Here are some Fun Michigan Facts:
Michigan gets its name from the Indian word "Michigana" (great lake).
Lansing is the state capital.
State Motto: "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you."
State Flower: Apple Blossom.
Michigan is sometimes referred to as the "Great Lakes State." (It was once called the Wolverine State, although there are no longer any wolverines in that state.)
If you love lighthouses, Michigan is the state for you! It has (+/-) 110 of them.
Authors who are found on the Cozy Mystery Site and who feature Michigan locations in their books:
Deb Baker: Yooper Mystery Series…
Lilian Jackson Braun: The Cat Who *** Mystery Series… (There is some speculation that Moose County actually is situated in Upper Michigan.)
JoAnna Carl (aka Eve K. Sandstrom): Chocoholic Mystery Series…
Jo Dereske: Ruby Crane Mystery Series…
Debra H. Goldstein: Denney Silber Mystery Series…
Paula Gosling: Blackwater Bay Mystery Series AND Stryker & Trevorne Mystery Series…
Susan Holtzer: Anneke Haagen Mystery Series…
William X. Kienzle: Father Koesler Mystery Series…
Victoria Laurie: Psychic Eye Mystery Series…
Nina Wright: Whiskey Mattimoe Mystery Series…
Please feel free to contact me if you see an author from the Cozy Mystery Site who belongs on this list, or if you have any comments.
♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦
21 comments - click here to see the comments or to add yours
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I have 3 mystery novels, one set in Texas:
IN OVER YOUR HEAD
and one set in Virginia:
SHOT AT AND MISSED
and one set in Appalachia:
DEEP IN THE WOODS
Victoria Laurie’s books also take place in Michigan.
Thanks for bringing that to my attention, Maria. I have just added her to the Michigan list of books.
I don’t see any mysteries using coffeehouses as a setting. I know of one series: author Cleo Coyle. Are there any others?
Hi Eileen,
I just posted a cozy mystery theme that uses coffeehouses and tea shops as the settings. Thanks for the suggestion!
I picked up a book at the Reed City library back in 2002 or 2003. It was a mystery about a man who moved his family to a small college town in Michigan from another state. It was set in winter. He worked at the college as a janitor I think. They had little money. He became acquainted with a mysterious man who I think was in a hospital or institution. Does anyone know this book. I cannot remember the title or the author. Sorry. Thanks for any help.
there’s a book that is similar to your description only it took place in Omaha, Nebraska and it’s called The Mover of Bones by Robert Vivian.
I haven’t seen a book by Susan Holtzer since 2001. Does anyone know if she has written anything since, or does anyone have any current information?
There is another mystery series set in a coffeehouse – Sandra Balzo’s Maggie Thorsen series.
Thank you, Caroline, for reminding me about the Maggie Thorsen Mystery Series (Wisconsin Coffee Shop). I just updated the culinary page. Sometimes, when I add a new mystery author after I have a theme up, I forget to amend the page on which the author belongs.
Richard Baldwin, is a mystery writer from Michigan.
Thanks, Rachel, for telling us about Richard Baldwin.
Hi There,
I just stumbled upon Jerry Prescott, who writes Michigan (Ann Arbor/University of Michigan) mysteries (perhaps that is who Vicki was referring to?)
Thank you, Hamida… I hope that Vicki sees this comment!
Can I ask a question instead? I read a mystery in the late seventies or early eighties set at that time in the south at Christmas time at a university. The sleuth was a single woman going home to the south and either the head of the university or some higher professor was the rapist. In spite of the serious crime it was quite humorous in the beginning when the narrator was explaining southern convention. The author was a female and I never could remember her name to find another book by her. It was a cozy mystery – Does anybody know what the title was and who wrote it? I think it had something about Christmas in the title and I’m sorry but I don’t remember which southern state was the setting………I’d love to read it again and any other books by the same author.
You’re right about the seriouseness of the crime. Hmmm… This book doensn’t ring a bell for me.
It has been a while since I read it, but one of Charlaine Harris’ early books (Secret Rage) involved a rapist who I think had some connection to a college and was set in the South – this is not a cozy.
Thank you, Judith. I see that Charlaine Harris is reissuing Secret Rage (originally from the early 1980s) on July 1.
I read several books about a guy (local policeman?) who was from “The Soo/Sault” Michigan. His closest friend was a Native Indian who had moved off the local Reserve. His father had left him several cabins in the woods – one of which he lived in and the others he rented to hunters/ATVers. I can’t remember this author’s name, but know I enjoyed several of his books. I think he sometimes went over the border into Canada – and liked the beer there. Anyone know who I’m talking about?
Jean, I think the author might be Steve Hamilton. Hope that’s right. Happy reading.
Thank you, MJ, I hope Jean “tunes in” and sees your suggestion!