Cozy Mysteries discussion

Hi Group,

My name is Launa and I just finished the Molly Murphy Series. I have now read all of the books by Rhys Bowen. The Royal Spyness series being my favorite. Can anyone suggest any series that are similar?

Thank you!
Launa

Have you read her Molly Murphy series? Daisy Dalrymple series is another good one.

Thank you for the suggestion. I just completed the Molly Murphy series. I am trying out the Maise Dobbs series but it's not as lively and fun. I fell in love with Molly's neighbors Sid and Gus. They really made the books for me. I will definitely look into the Daisy Dalrymple series.

Have you read any Elizabeth Peters books? I like the Amelia Peabody series.

Yes! I loved the Amelia Peabody series.

I haven't read the series you refer to but I have been reading ARC's for several really great cozy series this year. Try these:

A Java Jive Mystery latest book A Whole Latte Murder by Caroline Fardig

A Home Sweet Home Mystery latest book A Killer Location: A Home Sweet Home Mystery by Sarah T. Hobart

Cajun Country Mystery latest book Body on the Bayou by Ellen Byron

Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries latest book Deader Homes and Gardens by Angie Fox

I love the Daisy Dalrymple series too! Bess Crawford and Maisie Dobbs are great historicals, but aren't light hearted like Lady Georgie.

Thank you all for the suggestions!

How about Kerry Greenwood? Her Phryne Fisher mysteries are set in the 1920s in Australia.

Have you read Anne George cozy mysteries. I love them.

Sandra J, I read a few and then watched the series on Netflix. TV is never as good as the book so I may just give them a try.

Donna, Thank you for the suggestion. I will look into Anne George!

Sadly, Ms George died several years ago. She wrote such funny stories. I read them again, every so often.
Enjoy.

If it's the historical cozy aspect that you enjoyed so much, you could try these authors who are similar:

Victoria Thompson
Emily Brightwell
Vicky Delany
Carola Dunn
Anna Lee Huber
Tasha Alexander

Thank you for the recommendations. I'm currently reading Carola Dunn. I really enjoy Tasha Alexander too!

Has anyone tried the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series? I read the first book of McCall Smith's Isabel Dalhousie series, and I wasn't totally enamored. I am curious about his other series, and I was wondering if anyone would recommend it :)

I didn't care for the Dalhousie series at all, but for some reason, I love the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books. They are *not murder mysteries, and some readers find them too slow-moving, but I enjoy my visits with Mme Ramotswe and the rest. I always want to book a trip to Botswana when I finished reading one of these books :)

Thank you so much for the info! I wanted to read those originally, but B&N was out of stock when the one in my city opened up. The store had the Dalhousie ones, so I thought I'd try it. But I was unimpressed too. This makes me feel better about trying out the No. 1 Ladies Detective.. thanks! I'll let you know how I like it!

One of my favorite series is the Chintz 'n China series by Yasmine Galehorn. The first book is Ghost of a Chance. It has paranormal aspects, but done in a way I didn't mind as I am not a big fan of "very" paranormal books, if that makes sense.

Another absolute favorite of mine are "The Potting Shed" mysteries by Marty Wingate. The first in the series is The Garden Plot.

Has anyone read Blythe Baker’s Rose Beckingham series? I’m on the 4th book, and while the writing is so-so and the stories aren’t particularly tricky mysteries, I find them enjoyable! It’s been a fun series to read this August. Curious if anyone else has thoughts about the books

Cheryl wrote: "One of my favorite series is the Chintz 'n China series by Yasmine Galehorn. The first book is Ghost of a Chance. It has paranormal aspects, but done in a way I didn'..."

Really enjoyed her new series book The Bodies in the Library Cheryl

Icewineanne wrote: "Really enjoyed her new series book The Bodies in the Library (Marty Wingate)"

The next in that series is supposed to come out in early October, Murder Is a Must. I'm looking forward to reading it,

You might like the Darling Dahlias series by Susan Wittig Albert or the Pennyfoot Hotel series by Kate Kingsbury

Barb wrote: "Icewineanne wrote: "Really enjoyed her new series book The Bodies in the Library (Marty Wingate)"

The next in that series is supposed to come out in early October, Murder Is a Must..."

Barb, thanks for letting me know. Just checked our local library & they have 7 copies on order....yeay!

Christine wrote: "You might like the Darling Dahlias series by Susan Wittig Albert or the Pennyfoot Hotel series by Kate Kingsbury"

Thanks for the recommendation Christine. Went over to amazon & bought the first book Room With a Clue for $1 😊

Icewineanne wrote: "Christine wrote: "You might like the Darling Dahlias series by Susan Wittig Albert or the Pennyfoot Hotel series by Kate Kingsbury"

Thanks for the recommendation Christine. Went over to amazon & bought the first book Room With a Clue for $1 😊"

That is great news. So glad you found a bargain!

Christine wrote: "Icewineanne wrote: "Christine wrote: "You might like the Darling Dahlias series by Susan Wittig Albert or the Pennyfoot Hotel series by Kate Kingsbury"

Thanks for th..."

The first book is fairly old, published in 1993. Our library system & used book stores didn’t have copies so I thought I might have probs obtaining one but amazon came to the rescue 🤗
Cheers!

Julesy wrote: "If it's the historical cozy aspect that you enjoyed so much, you could try these authors who are similar:

Victoria Thompson
Emily Brightwell
Vicky Delany
Carola Dunn
Anna Lee Huber
Tasha Alexander"

Carola Dunn said on Facebook a few days ago that she is -retired-, which I take to mean there will be no more Daisy Dalrymple books. Waaah

Ashlyn wrote: "Has anyone read Blythe Baker’s Rose Beckingham series? I’m on the 4th book, and while the writing is so-so and the stories aren’t particularly tricky mysteries, I find them enjoyable! It’s been a f..."

I haven't read any of these yet, but I note that they are available via Kindle Unlimited.

Christine wrote: "You might like the Darling Dahlias series by Susan Wittig Albert or the Pennyfoot Hotel series by Kate Kingsbury"

I enjoy the Dahlias even if they are slower-moving than the China Bayles books. Also enjoyed the Pennyfoot books, but not quite as much, though definitely enough to recommend.

Are you looking for a long series, or does that not matter? Are you looking for relatively-contemporary or farther back in history? Really funny, or is that less important? I've been keeping a list of everything I've read since 2005, plus older things as well. My goodreads list has more than 10K titles, so I'm looking to narrow my answer to you.

Donna Andrews' Meg Langslow series, all with a bird in the title. The first is Murder with Peacocks. #27 is just out, The Hawk Always Wings Twice. **And** they're funny. She also had a series about Turing Hopper, with only 4 books, about an AI which/who was totally sentient & passes the Turing Test. Not so funny, but really well written.
Have you read the China Bayles series by Susan Wittig Albert? Not so much funny, but well written, and also 27 books.

Catherine Aird's Inspector C. D. Sloan series, set in southern England, lotsa books.

Technically sf/fantasy but set around mysteries: Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series. Peter Grant is a police constable who is apprenticed to Chief Inspector Nightingale to learn magic, because magic is returning to England, and The Folly is the British Magic police. It's also returning to the rest of Earth. Apprenticeship takes 10 years, & no one has any idea how long Nightingale will last. So far, only 8 books, but he's working on #9. I reread these quite a lot - funny, well written.

Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity series has at least 24 books.
Laurien Berenson's poodle series has 26 books, but I have Issues with her constant capitalization of Poodle & Standard Poodle. Not quite as deep as the previously-mentioned series.
Claudia Bishop's Hemlock Falls series has 18 books, nicely complicated.
Rhys Bowen's Constable Evan Evans series set in Wales has 10 books, not anywhere as funny as Lady Georgie - earlier work, before she had learned how.
Ellen Byerrum's Fashion series - somewhat funny, 10 books.
Andrea Camilleri's series set in Sicily - be careful about reading order. Many are only available in Italian, but if you stick to the Penguins, you'll be okay. Not so funny, but well written & translated.
The Miss Seeton series is funny but lightweight. Started by Heron Carvic. #1 is Picture Miss Seeton.
Laura Childs has 3 series that I'm aware of: Tea Shop, set in Charleston, SC; Scrapbooking series set in NOLA; Cackleberry Club set (probably) in MN.
Cleo Coyle's coffee shop series has at least 17 books - I don't think I'm caught up with these.
Bill Crider's (of blessed memory) Sheriff Dan Rhodes series has more than 20 books, set in TX.
Mary Daheim's Alpine series has 26 books, the B&B series has over 30.
Jeanne M. Dams has 2 series: Hilda Johansson (7) & Dorothy Martin (15). Neither are all *that* funny, but entertaining. Hilda starts as a housemaid in South Bend, IN, so there is interesting social history.
Lindsay Davis' Falco series!! 20 books, plus his adopted daughter Flavia Alba's (at least) 7 books. Falco is deliberately making light of the political situation, tweaking officials whenever he can get away with it.
David Dickinson: well written, entertaining.
Aaron Elkins's Gideon Oliver series ditto.
Earlene Fowler's Benni Harper series, a little more serious.
Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher series 21 books.
Carolyn Hart's Dead on Demand series, which has lots of other good mysteries mentioned in the first 3 books.
Joan Hess's (also of blessed memory) 2 series: Arly Hanks (funnier) & Claire Molloy. She also finished Elizabeth Peters' last Peabody books, then got cancer herself.
Tony Hillerman's Navajo series continued by his daughter Anne. Not so funny, but really well written.
Not so long a series, only 3 books, but Barry Hughart's Master Li & Number 10 Ox: Bridge of Birds, The Story of the Stone, & Eight Skilled Gentlemen. Reallyreally good.
Julie Hyzy's White House Chef series - only 9 books, but good.

If you want the second half of the alphabet from me, let me know.

Jane wrote: "Donna Andrews' Meg Langslow series, all with a bird in the title. The first is Murder with Peacocks. #27 is just out, The Hawk Always Wings Twice. **And** they're funny. She also had a series about..."

Jane, though I either have, or know of, many of the series you so kindly listed, there are some that I don't, so (big groan) my tbr mountain is slated to grow bigger. Lol. Thanks for the suggestions! 😊 P.S. Meg Langslow is one of my favorites; just finished the latest one last week.

Just discovered the series An Enchanted Bay Mystery by Esme Addison and loved it. If you like audiobooks the narrator did an excellent job.

I love audiobooks. They make the stories come to life!