Audiobooks discussion

There's a bit of "gray area" on this definition, but I think we can generally agree on what goes here.

I've been listening to the two latest releases in a cozy series I really enjoy, the Coffeehouse Mysteries by Cleo Coyle. The stories improve as the series goes along--I enjoyed them from the start--and the narration is very good. The latest one, Billionaire Blend, is a lot of fun so far.

There's another coffee series as well by Sandra Balzo - the first couple of books were okay, but I gave up after that. Most, though not all, have Whispersync pricing.

A few books back, I put my Diane Mott Davidson book featuring Goldy-the-caterer aside, with a "That's it, NO more!" Same thing with the Faith Fairchild catering series set in Massachusetts (among other places).

John wrote: "There's another coffee series as well by Sandra Balzo - the first couple of books were okay, but I gave up after that. Most, though not all, have Whispersync pricing.

A few books back, I put my Di..."

I gave up on the Balzo series, too. I also found the Goldie Catering series became dissatisfying towards the end of the current series, but I really liked the latest one, and, if you liked the series at all, you might find it worthwhile. I've seen some comments elsewhere that this is the end of the Goldie series but I haven't seen anything definitive. The Whole Enchilada was a good place to end if the series is truly done.

Agatha Raisin is one of my favorite cozies on audio.

In the "completed series" category, Charlotte MacLeod's Peter Shandy is one of my absolute favorites.

My very favorite on-going mystery series is the Armande Gamache/Three Pines series, but that may belong in the general Mystery category rather than "Cozy".

I had meant to post some of the series I listen to, so here are a few off the top of my head:

Ladies No. 1 Detective
"Booktown" series by Lorna Barrett
"Bed & Breakfast" by Mary Daheim (they're set in a fictionalized version of my actual neighborhood!)
Flavia de Luce (I consider them at least borderline cozy)

John, I've seen varying reviews for the Booktown series. I take it you find its quality holds up?

The series is both frustrating AND addictive!

Speaking of cozy series that are both frustrating and addictive... the Hannah Swensen series by Joanne Fluke is one that I have read in its entirety and buy as soon as the next book comes out, but I increasingly want to throw my netbook across the room while listening! There is an unresolved love triangle that has endured long past its appeal and Fluke writes her Minnesota characters as if they--or her readers--were halfwits. It doesn't help that the narrator reads at a slightly too slow pace and inflects the dialogue to enhance the characters' simplemindedness. And yet I still read them!

Regarding Booktown, I suppose the best way to put it might be that for the first few books, the protagonist, Tricia, was so unlikeable I read the books curious to see whether the author seemed to get that? Tricia isn't quite so bad these days, or maybe I've gotten used to her? I'm looking forward to the new one to see if a new narrator makes a difference?

The reviews of the Lady Julia Grey series were similar to your description of Booktown, with a main character that was sometimes difficult to like in the early books. In the case of Lady Julia, I disliked her so much that I didn't care if she improved later on and dumped any thoughts of continuing the series. But I doubt if Booktown has a character nearly so off-putting.

Jeanie I agree about Fluke's series. I listened to the first 3 books and gave up on the series. As someone from MN originally I was annoyed at portrayal of MN characters and the narrator didn't help.

A series I do enjoy is the Scumble River series by Denise Swanson. These are usually fairly good, the relationships hav evolved over time without the usual rut or permanent love triangle. The aspect that speaks most to me is that the heroine is a school psychologist--my own profession until I retired this year--and those situations tend to be so true to life, even if they seem outrageous. Christine Leto narrates well too.

I am addicted to the Laura Lippman books, which I assume are cozy mysteries. Her Tess Monahan stories are great!

Two more series I love that I think are Cozy. They both are set in the years between WWI and WWII.
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspeare. The first book takes a detour to recount Maisie's past, but it sets a wonderful table for the rest of the series. When I asked a friend if she liked Maisie Dobbs after reading it, her response was, "I don't just like Maisie Dobbs, I want to be Maisie Dobbs." That says it all.
The other series in the same time period is the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series by Laurie R. King. It might be enough to love a series that brings Holmes back to life, but Mary is an interesting character in her own right. And it was because of this series encorporating a Rudyard Kipling character in "The Game" that I was spurred to read Kipling's book, "Kim", and discovered a classic that captured my heart. If you too read "Kim", I recommend the Sam Dastor version.

Cozy?

No violence or sex. A term I learned from Goodreads :-)

Forney_bill wrote: "Cozy?"

If that is a request for a definition of the genre... first think Miss Marple. While there is some debate over what can be included, generally this category is a kinder, gentler sort of story. Some say its name comes from the idea of a tea cozy, others say it's that "cozy" feeling you get snuggled up to read a good book. Cozies usually aren't graphic, don't use bad language (not a deal breaker), don't have graphic sex, focus on the lives of the main characters in addition to the mystery, and don't go for shoot 'em ups or car chases. Generally, adrenalin junkies aren't attracted to this genre.

Ah - thanks. Wasn't sure.

In addition to Jeannie's definition, cozy mysteries are generally solved by amateur sleuths.

You read them as much for the characters and setting as much as for a "plot" itself.

My favorite of all-time is Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce series. The narrator for these books has really grown on me and, in my opinion, brings Flavia's character to life. I can't wait until the 7th book in the series - As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust - comes out next year.

I COMPLETELY agree that the narration makes the experience!

A great cozy I recently discovered is the Phryne Fisher series by,Kerry Greenwood
Narrated By Stephanie Daniel the first book is Cocaine Blues.

Rhys Bowen's Her Royal Spyness series is a lot of fun and narrated by Katherine Kellgren who is always fabulous.The first book is Her Royal Spyness

Juliet Blackwell's Witchcraft Mysteries are fun little mysteries wonderfully narrated by Xe Sands.the first book is Secondhand Spirits

My two favorite cozy series:

No 1 Ladies Detective Agency
Flavia de Luce

I love both for the characters. I could care less about the mystery.

MissSusie wrote: "A great cozy I recently discovered is the Phryne Fisher series by,Kerry Greenwood
Narrated By Stephanie Daniel the first book is Cocaine Blues.

[author:Rhys Bowen|20..."

I ditto the Royal Spyness and Witchcraft Mysteries series. Love the characters and narration.

I second (4th or 5th?) Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher, Flavia de Luce, Laurie King's Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes and the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. Superb, all. Another series I've liked enough to go back and fill in is Deborah Crombie's Duncan Kincaid/Gemma/James British series. police procedurals. I'm more interested in the people than the mystery on those. I also loved most of Laurie King's Kate Martinelli San Francisco cops series though King stopped those some years ago.

Joy wrote: "I love several of the series mentioned as well as the "Cat Who" books by Lilian Jackson Braun. The narrator for these is George Guidall, who does fabulous voices for the various cartoon like charac..."

I had the great misfortune of starting the Cat Who series with "The Cat Who Talked Turkey". My sister loves and read the series and was talking about it and said, "I love them all, except for one, and that one was one of the worst books ever!" I said, "It didn't happen to be 'The Cat Who Talked Turkey', did it?" "How did you know?! Are you a mind reader now?"
It has made me reluctant to read any of the others, despite knowing it can only get better from there.

Joy wrote: "That is funny. What did you hate about that one?"

It's been so long I don't remember many specifics. It was just so generally... lame. It had a scene where the main character put on an old-fashioned radio play about a wreck on a Great Lake which just went nowhere--my sister said another radio play was performed in an earlier book to much greater effect. I think this book had all the hallmarks of someone following a set formula but without even a spark of originality.

In the cozy category some of the first audiobooks I ever listened to were Dick Francis novels. He wrote approximately one a year from 1962 to 2000. Then had a gap in writing (I believe after his wife died) but started up again with books published in 2006 (aided by his son Felix) until his death in 2010. Felix has since written more in the same style.

Most are stand-alone, though there are a few with repeated characters. I fell in love with Simon Prebble as a narrator from these, though Dick Hill is also good and narrates many. Martin Jarvis narrates some and he's my least favorite but still o.k.

Most (though not all) are focused on the aspects of the horse racing world but the stories are good regardless of whether you are particularly into horse racing. They are told in first person narrative with what I find to be an common but likeable "hero" trying to solve an injustice that has been done either to him or a friend/family member. I've read about 20 of the 40 and the only reason I haven't read more is because I tend to tried to spread out ones I love by the same author so I don't run through them all at once and have no more to look forward to. All the ones I have read have been solid 4* books.

My mother read all of them and loved them.

Stacy wrote: "I am addicted to the Laura Lippman books, which I assume are cozy mysteries. Her Tess Monahan stories are great!"

I agree, I also enjoy the Tess Monahan series, but I would not lump them in cozy mystery as they can be a bit serious or dark.

I also read and enjoyed almost all of the Dick Francis racing -mystery novels, mostly before audio but have re-enjoyed many on Audio. Simon Prebble is a marvellous reader but most of the others are also very good. I did and do tend to skip torture scenes (I'm a wimp) and they don't really change the story that much. The Danger (scorned by a critic), The Edge (admired by same critic), and Shattered are my favorites.

Here are my 2 cents on some of the cozy series mentioned on this thread:

Booktown series by Lorna Barrett - Totally agree with John that it is frustrating and addictive. I loved the first book but found the main character Tricia so passive/aggressive that she lets her sister Angelica walk all over her. I started listening to these on audio when they became available. I was so frustrated with book #5 that I vowed I would not continue with the series. Well, now that books 6-8 are available on Audible, I am weaking and I may give it one more shot. lol

Scumble River series by Denise Swanson - One of my favorite series of all cozy series. IMHO, this should be read in order. I started reading these in large print and switched over to audio when they became available on Audible. Great character development, wonderful mysteries, excellent narrator.

Hannah Swensen series by Joanne Fluke - I gave up on this series after #13 or 14. I found I grew increasingly frustrated with the lack of mystery elements and more emphasis on the cat who acts like a human. The love triangle drove me nuts, too. This series was my first introduction to cozies so I am sad that I abandoned this series.

Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley - This is a new series I am anxious to try. I have the first audio book on hold at the library and have the next 2 audio books checked out. I hear it's wonderful! I love discovering new cozy series.

I found Tricia quite full of herself from the get-go, while Angelica runs two local businesses, and writes books as well, even though she's quite wealthy, so she's certainly NOT lazy! That having been said, the books work really well as cozies, in that the setting and cast-of-characters draw you in; Barrett does come up with decent, original murder plots as well.

Flavia is one folks either love or hate - Entwhistle's narration is bullseye perfect!

I'm wondering if anyone has heard when/if the most recent book from DeniseSwanson's other series, Devereaux's Dime Store Mysteries, will be made available in audio? It's titled Dead Between the Lines and was released in print this past March. I much prefer Swanson's Scumble river Mysteries but even the last book in that series was delayed by five months between print and audio. I'm hoping the next one to be released in September, Murder of a Needled Knitter, will have a simultaneous audio release,but recent history seems to indicate it might not be.

Jeanie wrote: "I'm wondering if anyone has heard when/if the most recent book from DeniseSwanson's other series, Devereaux's Dime Store Mysteries, will be made available in audio? It's titled Dead Between the Li..."

I can't speak for the Dime Store series (read the first book, didn't like it and decided not to continue that series). However, the reason for such a long delay in the audio for Scumble River #16 (Stacked Librarian) is because the narrator Christine Leto was on maternity leave. She returned to work in February 2014 and the audio was released in March 2014. I expect that the audio for #17 should be timely although I hadn't seen anything mentioned on Denise Swanson's Facebook if there in fact will be audio available.

Devereaux's Dime Store Mysteries is okay, but Scumble River is far Better. I think it was cute that in Murder of a Book store babe that Sky Dennison was at the book store shopping for that new mystery involving a lady who owned a Dime Store.

I just finished the first of the Phryne Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood, narrated by Stephanie Daniel. The series was recommended earlier in this thread. It was a fun listen and I already have the second one ready to go. My local PBS station is going to show the TV series, so I moved it up on my TBR list and want to get a few finished in the next couple of weeks. I'm next on the library waiting list for the new Inspector Gamache (ex-inspector I suppose) and I'm quite excited. And I needed a break from whinny YA's in Lev Grossman's The Magician.

I finished the latest Three Pines Mystery in the early hours of the morning. Armande Gamache is my literary crush and I've vowed before to someday find Three Pines and go there to live--It exists, I'm sure of that because I've smelled its smells, tasted its food, chatted with its residents, sat and enjoyed the view... now I just have to find its physical location!
Even though Gamache is retired, Penny stil calls him the chief and Jean Guy still calls him Patron (Boss).
I loved this new story... until the end. I'm not sure why Penny felt the need for this ending, but it is her story and I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt with regard to how she develops it. but, if you ask me, this ending wasn't what I would have hoped for.

Sandy wrote: "I just finished the first of the Phryne Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood, narrated by Stephanie Daniel. The series was recommended earlier in this thread. It was a fun listen and I already have the..."

I loved the TV series of Phryne Fisher so much I read the books afterwards. The costumes, cars and furnishings are so fabulous on TV.
Re The Magicians, many people comment on how whiny Quentin is, but that is what I love about him, most of us would be just as bad, and I find the truth of him refreshing.

Kerry Greenwoods Miss Fisher TV series is excellent as are her books. I hope all Phrynne fans get the chance to see her on TV as there is no doubt, it is her in the lead role.
One of the best TV adaptions

Phryne Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood that right now is my go to series to listen to at which I'm listening to The Green Mill Murder and loving it. Phryne just cracks me up and the mess she gets into.

I'm currently reading the Goldy Bear series but just finished with #4 so I'm still a little early in. I only discovered cozies last year.

I'm currently getting into the Three Pines mysteries and the Flavia de Luce mysteries.

I also have a few Maisie Dobbs books in print - anyone have an opinion on those?

I grew tired of Maisie eventually, though the first few books showed promise.

Sarah wrote: "I'm currently getting into the Three Pines mysteries and the Flavia de Luce mysteries.

I also have a few Maisie Dobbs books in print - anyone have an opinion on those?"

I have listened to all the Maisie Dobbs and I agree with John that the first ones were better. She has perhaps become too introspective for me. However I have continued with the series and plan to read the upcoming one as well.

I've enjoyed all the Maisie Dobbs books even when Maisie's character development became... a little tedious. I've already pre-ordered the next book.

And I absolutely adore the Three Pines mysteries!

Full disclosure makes me admit I'm one of the few who didn't like Flavia--too much of an obnoxious brat in the first book... can't bring myself to go on. Apologies to John.

I love the narrator, Jayne Entwistle. She makes Flavia endearing.

Sarah wrote: "I love the narrator, Jayne Entwistle. She makes Flavia endearing."

The narrator was great, but not even she could make Flavia endearing to me. Sorry, I know that's a minority view, but not every series is for everyone.

Flavia did nothing for me, either.