topic Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions in Community Chat

Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

Winkk — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 14:41:53 GMT

I am a die hard mystery/thriller reader but I need a change of pace. I know there are lot of good cozy books but I don't know who the best authors are. The cozies I have read in the past seem as though they were geared for elementary school reading.

I am looking for some good books w/o a lot of violence and s@x but sill has a good story. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

dawg lover — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 17:54:48 GMT

Hi Wink, I bumped up two previous threads on this topic for you. They have lots of great suggestions. Happy Reading!

Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

Winkk — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 19:49:10 GMT

Thanks.

Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

BornToShop — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 22:46:52 GMT

Wink, I too am a mystery/psychological thriller book lover. I totally understand the need to lighten it up at times! I highly recommend Robyn Carr & her Virgin River Series. There's about 15 books in this series & I am currently on #6. You won't be disappointed.

Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

bigreader — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 00:19:15 GMT

I have loved Robyn Carr books since her earliest romance books. Glad she has progressed to these types of story lines now. She is always a guaranteed good read.

You didn't mention who you have read and enjoyed, or who you aren't happy with. It would be easier to make suggestions if we had that information. So many great books yet to read !

Have you discovered the website "What Should I Read Next?.com" You can type in an author's name or a title of any book you have enjoyed and it will print out similar reads. Very good information.

I can suggest authors also if you like, but need to know who you like and don't.

Happy hunting !

Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

mewsmomtoo — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 02:33:32 GMT

For mysteries, I really like the Richard Jury series by Martha Grimes - good stories filled with fun recurring characters. The first one is "I Am The Only Running Footman". For stories of romance and friendship and family, just about any book by Maeve Binchy especially "Circle of Friends". "Evening Class" and "The Lilac Bus". I'm don't think they qualify as cozies since they are not mysteries but they are wonderful stories.

Bigreader: thanks for the website tip, I've never heard of it. I am going to give it a try for sure!

Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

Winkk — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 13:51:33 GMT

I appreciate all this information. I'm going to check out some of these authors. I don't have a favorite author, it's just whether or not I like the story line. I don't like any of these sappy romance mysteries or where the hero comes into town (tall, dark and handsome) and within the first chapter has the most beautiful girl in the town in bed with him. Ugh!

I do go into Goodreads quite a lot and get reviews and/or suggestions on books. Actually, that's how I find most of the books I've read. I guess after awhile if you read the same author it's not so much the book but you get used to their writing style and want to make a change.

That's how I feel now. You gave me a lot of authors to check out. Thanks.

Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

redtabby — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 17:31:07 GMT

I should add, the 44 Scotland and Corduroy Mansions are not mysteries, just really well written books.

Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

Honeybit — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 19:33:59 GMT

Wink, I saw the recommendation for Martha Grimes -- I like her books a lot, and they are about Character (and characters!) as much as they are about plot. (Her odd titles are all the names of British pubs.) I also recommend author Dana Stabenow's "Kate Shugak" mysteries (set in today's Alaska) and Craig Johnson's "Longmire" mysteries (a modern Western set in Wyoming near the Cheyenne reservation). Like Grimes, the characters and setting of both sets are something special, although they may not be strictly "cozies" they aren't "blood and guts" hard mysteries either. My favorite "cozy" author is Susan Wittig Albert who writes about Pecan Springs, Texas; her lead character "China Bayles" runs a herb shop there -- this series includes recipes.

Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 25 May 2014 04:24:23 GMT

On 4/24/2014 BornToShop said: Wink, I too am a mystery/psychological thriller book lover. I totally understand the need to lighten it up at times! I highly recommend Robyn Carr & her Virgin River Series. There's about 15 books in this series & I am currently on #6. You won't be disappointed.

Sounds interesting, and I'm looking for a new author, too .... do you need to read them in order?

Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

BornToShop — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 01:21:38 GMT

Tinkrbl44, sorry so long getting back to you. I would definately read them in order. After you read her first 4 or so, you'll see what I mean. Report back if/when you indulge!

Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

Linders Back — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 13:28:53 GMT

On 4/25/2014 redtabby said: I should add, the 44 Scotland and Corduroy Mansions are not mysteries, just really well written books.

The author of those, Alexander McCall Smith also write the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series which are mysteries which may qualify as "Cozies" that are set in Africa.

My Mother and sister love a series about an old guy named John Dortmunder, an ex-professional thief hired to pull off capers with his band of bungling friends. They are authored by Donald Westlake and feature more humor than his other mysteries. I haven't read any but they have worked through the entire 14 books series and re-read them.

Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

AuntG — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 21:14:12 GMT

There are so many good cozy series. The one I'm reading now is called "Vintage Kitchen" and it takes place in Michigan, just across the river from Ontario. The titles of cozies are so cute. Two that I recall from this particular series are "Deadly Grind" and "Bowled Over".

Another series I like centers on a small town librarian. Some titles for that one are "Due or Die" and "Books Can Be Deceiving".

Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

cindyinfl — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 02:38:09 GMT

Try Livia J. Washburn. I just read one of here books, Killer Crab Cakes, and really did enjoy it. Very light reading, and great recipes in the back. The main character is a retired school teacher living in Weatherford, Texas. I am a native Texan, so maybe that's one of the reasons I enjoyed the book so much. I've ordered 3 more of her books off ebay and an anxious to get them.

Happy Reading!

Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

MESPal — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 01:10:26 GMT

Some of my favorite cozy authors in no particular order:

Elaine Viets

Laura Childs

Denise Swanson

Diane Mott Davidson

Victoria Thompson

Maggie Sefton

Emily Brightwell

many others, but these will get you started.

HTH

Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

Harley — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 11:02:10 GMT

I just started reading books by Mary Kay Andrews. I absolutely love them. Now, I want to read everything she has written. She has a mystery series called the Callahan Garrity series. They are fun and fast reads. You might enjoy them.

Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

lovesallanimals — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 02:25:18 GMT

On 7/1/2014 MESPal said:
Some of my favorite cozy authors in no particular order:

Elaine Viets

Laura Childs

Denise Swanson

Diane Mott Davidson

Victoria Thompson

Maggie Sefton

Emily Brightwell

many others, but these will get you started.

HTH

I only read cozy mysteries - just love them. I read all of the above authors and a ton more (I have a long list). There is a wonderful website cozy mysteries.com and you can find everything on there.

Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

BornToShop — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 16:52:46 GMT

Elaine Viets and her Dead-End Job mystery series is one of the most entertaining & enjoyable there is! IMHO, I think her series should be read in order.

Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

FlowershopGirl — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 17:42:49 GMT

LindersBack, my mom loved Donald Westlakes JD books. I read one called "Bank Shot" and loved it, it was hilarious but well written. I've not read the others.

Four of my favorite cozy series are all of the Southern Sisters books by Anne George; Cats and Curios mysteries by Rebecca Hale; Lois Meade mysteries by British author Ann Purser; Inspector Luke Thanet Murder Most British mysteries by Dorothy Simpson.

Mary Saums also writes a nice series set down south about two senior sisters that is enjoyable.

Re: Cozy Readers - Need Suggestions

beckyb1012 — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 20:14:23 GMT

JD Robb aka Nora Roberts might work for your criteria: violence and lots of s@x