The Culinary Theme in Cozy Mystery Novels has become quite popular amongst die-hard cozy mystery readers. This is a continuation of the list of the mystery authors who have chosen culinary themes:
Nancy Fairbanks writes the Carolyn Blue Culinary Mystery Series which (of course) features Carolyn… with her husband who happens to be a scientist. The books include recipes. (Fairbanks is also known as Nancy Herndon… who writes the Elena Jarvis mystery series.)
Jerrilyn Farmer 's Madeline Bean Mystery Series features Maddie, the owner of Mad Bean Events Catering. Maddie not only caters to the Los Angeles elite, but she also manages to work in time to solve crimes when she's not whipping up a delicacy.
In 2006, Honora Finkelstein and Susan Smily put out their first novel in the Ariel Quigley Series, which features an English teacher/Psychic sleuth. The novel was nominated for the Best First Novel category of the prestigious Agatha Awards. There are now two novels in the series and both of them have accompanying recipe books.
Joanne Fluke is the author of the Cookie Jar Cozy Mystery Series that takes place in Minnesota. Hannah Swensen not only manages the bakery, but she also manages to solve crimes between baking up batches of delicious treats. And, as a special bonus, the recipes of these sweet treats are included in the novels.
Nadia Gordon writes the Sunny McCoskey Napa Valley Mystery Series. Sunny is the chef of an organic restaurant in the wine country valley.
Kerry Greenwood has the Corinna Chapman Mystery Series which takes place in beautiful Melbourne, Australia, with Corinna being a baker…
Ellen Hart writes the Sophie Greenway Culinary Mystery Series which features a food critic and magazine editor who solves mysteries on the side. (Hart also authors another series that is sort of culinary in theme…. the main character is a restaurateur.)
Julie Hyzy writes the White House Chef Mystery Series which is obviously set in Washington, D.C., and features an assistant chef at the White House as its sleuth…
Cathie John Husband and wife duo Cathie and John Celestri pen the Journal of Kate Cavanaugh Culinary Mystery Series, in which Kate is a caterer who solves mysteries. The Cathie part of the duo has a culinary background and the John part adds (what their website describes as) the "quirky" side of the series.
Claire M. Johnson, who writes the Mary Ryan, Pastry Chef Mystery Series.
So far, Nina Killham's culinary mystery series is only a stand alone book. The Jasmine March Mystery "Series" involves Jasmine March, a cookbook author and gourmet (or is it gourmand?!?) who lives in Washington, D. C. This book was published in 2002, I am not sure if there is another book in the makings…
Peter King is the next culinary-theme mystery author. His culinary mystery is set in London, and features a food consultant by the name of Goodwyn Harper. The Goodwyn Harper Mystery Series is unique in that it is written by a real-life Cordon Bleu Chef!
♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
A newer author with the culinary theme is Jessica Conant-Park and her mom Susan Conant (a dog themed cozy writer). The first book is Steamed and was pretty good. There are only 3 in the series but one to watch out for!
Hi Leslie,
I have Jessica Conant-Park listed with her mom on the first part of the dog theme…
Thanks for bringing this to my attention… I have just added the Gourmet Girl Series to this page…
You have the Australian author Kerry Greenwood's historical Phryne Fisher series. She also writes a series set in modern Melbourne, Australia featuring a baker, Corinna Chapman. I know of three books in the series: Heavenly Pleasures, Earthly Delights and Devil's food. These are all excellent cozy mysteries.
Thank you so much, Sandy, for pointing out that I forgot to include Kerry Greenwood's Corinna Chapman Mystery Series to the Culinary Theme listing!
Thanks, again……..