What are your top 'must read' or 're-read' cozies?

[Sharon]

I love mysteries of all kinds, from cozies to some that border on thriller/horror ... although both extremes are limited.

I've always liked some cozies, starting with the Agatha Christie, the Miss Marple series particularly and have always had some favorites, although there are many I don't care for, especially the more unlikely amateur detective scenarios. I'm definitely a character-driven reader, so I have to like the characters and it seems there are all too many cozy mysteries with main characters that are either unintelligent or just plain silly.

My favorites include the Miss Seeton books actually written by Heron Carvic, the "Bootleggers Daughter" series by Margaret Maron and some of the Agatha Christie books.

New series ... introduced through my Kindle downloads ... include Kerry Greenwood's Corinna Chapman series and Jana DeLeon's Miss Fortune series.

I try to limit my actual purchases to just those books I expect to like well enough to keep and re-read and the last two are the only ones that are currently on my 'must buy' list.

What series do you have to buy just as soon as a new book comes out?

[Kathy]

I absolutely have to get the new M.C. Beaton books as soon as they are out - her Agatha Raisin and Hamish McBeth series are the coziest!! And while they aren't always SUPER cozy, I also grab Elizabeth George's newest books as they come out. Agatha Christie, however, is still my all time fave, although Beaton threatens to take that spot.

What a great discussion idea - Hope to see lots more comments to get ideas on new authors.

[Karen M]

I hope someday to read the Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers mysteries I haven't already read.

[[deleted user]]

Speaking of classics Nero Wolfe series by Rex Stout is the one having arguably the best character interaction.

[Sandra J]

I'd love to find a new Corinna Chapman book. I've reread all of them more than once. I want an apartment in Insula. I like my cozies to be character driven, and I have to like the character. I like Meg from Donna Andrews' series and have reread a couple of those, particularly Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon and We'll Always Have Parrots.

[Lynn]

You may want to check out Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher series.
I'd also suggest Julie Hyzy's White House Chef series, and Charles Finch's Charles Lenox series. Susan Albert Wittig's China Bayles are also very good.

My favorites are the Charles Lenox series, Victoria Thompson's Gaslight series, Ashley Gardner's Captain Lacey Mysteries, and Kate Ross' Julian Kestrel series.

[❂ Murder by Death]

Books I must buy as soon as they are released:
Donna Andrews's Meg Langslow series
Kerry Greenwood's Phyrne Fisher series (just got the new one last week!
Melissa Bourbon's Magical Dressmaking series
Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity Series
Carola Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple Series
Both Juliet Blackwell Series

I could keep going - there are probably a dozen that are non-negotiable for me. I buy a lot of books. It makes me happy. :) lol

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ, Cozy Mysteries Group Owner]

For me it's Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity books. I swapped all my paperbacks for hardcovers on PBS. I buy all new releases on pre-order and I've reread the series.

[Moonlight]

I have a rule about buying e-books that are more expensive than a paperback. I don't do it. But cozy author's I watch include:

Krista Davis's Domestic Diva series
Rhys Bowen's Her Royal Spyness series
Lisa Lutz', Spellman Files series
Donna Andrew's Meg Langslow series.

[Elizabeth]

Rhys Bowen (anything)
Agatha Christie (anything)

[Melodie]

I have too many to list that I buy immediately. Like Jennifer, I buy a lot books. I don't spend much on e-books. My limit is usually $1.99 for something I really don't own. I have paid more than that on a few occasions for something I REALLY wanted to read that was only available as an e-book, and I spent $5.99 for THE CUCKOO'S CALLING since it would cost more than that even when it hits paperback.

[Katie]

At the moment I am particularily into:

Wishcraft Mysteries
Magical Cats Mysteries
Books by the Bay Mysteries
Cumberland Creek

[Elizabeth]

Want to get started with the Masie Dobbs series. Do not know why it has passed me by.

Comment about the series appreciated.

[Karen]

I love Fran Stewart's Orange is for Marmalade series. I have read all six of the ones available. I think a 7th one is supposed to come out, but it has been so long, I wonder if it will ever happen. If it does come out, I will jump on it.

[Karen]

I have a short list of authors that I want to read everything they have written. Dorothy Sayers' Lord Wimsey series is one of them. I have read 10 out of the 14.

[[deleted user]]

The Martha Grimes Jury series. I have read them more than once and I can see myself reading them again. Also the Peter Robinson Banks series. I love the early books but his style has changed some. I could easily reread his early books. I'm not sure if Robinson is actually cozy though..Martha is cozy for sure.

[[deleted user]]

Katie wrote: "At the moment I am particularily into:

Wishcraft Mysteries
Magical Cats Mysteries
Books by the Bay Mysteries
Cumberland Creek"

Those sound good! Who writes them?

[Leslie]

Karen wrote: "I have a short list of authors that I want to read everything they have written. Dorothy Sayers' Lord Wimsey series is one of them. I have read 10 out of the 14."

Which ones are you missing?

I would put D.L. Sayers on my list too, along with Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham, Patricia Wentworth, Josephine Tey, Bruce Alexander, and Elizabeth Peters.

[Allison]

Jamielynn wrote: "Katie wrote: "At the moment I am particularily into:

Wishcraft Mysteries
Magical Cats Mysteries
Books by the Bay Mysteries
Cumberland Creek"

Those sound good! Who writes them?"

I like the Wishcraft and Magical Mysteries series as well. For Jamielynn: the Wishcraft series is written by

Heather Blake and the Magical Cats series is written by Sophie Kelly.

I also really enjoy the Renaissance Faire mysteries by
Joyce and Jim Lavene

[[deleted user]]

Thank you very much Allison!

[Allison]

Jamielynn wrote: "Thank you very much Allison!"

You are welcome! It took me 3 tries to get that posted - lots of editing, lol.

[[deleted user]]

Allison that's how I do things! That was very nice of you. Thank you!

[Betsy]

I usually read cozies that have another interest that either I know something about, or wish I knew more about. For expample, I love China Bayles mysteries by Whittig Albert because I wish I did gardening and knew more about natural herbs.I also used to like Tamara Meyers Antique Shop mysteries, because I have an interest in antiques and lived near Richmond at one point. Her characters were silly,but the puns were hysterical... When Sharyn McCrumb, who does more dramatic mysteries now, wrote The Elizabeth McPhearson mysteries, I first got hooked on a novel that involved some very clever old women who were the last daughters of the Confederacy.It was atmosphere I lived in at that point,
where the past was sacred trust and your mommas or grandmommas were a force to be reckoned with,despite any appearances to the contrary. :D

[[deleted user]]

Betsy I like that too. It's fun to have a little education while reading for fun.

[Elizabeth]

I agree that M.C. Beaton's books are great. Have to read them all and sometimes again. Agatha Raisin always puts me in a good mood.

[Linda]

Any new releases in the Books by the Bay series or in the Booktown series. Jenn McKinlay's new Hat Shop series has also been added to my "must read" list!

[Lisa]

Do the Brother Cadfael books count as cozies? I absolutely adore those - both the books and the TV series.

I'm also a sucker for all the Agatha Christie books and movies.

Lisa

[[deleted user]]

I also enjoy the MC Beaton Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin series, and Marion Chesney's Lady Rose Summer series, Ngaio Marsh, Sir AC Doyle, EW Hornung, Carola Dunn, Kerry Greenwood's Miss Fisher Series (I also loved the film adaptations with Essie Davis), and of course Agatha Christie, who is my absolute favorite, and who I think is one of the most prominent and definitive of the Cozy Mystery authors.