Cozy Mysteries discussion

I'm finding myself tired of the bakery/baking themed stories.

I am tired of restaurant and cooking themes. There are probably enough on cats, although I like them. A crazy set with reat estate background was a lovely changed

I am tired of the protagonist leaving her job and going to childhood with a villain ex-boyfrind or husband. The said person being murder and another installment and the protagonist being accused for the muder.

I enjoy the baking/cooking themed books, probably because I enjoy both baking and cooking and sometimes pick up ideas and/or recipes from these books. But that's what makes life interesting -- we all like different things. The world would be pretty boring if we all liked the same books!

Barb wrote: "I enjoy the baking/cooking themed books, probably because I enjoy both baking and cooking and sometimes pick up ideas and/or recipes from these books. But that's what makes life interesting -- we a..."

I like them, too! EXCEPT for the Hannah Swensen books! Quit them awhile back! But, like you, I also really enjoy cooking and baking.

Melodie wrote: "Barb wrote: "I enjoy the baking/cooking themed books, probably because I enjoy both baking and cooking..."

I like them, too! EXCEPT for the Hannah Swensen books! Quit them awhile back!"

I'm almost ashamed to admit that I still read that series -- hoping (probably against all hope?) that "this book will be different!" I need a 12-step program to just give up on the series once and for all... Although they're useful books for a challenge I signed up for looking for desserts on the cover; I have 40 of 100 books finished for that challenge :)

At least they're quick reads, probably because I skim so much of the book!

Why do we need to have a glut of any one theme? It seems like publishers can only follow a trend, and not offer readers variety. People are reading bakery-based cozies, let's make everything bakery based. People are reading B&B-based cozies, lets make everything B&Bs! It's not that I'm tired of any particular theme, but I'm tired of having no real options because everything out there is a similar theme.

Betty wrote: "I am tired of the protagonist leaving her job and going to childhood with a villain ex-boyfrind or husband. The said person being murder and another installment and the protagonist being accused fo..."

I agree, Betty. You forgot to add the obligatory handsome detective that either is sympathetic or obnoxious to the protagonist. They then fall in love or are enemies through every book.

Melodie wrote: "Barb wrote: "I enjoy the baking/cooking themed books, probably because I enjoy both baking and cooking and sometimes pick up ideas and/or recipes from these books. But that's what makes life intere..."

I enjoy the movies though! The books I will occasionally read for ht Holiday themes.

This may not be a theme exactly, but I get really tired of friends/family members haranguing the MC about dating and/or getting married. Back off, and let the MC figure it out for herself.

I'm tired of animal themes.

I have to say that I'm tired of the amateur sleuth who is not at all qualified to solve crimes inserting herself into the middle of a murder investigation. Like a mystery author or a book store owner or a little old lady with a bunch of cats.

I'm tired of the cooking/bakery ones too. If I wanted a recipe, I look in a cookbook!

I'm tired of the "theme" of a single woman being a homebody and "hopelessly single." The protagonist will receive a makeover from a socially forward friend and immediately be surrounded by multiple men. Relationships become a major talking point.

Also, I don't like the trend of mothers treating 30-somethings protagonists like teenagers and it being accepted. If they want teenagers then write a teenager.

I am tired of the protagonist boldly confronting possible killers and thinking they are acting suspiciously if they don't want to answer questions she has no right to ask.

I am tired of people thinking they have to have all the answers before they can hand over vital information to the police.

I am tired of characters who feel the police are obligated to share details of their investigations.

I am tired of people foolishly putting themselves in danger, then taking credit for solving the crime when they have to be rescued.

I do feel it is possible to write a cozy mystery without making their characters appear foolish. Many authors manage to do this.

Lynn wrote: "Why do we need to have a glut of any one theme? It seems like publishers can only follow a trend, and not offer readers variety. People are reading bakery-based cozies, let's make everything bakery..."

I'm trying to choose more themes that aren't being written about. Those are the ones I find myself enjoying the most.

Joan wrote: "I am tired of the protagonist boldly confronting possible killers and thinking they are acting suspiciously if they don't want to answer questions she has no right to ask.

I am tired of people thi..."

You covered it perfectly!

I am tired of the inevitable relationship between the MC and the detective (and/or suspect) that then becomes too much of a focus in future books in the series. I read cozies for the mystery, not romance. Have a relationship if the author so chooses but it shouldn’t take over the book.

Lynne wrote: "I am tired of the inevitable relationship between the MC and the detective (and/or suspect) that then becomes too much of a focus in future books in the series. I read cozies for the mystery, not r..."

Yes!

In some cases, the romances can be cute additions to the mystery. Little fluffy moments are okay, but in other cases it just adds more names and more drama.

I'm tired of authors who write several different series and the MC is always the same formula as is her love interest.

I really don't like when the MC is accused of the murder. I would much rather it be someone close to her/him or a person in the town they want to help. I also get tired of the romance triangles that aren't obvious. If it's pretty obvious she's leaning towards one guy and she eventually goes to said guy, that's ok, as long as it's not dragged out forever. I really get tired of two guys being equally handsome or desirable, I'm like pick one and get it done LOL

Cozy Kate ( formally Trekker) wrote: "The Cupcake Bakery series by Jenn McKinlay has this and it's getting old. Fast. Figure it out and pick one! I'm almost on book 8 and it's still going on. "

She does :) And the author didn't let it drag on for more than 20 books like in the Hannah Swensen series!

Witches. Why does the protagonist always need to be a witch?

FOOD

Tari wrote: "I really don't like when the MC is accused of the murder.
I also get tired of the romance triangles tha..."

Right on both counts.

Lisa wrote: "Witches. Why does the protagonist always need to be a witch?"

Yes, and paranormal cozies in general.

To be honest, I hate when the author introduces a romantic interest and then it takes like 10 books for them to kiss or start a relationship.

This is very prominent in HR cozies and I'm always on a prowl for a good historical romance with mystery cozy elements. I want the heroine and hero to work TOGETHER to solve the mystery and not have one of them just come and go.

However, not sure if this would be a COZY then... perhaps just a classic HR.

I also hate the love triangles. I mean, really, if it were a guy and two women you’d be thinking he were a dog and the women would seem desperate to chase him, so why is it okay to have a woman stringing along two men? If an author starts this, I probably won’t read any more of their books.

But I also hate the “evil nemesis” that seems prevalent in a lot of books. There’s always someone - an ex-girlfriend/ex-wife of the new love interest, or an old classmate of the MC that sets out to either make them miserable or ruin their life. What does the MC do? She ignores it! Doesn’t say or do anything at all! Sometimes it’s even the sheriff and/or a deputy who goes to far as to threaten her. There are times the vitriol is so hateful and the characters so over the top that I wish they’d be the next victim.

I don't necessarily think that dating more than one guy is stringing them along. I remember dating several at the same time when I was younger. Of course, it mostly insisted on going dutch. There is a fine line between love triangles and just dating more than one person. What is the line in writing?

I like the Hannah Swensen books even though it is getting tiring for her to be dating two men (mostly because one lies to her), because one of them is a dentist. Yay for someone who is a leading character and not necessarily in the limelight a lot in books.

But if you take away the evil nemesis, the love triangles, the tall dark handsome cops, in a small town - what is left to write about? lol

Barbara wrote: "I'm tired of animal themes."

Thank you, Barbara (thought I was just being a meanie). LOL I love animals but often the author will spend too much story on the animal(s) instead of the mystery. They, like kids (sorry) serve as filler not story.

Sandy wrote: "I don't necessarily think that dating more than one guy is stringing them along. I remember dating several at the same time when I was younger. Of course, it mostly insisted on going dutch. There i..."

Well, I'm of the opinion that in books it kind of is stringing them along. She's basically making them compete to see who wants her more - how childish is that? She's not a teenager. It doesn't help that the guys don't usually like each other because they're - as I just said - competing, and I have a hard time liking any man who doesn't just walk away until she makes up her mind. It's tiresome and doesn't make me fond of the MC. There are enough good cozies out there where the woman is intelligent enough to figure out what man she wants that I'm not wasting my time with it. It also seems to be just a ruse by the author to get you to buy more books to see who she chooses - and who knows how long that will take - or if she'll even choose either of them. (I have no problem with the handsome cops, by the way!) :)

JoAnne wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I don't necessarily think that dating more than one guy is stringing them along. I remember dating several at the same time when I was younger. Of course, it mostly insisted on going ..."

After reading all the comments, I am glad there are so many wonderful stories - if you don't like one type, you will probably like the next.

This was a helpful discussion to me as an author, as I brainstorm new series. I've been torn between two ideas, and I think I'll be pursuing the one that hasn't been used as frequently. Thanks for sharing, everyone! I do have a cozy series that'll be releasing next year that will have a sleuth who has a very different kind of job. Will share more in this group at that time (although you can find the book now on Goodreads--

I am tired of female protagonists who are described as “quirky” and of mysteries that are billed as “hilarious”. Those seem to be code words for “idiotic” and “inane”.

Could anyone recommend some authors whose characters are actually intelligent?

Two things about cozies bug me. One is the ones where the MC was dating, engaged or married to a police officer or detective. The other is a cozy with the
MC who liked two different men with rhyming names or so similar it gets confusing.. please writers/authors, don't do this anymore, And I do like cozies with animals in them, as long as it doesn't go to the dark side.

Amy wrote: "I am tired of female protagonists who are described as “quirky” and of mysteries that are billed as “hilarious”. Those seem to be code words for “idiotic” and “inane”.

Could anyone recommend some ..."

Have you tried Alexander McCall Smith, he writes several different series.

Thanks for your response, Marta. I haven’t read Alexander McCall Smith - I will check him out.

Tari wrote: "I really don't like when the MC is accused of the murder...I also get tired of the romance triangles that aren't obvious. If it's pretty obvious she's leaning towards one guy and she eventually goes to said guy, that's ok, as long as it's not dragged out forever. I really get tired of two guys being equally handsome or desirable, I'm like pick one and get it done LOL "

You know, Tari, what you've said pretty much sums up my peeves, too.

I don't necessarily mind the cooking, but maybe I am. I think cozies are fun, the with so many books with cooking as a theme, it gets tiring. I'm not sure what I'd like to see differently, but how about movies? Couldn't a cozy series center around old movies?

Those that are mostly fluff and no substance. Where the mystery plays second to the kitschy stuff. That is why Agatha still reigns supreme in the cozy genre. She delivers mystery and mostlly good stories.

The one silly gal who I'll forgive is M C Beaton. Her Ms. Raisin is quirky but is involved in real mysteries and gets the job done.

Betty wrote: "I am tired of restaurant and cooking themes. There are probably enough on cats, although I like them. A crazy set with reat estate background was a lovely changed"

Hi Betty! Do you remember the author - or name of one of the books - with the real estate background?

Barbara wrote: "I don't necessarily mind the cooking, but maybe I am. I think cozies are fun, the with so many books with cooking as a theme, it gets tiring. I'm not sure what I'd like to see differently, but how ..."

Seems to me there was a series that dealt with old movies.

Melodie wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I don't necessarily mind the cooking, but maybe I am. I think cozies are fun, the with so many books with cooking as a theme, it gets tiring. I'm not sure what I'd like to see diffe..."

Melodie wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I don't necessarily mind the cooking, but maybe I am. I think cozies are fun, the with so many books with cooking as a theme, it gets tiring. I'm not sure what I'd like to see diffe..."

I didn't realize there was a series with movies. Thanks!

I"m tired of books with recipes included. And if you MUST include recipes, how about normal portions rather than 6 dozen?
I still enjoy books with cats, but prefer them to be pets rather than the one who solves the crime. I guess I also kind of enjoy books where we know what the cat thinks especially if the cat is kind of snarky...like I think mine would be if she could think in human terms.

Amy wrote: "I am tired of female protagonists who are described as “quirky” and of mysteries that are billed as “hilarious”. Those seem to be code words for “idiotic” and “inane”.

Could anyone recommend some ..."
M. C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth, but he's male. Beaton also has
Agatha Raisin, but her pettiness and jealousy gets a bit much a times

Judy wrote: "I have to say that I'm tired of the amateur sleuth who is not at all qualified to solve crimes inserting herself into the middle of a murder investigation. Like a mystery author or a book store own..."

But isn't that the definition of the genre?

I must admit that I steer clear from the cooking, baking or recipe oriented cozy genres. I really am not a cooking fan, as it seems more of a chore to me. So, I certainly don't want to read about it in my spare time.

Mary Clare wrote: "Amy wrote: "I am tired of female protagonists who are described as “quirky” and of mysteries that are billed as “hilarious”. Those seem to be code words for “idiotic” and “inane”.

Could anyone rec..."

Thanks for the recommendations. I quickly got tired of Agatha Raisin, for the reasons you mention.

Jane wrote: "Hi Betty! Do you remember the author - or name of one of the books - with the real estate background?"

Not sure if this is the one but A Killing in Real Estate (Schuyler Ridgway Mystery, #3)
by Tierney McClellan is a good read. A little older, published in the late 90's I think but at least there's no bakery!