A cozy mystery is a sub-genre of the mystery genre which means that what these books usually have in common is that the sleuth is an amateur who is usually living in a small town or a small community. Cozies are less violent than other types of mysteries with little blood and guts and the sex is usually tame. Cozies are often funny and have quirky characters. In other words, cozies are just fun and sometimes exactly what you need to relax after a day of trying to cope with reality. Plus having an average person solving a mystery shows that we can all be heroes. And we need heroes.

 

Reading right now:

One of my favorite cozy authors is Donna Andrews whose new book “The Falcon Always Wings Twice” just came out. This is the 27^th book in the Meg Langslow series. As this series has progressed, it has just gotten better. All of the reoccurring characters have developed into important and fascinating parts of the stories which I look forward to in each book. The latest in the series centers around a Renaissance Faire that Meg’s grandmother is hosting. This presents a great opportunity for everyone to get involved including Meg’s husband who is an actor in charge of putting on an improvised play every day at the fair, her grandfather who is excited by the falcon show at the fairgrounds, Meg and her two boys have a blacksmithing display for the fair goers, and so on. When one of the actors is found murdered, Meg’s sleuthing abilities kick in.

 

On hold right now:

The 14^th book in the very popular Royal Spyness Mystery series just came out (“The Last Mrs. Summers” by Rhys Bowen). This very funny series centers around a royal who is 34^th in line for the throne, but doesn’t have a penny to her name. This is an historical mystery set in the 1930s which makes it even harder for Lady Georgie to get by with only the knowledge of how to do the perfect curtsy.

Lynn Cahoon has many series going and several of those series has recent additions or soon to arrive additions and some of them are novellas. For instance, Cahoon’s new series is being introduced by a novella “Chili Cauldron Curse” which is the first appearance of the Kitchen Witch Mystery Series. Also look for a new addition to the Farm-to-Fork series “Penned In,” and book 11 in the Tourist Trap Mystery which is called “Murder in Waiting.”

Another prolific author with plenty of new books coming out is Amanda Flower. The 3^rd book in the Magic Garden Mystery series is “Mums and Mayhem” which just came out. “Dead End Detective” is the first in her new Piper and Porter Mystery series. After her partner in the Two Girls Detective Agency dies in a car accident, Darby Piper becomes a suspect in her death. Additionally, Flower’s 6^th book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series “Candy Cane Crime” comes out in October.

 

Vivien Chien has the 6^th book in the Noodle Shop Mystery Series ready to go (“Killer Kung Pao”). This look into Cleveland’s Chinese community is a lot of fun. The main character Lana Lee is busy running her family’s Chinese restaurant in Asia Village while juggling her constant involvement in everything that happens in the Village including murder. This is a series well worth your time.

 

Other Mysterious Things:

Cozies make great TV series and plenty are available to watch on Netflix or whatever streaming service you enjoy. Those I have watched and loved include: “Father Brown Mysteries,” “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries,” “Brother Cadfael,” “Pie in the Sky,” “Agatha Raisin,” “Death in Paradise,” and “Rosemary & Thyme.” Many of these are based on books so if you like them don’t forget to read the books. I recently watched “Brother Cadfael” again and was pleased at how well it holds up. Any of these make a great distraction from everything that is happening right now. If you need a break from the depressing news, any of these shows will do the trick.