Cozy Mystery Corner - Page 10

phenomshel · 02-17-2011, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

Bumping the thread to report that A Truth for a Truth is probably better than the previous book in the "Ministry is Murder" series. I think most readers can identify with the protagonist, Aggie Sloan-Wilcox; she's Unitarian, so don't be concerned that the books are "overly religious" in some way.

I think I read the second or third in that series first. I know I didn't start with the first one, because at the time, all my reading material was coming from our small library and they didn't have it. Now I'll have to go back and start at the beginning, same as with Earlene Fowler's Benni Harper series, which is what I'm on now.

I'd dearly love to know how many titles our library has that are classified "mystery" because I think I'm catching up to them in ebooks.

SeaBookGuy · 02-17-2011, 04:40 PM

I also have out Poison Ivory - the last (latest) in Tamar Myers' "Den of Antiquity" series - though I'm not sure I want to read three cozies in a row; I might return that one and read it later.

SensualPoet · 02-17-2011, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

You might prefer Miranda James' work under his own name, Dean James: Posted to Death: a Simon Kirby-Jones Mystery?

I might, if they were available in Canada or as ebooks. $23 for each book? I don't think so.

BTW, I slogged my way to the end of Murder Past Due. Not impressed: really way too much niceness dripping off every paragraph. I'm not sure if this is an example of "Christian fiction" but it certainly is sanitised. However, live and learn. Time to dust off some Ian Rankin, or at least some feisty Agatha Christie!

SeaBookGuy · 02-17-2011, 09:50 PM

I sincerely doubt it's intended as Christian fiction! Guess I'll have to read it soon to see what all the fuss is about regarding the saccharine tone ...

phenomshel · 02-17-2011, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

I might, if they were available in Canada or as ebooks. $23 for each book? I don't think so.

BTW, I slogged my way to the end of Murder Past Due. Not impressed: really way too much niceness dripping off every paragraph. I'm not sure if this is an example of "Christian fiction" but it certainly is sanitised. However, live and learn. Time to dust off some Ian Rankin, or at least some feisty Agatha Christie!

I read the book and didn't get that - but it *is* highly southern in the politeness category. I was raised that way, so maybe I just find it normal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I sincerely doubt it's intended as Christian fiction! Guess I'll have to read it soon to see what all the fuss is about regarding the saccharine tone ...

Yeah, I don't think it was intended as Christian. Southern, maybe, as I stated above. Try Julie Hyzy's White House Chef series the next time you want a cozy. They're a little less polite. Ollie bites her tongue a lot, but that's because she works in the White House, and a bunch of the characters are nowhere near polite at all, LOL.

lyric39 · 02-18-2011, 03:46 AM

A Red Herring Without mustard..A Flavia De Luce Novel set in Bishops Lacey
This is the 3rd book in the series. Really well written, engaging, intelligent!

Author's Desrciption
Award-winning author Alan Bradley returns with another beguiling novel starring the insidiously clever and unflappable eleven-year-old sleuth Flavia de Luce. The precocious chemist with a passion for poisons uncovers a fresh slew of misdeeds in the hamlet of Bishop's Lacey - mysteries involving a missing tot, a fortune-teller, and a corpse in Flavia's own backyard.

Flavia had asked the old Gypsy woman to tell her fortune, but never expected to stumble across the poor soul, bludgeoned in the wee hours in her own caravan. Was this an act of retribution by those convinced that the soothsayer had abducted a local child years ago? Certainly Flavia understands the bliss of settling scores; revenge is a delightful pastime when one has two odious older sisters. But how could this crime be connected to the missing baby? Had it something to do with the weird sect who met at the river to practice their secret rites? While still pondering the possibilities, Flavia stumbles upon another corpse - that of a notorious layabout who had been caught prowling about the de Luce's drawing room.

Pedaling Gladys, her faithful bicycle, across the countryside in search of clues to both crimes, Flavia uncovers some odd new twists. Most intriguing is her introduction to an elegant artist with a very special object in her possession - a portrait that sheds light on the biggest mystery of all: Who is Flavia?

As the red herrings pile up, Flavia must sort through clues fishy and foul to untangle dark deeds and dangerous secrets.

SeaBookGuy · 02-18-2011, 01:08 PM

My library just added Flavia #3 as an Overdrive book (both audio and Epub).

They've also added Parnell Hall's "Puzzle Lady" series as Epubs, so I'm anxious to try one.

teadonkey · 02-19-2011, 08:53 PM

I've been reading Sookie Stackhouse and Virgin River the past three books I've read, but once I'm done with this one I'm going to buy the 4th DIY mystery, which I am so excited for, and then the second Books by the Bay mystery. I'll be happy to read some mystery after all the romance books.

Timoleon · 02-19-2011, 09:21 PM

Great read! Just finished all three books in the Flavia de Luce series.

SeaBookGuy · 02-20-2011, 12:54 PM

Last night, I tried reading the first of Parnell Hall's "Puzzle Lady" series, and gave up almost immediately - incredibly bad writing!

phenomshel · 02-20-2011, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

Last night, I tried reading the first of Parnell Hall's "Puzzle Lady" series, and gave up almost immediately - incredibly bad writing!

Well, he's a pretty decent songwriter!

EDIT: As I was posting this, my husband heard it and asked, (and I quote) "Is that that crazy @$$ed author again?" When I replied in the affirmative (while trying not to laugh), he says, "You mean he wrote ANOTHER one??" After that I gave up trying to reply, I was laughing too hard.

SeaBookGuy · 02-22-2011, 12:38 AM

I'm about 1/3 of the way through Murder Past Due ... and not really liking it much. Some reviewers have said they found something "off" about it; my impression so far is that James wrote a book he thought he was "supposed to" in order to attract a specific audience (cat people, Dewey lovers).

phenomshel · 02-23-2011, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I'm about 1/3 of the way through Murder Past Due ... and not really liking it much. Some reviewers have said they found something "off" about it; my impression so far is that James wrote a book he thought he was "supposed to" in order to attract a specific audience (cat people, Dewey lovers).

Different strokes.... I enjoyed it. But then, I always say that I don't write book reviews because I'm not critical enough of what I read. Also because I may know what I liked and didn't like but I usually don't know WHY I liked or didn't like it.

JSWolf · 02-23-2011, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timoleon

Great read! Just finished all three books in the Flavia de Luce series.

I've just reserved all three. The first I'm #2 the second I'm #3 and the third I'm #4.

SensualPoet · 02-23-2011, 09:30 PM

Mr Alan Bradley, author of the Flavia series, was born in Toronto, grew up north east of the city is the ruralish town of Coburg, Ontario but then settled in Saskatchewan where became the first President of the Saskatoon Writers Guild. As a Prairie Boy who made the trek from Saskatchewan to Toronto, he feels like one of our own.

A profile at Random House Canada here: http://www.randomhouse.ca/author/res...w=full_sptlght

I thought this series was "young adult fiction" ... it is, after all, about an eleven year old girl. Are they actually serious (cozy) adult mysteries?

02-17-2011, 04:40 PM	#137
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	I also have out Poison Ivory - the last (latest) in Tamar Myers' "Den of Antiquity" series - though I'm not sure I want to read three cozies in a row; I might return that one and read it later. Last edited by SeaBookGuy; 02-17-2011 at 09:48 PM.

02-18-2011, 03:46 AM	#141
lyric39 lyric39 Posts: 44 Karma: 4281618 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Lara Victoria Device: elonex 621eb	My Latest book A Red Herring Without mustard..A Flavia De Luce Novel set in Bishops Lacey This is the 3rd book in the series. Really well written, engaging, intelligent! Author's Desrciption Award-winning author Alan Bradley returns with another beguiling novel starring the insidiously clever and unflappable eleven-year-old sleuth Flavia de Luce. The precocious chemist with a passion for poisons uncovers a fresh slew of misdeeds in the hamlet of Bishop's Lacey - mysteries involving a missing tot, a fortune-teller, and a corpse in Flavia's own backyard. Flavia had asked the old Gypsy woman to tell her fortune, but never expected to stumble across the poor soul, bludgeoned in the wee hours in her own caravan. Was this an act of retribution by those convinced that the soothsayer had abducted a local child years ago? Certainly Flavia understands the bliss of settling scores; revenge is a delightful pastime when one has two odious older sisters. But how could this crime be connected to the missing baby? Had it something to do with the weird sect who met at the river to practice their secret rites? While still pondering the possibilities, Flavia stumbles upon another corpse - that of a notorious layabout who had been caught prowling about the de Luce's drawing room. Pedaling Gladys, her faithful bicycle, across the countryside in search of clues to both crimes, Flavia uncovers some odd new twists. Most intriguing is her introduction to an elegant artist with a very special object in her possession - a portrait that sheds light on the biggest mystery of all: Who is Flavia? As the red herrings pile up, Flavia must sort through clues fishy and foul to untangle dark deeds and dangerous secrets.

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02-17-2011, 09:50 PM	#139
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	I sincerely doubt it's intended as Christian fiction! Guess I'll have to read it soon to see what all the fuss is about regarding the saccharine tone ...

02-18-2011, 01:08 PM	#142
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	My library just added Flavia #3 as an Overdrive book (both audio and Epub). They've also added Parnell Hall's "Puzzle Lady" series as Epubs, so I'm anxious to try one.

02-19-2011, 08:53 PM	#143
teadonkey Zealot Posts: 132 Karma: 2179008 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kindle 3 WiFi	I've been reading Sookie Stackhouse and Virgin River the past three books I've read, but once I'm done with this one I'm going to buy the 4th DIY mystery, which I am so excited for, and then the second Books by the Bay mystery. I'll be happy to read some mystery after all the romance books.

02-19-2011, 09:21 PM	#144
Timoleon Time Enough at Last Posts: 387 Karma: 1151316 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New England Device: iPad 3, iPhone 5, Kindle 3, Fire, Sony PRS-350	Great read! Just finished all three books in the Flavia de Luce series.

02-20-2011, 12:54 PM	#145
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	Last night, I tried reading the first of Parnell Hall's "Puzzle Lady" series, and gave up almost immediately - incredibly bad writing!

02-22-2011, 12:38 AM	#147
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	I'm about 1/3 of the way through Murder Past Due ... and not really liking it much. Some reviewers have said they found something "off" about it; my impression so far is that James wrote a book he thought he was "supposed to" in order to attract a specific audience (cat people, Dewey lovers).

02-23-2011, 09:30 PM	#150
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	Mr Alan Bradley, author of the Flavia series, was born in Toronto, grew up north east of the city is the ruralish town of Coburg, Ontario but then settled in Saskatchewan where became the first President of the Saskatoon Writers Guild. As a Prairie Boy who made the trek from Saskatchewan to Toronto, he feels like one of our own. A profile at Random House Canada here: http://www.randomhouse.ca/author/res...w=full_sptlght I thought this series was "young adult fiction" ... it is, after all, about an eleven year old girl. Are they actually serious (cozy) adult mysteries?

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