readers, only to buy them again.
Another series I’m interested in is the Knights Templar series by Michael Jecks. Has anyone read that? What do you think? (Like I need more books to read. Please.)
EDITED TO ADD: I completely forgot another series - Carrie Bebris writes a series with Darcy and Elizabeth as sleuths! It is so adorable!
I also blogged at Wet Noodle Posse today about testing.
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- MJFredrick
- I'm a mom, a wife, a teacher and a writer. I have five cats and a dog to keep me company. I love bookstores and libraries and Netflix - movies are my greatest weakness.
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9 comments:
I loved Trixie, too, better than Nancy. I had a huge crush on Jim. Still do. :-) Maybe that's why my first serious boyfriend had thick red hair.
Okay, I think it's a hoot that those older ladies in the Southern Sisters are named Patricia Ann (my name) and Mary (my sister's). :)
Haven't read Trixie Belden, but I did read a lot of Nancy Drew when I was younger.
Famous Five was my thing :)
I love mysteries! In fact, I'm trying to write one right now. An urban fantasy mystery, of course, but a mystery nonetheless.
But my tastes run much darker and harder-edged than cozies. Give me a police detective or a bad-a$$ female PI. Though I did read Nancy Drew up until junior high.
Colleen, Jim was Trixie's brother, right? Who was Honey's brother?
Trish, I think you'd get a real kick out of the Sister books, if you have room in your TBR!
Toni, I've never heard of Famous Five. Is it a Great Britain thing?
Rachel, my mysteries always fall flat, but I still love to read them! Who do you like to read?
Mar, as you know, I am the queen of cozy mystery reading. :) It's always the first thing I choose, before anything else. My current favs are the Wedding Planner series by Deborah Donnelly, The Chintz and China series by Yasmine Galenorn, The Cookie Jar series by Joanna Fluke, The Chocolate Series by JoAnna Carl, and many more. As you know so well, my book Three of Swords was a paranormal romantic murder mystery!!! While a bit dark and a bit too sexy to be a real cozy, it had many cozy elements. You can't go wrong with a cozy, in my view. I particularly love how cozy series authors have to work around the fact that the heroine in the series keeps ending up knowing so many people who are murdered! LOL That in and of itself is a blast. I can't wait for Jo-Ann Power's book, and Candy Calvert's book.
Mar, have you considered writing a cozy short story? Just to break the current writing lull?
J
Trixie was always way better than Nancy. I, too, had a crush on Jim (he was Honey's adopted brother, btw).
Love the Anne George books! I was really sad when I learned she'd passed away a few years ago. :(
As for mystery authors I love now, Carole Nelson Douglas, Laurie King, Carola Dunn. I know there are lots more, but those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. *g*
I read Faye Kellerman, Jonathan Kellerman, and Patricia Cornwell, mostly.
I'm open to suggestions, though.
Rachel, I haven't read any of them. I just read my first Lisa Gardner this summer. It was DARK!
Thanks for the reminder, Tori. I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one who loves Anne George!
JoAnn, I don't think I could write a cozy. I do love reading them, though, especially the ones with humor. I'm looking forward to Candy's, too. I've read a good deal of JP's.
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