If you like Martha Grimes, you'll probably like Elizabeth George (a little bit harder hitting than Grimes, but similar feel). Start with the first of the Lynley series - A Great Deliverance.
If you read historical fiction, Anne Perry's* Inspector Pitt series is awesome. Highly recommend. I also like her William Monk series.
For super fluff cozy, I like MC Beaton. Agatha Raisin is a hysterical character, so I'd probably start with that series over the Hamish Macbeth books even though she started writing those first. Quiche of Death is the first of the Raisin books.
I have more recs, but will come back and add later. Happy Reading!
*remember that movie - one of Kate Winslet's first roles - about the school girls who murdered one of their mothers? That was based on her, she changed her name after serving her sentence.
Not 100% sure if her books are cozy but I love Anne Perry. Her books are all set in the Victorian era and often incorporate the social problems of the day. There are 2 series, Thomas Pitt and William Monk. I prefer the Monk series but the Pitt series has Lady Vespasia Cummings-Gould, a badass older lady who gives no fucks.
You don't have to read them in order and honestly both are so long that it would be hard to do so. I think her writing improved with time and then sort of started to go downhill. I think the latter has more to do with things getting a bit predictable since she stayed with the same characters and themes.
For the Monk series I particularly recommend: Face of the Stranger - first book and I would say this one is necessary to really get to know the characters. A dangerous Mourning A Sudden, Fearful Death Weighed in the Balance A Breach of Promise The Twisted Root
I have a hard time keeping the Pitt books straight because the titles are all place names.
I haven't read her most recent 2 but I will remedy that soon!
Do Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache bookies count as cozies? Those are my favorite mysteries, whatever category.
Julie Hyzy has the White House chef series and the Manor House mysteries. Her publisher doesn't seem to bother with proofreaders these days, but the books are fun if you can overlook that.
Rhys Bowen -- I love both the Molly Murphy and Her Royal Spyness series.
IIOY I have been meaning to ask, what Carl Hiaasen book do you suggest I start with?
TBH it's been so long since I've read most of his books that I'm not sure other than to say he is pretty consistent and I've yet to read a book of his that didn't entertain me. There are characters that continue from book to book but he's good about explaining who they are each time. The primary returning character is Skink, the former governor of Florida, who gave up on corrupt politics and now lives in the wild and behaves like a quasi-eco-justice warrior, meting out punishment to deserving assholes.
I'm currently reading Star Island and it has actual LOL moments. My dad also loves these books. They are light and breezy and funny.
Think Agatha Christie style books - village murders solved by "normal" people. Some of the above recs don't quite fit into the "cozy" genre, but the murders are often for more ordinary reasons (jealousy, greed) vs. extraordinary (serial killers). This wiki entry explains it pretty well. link
I think of cozy mysteries as being the warm milk of the mystery genre. You are unlikely to be disturbed or lose sleep over anything you read in one. For me they are mental comfort food.
Anne Perry might be a bit dark if that's what you are looking for. Not Scandinavian mystery dark but they've dealt with topics like abortion and child molestation. Really depends which one you pick up, others are about political scandals.
I haven't read one in a while but the Sister Fidelma mysteries are good. She's a 7th century nun and lawyer. I wish I could remember where I left off.
If you want to watch your cozy mysteries instead of read them, Murder She Wrote is on Netflix. ;D
We watch it almost every night at bedtime. Puts me right out!
Or Midsomer Murders if you need a Brit style cozy fix. It's also based on a book series by Caroline Graham, though I haven't read any of them yet. The Killings at Badger's Drift is the first in the series, both tv show and book.
If you want to watch your cozy mysteries instead of read them, Murder She Wrote is on Netflix. ;D
We watch it almost every night at bedtime. Puts me right out!
Or Midsomer Murders if you need a Brit style cozy fix. It's also based on a book series by Caroline Graham, though I haven't read any of them yet. The Killings at Badger's Drift is the first in the series, both tv show and book.
I just got a notice from Netflix that they don't have MM locally but are bringing it in from another warehouse and it will be delayed. ::tears::
Another great series on Netflix is Death in Paradise. It's about a stuffy British detective who solves murders on a gorgeous Caribbean island. I really like the characters.
Another great series on Netflix is Death in Paradise. It's about a stuffy British detective who solves murders on a gorgeous Caribbean island. I really like the characters.
Well, I'm torn because this is combines two concepts that I love to death - British detectives and anything set in paradise. However, British detectives need to be in damp, miserable England while doing their thing. LOL I will check it out, though.
Another great series on Netflix is Death in Paradise. It's about a stuffy British detective who solves murders on a gorgeous Caribbean island. I really like the characters.
Well, I'm torn because this is combines two concepts that I love to death - British detectives and anything set in paradise. However, British detectives need to be in damp, miserable England while doing their thing. LOL I will check it out, though.
He keeps complaining about how much he misses the damp and the cold!
We're actually going to the island where it's filmed this winter. I cannot wait!
Or Midsomer Murders if you need a Brit style cozy fix. It's also based on a book series by Caroline Graham, though I haven't read any of them yet. The Killings at Badger's Drift is the first in the series, both tv show and book.
I just got a notice from Netflix that they don't have MM locally but are bringing it in from another warehouse and it will be delayed. ::tears::
Do you have streaming? If you do, you don't have to wait! In any case, I hope the disc arrives soon.
Another great series on Netflix is Death in Paradise. It's about a stuffy British detective who solves murders on a gorgeous Caribbean island. I really like the characters.
Well, I'm torn because this is combines two concepts that I love to death - British detectives and anything set in paradise. However, British detectives need to be in damp, miserable England while doing their thing. LOL I will check it out, though.
Well, I'm torn because this is combines two concepts that I love to death - British detectives and anything set in paradise. However, British detectives need to be in damp, miserable England while doing their thing. LOL I will check it out, though.
Lol.
They do! Otherwise how will have their warm-cups-of-tea-to-escape-the-damp-weather-and-ponder-their-case moments?
Post by Wallflower on Aug 12, 2015 15:15:10 GMT -5
I'll second charlatti's mention of Louise Penny. Also, Donna Andrews (Meg Langslow series - all the titles include some kind of bird).
On the whole, cozy mysteries aren't dark. Some (like the Andrews I mentioned) are really rather light and humorous, if you ignore a dead body or two. Others are just not gory (like the Penny books).
I also really enjoy the No 1 Ladies Detective series. I think that fits the description. If not, his other series fits - The Sunday Philosophy Club. I only read one of those.
Have you tried any of the Flavia de Luce mysteries by Alan Bradley. I read The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and really enjoyed it.
There's also an author who has recipes mixed in with her murder mysteries. The main character is a caterer or something.
There's also an author who has recipes mixed in with her murder mysteries. The main character is a caterer or something.
The series is written by Diane Mott Davidson, the main character Goldy, is a caterer. I have most of the series and enjoyed them for a while, i started to get annoyed Witte characters, so I did stop before finishing the series.
I am am currently reading A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie. It is a mystery set in England and part of a series (15+ books). I like it and will consider reading more.
Do Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache bookies count as cozies? Those are my favorite mysteries, whatever category.
Julie Hyzy has the White House chef series and the Manor House mysteries. Her publisher doesn't seem to bother with proofreaders these days, but the books are fun if you can overlook that.
Rhys Bowen -- I love both the Molly Murphy and Her Royal Spyness series.
I am late seeing this, but I am on the 2nd book in this series and I adore them- I got the rec on here from another mysteries post a while back, so thank you!
I was just reading an interview where Penny says she hates being lumped in with cozy mysteries (and really, they don't quite fit the usual description). But I'm always glad to introduce someone to the series -- they get better and better with each one, IMO.
I was just reading an interview where Penny says she hates being lumped in with cozy mysteries (and really, they don't quite fit the usual description). But I'm always glad to introduce someone to the series -- they get better and better with each one, IMO.
I can see that- they're not exactly cozy. I probably think of them that way because I want to live in Three Pines in a cute little house.