|
C is for Agatha....... Christie, that is. Probably most of us graduated from Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys right into Agatha Christie's novels. It seems like most cozy mystery book readers have a favorite Christie series ... either Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, or even Tommy and Tuppence.
Agatha Christie is, in fact, the grande dame of "all things mystery."
We have been so lucky to have many TV and films dedicated to her works. Peter Ustinov, Albert Finney, and David Suchet are probably the actors who come to mind when we think of Hercule. Each of the actors brought a different perspective to the little gentleman who was so good at using his little, gray cells.
As for Miss Marple, there have been many fine portrayals by actresses who include Margaret Rutherford, Angela Lansbury, Helen Hayes, Joan Hickson, and currently, Geraldine McEwan.
Can you remember when you first read an Agatha Christie novel? They are the types of novels that you can finish reading, and then feel perfectly comfortable passing on to a friend, without worrying about appropriate language, graphic gore, or gratuitous adult situations.
Meg Cabot
Cabot's main character is a former teen singer ("teen idol") who becomes a
private investigator. [Cabot's teen book series (The Princess Diaries Series)
has been made into Disney movies.]
Leslie Caine aka
Leslie O'Kane... Probably more recognizable as Leslie O'Kane, although her most recent books are Leslie Caine books. She has written series that feature: a cartoonist, a dog therapist, and
rival interior decorators.
Candy Calvert
Calvert is an RN who loves to travel... especially on cruise ships. So, what
better setting than a cruise ship for her RN heroine/sleuth!
Dana Cameron
How did I miss Cameron? She writes the Emma Fielding Mystery (archeological)
series... and if you are anything like me... you will want to start reading the
series... soon. (Her web site's "Tour Gallery" is a whose who of Malice
Domestic!)
Ann Campbell Campbell
writes a series that features an antique shop owner who reluctantly becomes the
owner of a rather rambunctious canine.
Dorothy Cannell Her
Ellie Haskell series includes two sisters who own a
detection agency, and with names like Hyacinth and Primrose, what else could
they call it but the Flowers Detection Agency? With names like those, how could
this series take place outside of England?
Stephen J. Cannell Not Cozy...
Undoubtedly, you have seen several television shows for which he
wrote...... the A Team, Rockford Files, the Commish, the Greatest
American Hero, Booker, etc..... the list is almost endless!
Taffy Cannon More recently she has been writing as
Emily Toll...
the Booked for Travel mystery series. She graduated from Duke University.
JoAnna Carl
aka
Eve K. Sandstrom... More recent books are as Joanna Carl: Chocoholic mystery series...
Patricia Carlon It
is said that if you like
Ruth Rendell, P. D.
James, or
Minette Walters, you
will like Patricia Carlon......... an Australian version of the previously
mentioned authors.
Caleb Carr
Known for his historical thrillers/mysteries, he also has added a little
paranormal science fiction to his mysteries.
John Dickson Carr
One of his two series is about a judge magistrate in Paris
and the other is about an English historian/sleuth. He also wrote a
series about a character named Sir Henry Merrivale who sounds as if the term
"did it all" was coined just to describe him! Sir Henry was not only a
"barrister," but also a doctor and the head of the military intelligence war
office. The Sir Henry Merrivale series was written by John Dickson
Carr, as Carter Dickson.
Sammi Carter
Carter writes a series about a candy shop owner who solves "sweet"
mysteries. And, lucky for Carter's fans, she includes candy recipes!
Heron Carvic …See Miss Seeton books, alphabetized under “Miss Emily Seeton”.....3 different authors penned the Miss Seeton series,
with Carvic being the first author. I have yet to read any of the Miss Seeton books, but I own most of them and they look delightful.... very
reminiscent of Miss Marple.... I think!
Dixie Cash
Cash is a sister writing duo (Pamela Cumbie and Jeffery McClanahan) who are
native Texans. They write a series that takes place in "Salt Lick," Texas...
and features two best friends (one of whom owns a beauty shop)...both
sleuths...
Sarah Caudwell
There are only four books in the Hilary Tamar series. I read the first of
the series years ago, and unless I am mistaken, I seem to remember that the
reader never does find out if Hilary is a man or woman.... the issue is
unimportant, and cleverly skirted around...
Henry Cecil
aka Henry Cecil Leon..... I have not read
any of Cecil’s novels, but they were recommended to me by a Cozy Mystery
reader, who assured me that they are well-worth reading. After hearing how
much she liked his British mysteries, and after researching him for this site, I
have decided that I will be reading his books very soon. He was a British
judge who honed his story-telling while in the military.
Helen Chappell
Is anyone in the mood for some ghostly fun? Chappell's
series involves a reporter and her husband's ghost.
Hampton Charles... See
Miss Seeton books, alphabetized under “Miss Emily Seeton”.....This is the second "part" of the three-author series involving Miss Seeton.
Kate Charles
Charles has worked in church administration and has knowledge of the Church
of England, which explains why her series is set in the religious
environment of England. Although she was born in the USA, her American
publishers consider her books to be more British.
Nora Charles aka
Noreen Wald... It's nice to have a senior sleuth... from Florida, no less!
Thank you, Ms. Charles, for remembering that all heroines of cozies don't
have to be in their late twenties/early thirties! (Now, to find Asta
and Nick!)
As Wald, she pens a series about a ghostwriter.
Marion Chesney aka
M. C. Beaton.... Chesney's Edwardian mystery
series liberally sprinkles humor in with the murders!
G. K. Chesterton
Chesterton wrote many works, including the Father Brown Mystery Series of
stories...
Jennifer Chiaverini
Chiaverini writes the Elm Creek Quilts Series. Although they are not mysteries,
they have been highly recommended to me, to include on the site. One of the
recommending people likened the series to Jan Karon's Mitford series, which I
enjoyed a lot. Chiaverini also has several accompanying quilting books...
Laura Childs
One of her mystery series takes place in a Charleston Tea Room,
another series has a scrapbooking theme, and her third series is set in a
Cozy Cafe with Knitting and Book Shopping! P. F. Chisholm
Historical Mystery series... Patricia Finney Chisholm is Oxford-educated,
and not only does she write for adults, but she has two children's books out
that look really good. Both are told by "Jack Perry" a yellow Labrador, as told
to Patricia Finney. I am sure that both of my children would have enjoyed these
books if they had been available several years ago.
Margaret Chittenden Country Western tavern owner-sleuth...
Agatha Christie Nothing more needs saying...
Joyce Christmas
Christmas has two cozy mystery series: the Lady Margaret Priam series and
the Betty Trenka mystery series.
Jill Churchill I really like her Jane Jeffry series...
She has also written books under her "real name".... Janice Young Brooks.
Alys Clare
Clare writes the Hawkenlye Mystery Series which features the pairing of a
head nun of an abbey with a French knight who has transplanted himself to
England so that he can take up the cause of Richard the Lionheart...
Carol Higgins Clark
Daughter of
Mary Higgins Clark, and author of a cozy mystery
series of her own!
Mary Higgins Clark
As the mother of
Carol Higgins Clark, she has collaborated with
Carol on some books. Mary Higgins Clark writes books that are stand-alones. Anna Clarke
Very British...
Her Paula Glennings series features two professors in London. Melissa Cleary
For all of the dog lovers who read cozies...
Jake, an ex-police dog is one of the main characters in this Dog Lovers
Mystery series.
Ann Cleeves Several series from England
featuring police inspectors and.... bird-watchers!
Jane K. Cleland
Cleland was a hands-on owner of an antique store (that also included rare
books) with an MBA, so it is no wonder that her protagonist is an antiques
dealer (and sleuth!)
Judy Clemens Clemens
writes a series that features a most unusual sleuth... a Biker/Dairy
Farmer....The first book of her series (Till the Cows Come Home) was
nominated for both the prestigious Anthony and Agatha awards!
Blaize Clement
Before writing her cozy mystery series (which features a pet sitter)
Clement was a psychologist. After reading her biography, I can see why she
picked the pet sitting theme....... she loves animals!
Barbara Cleverly
Cleverly, a teacher as well as an accomplished author, writes
two mystery series, both taking place post World War I. The Laetitia Talbot
Mystery Series is set in France and the Joe Sandilands Mystery Series is set
in India.
Harlan Coben I
really like his Myron Bolitar series.....even though it's not cozy. I also
have enjoyed many hours reading his stand alone novels.
Margaret Coel
Coel (a bestselling author) writes a mystery series set in the world of an
Arapaho reservation in Wyoming.
Jeffrey Cohen
Cohen, a journalist and screenplay author, has two mystery series: the Aaron
Tucker Mystery Series is about a journalist and screenwriter and the Double
Feature Mystery Series features the owner of a movie theater... both take place
in New Jersey...
Nancy J. Cohen Ever
have a Bad Hair Day? Marla Shore (the amateur sleuth who
stars in this series) knows all about those types of days!
Barbara Colley Colley pens a series about a maid in
New Orleans.
Christine E. Collier
Collier contacted me via my blog's comments, and told me about
a cozy mystery series she is writing. Since I just found out about her series
(The Writer's Club Mystery Series), I haven't had time to read one.... yet!
Kate Collins Before
Collins started writing her Flower Shop Mystery series, she taught school, and
has her master's degree in education.
B. Comfort
A series featuring a widow (in her 70s) living and sleuthing in Vermont...
Susan Conant
Conant is best known for her series about a dog trainer (Dog
Lover's Mystery Series) and in 2005 she started the Cat Lover's Mystery
Series. She is currently (2006 to present) working with her daughter (Jessica
Conant-Park) on the Gourmet Girl Mystery Series...
Michael Connelly
It's no wonder that Connelly writes such good police procedurals.... He
majored in journalism with a minor in creative writing, and after graduating
he worked as a crime beat journalist. I really enjoy his Harry
Bosch series, even though it isn't cozy.
Sheila Connolly
(aka Sarah Atwell) Degrees in Art History and Fine Arts paved the way for Atwell to eventually
write the Glassblowing Mystery Series. She not only enjoys the beauty of
blown glass but apparently also has "mastered" the art. As Sheila
Connolly, she writes the Orchard Mystery Series which takes place in
beautiful Massachusetts... on an apple orchard.
K. C. Constantine
The Mario Balzic series...
Bruce
Cook aka
Bruce Alexander…..Cook’s series is about
Chico Cervantes, a Los Angeles private detective.
Natasha Cooper
aka Clare Layton... As Cooper, she writes two series that are mysteries,
with one centering around a romance novelist and the other a barrister.
As Layton she writes about the effects that crimes have on their victims,
and how they continue throughout their lives. Susan Rogers Cooper I like all three of her series... and since I am all caught up with them, I am eagerly awaiting her next mystery novel.
I think that the Sheriff Milt Kovak series is my favorite of the three, although
I also like the series that is based around a stand-up comedian and the other
series that is based on a romance novelist.
Patricia Cornwell Not cozy, by any means. Kay Scarpetta
is definitely her more famous series, and she even writes non-fiction.
Caroline Cousins
Cousins goes by three different aliases... not because "she"
writes using three different pseudonyms, but because "she" is indeed three
different women... who happen to be cousins! Between the three of them they
have been a school teacher, editor, reporter, critic, designer and even a
platation tour guide!
Cleo Coyle aka
Alice Kimberley..... Both
Kimberley and Coyle are pseudonyms for a husband and wife team (Marc
Cerasini and Alice Alfonsi) who write cozy mysteries together. They write
the Coffeehouse Mystery series as Coyle, and the Haunted Bookshop
Mystery series as Kimberly.
Alisa Craig aka
Charlotte MacLeod... I am more familiar with her Charlotte MacLeod books, although I
really enjoy these, too. They are definitely cozies!
Philip R. Craig An
ex-Boston cop moves to Martha's Vineyard in this series....
Hamilton Crane… See
Miss Seeton books, alphabetized under “Miss Emily Seeton” Written by
Sarah J. Mason as Hamilton Crane... She is the third of the Miss Seeton authors.
Isis Crawford
aka Barbara Block.... As Crawford, she
writes a series about a couple who own and operate a catering and bakeshop
establishment. As Block, she writes the Robin Light series..... which takes
place in and out of the pet store her main character owns.
Edmund Crispin
Crispin not only wrote mysteries, but also
was a science fiction author. He composed several pieces of music, which
were published under his given name…. Robert Montgomery. His series features
an Oxford professor...
Deborah Crombie
Although born in Texas, and currently living in Texas, the time Crombie
spent living in both England and Scotland made it possible for her to write
a very convincingly British series......
Amanda Cross
The New York's Professor Kate Fansler series......
Kieran Crowley
True Crime..... New York Post reporter and
New York Times Bestselling author.....
Lonnie Cruse
Cruse writes the Metropolis mystery series, and is set to launch her new
series '57 Chevy mystery series this year. What could be more fun than a
rebuilt '57 Chevy? Perhaps a mystery series that features a '57 Chevy!
E. V. Cunningham
aka Howard Fast.... the Masao Masuto series,
which I have enjoyed very much.......
Clare Curzon aka
Eileen-Marie Duell Buchanan, Marie Buchanan,
Rhona Petrie... That's a lot of
pseudonyms/names for a Ved-dy British author of Ved-dy many series...
Clive Cussler Not Cozy..... Thrillers.....
Back to "B" Authors *****
***** "D" Authors |