Cozy Mysteries discussion

Would anyone be interested in a monthly theme? For example, March might have been "read an Irish mystery."

If enough people are interested, I'd be happy to coordinate. Or, if people want to help set-up the themes, I'm willing to coordinate the coordinators.

I picture the next month's theme being announced mid-way through the current month to allow everyone who wants to participate to decide upon and obtain the book they want to read.

People could announce on the thread, what they've decided to read and then whether or not they liked their selection.

This would be completely optional, of course! I don't know why, I just love themes and think this could be fun!

I think it would be fun and you only need to participate if you feel like it and have the time.

I would do it. Sounds fun. Perhaps it would help me pick which one in my pile to read next. Urg - I don't have any Irish mysteries in my tbr!!!

I think it sounds like fun, too! I would love to do that!

I'm all for that idea :)

I'm all for it also. And you can always solicit ideas a few months in advance from other readers. June could be wedding cozies even :) Or something like that...

Sounds great, I'd play!

Kelley wrote: "I'm all for it also. And you can always solicit ideas a few months in advance from other readers. June could be wedding cozies even :) Or something like that..."

There were 2 wedding planner cozy series. Both must have lost their publishers as neither has had a new book in a couple of years. The best was written by Deborah Donnelly the other was by Laura Durham.

@Melodie...that's too bad. But, I was just using that as an example. Though, I haven't read either one, so they would be new to me :)

Count me in. Many of the groups have a book that everyone reads at the same time and then they discuss it. I think that is a good idea.

Count me in too! Sounds like fun!

Sounds fun, I'd be inerested as well.

It sounds fun, I would participate the months I could (not enough time always ;) )

I would like to be in on this! Sounds like fun. Maybe even get to try some books I would not have thought of trying before!

Melodie wrote: "Kelley wrote: "I'm all for it also. And you can always solicit ideas a few months in advance from other readers. June could be wedding cozies even :) Or something like that..."

There were 2 w..."

I remember both of those I liked both of them but for me Laura Durham's were the best ones for me.

I found a site that has lists of holiday cozy mysteries. www.cozy-mystery.com

I would love to join!

Sounds like a wonderful idea.

I like the idea for a monthly theme but am not in favor of a single book for everyone to read. I would rather have a single thread for the theme and have people talk about any and all books that fit the theme. IMHO there are enough group reads in other groups.

I like the idea of everyone choosing their own book since there are so many different holiday themed cozy mysteries.

That's a great idea, Suzanne. :-)

I agree with Sherrie and Vicki about just having a theme and letting people pick their own book from that particular theme.

I found some cozies in a series called A Murder-By-Month Mystery by Jess Lourey. Sounds very interesting and fun. From what I can tell there are only books for May-September but I can't be sure if there are anymore coming out.I think I will try these for a bit. Has anyone read any of these?

Super idea, Suzanne! I am also a themed-type person. I often read seasonally...I cannot read a Christmas book until Thanksgiving time or after. I know-freakish-but that's how I am! So, we are midway (or little more)through March what should be the theme for April? This sounds so fun!

Hey thanks for the enthusiastic responses! I'm so glad there is interest. :) Since it is a couple of weeks prior to April, I'll start a new thread with some suggested themes.

I definitely would welcome suggestions from the group for upcoming months!

Great Suzanne - thanks! Here are some of my thoughts for April. It is passover, so perhaps books with Jewish lead character?? It is also Easter - so perhaps a book with priest, monk, pastor (etc..), or other religious character as a lead?? Arbor Day and Earth Day are also in April - are there are books with leads that work as park rangers or other outdoor related fields? April 15th is tax day, but I am not sure if there are any books with accountants.

Heidi wrote: "Great Suzanne - thanks! Here are some of my thoughts for April. It is passover, so perhaps books with Jewish lead character?? It is also Easter - so perhaps a book with priest, monk, pastor (etc..."

Thanks Heidi, these are some great ideas! I'm going to edit my Easter theme to include Passover and I'll save your other ideas for next year. :)

Missy wrote: "Super idea, Suzanne! I am also a themed-type person. I often read seasonally...I cannot read a Christmas book until Thanksgiving time or after. I know-freakish-but that's how I am! So, we are m..."

I do the same thing. I save up christmas themed books for after Thanksgiving to read.

I agree that it would be much nicer to have a theme and let everyone pick a book they like that fits the theme. Not everyone is into BOM reads, but easier to follow a theme and pick your own to fit what you like, or what you can find on your own shelves or at the library.

awesome idea - I think it would be fun to try

Shannon wrote: "I found some cozies in a series called A Murder-By-Month Mystery by Jess Lourey. Sounds very interesting and fun. From what I can tell there are only books for May-September but I can't be sure if ..."

Hi Shannon, I have read May Day by Jess Lourey. It was ok for a first book. I'm hoping the other books will be better.

Please add books you've read for the monthly theme reads to the group bookshelf. This will help our list of cozy books grow.

Hi! New member, Jo Hiestand. I would definitely like to join in the read and the discussion. What a fun idea!

I've already done it with my April readings ;)

I read in April.

Welcome Jo!

Brainsgirl - you wanted us to add our books so they would show up on the right under "books mentioned", am I correct ???????

Suzanne wrote: "Welcome Jo!"

Thank you! I'm a bit overwhelmed by the amount of messages right now, so it may take me a while to navigate all this.

Jo wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "Welcome Jo!"

Thank you! I'm a bit overwhelmed by the amount of messages right now, so it may take me a while to navigate all this."

Jo, we can be a wordy group that is true and we do love our cozies. Welcome to the group.

Thanks. I'll settle in eventually and add my brainy observations, I'm sure (just don't hold your breath or think you'll get really clever stuff!)

Heidi wrote: "Brainsgirl - you wanted us to add our books so they would show up on the right under "books mentioned", am I correct ???????"

There is a group bookshelf,on the main group homepage. Please add them there. (Click on bookshelf, then add book.) If you link to a book in a comment box, then they show up under books mentioned in this thread. Our group bookshelf only has 25 books in it right now. I thought if everyone started adding cozy books they've read to it, we'd start having a full bookshelf where others can browse it when looking for other cozy books to read.

Jo wrote: "Hi! New member, Jo Hiestand. I would definitely like to join in the read and the discussion. What a fun idea!"

Welcome to Cozy Mysteries, Jo. Happy Reading! :-)

Trine wrote: "Jo wrote: "Hi! New member, Jo Hiestand. I would definitely like to join in the read and the discussion. What a fun idea!"

Welcome to Cozy Mysteries, Jo. Happy Reading! :-)"

Thank you, Trine. I'll get around to reading something soon.

Got it Brainsgirl!

I just had an idea - would anyone be interested in selecting the themes for upcoming months? I am more than happy to keep doing so, but thought others may want to participate as well. If you're interested, I'll get a monthly assignment list going and ask the upcoiming month's cooridnator to select the theme(s).

Lemme know............

I can always help out Suzanne if you need help. Just let me know.

I can help as well, let me know.

I can try to help, too.

I would love to help with themes. I do all the challenges for another group too. I always incorporate a themed book or cover.

I had a challenge idea. It would be longer than a month, but couldn't find a better place to list it.

In the Everything Paranormal group they are starting an alphabet challenge with a twist - there is a word assigned to every letter and you need to read a book with that word in the title (or series title if on the cover). You can use any tense of the word. I thought it could be a fun year long challenge for this group as well. The hardest part is coming up with the word for each letter. I took a stab (ha ha) at it, but there are plenty left to fill in and feel free to change the ideas I had as well if you decide to do this.

a - alibi
b - body
c - clue or crime or corpse
d - death
e -
f - fatal
g - game
h - homicide
i - innocent
j - judge
k - kill
l - last
m - murder
n -
o - one or once
p - peril
q -
r - rest or remains
s - spy or survive
t - trouble
u - undercover
v - vision
w - wicked or witness
x -
y - you
z -

N - Noise, Never, Noone
Q - Quiet, Quilt