Cozy Mystery Corner discussion

JULY '26 SERIAL READER CHALLENGE


Boasting tall spikes of vibrantly colored blooms, delphinium is associated with midsummer fun, love and lightheartedness.

TO PARTICIPATE IN THE JULY CHALLENGE:

♦Pick five series that you want to read.

♦It can be a new or an on-going series.

♦Post the name of the series and the covers of at least two books that you have not read.

♦There must be at least two unread books in the series. No re-reads allowed.

♦You may re-post a series chosen before as long as there are at least two unread books.

♦Post series now through June 25th.

♦Pairs will be posted on June 26th.

♦Select a series for your partner between June 26th and 30th...sooner is better

♦Next month, read two (or more) books from the series selected for you.

New to the challenge? The thread for challenge guidelines and questions is here

Comments on this thread will be limited to members posting series until the 21st. After pairs are selected, the thread is open for discussion.

Finally getting this posted! Sorry for the delay. Work was super busy this week. I've changed the dates to allow for the late posting.

Players:
⛱️Meg picks for Nell
🐚Jennifer picks for Helen
🌞Nell picks for Jennifer
⛱️Jenny picks for Linda
🐚Linda picks for Meg
🌞Helen picks for Jenny

☀️☀️☀️ July 2026 ☀️☀️☀️

Aunt Dimity
Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin
Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea

Melanie Travis
Live and Let Growl
Murder at the Puppy Fest

Lady Eleanor
A Poisoning in Piccadilly
A Burglary in Belgravia

Lord Edgington
The Curious Case of the Templeton-Swifts
The Crimes of Clearwell Castle

Death by Demand
Dead by Midnight
Death Walked In

July series:

V. I. Warshawski


Aimee Leduc


Savannah Martin


Homefront Sleuths



Lucy Stone

July Picks


Thoroughly Southern by Patricia Sprinkle


Sarah Booth Delaney by Carolyn Haines


Jay Porter by Attica Locke


Romaine Wilder by Abby L. Vandiver


🐚Nancy Martin, Blackbird Sisters

My series are the following:
Cozy Corgi by Mildred Abbott



Murder 101 bu Maggie Barbieri



Advice Column Mystery by Roberta Isleib



A Lady & Lady's Maid Mystery by Alyssa Maxwell



Campers & Criminals bu Tonya Kappes

I'm sorry to miss July and probably August because of travel. I love seeing what everyone wants to read.

July picks

Vacation Mystery by Catherine Mack


Southern Chocolate Shop by Dorothy St. James


Fairy Tale Fatale Mystery by Maia Chance


Maine Clambake by Barbara Ross


Hayley Powell by Lee Hollis

I’m in for July. In recovery from hip replacement.

Donna Leon Commissario Brunetti



Diana Xarissa Aunt Bessie



Harriet Steel inspector de Silva



Debbie Young Sophie Sayers


Sarah Yarwood-Lovett Nell Ward

Zermeena wrote: "I'm sorry to miss July and probably August because of travel. I love seeing what everyone wants to read."

That's what gets me in trouble. My TBR is a mountain range! 😏

Enjoy your summer travels.

Nell wrote: "Zermeena wrote: "I'm sorry to miss July and probably August because of travel. I love seeing what everyone wants to read."

That's what gets me in trouble. My TBR is a mountain range! 😏

Enjoy your..."

I have enough books on my TBR to last multiple lifetimes!

Thank you! I'm visiting Africa for the first time, which why I will be away most of the month.

Zermeena wrote: "Nell wrote: "Zermeena wrote: "I'm sorry to miss July and probably August because of travel. I love seeing what everyone wants to read."

That's what gets me in trouble. My TBR is a mountain range! ..."

That sounds fabulous! Have a great trip.

Welcome Serial Readers! 📚

Pairs are posted at msg 2. Please pick a series for your partner.

Meg wrote: "☀️☀️☀️ July 2026 ☀️☀️☀️

Aunt Dimity
Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin
[book:Aunt D..."

Hi Meg,

I'm picking Lady Eleanor for you, inspired by the 1920's murder mystery dinner I'm going to tonight. Happy reading!

Hi Linda! I am going to choose Maia Chance’ books for you for July!

Jenny wrote: "Hi Linda! I am going to choose Maia Chance’ books for you for July!"

Thank you! I'm looking forward to them.

Hello, Nell: It was a toss up between two series I love, but I've settled on Nancy Martin's Blackbird Sisters. I sure hated it when it ended.

(P.S. The other contender was Carolyn Haines!)

That dinner sounds like so much fun, Linda! Is everyone dressing up?

Thank you for the pick, I can't believe I'll finally be reading these after several years on the tbr. (Story of my life...)

Helen wrote: "I’m in for July. In recovery from hip replacement.

Donna Leon Commissario Brunetti



Diana Xaris..."

I'm choosing Inspector De Silva for you, Helen. I hope you enjoy it!

Jennifer wrote: "Helen wrote: "I’m in for July. In recovery from hip replacement.

Donna Leon Commissario Brunetti

[bookcover:Drawing Conclusions|9693927..."
Thank you Jennifer, a good choice after a much heavier series in June.

Jenny wrote: "My series are the following:
Cozy Corgi by Mildred Abbott



Murder 101 bu Maggie Barbieri

[..."

Hi Jenny,
I have to choose Cozy Corgis for you, because I love those. Enjoy.

Jennifer

I pick the Savannah Martin series for you. It sounds like a fun summer read!

Meg wrote: "Hello, Nell: It was a toss up between two series I love, but I've settled on Nancy Martin's Blackbird Sisters. I sure hated it when it ended.

(P.S. The other contender was Carolyn Haines!)"

Thanks Meg. I enjoyed reading the first one and keep meaning to continue reading the series.

Nell wrote: "Jennifer

I pick the Savannah Martin series for you. It sounds like a fun summer read!"

Thank you! I agree!

Meg wrote: "That dinner sounds like so much fun, Linda! Is everyone dressing up?

Thank you for the pick, I can't believe I'll finally be reading these after several years on the tbr. (Story of my life...)"

It was a lot of fun and yes, we did dress up. Like most of the mysteries I read, I didn't solve this one until the reveal either.

Like most of the mysteries I read, I didn't solve this one until the reveal either...

Lol, that would be me, as well. Which is okay, the journey to that reveal is what I enjoy more.

Meg wrote: "Like most of the mysteries I read, I didn't solve this one until the reveal either...

Lol, that would be me, as well. Which is okay, the journey to that reveal is what I enjoy more."

I agree! Quite honestly, I start questioning the author if I figure it out ahead of time.

Linda wrote: "Quite honestly, I start questioning the author if I figure it out ahead of time."

That's when I realize it's time to take a break from reading mysteries and read a book or two from a different genre before going back to them :)

Finished my first,

Finished my second

I did finish my two Cozy Corgi books!
; finished 7/11
; finished 7/14

Although I don't know how much more of this series I will be reading because there is only the first paperback book in our library system and so paid for book #2 and #3 on Audible. And I haven't gotten into Kindle, etc. yet.