Earlier this year, I joined the Cruising thru the Cozies Reading Challenge sponsored by Yvonne at Socrates’ Book Reviews. My goal was to reach the Super Sleuth level, which meant I needed to read and review 13 or more cozy mysteries by the end of the year. Luckily, Yvonne left the definition of “cozy” up to us, which meant I could stretch it slightly to cover a paranormal romantic mystery (What’s a Witch to Do?). I couldn’t quite bring myself to include Jayne Ann Krentz/Jayne Castle/Amanda Quick’s paranormal romantic suspense novels or a steampunk mystery, though.
As of two weeks ago, I met my goal! 13 cozies read and reviewed during the year. (Links take you to my reviews.)
- Gone West (Daisy Dalrymple #20) by Carola Dunn
- The Twelve Clues of Christmas (Her Royal Spyness #6) by Rhys Bowen
- The Library Lovers mystery series #1-3 by Jenn McKinlay. I reviewed the series in one post, so I counted this as one book for the challenge — even though, strictly speaking, I read three books!
- Valley of the Shadow, by Carola Dunn. I’m counting this as a cozy, even though the amateur sleuth’s niece, a secondary POV character, is a policewoman, because it fits most of the other criteria of a cozy mystery.
- What’s a Witch to Do?, by Jennifer Harlowe. Fun paranormal mystery/romance about a witch and a werewolf!
- Close Knit Killer (Knitting Mystery #XX, with Kelly Flynn), by Maggie Sefton.
- Corpse with the Golden Nose, by Cathy Ace. If you like Agatha Christie, you’ll like this series. And I got to interview the author!
- Whose Body? (Lord Peter Wimsey #1), by Dorothy Sayers. If you haven’t yet read these classics by one of the grandes dames of Golden Age British mystery, you’re missing out. Impeccably written and plotted.
- Striding Folly (Lord Peter Wimsey short stories; audiobook) by Dorothy Sayers. Short stories featuring one of Britain’s most celebrated fictional detectives.
- Grapes of Death (Tangled Vines #1) by Joni Folger . Sadly, this mystery set in a Texas vineyard was only so-so.
- Still Life in Brunswick Stew (Cherry Tucker #2) by Larissa Reinhart. Clever, sassy mystery, Southern-style. I interviewed Larissa as part of a blog tour.
- Bran New Death (Merry Muffin Mystery #1) by Victoria Hamilton. Well-plotted contemporary cozy with quirky characters and an engaging heroine.
- Heirs and Graces (Her Royal Spyness #7) by Rhys Bowen. Cozy mystery set among the British aristocracy, featuring the delightful Lady Georgianna Rannoch, better known as Georgie.
This was a lot of fun, and I’ll probably do it again next year, if Yvonne offers the challenge again.
Kimberly @ Turning the Pages
Congrats on finishing your cozies Challenge Lark! Which one was your favourite?
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
Good question! I enjoyed almost all of them; only one was a little flat. I’d probably have to go with Whose Body, because I love Sayers’ Lord Peter books and have read that one several times. But it’s really hard to pick a favorite! Rhys Bowen and Carola Dunn are authors I always enjoy reading, and I found a few new favorites among the new-to-me authors as well.
confessionsofabookninja
I’m glad I came across this post because I’ve only recently discovered the cozy genre! Have you read Wicked Autumn by GM Mailliet? Loved it!
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
Indeed I have, and loved it, and reviewed it here!