Cozy Mysteries discussion

I'm reading Apple Turnover Murder and even though I've read most of the books in this series I can't help it but I'm always annoyed by her sister Andrea. The love triangle too but Andrea just really bugs me. Was wondering who are the favorites for you and who are the least favored?

I used to really love this series, but after the last couple and the short story in I believe I am done with the series. Andrea never bothered me that much. Maybe because I have a cousin who is just like her. Hannah annoys me anymore, as does her mother. Along with being TOTALLY over the stupid "love triangle", that pretty much sums it up for me!

I only read the first two and didn't like it so I stopped.

I used to enjoy these books, but I stopped when I figured out the love triangle was not going to end. It began to ruin the rest of the story for me.

This is my favorite cozy mystery series! Andrea doesn't bother me, and I love the mother. The only thing I'm getting tired of is the love triangle- Hannah needs to pick (team Norman!) so that her storyline can progress- I want to see Hannah planning a wedding!

I've read one and didn't care for it. I think I was almost halfway through the book before the murder even took place hence no investigation in the first of the book. Not a very exciting mystery and a really boring love triangle. So I doubt I'll read anymore. It was Key Lime Pie Murder

Martha wrote: "I've read one and didn't care for it. I think I was almost halfway through the book before the murder even took place hence no investigation in the first of the book. Not a very exciting mystery an..."

I hate that. It always seems like they don't spend enough time investigating, when the murder occurs late in the book. It usually feels rushed and sloppy.

This sounds like Stephanie Plum - she's up to book 16 or whatever and she still hasn't decided, and now there's a third one in the mix. Very discouraging and I don't have patience for that. LOL I've read 11 and 1 and have lost interest before I even read 2.

I do have Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder which I haven't read yet. Another one that I'll read what and when I feel like, even if it's out of order.

I have read some of her books, but something about it made me not return to it. I like G. A. McKevitt Savannah Reid series, she sounds like fun.

Kim wrote: "This sounds like Stephanie Plum - she's up to book 16 or whatever and she still hasn't decided, and now there's a third one in the mix. Very discouraging and I don't have patience for that. LOL I..."

I still read the Plum series but mainly for Grandma Mazur and Lula - those two crack me up. But Stephanie, Ranger and Joe - eh, same old, same old.

I finished Apple Turnover Murder and figured that one fairly early in the book. For that reason I didn't want to finish it but I did and gave it 2 stars.

I'll more than likely read the other 2 I have in the series and be done with it.

Shay wrote: "Martha wrote: "I've read one and didn't care for it. I think I was almost halfway through the book before the murder even took place hence no investigation in the first of the book. Not a very exci..."

I just finished
Cherry Cheesecake Murder and the murder didn't take place until halfway through. I am also getting a bit annoyed with the love triangle. I think this has diminished this series for me. I also find they are getting a bit repetitive.

Kimmie

Kimmie wrote: "Shay wrote: "Martha wrote: "I've read one and didn't care for it. I think I was almost halfway through the book before the murder even took place hence no investigation in the first of the book. No..."

The books are all pretty much the same. If you're annoyed now, you'll get more annoyed the more you read the series.

I enjoy this series. I like the characters and finding out what mischief they are getting into. Some are better than others, of course. The love triangle is a bit tiring. Like Kate, I'm on Team Norman! Who needs a handsome, but wandering, jerk.

I also enjoy this series, and have read many of the Hannah Swenson books. I recently got and thru a trade at Paperbackswap. Im on Team Norman also! Hes a sweet guy. =)

I don't mind that Stephanie Plum never chooses between Ranger and Joe. I guess it's because there are enough wacky characters like Lula and Grandma Mazur that keep me entertained. These books annoy me though. I just don't care for most of the characters.

Chris wrote: "I don't mind that Stephanie Plum never chooses between Ranger and Joe. I guess it's because there are enough wacky characters like Lula and Grandma Mazur that keep me entertained. These books ann..."

I agree about the Plum books. I've never considered Steph's relationships with Ranger and Morelli as a triangle. You know there's really no way she's going to end up with Ranger. But the Hannah books just annoy me to no end anymore!

Vicky wrote: "Like Kate, I'm on Team Norman! Who needs a handsome, but wandering, jerk."

I totally agree! Mike may be cute but he keeps seeing other women, having ex girlfriends pop up, etc. Norman is sweet and stable and he really loves Hannah (hello, he built her her dream house!). I would be pretty sad if Hannah picked Mike, but she needs to pick SOMEONE soon! Hopefully she'll finally get down to it in Devil's Foodcake Murder (I think it comes out in February).

I am actually surprised to hear that so many people are annoyed by the Hannah books! I agree that sometimes the murder starts late in the book but I don't mind that- but I read in order and so there is a nice progression so that might be why. I also CAN'T STAND the Stephanie Plum books- so to each her own!

I do like the Hannah books but the love triangle DOES annoy me and so does Andrea...I don't know why. But I do keep reading them so I must like something about them.

The Stephanie Plum series I can't really get in to. I read the first book and while I like her grandma I've never had the desire to read the others in this series.

And the other triangle that has me saying "enough" with the series? Denise Swanson's Scumble River's Skye. I've liked those books but Skye won't stand up to her mother and pick one guy!

Caroline wrote: "And the other triangle that has me saying "enough" with the series? Denise Swanson's Scumble River's Skye. I've liked those books but Skye won't stand up to her mother and pick one guy!"

I quit this series awhile back. Mostly because of her relationship with her mom. The stuff with the guys didn't help either!

Don't know if any of you watch "Men Of A Certain Age", but Joanne Fluke's books got some great exposure on last week's episode. Ray's son was in a bookstore and 2 different books were shown prominently.

I tried reading one ("Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder") and I didn't really like it. It started out ok, but then went dowhhill. Bill sounded like he didn't know how to investigate a murder and it seemed like Hannah was superwoman - doing everyone's job. Is there another that is better that this one? It really dragged on.

Tibsie wrote: "I tried reading one ("Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder") and I didn't really like it. It started out ok, but then went dowhhill. Bill sounded like he didn't know how to investigate a murder and it se..."

If you didn't like CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE MURDER you probably won't like any of them. I really enjoyed the series early on, but don't care for them anymore. I just got pissed off with the last 2 or 3.

Tibsie wrote: "I tried reading one ("Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder") and I didn't really like it. It started out ok, but then went dowhhill. Bill sounded like he didn't know how to investigate a murder and it se..."

I did not like the first one and read book 2 and still did not like it.

Tibsie wrote: "I tried reading one ("Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder") and I didn't really like it. It started out ok, but then went dowhhill. Bill sounded like he didn't know how to investigate a murder and it se..."

If you want to read a good culinary mystery try the White House Chef series by Julie Hyzy or the cupcake bakery series by Jenn McKinlay. I just finished Buffalo West Wing by Julie and Buttercream Bumpoff by Jenn and they were both fast paced and lots of fun. Great recipes at the end of both books.

Kaye wrote: "If you want to read a good culinary mystery try the White House Chef series by Julie Hyzy or the cupcake bakery series by Jenn McKinlay. I just finished Buffalo West Wing by Julie and Buttercream Bumpoff by Jenn and they were both fast paced and lots of fun...."

Totally agree on these 2 series, Kaye. I haven't read either of the new ones in these series yet, but have them sitting here.

Enjoy them Melodie! Buttercream Bumpoff has some really funny scenes in it.

Ive read the first in the Cupcake Bakery series by
Jenn McKinlay and loved it! just put the second one on my tbr list. havent read any yet by Julie Hyzy..
Have you tried the Restaurant cozy series by Miranda Bliss? these are cute..there are 4 or 5 in this series.

Cherry Cheesecake Murder was the first cozy I read. Never read anything like it before so I enjoyed the read. But still found the mystery lacking. I went on to readSugar Cookie Murder and enjoyed this one more but I noticed the triangle between the two guys and didnt like it, and the mother was driving me mad. I tried to read Carrot Cake Murder and gave up half way. It just seemed so forced and the way it was written and the main character just got on my nerves! ha,ha so I gave up on the series. Shame as they sound so enjoyable and the titles are fantastic...

I agree with the Cupcake Bakery series, loved the first book. Waiting for the second in the series to arrive.

I think I'm done with this series. It's like the same book over and over again. I will probably only read the next one if my library gets it on audio and I hear that the love triangle is resolved and maybe things changed up a bit.

I'm over Stephanie Plum as well for hte same reason. Same book over and over.

Mary wrote: "I think I'm done with this series. It's like the same book over and over again. I will probably only read the next one if my library gets it on audio and I hear that the love triangle is resolved..."

I keep reading the Plum books because they never fail to make me laugh. And that's what I'm looking for when I pick one of them up. The fringe characters are what do it for me. In the most recent one Mooner and the "Hobbits" had me nearly ROFL!

Melissa wrote: "Ive read the first in the Cupcake Bakery series by
Jenn McKinlay and loved it! just put the second one on my tbr list. havent read any yet by Julie Hyzy..
Have you tried the Restau..."
Thanks, Melissa, I just put that series on my list.

I love this series. I first read Cherry Cheesecake Murder and loved it. Once I realized it was a series, I started at the beginning. This was the first mystery series that I read. I have even tried some of the cookies and they have been good.

Someone mentioned Miranda Bliss. I liked that series as well, but as you said, there are only 5 in the series. I have found a few series that I like, only to find out that the author has stopped writing books in that series.

I have also read JoAnna Carl's Chocoholic Mystery Series as well. The other Series that I love is by Jessica Connat Park and her mom.

Martha wrote: "I love this series. I first read Cherry Cheesecake Murder and loved it. Once I realized it was a series, I started at the beginning. This was the first mystery series that I read. I have even t..."


Have you tried Laura Childs and her teashop mysteries of the Cackleberry Club mysteries? Those are both good.

Someone else has recommended them to me. I plan on adding them to my to-read list.

I kind of enjoyed the first couple books I read in this series. Then I ran into one that talked about my hometown, but spelled it wrong. The details given made it obvious that they meant my hometown, not some fictitious town. It really turned me off that they did not care about getting the name of a town correct when they referring to a real one. I swore off the series for a couple of years after that.

Then this summer I had a crazy deadline for a knitting project I was designing and needed an audiobook to keep me company. These books were some of the few cozies I could download through my local library and play on my iPod and I got hooked again out of convenience. I wouldn't say they are my favorite, but they do the job. Of course now I have no idea what other towns are being misspelled (and I would know, having been a meteorologist who forecaster for the entire state of Minnesota at one time).

I think listening is the key to my enjoying this series. That and to space out the books!

I hadn't planned to read this series anymore, but was given a copy of DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE MURDER as a gift while I was in the hospital. It's actually not bad. Better than the last one anyway!

Interesting to hear that, Melodie. I had planned to give up this series too but got Devil's Food Cake and was almost afraid to read it. Maybe I'll read it after all. Hope you're feeling much better now!

For some reason you can buy Devil's Food Cake Murder at Target in a large paperback for $15 (instead of in hardcover). I did that because I hate dealing with book covers. I had heard that the ending is a shocker but I'm not up to that book yet (reading in order and trying to go slow bc I love these books!). So i had my fiance read the last chapter and tell me what the big thing is- I'm so impatient!! But seriously, WOW! Can't wait to see what happens in the next book now!

Kate wrote: "For some reason you can buy Devil's Food Cake Murder at Target in a large paperback for $15 (instead of in hardcover). I did that because I hate dealing with book covers. I had heard that the endin..."

You could buy CREAM PUFF MURDER at Walmart in trade paperback 2 years ago when it came out. Seems like it only cost me about $8.00, though.

I swore I wasn't going to spend any more money on this series, but you're really tempting me.

This series was the very first cozy mystery I read. I really enjoy Hannah and the recipes. I am getting a little annoyed with the triangle though and yes i'm also team Norman. While the mysteries may not always be great I read them because they are like old friends and i'm too invested now. Plus I love cookies and will always want new recipes.

I like this series and I enjoy some of the books more than others. It seems like the murder doesn't happen until more than halfway through the book in some cases, and I don't like those ones, but overall they are a nice light read (albeit a little obvious and repetitive). I'm willing to overlook the little love triangle, but I do wish Hannah would make up her mind (most of the time I'm on Team Norman, but occasionally I flip over to Team Mike). The cookie recipes are a definite bonus and I plan on trying some of the recipes at some point.

I commented somewhere else as well, the triangle is really ruining these books for me. I seem to keep reading them, I just finished the last book and the triangle still drags on.

Even if Hannah is going to date two guys, okay, but the crazy thing is how Mike and Hannah are supposed to be friends and just be okay with the whole situation. That would never happen in real life and it's like the author thinks the readers are stupid or something to believe it. It seems like really Norman is a doormat and Mike just isn't that into Hannah so doesn't really care.

At this point it seems clear that neither guy is for Hannah, if one of them really was her soulmate/partner or whatever, it should have been clear to her by now. I think she should just move on and be single for a while or find a totally new guy. Stop stringing these poor guys along!

This has just been really irking me!

Melissa wrote: "I commented somewhere else as well, the triangle is really ruining these books for me. I seem to keep reading them, I just finished the last book and..."

I'm done, done, DONE with this series because of the idiotic "triangle". Seems ridiculous to call it that since Norman's the only one who seems to care about anyone!

I have only read a couple of books from this series and I enjoyed them so I'm disappointed to know that the triangle strings out so long. I won't like that, I'm afraid.

Part of the reason I enjoy them is because I use to live in northern Wisconsin and her descriptions of the weather seem very real. I'll keep reading and hope the triangle doesn't bother me.

Randee wrote: "I have only read a couple of books from this series and I enjoyed them so I'm disappointed to know that the triangle strings out so long. I won't like that, I'm afraid.

Part of the reason I enj..."

If it doesn't drive you right up the wall, you're a better woman than me! LOL

Yeah, I never made it past book 3 or so. I didn't think either relationship was worth cheering on, and the whole thing just got on my nerves...