Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge discussion

Hi, Everyone! I’m considering Alexander McCall Smith’s 44 Scotland Street. It looks great and I’ll probably read it no matter what. But I’m wondering if it would count as a cozy? There’s a mystery (a theft, I think), but there doesn’t seem to be a murder.

I think it would qualify. I've seen the series listed on the cozy mystery website. Also, I've read a couple of cozy mysteries that were mysteries with no murder (I can't remember which ones, though). Enjoy the books!

That author's other series (which I love), The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, doesn't involve murder, either, at least not up through book #5. This charming series set in Botswana, Gaborone, Africa.

Thank you, Yvonne. I'm so enjoying it. The Audible version is narrated by the late Ian Carmichael, who apparently played the main character in the BBC series. It's great, so funny!

Yvonne wrote: "I think it would qualify. I've seen the series listed on the cozy mystery website. Also, I've read a couple of cozy mysteries that were mysteries with no murder (I can't remember which ones, though..."

Meg, thanks so much for the heads-up! I was wondering about that series and now I will definitely check it out. :)

Meg wrote: "That author's other series (which I love), The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, doesn't involve murder, either, at least not up through book #5. This charming series set in Botswana, Gaborone, Africa."

You're welcome! I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

Oh, great question. I was thinking about that series too. Let us know your favorability rating on the book!

Hi, Elaine! How are you? I'm glad you're in the challenge again!

It was great fun to listen to. I did have to pay close attention. Ian Carmichael's narration is fast and animated. But he's perfect, of course! I think it's especially charming that he, the actor who played the main character in the BBC series, actually got around to narrating the books.

Figuring out "whodunnit" isn't too hard, but catching the culprit is. It gets really exciting towards the end!

Let me know if you decide to try out the series! :)

Actually, I believe a non-murder cozy would be a refreshing change! Solving a theft, a missing person(s) case, would be great to read.

if you are looking for non murder cozies, Lizzie Josephson writes a series set on Cruise Ships Undercover On The Calypso: Book One: The Cozy Cruise Mysteries; very few of them actually involve death, usually other types of crimes They are fun quick reads with the added benefit of taking you to different exotic locales. She has started a new series called the Fun Mystery Cruises which I have yet to read

Jennifer wrote: "Actually, I believe a non-murder cozy would be a refreshing change! Solving a theft, a missing person(s) case, would be great to read."

I agree. I think any good author could make any crime a good cozy.

I did just finish Honey Roasted by Cleo Coyle. There was an attempted murder, but no main murder to the story. The protagonist (and her gang!) set about finding who assaulted the victim while she was in a coma.

While there were some overdose deaths in the periphery, they were not really part of the main crime itself.

Traci wrote: "if you are looking for non murder cozies, Lizzie Josephson writes a series set on Cruise Ships Undercover On The Calypso: Book One: The Cozy Cruise Mysteries..."

I'll have to take a look to see what they're like. Thanks for the suggestion.