The Parlor PI's discussion

PI's, Let's start looking for a good, Yuletide mystery for Nov. end throughout Dec. The 12 Clues of Christmas was the last great Christmas mystery I read(discussed at other place). It will be hard to top that one but I bet we can do it! Post away!

For the winter holidays, I'm leaning towards something to do with a Christmas Cookie theme. Heck with no white sugar or flour. Christmas comes but once a year! So I found a few and then some not pertaining to baking. Here goes: and then there's

I don't think I have read any of those except maybe the Mrs.Jeffries one so I'm in for whatever gets chosen.

Yippee! Thanks, Allsion. BTW, how did you like the Mrs. Jeffries tome? I read one in this series but it wasn't a Christmas theme.

Joanne Fluke has a couple of other Christmas books , , , all three are cute and has alot of good recipes in them. Also this one by Otto Penzler is a collection of short holiday crime stories, from victorian to present day. Another suggestion is Donna Andrews, . Hope it's ok to make suggestions, I'm pretty new to the group and I don't want to offend anyone.

Hi Jill, you and your suggestions are most welcomed! We love having you here in The Parlor and appreciate your offerings. The more the merrier.

Grab a love seat, settee, winged back or club chair and make yourself cozy. Our virtual butler will be by with egg nog, hot cocoa with whipped cream, warmed brandy and finger sandwiches while we decide.

Looking forward to a season that's merry and bright!




Jill wrote: "Joanne Fluke has a couple of other Christmas books , ,, all thre..."

Tina wrote: "Hi Jill, you and your suggestions are most welcomed! We love having you here in The Parlor and appreciate your offerings. The more the merrier.

Grab a love seat, settee, winged back or club chai..."

Like (Thumb Up!)....goodreads needs a like button....lol...also would love a hot cocoa with whipped cream WITH a shot of brandy....lol or coffee with Bailey's Irish Cream, egg nog with rum....lol

Tina wrote: "Yippee! Thanks, Allsion. BTW, how did you like the Mrs. Jeffries tome? I read one in this series but it wasn't a Christmas theme."

I have read quite a few in the Mrs.Jeffries series before and liked them although with long running series there was some repetitiveness. By the third or fourth book I was like "oh marry the butler for god's sake" lol.

Jill - you are MY kind of people! That's what's been missing from reading is alcohol, lol. A like button would be useful as well. And I really actually like cucumber sandwiches so send the virtual butler back my way...I like a peppermint hot cocoa please. (hot cocoa with Bailey's mint)

Like button for you PI's and Goodreads to have us along!

Oh, marry the butler already so we can have a party. lol

I'll have one of each, James. And what's for dessert?!

Another one for our List.

Allison wrote: "Tina wrote: "Yippee! Thanks, Allsion. BTW, how did you like the Mrs. Jeffries tome? I read one in this series but it wasn't a Christmas theme."

I have read quite a few in the Mrs.Jeffries serie..."

I like cucumber sammies also! of course I think a Kahlua Martini would be wonderful with the sammies!

Cuke sammies a staple. Kahlua 'tinis commin' up!

You had me at peppermint hot cocoa. (Peppermint schnapps, perhaps!)

Seriously, I hate to say any of the cozy choices are fine with me, but I am not familiar with most of them. There certainly are a lot of Joanne Fluke options. Any comments on her books in general? Our group formerly on the A&E site has read a Leslie Meier and also a Mrs. Jeffries one. And to make the matter more complicated, we have also read some of the Kate Kingsbury Christmas mysteries (Victorian setting in a hotel.) I found them all pretty good.

I realize all my comments don't help in the least to narrow things down...

Pghfan, being you are a foodie (I remember that awesome Christmas aka Plum Pudding you made one year) I wonder how you feel about a Christmas cookie or holiday baking type mystery and can you recommend any?

Anyway, gang we're in early stages of title selection so brng 'em on. All are welcomed.

We weren't too big on the Halloween mystery by L. Levine so I'd count her out...at least for now. Also, Anne Perry's offerings became quite dark the last few years (maybe she's turned corner) and I'm not too familiar w/Joanne Fluke's work. Maybe we can start a process of elimination and work it that way.

Pghfan wrote: "You had me at peppermint hot cocoa. (Peppermint schnapps, perhaps!)

Seriously, I hate to say any of the cozy choices are fine with me, but I am not familiar with most of them. There certainly ..."

I just realized I got my series mixed up, lol! I was referring to the Kingsbury Pennyfoot Hotel series when I made the comment about marrying the butler not the Mrs.Jeffries series. Total mix up on my part.

Antiques Slay Ride

What about this as a choice? Free on Amazon for Kindle as of a few moments ago...

Sure thing, Allison. I think it comes in traditional book as well as e format. I'm probably the only one left on earth who doesn't have a reader of some sort.

Tina wrote: "Cuke sammies a staple. Kahlua 'tinis commin' up!"

LIKE (this is my like button since GR doesn't have one!)

Allison wrote: "


Antiques Slay Ride

What about this as a choice? Free on Amazon for Kindle as of a few moments ago..."

I was going to suggest this one since I have it in my nook, and I went and grabbed it for the kindle for free.

Pghfan wrote: "You had me at peppermint hot cocoa. (Peppermint schnapps, perhaps!)

Seriously, I hate to say any of the cozy choices are fine with me, but I am not familiar with most of them. There certainly ..."

I love Joanne Fluke's series of the Cookie Jar. Hannah will make you feel like she's been your life long friend and everytime I read one of the books in the series, its like I've gone back home to my small town and can't wait to catch up with Hannah. If you haven't read the series I would highly recommend it. There, cute, funny, they mysteries are sometimes easy to figure out which doesn't bother me because I like catching up with Hannah and what's going on in her life and the towns people as well. And the recipes are really good, at least the ones that I have tried.

Tina wrote: "Sure thing, Allison. I think it comes in traditional book as well as e format. I'm probably the only one left on earth who doesn't have a reader of some sort."

I got my Kindle as a Christmas present from my husband one year. Was completely unimpressed. It sat in the box, unopened for at least 2 more years. I finally broke down and started using it, now I really love it! I still buy books in paperback but I get so many for free than what I can afford to purchase. I do buy Kindle editions too as I feel guilty for getting so many freebies.

I found this site on the internet awhile back. it's themed cozy mysteries like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. etc. Maybe we can get some good suggestions off of it or if anyone is just wanting to get into the holiday spirits and read some for themselves. Hope this helps.

http://www.cozy-mystery.com/Holiday-M...

Tina wrote: "Sure thing, Allison. I think it comes in traditional book as well as e format. I'm probably the only one left on earth who doesn't have a reader of some sort."

No your not. My husband doesn't have one. He uses mine if I have a book on there that he wants to read, I have a daughter that likes to read and she doesn't have one. I told her to download the apps for the nook/kindle/both and she could read off of my list and my son doesn't have one, ( but then again he doesn't enjoy reading for fun or pleasure). So see your not alone. I still like to read traditional books. I like the feel, the smell, the turning of the pages, but I also like the ereaders because if I want to read in bed I can and it doesn't disturb my husband while he's sleeping, or if we are traveling and driving in the dark I can still read, and it fits nicely in my purse and not bulk it down when I'm waiting in the waiting room at the drs. office. There are so many pros and cons to each traditional reading and e readers

Yes, we do need a Like button. Thanks for lending me yours, Jill. ;-) "LIKE!"

One day I'll break down and get a reader. Meantime, I depend on paper book variety. lol

I do love cozy-mystery.com Between that site, Ammy, Goodreads and buddy Nancy at bestsellersworld, well now. ;-)

Tina wrote: "Yes, we do need a Like button. Thanks for lending me yours, Jill. ;-) "LIKE!"

One day I'll break down and get a reader. Meantime, I depend on paper book variety. lol

I do love cozy-mystery.co..."

"LIKE" I do go into Barnes and Noble when we get over that way it's like a 45 minute drive one way, so we usually try to go there once or twice a month and I usually hit the shelves with pen and notebook in hand and write down books to look into, new authors, new books, etc. etc. When we go there we are usually in there for a couple of hours and we have big stacks of books that we aren't sure we (my husband and I) want or we are writing down the books to see if our library has/get and of course we do walk out with books for ourselves. I do try and check out books that others have read and my aunt who is in her 60's always sends me messages on facebook or by phone and tells me of books that she's read and what she thinks of them. I do rely on suggestions from others a lot!

B&N is our hangout too, Jill. Wild Friday and Saturday night hangout in their Starbucks attached café. lol

Our B&N is about 25 mins. away and I try to get out there 3x's a month or so. Yeah, I love the place but then again, it's the only book store left...at least around here.

We hang out there in their cafe as well. It's easier to write on the tables while having our drinks. We have another book store here called Books & Co which is another 20 minutes from B&N and they have authors come in all the time. I've gotten to meet and have books signed from several of my authors and so has my husband. It's still going strong.

You're fortunate. We lost our other bookstore/café, Borders a couple years ago and there may be one shoddy used book store left but B&N is it and seems to be holding on. What part of the country are you in? We're in Fl.

Tina I'm another one who doesn't own an e reader. Much prefer to read a proper book. I'm up to date with the Joanna Fluke books and have enjoyed them. Other suggestions are and

Tina wrote: "You're fortunate. We lost our other bookstore/café, Borders a couple years ago and three may be one shoddy used book store left but B&N is it and seems to be holding on. What part of the country ..."

I'm in Ohio, today the weather has turned. It's cold, rainy and windy and the temps keep dropping here. I think we have seen the last of our nice weather.

Allison wrote: "Tina wrote: "Sure thing, Allison. I think it comes in traditional book as well as e format. I'm probably the only one left on earth who doesn't have a reader of some sort."

I got my Kindle as a ..."

I get the free ones as well. I also get the ebooks from my library and read them on my device. They come in handy when I'm not able to purchase the books.

Since we haven't moved much on selecting a book, may I suggest that if anyone volunteers to host, then they can pick the book from the many selections we have made?

I'm here, Pghfan. Down with a case of bronchitis and am sidelined for a bit but I do expect to start a vote in a few days. We have a little bit of time to vote and select.

Tina,

I hope you get to feeling better. Maybe I should come and make you a Butter Rum Hot Tottie, that will knock that bronchitis right out the window.

Tina, get well soon!

Ooo, Jill. So much better than cough syrup. Share your magic formula (recipe) if you care to. Sounds yummy, either way. And I appreciate the best wishes. Thank you!

We're getting there, Al. Thank you. ;-)

Hot Rum Toddy
3 ounces dark rum (or to suit taste)
4 tablespoons liquid honey
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 piece lemon rind
1/16 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 -4 inch cinnamon stick (whole)
6 -8 ounces boiling water

1 To a large heavy duty cup or glass, add rum, honey, lemon juice, 1/2 lemon rind, and nutmeg. Stand cinnamon stick in the cup.
2 Pour the boiling water and stir well to blend.
3 Adjust honey to suit your sweetness and adjust lemon juice to suit your taste.
4 Sip slowly and enjoy.

This is good on cold days, a cold or a sore throat.

Enjoy

Here's my take: Previous MSW book was not well received in our discussions; have only read one of Ms. Washburn's other books, thought it was just ok - nothing spectacular; Antiques Slay Ride is more of a short story according to the reviews but that's ok with me; have read all of the Leslie Meier ones and enjoyed them although reviews indicate this one seems to more political than mystery; have read a couple of the Joanna Fluke Hannah Swensen ones and also enjoyed them. So I'm good with either one of those two.

Thanks for weighing in, J. Can you go to poll and select one book you'd like and mention the other one here? It would help with the count also I'm not sure I understand which two? We ruled out Antiques S. as I believe it's only available in e-book. Hope that helps. Thanks.

Sounds yummy, Jill! Thanks tons! We'll have to offer this in The Parlor. Meantime, your are welcomed to vote in the poll for our Christmas and winter holiday pick. Thanks again!

Jill wrote: "Hot Rum Toddy
3 ounces dark rum (or to suit taste)
4 tablespoons liquid honey
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 piece lemon rind
1/16 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 -4 inch cinnamon stick (whol..."

Tina - don't understand what you mean by "select one and mention the other one here". The two I was referring to that I'm good with was any of the Joanna Fluke ones or the Leslie Meier one if the PIs chose either of those.

Hopefully, it'll take you right to the poll.

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1...

Allison wrote: "I don't think I have read any of those except maybe the Mrs.Jeffries one so I'm in for whatever gets chosen."

Allison, did you read Merry Gentlemen in the Jeffries series/canon? It got a great rating but we've learned not to always trust those. :-/

Tina - are those listed all the titles that were suggested? Don't see the Leslie Meier one for example/

J, I removed Meiers' pick from list because we both read that it was too political for a season to be jolly. After this intense election, I want to escape politics for at least Christmas. I left a post to that effect. Thanks.

LOL I returned Les Meiers book back on list. Sorry I misinterpreted the posts. If you want to select that one, you go to bottom of poll choices and in tiny letters it says Change My Answer or Selection or similar and you can pick LM book.

Ssorry - never saw your post about deleting the Meiers' book...does that hold for any book you didn't include like the other J. Fluke ones? Also do we have to pick 3? As it turns out I have read more than I thought. Don't mean to be a trouble-maker...just trying to get the hang of the thing. Thanks.

That's okay, J. If you have a title I missed, pop it in here and I'll add it to list. And there's no need to pick more than one. I just thought it might make it easier for those who might not be able to settle on one choice. There's about five I'd like to nom. lol