What Cozy Are You Reading? > Likes and Comments

I recently listened to a couple of Flavia de Luce book. I love this series and find it gets better as I go along. The narrator, Jane Entwhistle is fabulous even when a Canadian accent is needed!

Zermeena wrote: "I recently listened to a couple of Flavia de Luce book. I love this series and find it gets better as I go along. The narrator, Jane Entwhistle is fabulous even when a Canadian accent is needed!

[..."

I'm with you, I love her narration on this series.

I finished Murder Most Grave by G.A. McKevett. One of the best cozy mssteries I have read in a long time.
I was listening to Deadly Editions by Paige Shelton on You Tube and then it was gone so I checked out the book from my library so I could finish it.

This week is starting with A Dish to Die for by Lucy Burdette https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished Phantoms and Felonies by Lucy Ness from her Haunted Mansion series.

This is such a fun series so far. I'm looking forward to more. I'll be picking up a new-to-me series by an alternate pseudonym of the author.

GoodReads RANT... (view spoiler)[As an aside... I'm getting tired of constantly having to log in to GoodReads. It seems every time I blink I'm logged out -- even when "keep me logged in" is checked. Sooooooooooooooo annoying! I know they're making changes; I hope the bugs are worked out sooner rather than later. (hide spoiler)] end rant...

Almost done with Death in the Stacks by Jenn McKinlay from her Library Lover's Mystery Series

I finished It Takes Two to Mango by Carrie Doyle. I enjoyed the Carribean setting. After that not much. Did like the characters (espeicially main character Plum), and the whole story line. Can't love them all

I'm with you on the GR rant (view spoiler)[except it seems to be over for me. For months, every time I wanted to check my messages, that's when it made me log in. I could add books, do reviews, check anything else - but whenever I wanted to see my messages, bam. Have to log in. It WAS so annoying - hopefully fixed now, so keep up hope!!!! (hide spoiler)]

I am reading Murder at the Manor by Catherine Coles, and I quite enjoy it!

Jennifer wrote: "I'm with you on the GR rant [spoilers removed]"

Rant... (view spoiler)[I didn't have that issue, but a few months ago I went through a couple of weeks with the log-out issue. I could look at books, but to read boards or when linking to comments from e-mail, no go... I had to log in. Now it seems if the page is inactive for more than a few minutes, I'm logged out -- and I'm used to being able to stay logged in until I shut down my browser, even if the browser was open for a couple of days at a time. (hide spoiler)] I'm hoping things work themselves out as they did last time.

Making my way through my Kindle freebies.
None worth mentioning so far.

I reading Family Ghouls by Alex A. King

Southern Magic
by Amy Boyles
I'm about a third of the way through and it's getting better so I have hope though it starts with too many tropes. Loses home, job, boyfriend... Gains inheritance from unknown relative, business, magic... accused of murder... Even though it starts with so many tropes I paused to read something else it has possibilities.
ETA Finished it. The mystery was okay, the magical world interesting but if I didn't already have the next three as kindle books not sure I would continue. Audio was really well done but kindle will let me skim when I get to characters I find annoying even though others find them funny.

I’m three chapters into Well-Offed in Vermont by Amy Patricia Meade. I’ve never finished a cozy before. I’ve started a couple. But, I really like this one and love the way it’s written.

Mostaccioli Murder
It was really good. I grew up in a family that once owned an Italian restaurant so I'm picky about the way the culture is portrayed but this family is NOT actually Italian! That made it mercifully free from annoying stereotypes, aside from Uncle Sal who loves to tell stories about The Company (Chicago mob). It is a city cozy so it's a little more gritty than the small town mysteries but I liked it a lot. Full review to come.

Just finished Boston Scream Murder 👎🏽

Finished Sinfully Delicious by new-to-me author Amanda M. Lee. It's from her Two Broomsticks Gas & Grill Witch series, which I believe is a spinoff of her Wicked Witches of the Midwest and related series (Wicked Witches of the Midwest Shorts and Wicked Witches of the Midwest Fantasy series).

When I started it, I didn't think I'd like it. The family in the book picks at one another, is all up in one another's business, etc., and it felt claustrophobic. After a couple of chapters, however, I really started liking the Protagonist and her Grandfather and I could see the love. Then, I got caught up in the cozy story. I won't say it's a 5-star read, but by the end, I was ready to start book 2 (and did!).

I have most, if not all, Ms. Lee's series TBRed. I'll start with this and maybe hit the Midwest Witches next -- well, not next per se, but next in her series.

I am reading Boxes in the Basement , the first book of "The Inn at Holiday Bay" series by Kathi Daley

*Note I posted book 2 of this series in What are You Reading Besides a Cozy? The correction is below.

Corrections: I have followed the beginning of "The Inn at Holiday Bay" with books 2, 3, and 4.
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Amy Boyles has youtube channel where she posts some audiobooks and kindle Sweet Tea Witch Mysteries are available from Kindle Unimited so switching between the two is easy.
Finished Southern Spells. I liked this more than the first one but that could be because I did more of it as print so reading it went faster.

I'm starting out the week with Gone but not Furgotten by Cate Conte https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Friday the Rabbi Slept Late

I’m having a great time with the works of Ellery Adams. Going through her many series at the moment. What’s weird is the older titles in mysteries by the bay series is the typos that I find. Partial phrases that are left out & grammatical errors. Normally this annoys me so much that I give it up but I’m having so much fun that I can’t walk away.

Hi Lori, Ellery’s books are the best especially Books By The Bay, Scone Society and Book retreat. I do audiobooks so I’ve never had a problem with missing phrases or errors. She has a new Book Retreat book out 9/27. Enjoy!

And book #6 in the Secret, Book & Scone Society, Paper Cuts, is due out in April :)

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Finished books Caffeinated Calamity and A Little Slice of Death by Amanda M. Lee. These are books 02 and 03, respectively, from her Two Broomsticks Gas & Grill Witch series.

In both these books, protagonist -- and newly manifested witch -- Stormy spent some time with the witches in the next town over, Hemlock, trying to learn about her craft (among other things). Those characters are from Lee's Wicked Witches of the Midwest and related series (Wicked Witches of the Midwest Shorts and Wicked Witches of the Midwest Fantasy series). I'm liking some of those characters, too.

My only negative came with book 03. While it was a fun read, the ending introduced what I think is going to become a good vs evil fight for humanity. I'm enjoying the series so much that I'm hitting all available to date. I'm just not a fan of that trope. Maybe it'll be something different. I'm sticking with it. And, I still want to get to the Midwest Witches, too. Reading book 04, Follow the Crumbs, now.

Lori wrote: "I’m having a great time with the works of Ellery Adams. Going through her many series at the moment..."
~and~
Eleanor wrote: "Ellery’s books are the best especially Books By The Bay, Scone Society and Book retreat..."

I did that with Jenn McKinlay's -- and pseudonyms Josie Belle, Lucy Lawrence -- series a couple of years ago, That, too was a lot of fun.

I see that the series Adams wrote under her real name, JB Stanley/Jennifer Stanley, have been reissued (and added to) under her Ellery Adams pseudonym. Are you hitting all of her series?

I read a lot of the older series before trying the Books by the Bay series. I had a hard time getting into that series -- didn't particularly care for the protagonist -- but will try to get back to the BbtB series at some point. First I want to get to the newer titles in the older series I've read and start on the other series.

Karen wrote: "I read a lot of the older series before trying the Books by the Bay series. I had a hard time getting into that series -- didn't particularly care for the protagonist"

I didn't really like her in the first book or two of the series, either, but her character changed as the series progressed, and she's much more ... palatable? now :)

I am reading The Wedding Plot by Paula Munier. Excellent series especially if you like dogs. I little more serious cozy, but excellent. Start with book one though.

I will be reading 2 children's books, Santa's Dog and Carol's Quest for Courage by JoAnn Sky. Then I will get back to The Inn at Holiday Bay series with book 5, Haunting in the Hallway , by Kathi Daley.

In quick succession, I've read #2, #3 & #4 in the Countess Harleigh series by Diane Freeman and enjoyed each of them. Witty and intriguing with fun characters.

A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder
A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder
A Fiancée's Guide to First Wives and Murder

Nell wrote: "In quick succession, I've read #2, #3 & #4 in the Countess Harleigh series by Diane Freeman and enjoyed each of them. Witty and intriguing with fun characters.

[book:A Lady's Guide to Gossip and M..."

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Happily, I can get these at the local library in Large Print!
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This week's cozy is Death on the Set by Rose Kerr https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Nell wrote: "In quick succession, I've read #2, #3 & #4 in the Countess Harleigh series by Diane Freeman and enjoyed each of them. Witty and intriguing with fun characters.
"

One of my favorite series! I may or may not have a crush on George. I love Fran and George's relationship more than the mysteries. I just read the most recent one. #2 is still my favorite.

I just read Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies
It's a modern "Millennial" cozy geared mainly towards older teens and 20-somethings. It's set in the real world and "woke". That's my warning to those who prefer their cozies in idyllic worlds like Lake Eden.

I enjoyed it. I couldn't put it down. At first it made me uncomfortable, but the more it went on, the more Daisy explained herself, the more I liked it. It's different but not bad. I'd recommend it to my oldest niece if she was slightly older (maybe 15+?) and would read something other than graphic novels. If you are a teenager or share it with a teen, be careful the would-be book banning witch hunters don't find out about it.

Finished Buttercream Bump Off. Typical of McKinlay’s cozies.

I'm reading the Aunt Dimity series Aunt Dimity's Death with a real life library book club. The librarian made the oatmeal cookie recipe in a convection oven right then and there as we talked. She's hoping for the best next month and will have to prepare some things ahead of time at home. It was fun to meet a bunch of newbie cozy mystery fans and introduce them to the world of cozy mysteries.

QNPoohBear wrote: "I'm reading the Aunt Dimity series Aunt Dimity's Death with a real life library book club. The librarian made the oatmeal cookie recipe in a convection oven right then and there as w..."

All of this is so cool!

QNPoohBear wrote: "I'm reading the Aunt Dimity series Aunt Dimity's Death with a real life library book club. The librarian made the oatmeal cookie recipe in a convection oven right then and there as w..."

How fun! I haven't been in a book club in ages.

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Bringing y'all up-to-date:

Pilgrim in the Parlor completed 08-30-2022.
Note in the Nutcracker started and completed 08-30-2022.
Blizzard in the Bay starting 08-31-2022.
These are part of The Inn at Holiday Bay series by Kathi Daley.
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Starting the week with the delightful Round Up the Usual Peacocks by Donna Andrews https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Mark wrote: "Starting the week with the delightful Round Up the Usual Peacocks by Donna Andrews https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

A new Donna Andrews! Yea!! 🤗

QNPoohBear wrote: "I'm reading the Aunt Dimity series Aunt Dimity's Death with a real life library book club. The librarian made the oatmeal cookie recipe in a convection oven right then and there as w..."

That sounds like so much fun! Enjoy!

Meg wrote: "QNPoohBear wrote: "I'm reading the Aunt Dimity series Aunt Dimity's Death with a real life library book club. The librarian made the oatmeal cookie recipe in a convection oven right ..."

How fun! I haven't been in a book club in ages."

Meg, if you were closer, I'd invite you to join ours. It's a mystery book club, so it would be right up your alley :)

QN, how were the cookies?

I confess I didn't try the cookies. I LOATHE raisins. Everyone said they were fluffy and chewy and very raisiny. After I brought some home, I picked the raisins out of a piece and nibbled it. I couldn't taste the raisin water but the oatmeal cookie was fine. Next month's recipe is more up my alley. And the one after that sounds good too. We plan to meet last Tuesday of every month.

I had to explain what a cozy mystery is and that got some recognition. "Oh ... that sounds like like Murder She Wrote" or "Oh yeah I read a few The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency." and then when I mentioned Hannah Swensen Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, THAT got "Ohhh like the Hallmark movies? Those are based on BOOKS?"

Next is getting them all to sign up for GoodReads and joining us here so they can find their favorite cozies. My local branch had a large display of cozies for summer reading so I don't know how all these people missed it. They must visit less interesting branches. I did NOT see the library check out person who said she just started reading cozies. Hopefully she'll venture out to join us.

I was a bit nervous because I haven't been to a meeting like that with strangers since JUST before the world shut down in 2020 but it was OK, I think. I hope. I have a job interview next week so I'm being super cautious and wearing my mask everywhere.

A mystery book club -- perfection!

The book club I was in eons ago was based on ARCs...the store owner would have us pick an ARC and type up a review to share and discuss the next meeting. She'd then share the reviews with her other customers to help them decide on ordering. Oddly enough I haven't looked in NetGalley mainly because I have sooo many books on the tbr that I need to try to get through. Adding more would definitely cause it to collapse. Still I'm constantly considering it...

QNPoohBear wrote: ""I had to explain what a cozy mystery is and that got some recognition. "Oh ... that sounds like like Murder She Wrote" or "Oh yeah I read a few The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency." and then when I mentioned Hannah Swensen Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, THAT got "Ohhh like the Hallmark movies? Those are based on BOOKS?"

😄 I love the responses. Those are the tv show examples that I use too.

Inviting them to join our group is a great idea!

QNPoohBear wrote: "I'm reading the Aunt Dimity series Aunt Dimity's Death with a real life library book club. The librarian made the oatmeal cookie recipe in a convection oven right then and there as w..."

I've been in a number of book clubs but your club sounds like more fun.

Starting September with Union Jacked by Diane Vallere https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just finished an ARC of A Song of Comfortable Chairs. I've read all of the previous books in the series, but had the opportunity to listen to this one. The narrator was very good, although listening to all the "Mma"s in the story was a little distracting - it sounded like the narrator was stammering? mumbling?

The story itself was good. Not exciting, but fun to follow along as Mma Ramotswe solves several problems that have come up for her and her friends. Now I'm ready to book a trip to Botswana!

Slain Over Spumoni
A romance/mystery, this one was cute. Lots of local color and yummy gelato.

More traditional mystery than cozy but many readers of cozies would probably enjoy the Lily Adler regency mysteries by Katharine Schellman.
The first was August bonus borrow audiobook from Hoopla and when I finished it I checked out the next two audios from Hoopla.

The Body in the Garden

Silence in the Library

Death at the Manor