Perhaps, upon reading the title to this blog, you might think that I am going to introduce a new cozy mystery to you. Nope! Instead, I am going to introduce myself…I have tried to add little things about myself throughout my site… If you have read the "B" page, then you know that my ALL TIME, VERY FAVORITE AUTHOR is not even a cozy mystery author… E. F. Benson's Mapp and Lucia series is the only series of books of which I have well-used copies… The series is the only set of books that I have read more than once, and plan on reading again…. and again. They are Cozies without the mysteries!
When I wrote my definition of What Makes a Cozy Just That?, I submitted a little information about myself… (Don't ask me why, but I made up a pseudonym for myself…. as if the people across the street might read the biography and know it was me!) Anyway, here is what I submitted as my biography:
"Erin Martin is a freelance author, an avid reader, and a fan of mysteries (of all types.) She has a master's degree in education. Erin resides with her husband who also enjoys reading. Erin created and maintains the Cozy Mystery List, a Reader's Guide to Cozy Mystery Books (and Other Favorite Authors)." (I used a pseudonym because at the time, I thought that I would possibly start writing articles for other sites to use… but, instead, this site has become my priority and takes up most of my computer time.) My name is Danna (as in banana… not Dana or Donna.)
So, why do I spend this amount of time putting a site on the web?
Well, after joining several mystery reading groups, and making some very good friends who shared my love for cozies, I started branching out… and slowly started accruing all of these authors… one author "leading me" to another author through their similarities, etc.
I have been reading cozies for years, and I got very discouraged when I attempted to find new authors to try. I remember that I would go to Amazon to buy a book, and there would be all of these "come-ons" from different readers… and (at first) I would get so excited thinking that I would find new authors to try, just by clicking on the "cozy list-mania" type of lists. After clicking on many lists, I felt very discouraged to find that the person would have one or two authors he/she liked… listing the authors' books out of sequence, and most of the time, not even listing all of the given authors' books.
Also, after buying several books twice… (And that is no joke!) I decided that I would have to start writing down all of the authors and books that I read. I actually found that when I went to place a newly acquired book in my TBR section of my bookshelves, the identical book would already be occupying its proper space! Thus, my initiation into the world of compulsive author/book lists.
One of my cozy mystery book reading friends asked if she could have a copy of my list, and the rest is history! That is when I started to index all of my authors on my computer, trying to update whenever I found a new author or a new book for one of my "old" authors. And, after years of keeping a list on my computer, my husband suggested that I put the lists on the web. So I made this alphabetical and chronological list of books and authors into the Cozy Mystery Site that you see now… after several years (and thousands of hours!) of effort. A full disclosure about the links is here.
I sure hope that these author and book lists can be of help to you.
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He sounds really neat, Rina. Thanks for telling us about him.
Hi Danna,
Thank you so much for writing your blog. I love cozies and will use your lists to add to my library.
Take care,
Micky
Welcome, Micky…
When I first started the Cozy Mystery site, I only included authors with whom I was familiar. Since then, I have added a whole lot of authors who come recommended by site readers and also the authors themselves. I am not familiar with all of the authors, but at least this is a good starting place for people who are looking for new authors to try.
Thanks for taking the time to write AND good luck finding authors!
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE your site and lists! I’ve found many new authors to read and find myself coming back again and again. Keep up the awesome lists!
Debbie
Hi Debbie,
I just love it when I get feedback like this! Thank you!
Could anyone give me any information about Jill Churchill, the author of the Jane Jeffry mysteries and the Grace and Favor Mysteries. She was suppose to have the book, “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” published but to date it has been delayed. Is she in poor health or no longer writing. Thanks for any info anyone can give me.
I know you get a lot of compliments, but I have been lurking on your site for several months now, and I wanted to let you know that I think it is an incredible site and that I use it before I begin a new series all of the time. I love it. You have done a fabulous job.
I don’t know how this blog thing really works, so I may be in the wrong place.
Others have said the same – this is a very good site. I have a file of “Authors Lists” that are print-outs from this site of authors I wish to collect.
Another series you might be interested in is the “Liturgical Myteries” by Mark Schweizer. They are totaly outrageous and great fun. They feature a small town police chief who is also the organist in an Episcopal church and keeps his gun under the organ bench. If you are Episcopal or Lutheran (both liturgical churches) you will be right at home – but there are plenty of mentions of Baptists, etc. Mark pokes outrageous fun at almost everyone within the church organization – but never at God. Among the titles are “The Alto Wore Tweed”, “The Mezzo Wore Mink”, etc. As you can see there is also a strong reference to classical music. They are availabe from St. James Musical Press.
The question I have been pondering and searching is this:
Lilian Jackson Braun of the “Cat Who . . .” fame was to publish a book called “The Cat Who Smelled Smoke” last year. Yet I find no news of when this will come out – publisher things? Hallucination? She ended the last book with the barn being burned down and a new love interes for Qwilleran. Any clues?
That’s a great question!
Here is an entry I wrote about Lilian Jackson Braun‘s (supposedly) last book.
(I had actually added the Smelled Smoke book to her page, but then found out that it wasn’t being published when it was first expected to come out, so I deleted it. There has been no word on what will happen with the book…)
I have never been on this site before, but it is very nice! I will start recommending it to our library patrons who are looking for mysteries to read. While I was looking over your site, I noticed that you mentioned the Jan Karon books (very nice, I really enjoyed them), and I was wondering if you realized that there is an older series by a British author with the pen-name of Miss Read. It is from the 1950′s and 60′s, and I think that Karon may have used loosely the idea of village life to write about in her books. My mom who really loved the Karon books actually likes Miss Read even better. There is a different kind of main character, the local teacher of the village school for some of the stories, and they are more like vingettes of village life in rural England right after the war (WWII), but they are charming. Keep up the good work!
Welcome to the site, Patti! I’m glad you found it.
I have a page dedicated to Miss Read. I had several people who told me about Dora Saint’s books, so I added her… even though she doesn’t write mysteries. From what I am told, the Miss Read books are a very “Cozy” series of books.
Thank you so much for writing… and I hope that your library patrons are able to find some new authors who they might enjoy checking out.
Danna, I love your cozy-mystery web……..
When I need a new cozy to read….smile….I come to you…..
this time I came across an old book author I haven’t read in a long time……..George Simenon…..The book “Maigret Afraid”
I have read most of the French Inspector books…..so this surprised me when I found it…..
Here are two more books that look interesting I found on Amazon….1. Maids of Misfortune….M. Louisa Locke
(A Victorian Mystery)
2. Dying for a Date….author Cindy Sample…..
I haven’t read these yet but intend to buy them……..
Thank you …..and I hope you don’t mind that I shared……………..hugs……
Hi Shirley,
Thanks for telling us about M. Louisa Locke. Her books look like they might be a match for Cozy lovers! (I’ll take a look at Cindy Sample later on…)
Whan I need a new Cozy author to read I also consult the Cozy Mystery site!
I was directed to your site from a discussion or humor in mysteries. Happy find – cozies are my favorite! This was my question:
Could anyone tell me the author of a series of short stories whose successful “detective” was a terminal hypochondriac. She appeared to be working her way through a medical book of rare and often fatal diseases, and solved all her cases while in the throes of her “disease du jour”. I think I read these in Ellery Queen magazine, and have never been able to look them up since I don’t remember the author. Any help would be gratefully appreciated!
Thanks,
Carol
Hello!
Since you mention enjoying the Granada series with Jeremy Brett playing Sherlock Holmes, I thought you might find this website interesting (check out the photo gallery): http://www.bafta4jb.com/
Thank you!
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