What Cozy Are You Reading? > Likes and Comments
I got on the hold list for Strawberried Alive. I'm #2 but they only have 1 copy. They now have Claws for Suspicion so I am #1 in line for that.
QNPoohBear wrote: "I got on the hold list for Strawberried Alive. I'm #2 but they only have 1 copy. They now have Claws for Suspicion so I am #1 in line for that."Did Strawberried Alive audio. I wasn't disappointed in the book but was a bit disappointed in characters' behavior. The characters are often impulsive but I was irritated rather than amused by stupid things I think were supposed to be funny.
Christine wrote: "Kneaded to Death by Winnie Archer"That series took awhile to grow on me but OMG the bread! I baked bread just before reading the latest book and it was amazing to SMELL the book while I was reading!
New to me Decluttering series of two books written and narrated by Simon Brett.
The Clutter Corpse
An Untidy DeathI've read Simon Brett but these are the first Simon Brett audios for me. They were not what I was expecting. They were okay as mysteries but not cozy for me. For me there was too little decluttering and too much psychological problems. It was like being back in college reading case studies on microfiche.
Starting the week with
The Shadow of Memory by Connie Berry https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just read an arc of Murder Spills the Tea
I thought it was the best of the three so far. It kept my attention but didn't keep me up all night reading. All the baking Lily does sounds amazing and made me want to get up and start baking scones and tea treats.
Rounding out the week with
Murder at Blackwater Bend by Clara McKenna https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Picked up bothStrawberried Alive
and Claws for Suspicion
last night. I'm currently halfway through Move Your Blooming Corpse.
Reading a Mother's Day themed mystery a few days after the fact! 
A Catered Mother's Day, #11 in the series.
Move Your Blooming Corpse wasn't bad but it's not true to the lengthy epilogue Bernard Shaw penned. I like Eliza, not so much Henry and none of the other characters. I did not care who the murderer was. I had my suspicions which turned out to be mostly wrong. The murderer gave themselves away and Eliza missed it. I hate it when that happens and then the character goes off alone and ends up with the murderer!
Finished The Friday Night Mystery Club by Joanna Campbell Slan yesterday. It's book 1 in the series of the same name.
My Review
The second book in the series, Monday Morning Blues came out in April. I'll be reading it next.
I am trying to read (for want of time), The Cracked Spine, by Paige Shelton. Looking forward to completing it before JULY is over.
Luffy wrote: "I am trying to read (for want of tPaige Sheltonime), The Cracked Spine, by Paige Shelton. Looking forward to completing it before JULY is over."I listened to it on You Tube and now listening to Lost Books and Old Bones. I can crochet and listen at the same time. The Cracked Spine was my first read/listen by Paige Shelton
Leona wrote: "Luffy wrote: "I am trying to read (for want of time), The Cracked Spine, by Paige Shelton. Looking forward to completing it before JULY is over."I listened to it ..."
Good to know. Wish you happy reading for your next books :-)
I just started reading the 1st book in the series Her Royal Spyness. I must be tired because it’s going slow for me. Plus I’m working on several government contracts which is definitely not easy on my eyes!
Cassie wrote: "I just started reading the 1st book in the series Her Royal Spyness. I must be tired because it’s going slow for me. Plus I’m working on several government contracts which is definitely not easy on..."Hope things improve for you, in either or both cases.
Luffy wrote: "I am trying to read (for want of time), The Cracked Spine, by Paige Shelton. Looking forward to completing it before JULY is over."I like that series a lot. I want Delaney's job!
Cassie wrote: " just started reading the 1st book in the series Her Royal Spyness. I must be tired because it’s going slow for me. "
I love Georgie! That series is so much fun but I feel like it came to a natural end and I'm not sure I want to continue. I will miss Georgie though.
Starting out the week with
Killer on the Court, the newest Murder, She Wrote novel. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished Monday Morning Blues by Joanna Campbell Slan early this morning. It's the second book in the The Friday Night Mystery Club series (no series page at this point).
My Review
While the first book, The Friday Night Mystery Club, didn't have me champing for the next, this one does have me looking forward to more in the series.
I read Poppy Done to Death which is a reread for me. This is where the series originally ended. Now I'm reading All the Little Liars which was written 13 years later.
Latest addition to the Meadowood Mystery series is called Deadly Bones. Story follows the adventures of Meredith Gardner, housewife and cub scout leader who accompanies her boys to a natural science museum and later an archeological dig site for fossils then winds up in the middle of a murder investigation of their guide, a professor of paleontology. Lots of antics and snoopy by Meredith to solve the crime.
I'm finishing up
Death by Auction, third in the Abby McCree series. Really enjoying it (just a minor quibble).
Zermeena wrote: "I read Poppy Done to Death which is a reread for me. This is where the series originally ended. Now I'm reading All the Little Liars which was written 13 years later..."Seems like the Hallmark Mystery movies based on this series led to a revival.
Just finished The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait by Cleo Coyle (Alice Kimberly). Still loving the mix of noir and modern mystery these stories offer. And, Jack and Penny are like The Ghost and Mrs. Muir -- literally and figuratively -- you want them to be a couple, but they're unrequited, separated by death.
Next up... I finally got hold of Strawberried Alive by Jenn McKinlay. I'm thinking that will be my next mystery read.
Karen wrote: "Just finished The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait by Cleo Coyle (Alice Kimberly). Still loving t..."
What do you mean by noir? Is it the way the dialogue is written?
Reading Apple Pie and Trouble
by Amber Crewes.I am reading this series in its entirety for places in several reading challenges.
Luffy wrote: ".What do you mean by noir? Is it the way the dialogue is written..."
Yes and no. This is a paranormal cozy series. The eponymous Ghost is Jack Davenport, a PI from the 40s/50s -- a Phillip Marlow type. He was killed in the protagonist's bookstore some 50 years ago (maybe more since we're in 2022). Pen can hear him in her mind, but can't see him except in "dreams" she shares with Jack.
Jack's old cases sometimes cross with or are similar to present-day events. Pen "dreamwalks" with Jack on his cases. That is, he "shares" memories with her while she sleeps, taking her back in time to the case as he works it. It's these scenes (dreams, cases/investigations) that take on the noir-ish tone, dialog, etc.
Karen wrote: "Yes and no. This is a paranormal cozy series. The eponymous Ghost is Jack Davenport, a PI from the 40s/50s -- a Phillip Marlow type. He was killed in the protagonist's bookstore some 50 years ago (maybe more since we're in 2022). Pen can hear him in her mind, but can't see him except in "dreams" she shares with Jack.Jack's old cases sometimes cross with or are similar to present-day events. Pen, "dreamwalks" with Jack on his cases. That is, he "shares" memories with her while she sleeps, taking her back in time to the case as he works it. It's these scenes (dreams, cases/investigations) that take on the noir-ish tone, dialog, etc."
Thank you for this explanation. Will consider reading it.
Strawberried Alive was really good. The clues were there but I didn't connect all the dots. It's a little darkish with a high body count but the usual humor keeps it from being too dark. I love the Fairy Tale crew as always and have always strongly related to Mel. However, this time she was WAY too stubborn for the sake of being "independent" and that was just plain stupid. You can't be independent if you're dead. I was annoyed by her and probably wouldn't have liked her as much if this had been the first book in the series.
As usual,
do a masterful job of creating a fun, fast-paced, riveting whodunit. They did so well, that I completely missed many of the small clues they sprinkle throughout their stories - as a result, the identity of the murderer caught me completely by surprise - My mind had been going in a totally different direction!
This historical mystery is edging toward traditional, but I'm putting it here.
The Lessons We Learn by Liz Milliron https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Starting this new week with
Buried in a Good Book by Tamara Berry https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just placed A Midsummer Night's Fudge on hold. Only one copy in the system but no holds so I'm first!
Today I completed Politicians, Potholes and Pralines
and started reading Croissants, Crimes & Canines
by Colleen Mooney to complete the June '22 Serial Reader Challenge and a couple other challenges while I am at it!
I'm not 100% sure these meet all the cozy criteria because they both involve people in society, but I'm doubling up right now and reading Murder at Beechwood by Alyssa Maxwell and A Purely Private Matter by Darcie Wilde. They are part of historical mystery series with strong, female leads.
Charlottesville Bookworm Jeannine wrote: "I'm not 100% sure these meet all the cozy criteria because they both involve people in society, but I'm doubling up right now and reading Murder at Beechwood by Alyssa Maxwell and [..."Kensington considered them cozies. They rearranged their mysteries into cozies and historical mysteries. They have cozy elements. Both series are similar and excellent. I get a kick out of the Newport setting and maybe ONE DAY I'll get my act together to read on site. She's focusing on obscure/private/no longer there homes right now until the rest of the big ones are built.
Mark wrote: "Finished and enjoyed 
Smile Beach Murder by Alicia Bessette https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."Thanks for a great review. Another one to add to my TBR mountain! 🤗💖
QNPoohBear wrote: "Strawberried Alive was really good. The clues were there but I didn't connect all the dots. It's a little darkish with a high body count but the usual humor keeps it from being too ..."I just finished Dark Chocolate Demise and thought the same thing. Stubborn for the sake of being stubborn and it didn't make sense even in the story because of what was going on. I was so irritated I said I'd give the series one more book!
So I read Vanilla Beaned and it was back to the normal greatness that I love in a Mel & Angie mystery. I'm taking a little break before I read the next one - I have a LOT more to read to catch up to Strawberried Alive!
I'm currently reading the 10th installment in the Magical Bakery mysteries, Spirits and Sourdough
by Bailey Cates.I ADORE this series.
I was a little impatient because I was fourth in line for the library hold but it wouldn't move and the book at one library just kept showing as "Available" on the shelf. So I finally just went and got it! I figured I'm doing a favor to the people in line as a hold because for whatever reason, this book wasn't being circulated. Now I'm out of the line and not taking up space. See how great I am? Always thinking of others :)
I just finished the 1st book in the Inspector Garmand series by Louise Penny, Still Life. What a great mystery!
Jennifer wrote: "I'm currently reading the 10th installment in the Magical Bakery mysteries, Spirits and Sourdough by Bailey Cates.I ADORE this series.
I was a little i..."
I figure it helps the library when I bypass the waiting for one book and read 4 or 5 long before (if at all) the original book is ready for the next in line! 🤣🤗💖📚
Jennifer wrote: "I was a little impatient because I was fourth in line for the library hold but it wouldn't move and the book at one library just kept showing as "Available" on the shelf. So I finally just went and got it! I figured I'm doing a favor to the people in line as a hold because for whatever reason, this book wasn't being circulated. Now I'm out of the line and not taking up space. See how great I am? Always thinking of others :)."
LOL! That's very generous of you!
Jennifer wrote: "I'm currently reading the 10th installment in the Magical Bakery mysteries, Spirits and Sourdough by Bailey Cates.I ADORE this series.
I was a little i..."
You cracked me up! 😂🤣
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I'd say they fit the broader definitions of cozies that include caper mysteries..."
Thanks for the explanation.
You seem to be describing a genre I've heard referred to as "soft-boiled" mysteries. Because they don't have graphic descriptions of the crime, the books still fall into the definition of traditional mysteries which includes cozies.