Cozy Mystery Corner discussion
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What are You Reading Besides a Cozy?
A Hard Call
by Max Walker
Narrated by Greg Boudreaux
M/M romance
With series title being Stonewall Investigations I was expecting mystery with M/M romance but the mystery just came up here and there. The two main characters are the focus. Too much angst for my taste but for those who enjoy characters healing each other I'd suggest taking a look at this.
Each book in the 4 book series has a mystery to be solved but the serial killer story arc starts in book 1 and, hopefully, concludes in book 4.
Though I enjoy Greg Boudreaux narration, this book dragged for me. Could be that's due to it not being what I expected. It's only 7 hours and a few minutes long which is not a long book for me.
Started out the week with a middle grade fantasy novel:
The Chosen One by James Riley https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
MadameZelda wrote: "On to Wild SignWild Sign by Patricia Briggs"I have that on the TBR list...that I will never catch up on. lol 🙄
Heather L wrote: "MadameZelda wrote: "On to Wild SignWild Sign by Patricia Briggs"I have that on the TBR list...that I will never catch up on. lol 🙄"
This one is really great! Catch up!
MadameZelda wrote: "On to 
Wild Sign by Patricia Briggs"Excellent book. Best book I have read this year. I hope everyone enjoys it.
I just finished the The Lost Apothecary
by Sarah Penner. It is a duel time book. The connection between was well done but a bit unrealistic. My problem with the book is I just didn't like the characters thus difficult to really like the book.
Got in a non-cozy this week as well:
The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mark wrote: "Got in a non-cozy this week as well: The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."My sister's favorite author. She snaps up all the books in the series.
I really like Michael Connelly as well. Definitely not cozy, but he has great characters and plots.
I am reading The Last Garden in England
by Julia Kelly. Set in Warwickshire England in 3 time periods. Restoring and building gardens. Very well written so far. Love the charactes.
I don't read her other series, but I have started the Fox and O'Hare series from Janet Evanovich. I've read the latest,
The Bounty, co-written with Steve Hamilton. It's improbable and over the top, but fun.Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mark wrote: "I don't read her other series, but I have started the Fox and O'Hare series from Janet Evanovich. I've read the latest, The Bounty, co-written with Steve Hamilton. I..."I'm on #3 of this series (have on tbr for May). I really enjoyed all the action and interaction from the first two; can't explain it besides saying that they left me happy. I somehow read #6 sometime back, enjoyed that one and its setting, and that's what got me into going back to the start. Here's hoping that the series doesn't start sliding down a slippery slope; that would be a downer!
#6 is the worst - a definitely step back for the series. The first five are wonderful, and this one is fun.
Mark wrote: "#6 is the worst - a definitely step back for the series. The first five are wonderful, and this one is fun."lol on #6, since it was the trigger for me to read the series. Can't wait to get into the third one, for sure.
Honestly, you'll probably be fine with it. #6 feels like it should have been about book 1.5 or something. It was how their relationship devolved for that book that really bothered me the most. So you are reading them in the right order.
I abandoned two books:
and
before settling on
by C.J. Box. Seraphina was just too dark for me. Everyone seemed to be unhappy and I didn't like the direction the story was taking.
The Weekenders smacked of white privilege. I usually enjoy Mary Kay Andrews and her sense of humor. This book was very different from her others and I couldn't relate to anyone.
I'm listening to
The Chilbury Ladies' Choir. Enough tears shed over heartbreaking moments to float a boat but a really good story, nonetheless.
Been reading a lot of Kindle Unlimited books, including cozies, because my 50% off membership was going to run out next month then two things happened. KU added some books with narration from authors I like and I found 40% discount membership. Now I need to go back and mark books on Goodreads as read.In the meantime getting back to some books I put off in favor of KU.
Ruwen
by Kate Rudolph
narrated by Zachary Michael
Picked up the Kindle book free on Amazon and the audio is on Hoopla.
Character and world building were good so, while I don't know that I will try to read every book, I can see reading more.
Also reading
Obsidian Butterfly by Laurell K. Hamilton. This is one long series. Let's see how long I last before I call it quits.
Christine wrote: "The Woman in Cabin 10"I've been wanting to read this, but worried I'll get emotional over it.
I am reading The Easter Sepulchre
by Mel Starr. I have read every book in the series and enjoy them greatly. Book is set in 1347, in Bampton England. Excellent glossary in the front to help us with unfamiliar terms. I recommend starting with book 1.
I have started Band of Sisters
by Lauren Willig. Set in 1917, Smith alums go to help France during WWI. Here books are always well written with good character development. Enjoying the book so far.
I just finished Above Suspicion
by Lynda La Plante. I loved her Prime Suspect series! This book was also a page turner, but at the end when the suspect confesses it was chilling. And I don't mean in a good way. I'll probably read more in this series, because the main character seemed to grow quite a lot personally.
I am reading
by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah WinfreyThis will be a book to read over and over in different sections. There is something for everyone to learn about their lives. Worth buying!
I am reading Her Last Flight
by Beatriz Williams. Loosely based on Ameila Earhart. Very well written and enjoyable.
I just finished a beautiful debut novel, set in 1960s China. Swimming Back to Trout River, by Linda Rui Feng.
Finishing up the week with
"S" is for Silence by Sue Grafton https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I often considering the Gaslight Mysteries cozies, but
Murder in Murray Hill by Victoria Thompson was pretty dark to be considered a cozy. Still very good and worth reading.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Alice wrote: "I am reading The Other Mrs. 
by Mary Kubica. Thriller set on coastal Island in Maine. Bit creepy."Yes, but is written really well! I gave it a 5-stars rating and I rarely read that genre!
I am reading A Wicked Conceit
by Anna Lee Huber. Love this series. This one pulled me right in. I recommend starting from book 1 though. Set in 1832 Edinburgh.
Badass Habits: Cultivate the Awareness, Boundaries, and Daily Upgrades You Need to Make Them StickI love Jen Sincero!
Almost finished with #1 book in Nero Wolfe series by Rex Stout. I've really enjoyed it,
Fer-de-Lance
Meg wrote: "Almost finished with #1 book in Nero Wolfe series by Rex Stout. I've really enjoyed it,Fer-de-Lance"Nero Wolfe series has always been a favorite. I read them from the library, then bought them, and am now listening to them as audio as they come available to me.
L J wrote: "Nero Wolfe series has always been a favorite. I read them from the library, then bought them, and am now listening to them as audio as they come available to me...."Wow, that's a real favorite. I've done that with some books, though, so I totally get it!
Got one middle grade mystery in this week:
Bear Bottom by Stuart Gibbs https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A rare week with two non-cozies for me:
21st Birthday by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Evil for Evil by James R. Benn https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I am reading a historical mystery where the difference in classes is heavily stressed. 
The Cater Street Hangman
by Anne Perry
Reading a UF book with the female MC hides her PNR powers and is also a PI
The Silver Mark
by Sarah Painter
Until recently I've never been one to read more than one book at a time. But I started listening to James Patterson's Women's Murder Club books on audio where I am now on 14th Deadly Sin. I have read most of this series before, but much time has passed and I find that I really don't remember the plots, at least not yet. I am reading my cozy mystery on my kindle and I also have an actual book going which is Amish themed. I like having something on kindle because I can read in the middle of the night if I wake up and don't have to move from my bed or turn on lights!
Cozy Mystery Corner
Books mentioned in this topic
The War of the Roses – The Children (other topics)The Children of the Roses (other topics)
Jagger (other topics)
Hawk (other topics)
Hunter (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Piper Stone (other topics)Andrew Morton (other topics)
Chris Hammer (other topics)
Joan D. Chittister (other topics)
Celina Grace (other topics)
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Halfway There
by Eve Langlais
Narrator Nicole Poole made this listenable
Part 1 of 3 Part trilogy
This is shelved as cozy mystery as well as paranormal women's fiction and it felt that way in beginning but became something else. Toward the end of part 1 a couple of mysteries are seemingly solved but at the end of the book it is clear that nothing is resolved. That 's why I'm saying part 1 not book 1.
On My Way
Part 2, like Part 1, gets darker and less cozy as it goes on.
Don't Stop Believing
Part 3 starts with dark creatures.
These are not cozy.