What Cozy Are You Reading? > Likes and Comments
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Rainie 🎧
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May 31, 2025 07:30PM
Just started on Killing Me Souffle!
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My first review of June is
Home Is Where the Murder Is by Rosalie Spielman https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm ending the week with
A Rogue's Company by Allison Montclair https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Murder Among the Pyramids
An enjoyable first in a new series. While there are some similarities to Amelia Peabody, it's mainly because of the time period and setting. I liked Blix and Hildy and also Rose. The plot had a number of suspects to keep me guessing.
I also really liked The Penguin Who Knew Too Much
Meg's family isn't too crazy in this one, just her dad. The animals are great and I only figured out whodunit halfway through but wasn't sure because of some late red herrings.
I just updated my challenge page with my latest reads. Sadly, that was only four books (and a short prequel) for the months of April and May. I blame my weakness for rereading feel-good romances, which is how I pretty much spent April.**
**
**I started the Men Who Stitch series by Kate Silvers. It’s a cute series (at least so far) featuring a deputy sheriff who makes his living secretly creating needle-crafted items (knit, crochet, etc.) and selling them online and in local shops under a pseudonym.
* The Cutest Puppies in the World (prequel)
* Tempting Fête
Then, I was back to catch up the Killer Coffee series by Tonya Kappes—at least until the new one hits in October.
* Steamed Secrets
Then, I picked up an historical, book 02 of the Anty Boisjoly series by PJ Fitzsimmons.
* The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning
Finally, I caught up the Kalli Ballas/Mindreader series by Kari Lee Townsend
* Trouble for Your Thoughts
Best of the bunch… The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning!
I love this series! The mysteries are intriguing in that how-could-they-have-done-it way. The cozy story is fun and witty. I was laughing out loud at parts. Anthony "Anty" Boisjoly is a riot! This mystery involved his Aunty Boisjoly, an extremely shy woman who spends a lot of time hiding in the curtains "inspecting them for moths." OMG! His off-the-cuff remarks... I love his valet, Vickers, who hears all and knows much--even if he forgets the tea service when he serves tea and falls asleep in the linen closet. (Vickers was Andy's father's valet, and I believe his father's before him.) I will continue reading this series for the sheer joy. If you’re a fan of P. G. Wodehouse or even just good mysteries wrapped in witty banter, you’ll like this series.
Karen wrote: "Best of the bunch… The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning!."That's the funniest of them all. The cow! The Christmas carol! I started a reread listening to the audiobook. It's harder to work and focus in the story so I keep backtracking so I can hear the funny parts.
QNPoohBear wrote: "Karen wrote: "Best of the bunch… The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning!."That's the funniest of them all. The cow! The Christmas carol! I started a reread listening to the audiobook. It's ha..."
Love this series, as well! I have #3 in the tbr for later in the summer.
Meg wrote: "Love this series, as well! I have #3 in the tbr for later in the summer."I have the series TBRed, but sort of am reading it slowly at this point. I'd gobble it up but it counts as an "historical," or an "out-of-US-based," or a "travel" book (because Anty has traveled to "meet" his bodies) for a challenge I do annually. Though I do the straight number goal, I try to hit the genre goal as well. I'm not very successful, usually having difficulty fulfilling both historical and out-of-US.
Though... there are nine Antys so far so I do have some leeway!
~and~
QNPoohBear wrote: "I started a reread listening to the audiobook."
I'm not big on audiobooks, but how is the reader? I watch a lot of Brit TV and have seen several Wodehouse-based shows. It's those voices/people I picture for most of the people. If the reader doesn't have that "mindframe" in his (or her?) voice, I know I won't be able to listen. It'll ruin the books for me. Reading them means I can "hear" them the way I want.
BTW... this is how I picture Vickers
Also, PJ Fitzsimmons has a second cozy series starring a female protagonist, Teddy Quillfeather. Anybody read that yet?
I've TBRed but haven't started it yet. GoodReads shows two books to date. If it's as good as "Anty," I'm in.
Karen wrote: "I'm not big on audiobooks, but how is the reader? I watch a lot of Brit TV and have seen several Wodehouse-based shows. It's those voices/people I picture for most of the people. If the reader doesn't have that "mindframe" in his (or her?) voice, I know I won't be able to listen. It'll ruin the books for me. Reading them means I can "hear" them the way I want.BTW... this is how I picture Vickers
Also, PJ Fitzsimmons has a second cozy series starring a female protagonist, Teddy Quillfeather. Anybody read that yet?.."
The narrator is great. He sounds older than Anty but maybe an older Anty relating his adventures? He's a very BBC narrator. His voices are very funny. I like your image of Vickers. I pictured him more stooped and less cheerful.
I read the first Teddy Quillfeather. If you like Bright Young People and clever heist stories, you might enjoy Teddy.
I love historical mysteries and if you want out of U.S. and similar to Anty, try
A Brazen Curiosity
the Lady Hardcastle series
A Quiet Life in the Country
They're very funny with witty banter.
I also enjoy Lady Eleanor Swift A Very English Murder
There's a lot of 1920s set books right now, mostly set in the UK.
Beryl and Edwina is a good series but not my favorite. It can get a little bit grim here and there because of the post-WWI setting. Murder in an English Village
Lady and Lady's Maid is also a little darker than your average modern cozy Murder Most Malicious
High Society Lady Detective Murder at Archly Manor is an homage to Agatha Christie's Tuppence from The Secret Adversary.
I liked the London Ladies Murder Club because it was different- middle class rather than high society. A Body on the Doorstep
Here's my 1920s shelf
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Edwardian shelf
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
post-WWI
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Amelia Peabody spans the 1970s to 1920s and is wonderful, funny, the Egyptology is spot on accurate and the mysteries are great. Crocodile on the Sandbank
I also love
Beatrice Hyde-Clare A Brazen Curiosity
That's Regency period. My favorite!
Have to second the Lady Hardcastle series, it's become one of my favorites :) For historical, you might want to try the Sister Fidelma books by Peter Tremayne. Most of the books are set in Ireland, in the mid-7th century, and I've learned a lot from reading them. Fidelma is a religeuse (a former member of the community of St. Brigid), but she's also a qualified dagliah (an advocate of the law of Ireland, I hope I've spelled it correctly!), so she has a lot of influence over the legality of the issues she encounters.
There's also Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness series and Charles Finch's Charles Lenox series, among others.
I loved Her Royal Spyness but haven't read the newest one yet and I'm not sure I want to. I do love it when Wallis Simpson and Claire go at it. The books where Georgie is spying on her royal relative were my favorites. Now he's king, for now, and we know what happens next. There's no more need for Georgie to spy on him.
I've got to also recommend the Anty Boisjoly series. I've made it through the third and they are so fun. I haven't read any of the other series yet (I believe Teddy is a relative of Anty, so they are a spin off of sorts), but I did get the first one recently.
QNPoohBear wrote: "I love historical mysteries and if you want out of U.S. and similar to Anty, try..."~and~
Barb wrote: "For historical, you might want to try...
Thank you for your recommendations. Surprisingly, I already had some of these TBRed. Of course, I did add a couple newbies. =o)
The Sister Fidelma books look interesting. They sort of remind me of the Cadfael series. I've only read one of the books, but I loved the TV series.
I'm currently reading Twice Baked Risky Whiskey Cakes by Addison Moore from her Murder in the Mix/Lottie Lemon series.
I enjoy this series, but entries are up and down for me, mostly because of one secondary character, Carlotta, bio-mom of protagonist Lottie Lemon. Carlotta left the newborn Lottie at the firehouse. Lottie was adopted and raised by the fire Captain (now deceased) and his wife, Miranda (the Lemons). Carlotta is a trainwreck that blasted back into town a few books into the series--and has been ruining the series for me off and on since.
Carlotta was brought (presumably) in for comic relief. I cannot stand her and do not find her funny at all. She's an uncaring bully and a user who doesn't have a good thing to say about either of her daughters (Lottie she left to be adopted, but a year or so later she had another daughter, who shows up a few books later, that she "raised" herself). She's always in pursuit of a way to make/take money--usually at her Lottie's expense (by outright spending it or via Lottie's paying out to cover for her). She lives in Lottie's house with Lottie, her husband Everett, their daughters Evie and Lyla Nell, who Carlotta constantly calls "Yippi," On top of that, she constantly snipes at Lottie and complains about her accommodations to the point I wonder why she just doesn't move out. Oh yeah... She'd rather sponge off her daughter than lay out her own money for, well, anything. I just don't find that amusing.
In some books I tolerate the character either by skimming over her parts or because she's not as present in some as she is in others;. Some books I wind up downrating because she and her antics, comments, bullying, etc. distract me from what I like about the series and the story I'm reading.
Sadly, I'm only 30 or so pages into this book and I'm thinking it's going to be a "down" because Carlotta has already started ruining the story for me. I hope I'm wrong. but... Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!
I'll finish it, but I think I'm looking at a 2 or 2.5er. =o\
I'll let you know which when I'm done.
Helen wrote: "My review of A Nice Class of Corpse by Simon Brett is here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Your review mentions the 1980s. Is this set in the 80s or is the series "timeless" like most cozies (except for technology, of course)?
I read The Alpine Escape
which I loved. It centered around an old mystery of a skeleton. The book introduced some new characters one of whom, Jackie, was a hoot. I don't remember earlier books being as funny. I hope the humor continues in the next book.
Zermeena wrote: "I read The Alpine Escape which I loved. It centered around an old mystery of a skeleton. The book introduced some new characters one of whom, Jack..."Now that's a blast from the past! I started that series and enjoyed it, but then my vision issues kicked in. I rarely read print books anymore, and rely mostly on audiobooks, although ebooks will do in a pinch, since in most cases, the font size can be increased.
I'm kicking off this week with
Murder Italian Style by Diane Vallere.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Barb wrote: "Zermeena wrote: "I read The Alpine Escape which I loved. It centered around an old mystery of a skeleton. The book introduced some new characters ..."I know! It was written 1995. There was a lot of use of the cordless phone. LOL I struggled though the paperback. I can still read them, but it's getting to be more of a challenge.
Written in Stone
It was pretty good. I couldn't put it down but the reveal was a little bit of a let down. It's not super complicated. I always enjoy traveling through Edinburgh with Delaney and co. Don't tell my sister's husband that the Picts disappeared! The way he tells it, he's a direct descendant and they fought off the Romans! I always love all the history in this series and like Delaney, I'm verbal, not visual. Alas, no bookish voices to guide me but that would be fun.
I'm closing out the week with a cozy mystery with a different setting -
Throne of Threats by Sarah E. Burr. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Started listening to Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant: A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery, Book 4Kennedy is a selfish narcissist and so nasty. I can't stand her. I can't believe Lindsey is still friends with her after her actions in the first book.
I'm rolling my eyes at the ghost guys from TV. I'm at work right now... we had those ghost guys from TV come and they faked evidence. This is NOT a good thing for Lindsey and her lighthouse.
Did anyone else hear of this? I just read this post on the author's Facebook page and it's so sad:"I know some people already know, but I am not sure who. hence this post. Unfortunately Laura, (my wife and the heart and soul of Verity Bright) was killed in a car accident a few weeks ago. I have only just come out of hospital a few days ago myself.
Laura always wanted to write and thanks in part to everyone's support, her dream came true. Thank you so much.
There are still several books Laura wrote that have yet to be published, so I shall keep myself busy making sure her last books are out out there. I know she'd have loved that
Best Mark"
I've since seen a very short blurb online backing up the news. RIP.
Meg wrote: "Did anyone else hear of this? I just read this post on the author's Facebook page and it's so sad:"I know some people already know, but I am not sure who. hence this post. Unfortunately Laura, (m..."
Yes I got the e-mail just as I was about to download the newest book. It's heartbreaking! The news from Mark makes it even worse than the publicity statement which just says "We are saddened to announce the death of our author Laura Tong, one half of the husband-and-wife cosy crime writing partnership Verity Bright.
Laura will be missed by all of us at Bookouture and our thoughts go out to her loved ones at this sad time.
https://ow.ly/8xWL50W3SUA"
Mark's post and the comments indicate there was an accident. Reading about Ellie's honeymoon was rather bittersweet after reading that news. My heart goes out to Mark and everyone who knew and loved Laura.
I read Detective Aunty
. It was a mixture of cozy mystery elements with chick lit themes. So not quite a cozy. After a slow start I enjoyed it.
My review of
Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear is here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Karen wrote: " Helen wrote: "My review of A Nice Class of Corpse by Simon Brett is here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"
I read somewhere that the series was set in the 1980s. The second book in the series definitely appears to be set around that time.
My review of
Thrones, Dominations by Dorothy L. Sayers and Jill Paton Walsh is here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm kicking off July with the novella
Murder by Moonlight by Julie Mulhern https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm closing out the week with
Mistaken Identity Crisis by James J. Cudney https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Enjoyed the mysteries in Murder at the Blarney Bash and Murder at the Lemonberry Tea. Lindsey has improved, I love Wellie but I am not crazy about Rory and I can't stand Kennedy.
hi everyone, I'm still on my Fiona Veitch Smith kick, and reading
her books have intrigue and murder mayham and mystery. Set in the 1920s in London, Poppy is a young journalist, in her early 20s who has a talent for ferreting out the truth. Great Cozy Series. Wish they would bring it back.
I enjoyed a second cruise this week thanks to
The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper by Sally Carpenter https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
📚 Recently read A Most Puzzling Murder
by Bianca Marais and I need to talk about it!I’m a sucker for mysteries that do something a little different, and this one hit the sweet spot between cozy, clever, and completely unputdownable.
If you love solving clues alongside the characters, this might just be your next obsession. It’s smart, funny, and even a little interactive — yes, you can actually email for clues and unlock bonus stories. How fun is that?
I’ve shared more of my thoughts (and strong opinions!) in my full review here:
👉 https://viewsshewrites.wordpress.com/...
Anyone else read this one yet? Did you solve the puzzles or peek at the answers? 👀 Let’s chat!
My second book for the week was
Murder in the Tattoo Parlor, the return of Elizabeth Perona's Bucket List Mysteries.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of
A Murder of Crows by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett is here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mark wrote: "My second book for the week was Murder in the Tattoo Parlor, the return of Elizabeth Perona's Bucket List Mysteries.https://www.goodreads.com/revie..."
I didn't know that series continued beyond book #3, thanks. Will have to look into this :)
I'm reading two: Can You Solve The Mystery by Antony Johnston: Can You Solve the Murder?
and Game, Set & Murder by Judy Murray (Andy Murray's mum): Game, Set & Murder: The deliciously gripping new cosy murder mystery for 2025!
Finished earlier today:
The Big Lead, by a new-to-me author. This is set in a small Montana TV studio, with an emphasis on the news. I enjoyed it enough to go for the next in the series.I'm currently reading
Bidding for Revenge, #3 in series. This cozy series involves antiques, with side plots. I love reading about antiques, even though I'm not very good at knowing what's real and what's just a wannabe.
