Cozy Mystery Corner discussion

Is there a cozy mystery series that you loved that the author or the author's publisher decided to end and you still miss?

I loved the Pie Shop Mystery Series by Ellie Grant (Joyce & Jim Laverne). I recently found out from the author that there publisher decided to pull the plug on this series after the second book Treacherous Tart and I'm still really upset. This is a great series plus it takes place in my hometown of Durham, NC.

I also hate that Cynthia Baxter decided to discontinue the Mallory Marlow Murder Packs a Suitcase mystery series which I liked better than the Jessica Popper series.

I really liked the Mystery A La Mode series by Wendy Lyn Watson. It was discontinued after only three books.

Another series I enjoyed was Rhys Bowen's Constable Evan Evans. This was an older series of hers featuring a constable in Wales. There were 8+ books. She has two other series currently on-going, but I still miss Constable Evans and the villagers of Llanfair.

Nell wrote: "I really liked the Mystery A La Mode series by Wendy Lyn Watson. It was discontinued after only three books.

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That was a favorite of mine, too. I also really hated to see the Pepper Martin series by Casey Daniels end, as well as the Trailer Park series by Jimmie Ruth Evans AKA Dean James and the Tattoo Shop series by Karen E. Olson.

Nell wrote: "Another series I enjoyed was Rhys Bowen's Constable Evan Evans. This was an older series of hers featuring a constable in Wales. There were 8+ books. She has two other series currently on-going, b..."

I met Rhys Bowen recently and asked her about the Evan Evans series. She said it was difficult to write two series with their deadlines and can't do more than that. She did not rule out more Evans books, but there won't be any in the foreseeable future.

I never understand why this happens and I get so sad.

Melodie wrote: "Nell wrote: "I really liked the Mystery A La Mode series by Wendy Lyn Watson. It was discontinued after only three books.

..."

Oh Melodie...tell me you're joking please! I did not know that the Pepper Martin series and the Trailer Park series have met their demise! Sheesh...I'm beyond disappointed!

Josie Belle's Good Buy Girl Series has been discontinued as well after 5 books. Sad to see that one go...I really liked the characters.

Kylie Logan ask Miranda Bliss' Cooking Class Series was really good too and it was discontinued after 5 books. Was so sad because I really loved the series.Cooking Up Murder

Regina wrote: "Is there a cozy mystery series that you loved that the author or the author's publisher decided to end and you still miss?

I loved the Pie Shop Mystery Series by Ellie Grant (Joyce & Jim Laverne..."

Rhonda Pollero's FAT series.Finley was a great MC totally unique. Website says Pollero retired.

Cynthia Baxter seems to have stopped writing, period. Both her series ended about the same time.

I'll second Rhys Bowen's Evan Evans series. I love her two current series, but Evan was great as well. I understand only being able to handle two books a year. But Evan has his fans because every time I see Rhys speak, someone asks about him.

There are a couple of older series I loved that were discontinued. Jerrilyn Farmer's Madeline Bean series was wonderful, but the eighth book never saw the light of day. I also miss the Nan and Bert Tatum series. Nan and Bert were identical twins, and the series was written to twins Barbara Taylor McCaffery and Beverly Taylor Herald. I really did love it and wish we'd gotten more than 5.

Both of those series have been dead for a decade now, but I'd pick up a new book in a heartbeat.

Mark wrote: "Cynthia Baxter seems to have stopped writing, period. Both her series ended about the same time.

I'll second Rhys Bowen's Evan Evans series. I love her two current series, but Evan was great as ..."

I really liked the Jerrilyn Farmer series too and waited years for the last Maddie Bean to be published.

Margaret Maron has announced that her most recent Deborah Knott mystery will be the last! :/ It's a great series and I will miss it. The 20th and last one is Long Upon the Land

So sad to hear that Margaret Maron is ending this series.

Melodie wrote: "That was a favorite of mine, too. I also really hated to see the Pepper Martin series by Casey Daniels end, as well as the Trailer Park series by Jimmie Ruth Evans AKA Dean James and the Tattoo Shop series by Karen E. Olson. "

I miss the Tattoo Shop series too.

I really love Deborah Knott and have read the entire series. I will be sad that it is coming to an end. Hopefully Margaret Maron can come up with something else that can take the place of this really great series.

I am just finishing the last Pepper Martin series as well. Just finished the last book which it seems that Casey put everything into this last one.

Sue Ann Jaffarian has just announced she is ending her Granny Apples mystery series

Regina wrote: "Sue Ann Jaffarian has just announced she is ending her Granny Apples mystery series"

Hate to hear that!

Regina wrote: "Sue Ann Jaffarian has just announced she is ending her Granny Apples mystery series."

I am sad to hear that, too. I really enjoy this series. I got them from the library a few years ago and just fell in love with them. The characters were interesting and the mysteries were involving. I liked the grown-up relationship Emma and Phil have. It's refreshing to see mature (and I don't mean by age!) people showcased in cozies. I also liked that the stories involved "cold" cases.

So... Series gone too soon??? There are so many to name. Shopping used and library, I find a lot of series I just get into are three-and-dones; that is, not picked up after their initial run. I have liked/loved all of D. R. Meredith's series, especially her Megan Clark series and her John Lloyd Branson series. Both comprised more than three books, but I wish there were more than there are. Things with JLB were just getting interesting with the relationship between JLB and his assistant, too. I'd love to know where it was going. :o(

But... What's too soon?? There are series I've read that have 15+ books, but nothing new in 5+ years... Lee Harris' Christine Bennett series is 17 books. I enjoyed all of them. Selma Eichler's Desiree Shapiro has 15. I fell in love with Desiree in the first book and have missed her since finishing the 15th. I consider that series gone too soon.

I agree Karen. I love Cynthia Baxter but I don't there are anymore books in her Reigning Cats & Dogs series.

Sherrie wrote: "I am just finishing the last Pepper Martin series as well. Just finished the last book which it seems that Casey put everything into this last one."

What??!!!! Guess I should have read the thread better. I cannot believe this series is going to end. Pepper Martin is one of my favorite characters. I love that series. I love the humor, the romance, and the (what I picture as) hot men. The mysteries are fun and funny as well as being involving. THIS is a series I hate to see go.

Please, Casey Daniels (Connie Laux, Miranda Bliss, Kylie Logan) say it ain't so!!!!

Between this thread and the Save Our Cozies thread, I am beginning to see cozy series endings just like television shows ending...Ellery Queen was only one season long....Nero Wolfe only two.....The Snoop Sisters (with Helen Hayes and Mildred Natwick) one season as I recall...at least Murder She Wrote had a good long run. My parents still miss that show.

Gary wrote: "Between this thread and the Save Our Cozies thread, I am beginning to see cozy series endings just like television shows ending...Ellery Queen was only one season long....Nero Wolfe only two.....Th..."

I loved Murder She Wrote and get to watch rerun episodes almost daily thanks to Hallmark Mystery and COZI TV.

Annette Blair's series about the clothing store was fabulous-- and the last book was years ago. Same deal Madelyn Alt's 8th book in her series -- keeps getting pushed back another year, another year, another year.... JJ murphy's dorothy parker series has stalled out after 3.5...

I'm depressing myself here...

I miss the Scotty Bradley series by Greg Herren though he's written one or two after what was supposed to be last one so I have hope.
Deb Ralston series by Lee Martin aka Anne Wingate. Nothing in about 20 years and I still miss Deb and her family.
Ones that suddenly ceased a few years ago due to publisher cutting cozies I still hope to see more as ebooks if publisher returns rights and self-publishing continues to increase.

Jennifer wrote: "Annette Blair's series about the clothing store was fabulous-- and the last book was years ago. Same deal Madelyn Alt's 8th book in her series -- keeps getting pushed back another year, another year, another year.... JJ murphy's dorothy parker series has stalled out after 3.5...

I'm depressing myself here..."

You're depressing me, too! LOL. I enjoyed both those series so much. I keep checking and hoping for new addtions to both series to no avail. And that teaser book 8 on the Bewitching seires list just sits there mocking my want!

I miss Maddie (Annette Blair's Vintage Magic series) and Maggie (Madelyn Alt's Bewitching series). I would love to see more.

Gary wrote: "Between this thread and the Save Our Cozies thread, I am beginning to see cozy series endings just like television shows ending...Ellery Queen was only one season long....Nero Wolfe only two.....The Snoop Sisters (with Helen Hayes and Mildred Natwick) one season as I recall...at least Murder She Wrote had a good long run."

I miss those TV shows, too, though I have several on DVD -- Ellery Queen, Nero Wolfe (the Timothy Hutton/Maury Chaykin version), Rosemary and Thyme (which I love!), etc. I have old VCR tapes with the Snoop Sisters and will eventually get them on DVD, too. (I'd love to see Hec Ramsey on DVD.)

I thought about getting Murder She Wrote, but -- at least for now -- it's readily available in reruns.

Man, I miss good TV!

Karen wrote: "I miss Maddie (Annette Blair's Vintage Magic series) and Maggie (Madelyn Alt's Bewitching series). "

I miss Maddie too.

Because of this thread I've checked Annette Blair's facebook too and there's a comment from her saying that she hopes to get the mysteries rights back. I hope she writes another book.

Marisa wrote: "Because of this thread I've checked Annette Blair's facebook too and there's a comment from her saying that she hopes to get the mysteries rights back. I hope she writes another book."

All I can say is YAY!!! (oh, and hurry!!)

I really liked The Honor Hartman (Dean James) series - all based around playing bridge. I enjoy bridge and loved reading about it.

The Sunny and Shadow series by Claire Donally is another favorite that seems to have ended.

The Popcorn series by Kristi Abbott was SO good ! Sadly there were only 3 books.

Nancy wrote: "The Popcorn series by Kristi Abbott was SO good ! Sadly there were only 3 books."

I liked that one too. So many ended too soon. Especially Hat Shop by Jenn McKinlay. She owes us a wedding!!!! There MAY be more if she can find time to write it. See also her Cupcakes. She ended it but says she felt she wasn't done so there may be one more and maybe a spin-off.

While others I don't enjoy as much go on too long. (I'm looking at you Hannah Swensen and not so cozy Stephanie Plum).

QNPoohBear wrote: "So many ended too soon. Especially Hat Shop by Jenn McKinlay. She owes us a wedding!!!! There MAY be more if she can find time to write it. See also her Cupcakes. She ended it but says she felt she wasn't done so there may be one more and maybe a spin-off."

McKinlay ended her Cupcake Bakery series?? How did I miss that?! Boo!!!

And her Hat Shop series, too? I'm with you, we're owed a wedding!

What about the Library Lovers series?

I'd still read Good Buy Girls books and more in her Decoupage series if they were written.

I wouldn't even mind waiting a few years between her series books if it meant the characters and stories lived on! My favorites seem to be melting away.

I miss Lily from Juliet Blackwell's Witchcraft series. I haven't heard it's ended, but there hasn't been a new entry since 2021.

It's not like I want for mysteries to read, but I do love my favorite cozy series and never want them to go away. I take a lot of comfort from seeing the characters grow. Granted, some can't continue because of retirement or authors' deaths--I still miss Mary Daheim two series. I'm awaiting new additions for a lot of my favorite series. I do hope they're forthcoming! ACK! I need my fix!! =o/

Karen wrote: "What about the Library Lovers series?"

There is at least one more coming in that series - Booking for Trouble, with a scheduled release date in late February next year.

She's been writing romcoms, which doesn't float my boat, as I'm not a romance reader, but after so many years of writing cozy mysteries, I can see that she needed a change of pace.

Barb wrote: "She's been writing romcoms, which doesn't float my boat, as I'm not a romance reader, but after so many years of writing cozy mysteries, I can see that she needed a change of pace..."

She also has a new paranormal romance/mystery relating to her Museum of Literature short stories but separate. That's not my thing either. I think we will get one more Cupcake book. I hope we do, jumping forward in time because the last one didn't appeal to me much. The humor was gross and not funny.

QNPoohBear wrote: "I think we will get one more Cupcake book. I hope we do, jumping forward in time because the last one didn't appeal to me much."

🤞 and hoping :)