Cozy Mysteries discussion

Hi! So I'm on the look-out for some humorous cosy reads (and other funny mystery/crime books) to add to the bookshelf.

I know humour can be rather subjective -- my favourite funny writers include Terry Prachett, Colin Cotterill and David Sedaris, and currently loving the dry wit in the Amelia Peabody books.

Not a huge fan of ditzy, accident-prone female characters, though make exception for the wonderful Stephanie Plum.

So who are your favourite funny authors? And any suggestions of authors I should try next? Thanks!

Donna Andrews writes the Meg Langslow
series & I find them quite humorous. All the titles have a bird name in them & are
punny (I might have invented that word).
I think laughter adds so much to a book...
like seasoning to a cooked meal.

If you can find them, the Peter Shandy series by Charlotte MacLeod is very good as are her other other series. She's out of print mostly, and hard to find, but well worth the search.

http://www.cozy-mystery.com/Charlotte...

Carolyn Haines' travel series with Emily Andrew and her group of seniors from Iowa. It's the funniest series I've ever read.

Thanks!

Samples of the first Meg Langslow and Peter Shandy series winging their way onto my Kindle as a type.

Martha Grimes books - doesn't seem to be available in e-book or print here in the UK, will have a look on Abebooks. Interestingly, had a peak at the 'Look inside' sample, and after a few pages, googled the author as started to suspect she wasn't British, despite the English setting - and was right ;)

Any Americans have the opposite experience when reading a novel set in the US by a British author?

JoAnne wrote: "Carolyn Haines' travel series with Emily Andrew and her group of seniors from Iowa. It's the funniest series I've ever read."

Is that the same series as the Sarah Booth Delaney Mysteries?

I recently finished the Lucy Valentine series by Heather Webber. Kind of a mix of romance and mystery. I found them very funny. It was a nice light read to counter more serious stuff I had been reading.

Oh crap! I just woke up and that'll teach me! I meant Maddy Hunter!! Although I really do love the Sarah Booth series, too. Time to get coffee, i guess...

Joanne and Moonlight - thanks! Future book purchases pile getting nice and high....

I invite you to try the first in my Kim Claypoole mystery series, SMALL TOWN TROUBLE by Jean Erhardt. #1 Kindle Amateur Sleuth!

Shelly Fredman's No Such Thing As A..... Has a bit of the Stephanie Plum feel but much better.

I find both Jasper Fforde and Edmund Crispin humorous, although in very different ways!

Jean wrote: "I invite you to try the first in my Kim Claypoole mystery series, SMALL TOWN TROUBLE by Jean Erhardt. #1 Kindle Amateur Sleuth!"

This should go in the self promotion folder.

Joan Hess has two series that I find very funny. The Maggody books poke fun at every Hillbilly stereo type you know. Set in a fictional small town in the Ozarks where most of the people in town have the same last name. The main character's mother is named Rubella because she was born during a measles outbreak. Moonshine often plays a part in the plot.

The Clair Malloy series is about the owner of a struggling book store and contains a lot of social satire. She has teenage daughter who speaks in capital letters.

This was hilarious.

Teresa wrote: " This was hilarious."

I love that series! Which is odd for me, because I generally don't like series with talking animals....

Tracy wrote: "Teresa wrote: " This was hilarious."

I love that series! Which is odd for me, because I generally don't like series with talking animals...."

Similar feeling on talking animals, but a just read a snippet and I'll make an exception for Mexican-talking-Chihuahuas!

Jeanie - thanks for the tip of Shelly Fredman! Anyone else who wants to try the first book, it's pretty cheap as a Kindle book ($1.25 or £0.77) at mo, just as a heads up....

Leslie, Diana - thanks!

Teresa wrote: " This was hilarious."

I love this series too! And I just read my first Donna Andrews book (Meg Langs,ow series) and thought that was funny too.

Author Lisa Lutz's writes the Spellman Series of books. She isnt a Cozy Mystery writer but she is a smart writing author who's story lines are light, easy to follow and fun. They're about a dysfunctional family of Private Investigators. Very highly recommended.

Diana wrote: "Joan Hess has two series that I find very funny. The Maggody books poke fun at every Hillbilly stereo type you know. Set in a fictional small town in the Ozarks where most of the people in town hav..."

I second this. I'm currently in the middle of the Maggody series and they're great.

Paul wrote: "Diana wrote: "Joan Hess has two series that I find very funny. The Maggody books poke fun at every Hillbilly stereo type you know. Set in a fictional small town in the Ozarks where most of the peop..."

I love the Maggody books--will it make me look bad if I say they remind me of the small town in Maine where I grew up?

Donna Andrews (both the Turing and the Meg Langslow mysteries) and Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce books are my other favorites.

There is a series by K.J. Larsen and the first book is . I compare it to the Stephanie Plum series

I really love Sarah Caudwell. Witty and sharp. Thus Was Adonis Murdered was the first book I read by her.

Michelle wrote: "I really love Sarah Caudwell. Witty and sharp. Thus Was Adonis Murdered was the first book I read by her."

Oh, how could I have forgotten Sarah Caudwell?! Yes, I love these :)

Paul wrote: "Author Lisa Lutz's writes the Spellman Series of books. She isnt a Cozy Mystery writer but she is a smart writing author who's story lines are light, easy to follow and fun. They're about a dysfun..."

Sample downloaded. =) Out of interest, what makes it a non-cozy in your eyes?

Leslie, Michelle, Leslie - thanks for the suggestions!

For funny cozies I enjoyed Calamity Jayne Calamity Jayne and Bubbles Y.Bubbles Unbound

For funny cozies I enjoyed Calamity Jayne Calamity Jayne and Bubbles Y.Bubbles Unbound

J.A.Lang wrote: "Paul wrote: "Author Lisa Lutz's writes the Spellman Series of books. She isnt a Cozy Mystery writer but she is a smart writing author who's story lines are light, easy to follow and fun. They're a..."

I thought that Cozies were set in small towns with a murder to solve. These are set in San Francisco and there aren't murders they're a different mystery that unravels as the story goes on. (i.e. why is the main character explaining to a policeman about her restraining orders).
This is just my own interpretation though. I've never really looked into the definition...lol...

Hi Paul. "light, easy to follow and fun" sounds like my definition of a cozy (along with a good dose of mystery and all that). Thanks for the suggestion!

Plus Agatha Christie didn't always have a murder in her stories, at least not in the short ones. =)

I have also read and enjoyed the Spellman series. Highly recommend it. But I also do not think of them as a cozies. Perhaps it is the "feel" the books. they are for lack of a better word edgier than most cozies. The mysteries take back seat to the behaviors of the crazy family. The closest series I would compare it to is the Stephanie Plum novels. But less sexy. No love triangle.

Stay At Home Dead - that series is really funny. I recommend that one.

Christina wrote: "Stay At Home Dead - that series is really funny. I recommend that one."

Love this series! One of my favorites. He also writes a hardboiled series as Jeff Shelby that is a favorite of mine, too!

Lori Avocato's are a hoot!

I love the Liturgical mysteries by Mark Schweizer. I can't read them in bed because I can't control the snickers which might wake up my husband.

I'm just such a huge fan of M.C. Beaton. I think all of her Agatha Raisin and Hamish MacBeth series have lot of humor in them besides great plots. I highly recommend both series.

Susan wrote: "I'm just such a huge fan of M.C. Beaton. I think all of her Agatha Raisin and Hamish MacBeth series have lot of humor in them besides great plots. I highly recommend both series."

I agree I love Hamish! I also love anything by Laura Levine, Killer Cruise most of her books will give you a chuckle.

The Feng Shui detective series by Nury Vittachi has lots of humour and interesting mysteries

My favourite humorous mysteries have been mention. Meg Lanslow, Arly Hanks, Peter Shandy, are three. some of Elizabeth Peters are funny. NAKED ONCE MORE

My fave humor mysteries includes Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum Series, Nancy Martin's Roxy Abruzzo and Blackbird sisters series, Deborah Coonts' Lucky O' Toole series, Laura Levine's series and Sarah Strohmeyer's Bubbles Yablonsky series.

I'm writing down everyone's suggestions for humorous mysteries. Thanks.

Susan Bernhardt

Olivia wrote: ... I also love anything by Laura Levine...

Just looked her up - found her Jaine Austen books, the name of the heroine is enough to make me have a read. =)

M.C. Beaton's characters are so funny and quirky - I just love Agatha Raisin. Also, Carl Hiaissen has the funniest plots and characters!

JoAnne wrote: "Carolyn Haines' travel series with Emily Andrew and her group of seniors from Iowa. It's the funniest series I've ever read."

JoAnne, can't find this, would you give me one title to look up. Thanks

Am reading series by Madison Johns, and Anne George.
Each have 2 MCs that are Senior Citizen females, which is my current 'condition', so am able to relate very well!

I Also love M.C Beatons character Agatha Raisin i was given a set of ten books a few years ago for a birthday present and was delighted to find a number of them based in places close to where i live and have visited many times i love the humour and the mishaps and agatha herself even with all her faults and foibles i think its about time to reread them thanks for the reminder

Patrick wrote: "I Also love M.C Beatons character Agatha Raisin i was given a set of ten books a few years ago for a birthday present and was delighted to find a number of them based in places close to where i li..."

It sounds like you live in England near the Cotswolds? I can only dream of living there, but I hope to visit in the next 2 years. Color me jealous!!

Kathy wrote: "Patrick wrote: "I Also love M.C Beatons character Agatha Raisin i was given a set of ten books a few years ago for a birthday present and was delighted to find a number of them based in places clo..."

Kathy, not even! Try Denver, CO. Can't imagine what gave you that idea, but I like it!

Oh, sorry, most of the Beaton stories take place in either the Cotswolds or the Scottish Highlands. My brother lives in Denver, though and I am SO happy the Broncos are going to the SuperBowl!!

I think she was referring to Patrick??

Heidi *Listen. I'll just keep talking anyway. * wrote: "I think she was referring to Patrick??"

No, I was responding to Kathy, although nothing about the Beaton stories. This is getting off topic & confusing to follow.