You make a good point about Cozy VS. Chick Lit… I am guessing that women prefer the Cozy genre of mysteries because we don't seem as obsessed with the gratuitious sex and violence that is often present in other mystery genres. It's enough to know that a man and woman close the bedroom door and then are next "seen" drinking their morning coffee… I think that most of us can "detect" (by the mood that the author portrays during their morning coffee) what went on the previous night.

As for Death of a Maid… I read it, and really enjoyed it. Hamish never gets old for me, even after this many Hamish novels. I do have to wonder just how long Hamish is going to be able to put off a promotion. (I can't remember which novel had him accepting a promotion… and how disastrous that was for his personal life…) Somehow, Beaton is always able to come up with a plausible way for him not to take the credit for solving the killings/mysteries.

By the way, I read (and enjoyed) your review about Death of a Maid on your site.