Lynn's comments

Lynn's comments from the Cozy Mysteries group.

Note: Lynn is no longer a member of this group.

JM wrote: "I'm starting Sew Deadly while my husband disputes The Trouble with Quantum Black Holes with Scientific America while I nod and make agreeable noises."

LOL! That sounds like our house!

I just picked up A Cat in the Manger by Lydia Adamson and Needled to Death by Maggie Sefton, which I plan to start as soon as the new Anne Perry is finished.

I'm reading the new Christmas book by Anne Perry, A Christmas Promise A Novel. This particular Christmas book features Gracie Phipps.

Melodie wrote: "Currently reading . I enjoy this series."

Hi Melodie - I really enjoy the Booktown mysteries too. I have to get to the bookstore and pick up that newest one. A town full of bookstores...oh, my....I could certainly live there!

Melodie wrote: "I too was not thrilled with Thai Die, but finished it -- also just finished Blackwork --that one was better. I have mis..."

I've been thinking of buying both of these, so your comments are interesting. Maybe I need to see if the library has them. I've liked the series so far.

Heidi wrote: "I am reading Murder on a Girls' Night Out A Southern Sisters Mystery it is ok so far. Anyone recommend the series?"

I do. I read them all and really enjoyed them. Just a really enjoyable cozy.

Sawyer wrote: "I just bought the 1st one, "Aunt Dimity's Death." That is the 1st one, right?! Looking forward to this series, how far behind am I? As to what I've just finished, I'm reading Agatha Christie's Po..."

Hi - Yes, that is the first one, and #15 is coming out in February. If you go to a website called "Fantastic Fiction", www.fantasticfiction.co.uk, and click on the left side for the author's last name - it will take you to a site that shows all the books in a series in order. Lots of "cozy" authors (and others) on that site. I use it frequently.

Kate wrote: "I'm in process of reading all the Aunt Dimity series. Quintessential cozies! A couple of them qualify for the mystery challenge, and I'm just enjoying reading something I don't have to think too ..."

I love Aunt Dimity, too -- it's a great cozy. I think the next one is "Aunt Dimity Down Under". A bit of traveling in her future, it sounds like!

Melodie wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I just finished the new Sara Paretsky, Hardball. I've read all of the V. I. Warshawski series and this was a good one. I did get a little irritated at her bringing in ..."

Yes, the civil rights background was good -- and I learned a few things about Chicago in the 60's! (By the way, when I said national politics, I wasn't talking about issues like civil rights, just little things about current national politics...as a pretty much non-political person, that drives me crazy.) I really like Warshawski books. I hope she keeps the series going!

Lisa wrote: "Denise wrote: "Lisa wrote:(Regarding the Diane Mott Davidson Goldy Bear Schulz series) I've read this whole series and enjoyed it as well, it sort of grew on me as I went along. I thought it has go..."

I like Marla, too, and think that they make a good team. Like Lisa, I can see how they could become good friends as their hatred of and experiences with The Jerk brought them together.

I just finished the new Sara Paretsky, Hardball. I've read all of the V. I. Warshawski series and this was a good one. I did get a little irritated at her bringing in some national politics when the story revolved around state politics and city police issues. I see a lot of authors doing that these days, like they need to get their 2 cents in somewhere...don't like that, but her comments were just occasional and the story was good, so if you like Paretsky I'd recommend it.

For those like me who liked "Sweetness At the Bottom of the Pie" -- the new book about Flavia is due out March 1, "The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag".

Among others I look at "Stop! You're Killing Me!" found at http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/ . All sorts of mysteries, including cozies. If you click on the author's name, it gives the series in order, too.

My favorite, still currently being written, cozy series authors are:

Susan Wittig Albert (China Bayles, tea shop)
Donna Andrews (Meg Langslow)
Nancy Atherton (Aunt Dimity)
M. C. Beaton (Hamish McBeth)
Claudia Bishop (Meg & Quill)
Rita Mae Brown (Mrs. Murphy)
Dorothy Cannell (Ellie Haskell)
Mary Daheim (Alpine, newspaper)
Jo Dereske (Helma Zukas, and the Ruby Crane series were good too.)
Janet Evanovich (Stephanie Plum)
Sharon Fiffer (Jane Wheel, estate sales)
Joanne Fluke
Earlene Fowler (Benni Harper)
Elizabeth George (Thomas Lynley)
Martha Grimes (Richard Jury)
Carolyn G. Hart (Annie Darling; Henrie O)
Joan Hess (Claire Malloy; Arly Hanks)
J. A. Jance (Brady; Beaumont; Reynolds - not really cozies, as such, but I really like them!)
Faye Kellerman (Decker/Lazarus, again not really a cozy, but close!)
Margaret Maron (Deborah Knott; Sigrid Haraldson)
Rett MacPherson (Torie O'Shea, genealogy)
Anne Perry (Pitt; Monk)
Thomas Perry (Jane Whitefield)

There are so many more good ones out there, and some that are no longer published but that I wish were!

Ooooh boy! My friends all make fun of my spreadsheet for mysteries....as soon as I clicked on this group today and found this posting, I knew I was "home". I keep a list of the series I've read and of upcoming books. Every two weeks or so I cruise through Bloodstained Bookshelf, Amazon, and Seattle Mystery Bookshop newsletter to find what's coming out and keep track of them.

Here are some of my favorites that I've found are coming out in the next few months - Blackwork, Monica Ferris; The Body in the Sleigh, Katherine Hall Page; Death of a Valentine, M. C. Beaton; The Merry Wives of Maggody, Joan Hess; Aunt Dimity Down Under, Nancy Atherton; Holly Blues, Susan Wittig Albert; State Fair, Earlene Fowler; The Black Cat, Martha Grimes.

Heidi wrote: "I just finished . I liked it. Anyone read the entire series? Is it worth it?"

I've read the entire series (15 so far!) and like it very much. I find that what pulls me in to cozies is the main character and his/her relationships. Davidson makes me interested in Goldie and her family and friends. (Not to mention that the recipes makes me salivate!)