Cozy Mysteries discussion

Our November Featured Author is Rhys Bowen, who was previously featured in October 2015. Rhys Bowen is a transplanted Brit who now divides her time between California and Arizona. When not writing she enjoys traveling, hiking, singing and playing the Celtic harp. She has three mystery series, the Molly Murphy novels, about an Irish immigrant in 1900s New York City, the Royal Spyness mysteries about a penniless minor royal in 1930s Britain, and the Constable Evans series, set in Wales.

Rhys Bowen is a New York Times bestselling author who has won Agatha and Anthony Awards, and has also been nominated for the Edgar, Macavity, Barry and Dilys awards.

Visit her online:
https://rhysbowen.com/


Her Royal Spyness (17 books/20 total works)

0.5 Masked Ball at Broxley Manor
01. Her Royal Spyness (2007)
02. A Royal Pain
03. Royal Flush
04. Royal Blood
05. Naughty in Nice
06. The Twelve Clues of Christmas
07. Heirs and Graces
08. Queen of Hearts
09. Malice at the Palace
10. Crowned and Dangerous
11. On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service
12. Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding
13. Love and Death Among the Cheetahs
14. The Last Mrs. Summers
15. The Last Mrs. Summers
16. Peril in Paris
17. The Proof of the Pudding (Nov 7, 2023)


Molly Murphy (20 books/24 works)

0.5 The Amersham Rubies
01. Murphy's Law (2001)
02. Death of Riley
03. For the Love of Mike
04. In Like Flynn
05. Oh Danny Boy
06. In Dublin's Fair City
07. Tell Me, Pretty Maiden
08. In a Gilded Cage
09. The Last Illusion
10. Bless the Bride
11. Hush Now, Don't You Cry
11.5 The Face in the Mirror
12. The Family Way
12.5 Through the Window
13. City of Darkness and Light
14. The Edge of Dreams
15. Away in a Manger
16. Time of Fog and Fire
17. The Ghost of Christmas Past
18. Wild Irish Rose
19. All that Is Hidden
20. In Sunshine or in Shadow (Mar 12, 2024)


Constable Evans (10 books/11 works)

01. Evans Above (1997)
02. Evan Help Us
03. Evanly Choirs
04. Evan and Elle
05. Evan Can Wait
06. Evans to Betsy
07. Evan Only Knows
08. Evan's Gate
09. Evan Blessed
10. Evanly Bodies (Jan 2006)


Stand-alone Novels

Dreamwalker (2014)(Fantasy written with daughter Clare Broyles)
In Farleigh Field (WWII) (2017)
The Tuscan Child (WWII) (2018)
The Victory Garden WWI) (2019)
Above the Bay of Angels (Vic era) (2020)
The Venice Sketchbook (WWII) (2021)
Where the Sky Begins (WWII) (2022)
The Paris Assignment (WWII) (2023)


Short Story:
What Child Is This (2018)


Anthology:
Nothing Good Happens After Midnight (2020)(Collection of various authors)



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I've read a three of Rhys Bowen's books before and enjoyed them, although it's been a while. Both Her Royal Spyness and Evans Above were fairly standard cozies, although I enjoyed both. In Farleigh Field had a slightly darker edge to it, but I still enjoyed it.

Her being our featured author this month will give me the kick to read A Royal Pain, which has been on the TBR for a while.

I really enjoy the royal spyness series and this author was picked at the perfect time of year for me. Next up is The Twelve Clues of Christmas, so I'll be kicking off my Christmas reading list with it in a little over a week!

I’m just starting Her Royal Spyness, which has been in Mount TBR for ages. I also have a couple of her stand-alone novels, and may try to get to one of those as well, time permitting.

I just listened to Crowned and Dangerous and On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service. I love the humor in these books. The stories are well paced and interesting. I also enjoy watching the characters develop.

I'm up to date on her series since I've recently finished The Proof of the Pudding. I like her series, but I do feel she wanders around a bit setting up the stories.

I read the 2nd in the Constable Evan Evans series a few days ago, and have #3 up soon. Very helpful for needing "E" in a challenge ;) I enjoy her writing!

Am I the only fan of her Molly Murphy series? Not that I don't like the other two series, but I haven't seen anyone mention Molly...

Barb wrote: "Am I the only fan of her Molly Murphy series? Not that I don't like the other two series, but I haven't seen anyone mention Molly..."

I’ve only read the short story, The Amersham Rubies, but I do remember it being pretty good.

I've read two in the Molly Murpjy series so far, but it was awhile ago. I'll have to get to it.

Rhys Bowen is one of my favorite all time auth or's I have read her series and standalone books. I am a bit behind on the Molly Murphy series so I decided to read Time of Fog and Fire . It is number 16 in the series. I have always love Molly's character. Her neighbors Sid and Gus are quite entertaining.

Finished it was very good. One of the better ones

Love Sid and Gus! I'm behind on the series too, but I'm going to try to get to the next one this month. I think I'm up to book #10 :)

Yes, I enjoy the Molly Murphy series. I started reading Rhys's books when there was only one book in the Molly Murphy series. Read all the Evan books, although it's been years since I finished. And I've been keeping up with the Royal Spyness series as it's been released as well.

I am part way through the three series Mark mentions plus I have read a few of her standalones.

Barb wrote: "Am I the only fan of her Molly Murphy series? Not that I don't like the other two series, but I haven't seen anyone mention Molly..."

I've got the first one but I haven't read it, and I can't fit it into my reading this month!

Edit. I managed to read it today - it grabbed me much more quickly than the first couple of chapters of A Royal Pain, so I kept with it - and I enjoyed a lot. I'll definitely read more of the Molly Murphy series.

I still hope to finish A Royal Pain by the end of the month, though.

Well, I managed to finish A Royal Pain today. I just didn't find either the setting or Georgiana as interesting or engaging as Molly Murphy and turn of the century New York. I think the whole "minor royal" thing just didn't quite succeed.

I finished The Proof of the Pudding . It is the newest of the Royal Spyness series. She has moved the plot and grown Georgie and Darcy nicely. I am not sure how much I like the newer Georgie very much lady of the manor giving servants commands.
overall well done.

Linda wrote: "I really enjoy the royal spyness series and this author was picked at the perfect time of year for me. Next up is The Twelve Clues of Christmas, so I'll be kicking off my Christmas ..."

I loved that one! It's a clever twist on the song.

Nell wrote: "Linda wrote: "I really enjoy the royal spyness series and this author was picked at the perfect time of year for me. Next up is The Twelve Clues of Christmas, so I'll be kicking off..."

I saw somewhere before I started reading it about the song connection and I'm glad I did because otherwise I probably wouldn't have caught on and now I can see it as I am reading.

Rhys Bowen is one of my favorite cozy authors. I've read all of the Evan Evans series, a couple of her stand-alones and some Molly Murphys. Royal Spyness is my favorite of her series - hilarious misadventures and clever mysteries.

I'm reading The Proof of the Pudding, her latest in that series. Enjoying the visit with Georgie and crew. She finally has a capable maid, Queenie is now in the kitchen creating occasional havoc. Though I'm usually a stickler for 'RIO', I've missed a couple and skipped ahead to the most recent entries. This one feels like visiting with familiar friends. I enjoyed the famous couples - the famous actress and renowned archeologist with their lesser known spouses - who turned out to be Laurence Olivier and Agatha Christie!

I was able to read one of the Constable Evans books in November, but kept forgetting to post it here. My review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I liked this more than the first book, but I still prefer her Molly Murphy and Royal Spyness series.

Evan Help Us (Constable Evans #2), by Rhys Bowen, finished 11/28/23 ★★★.5

That's funny because, for me, Evan Evans was my favorite of her series. Shows that everyone's tastes are different.