Cozy Mystery Bookmark

When I signed up for the Cozy Mystery Challenge hosted by Kris at Not Enough Books, she promised that everyone who completed the challenge would receive a fun bookmark.

True to her word, I got mine in the mail last month. Isn't it cute? What makes it extra fun is that years ago I collected owls and still enjoy seeing them on things.

I have lots of reading ahead of me in the coming year and will enjoy using my new bookmark. Thanks, Kris!

2010 Cozy Mystery Challenge

I'm pleased to announce that I've completed the 2010 Cozy Mystery Challege ! Here are the six books I read and the links to my reviews:

Holly Blues by Susan Wittig Albert

Under the Cajun Moon by Mindy Starns Clark

Oolong Dead by Laura Childs

Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon

The Door by Mary Roberts Rinehard

Fallen Into the Pit by Ellis Peters

I love "cozy" mysteries, so this challenge was right up my alley. I bet I'll participate again next year if it's offered!

Fallen Into the Pit by Ellis Peters

I became a fan of Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter) when I discovered her "Brother Cadfael" mysteries. I loved the Cadfael books so much that when I found a title from a different series by Peters in my local used bookshop I had to get it. I prefer reading books from a series in order and the used book was not the first. I ordered the first book from Amazon and just now, more than ten years after the fact, got around to reading it!

Fallen Into the Pit is the first "Inspector Felse" mystery and was published in 1951. Perhaps this blurb from the back of the novel best describes the plot:

"All the school boys of Comerford look up to Chad Wedderburn, a classics master who was a hero of the Resistance in World War II. But they are puzzled by his unwavering stand against all violence. And when he is blamed for the brutal murder of a former German prisoner of war who settled in this remote Shropshire town, none of them believe he did it.

Policeman George Felse is also deeply troubled by this killing. His son Dominic discovered the body, and now the boy is doggedly pursuing clues in the isolated countryside to clear his teacher. As young Felse digs deeper, his father feels a mounting pressure. For Inspector Felse knows all too well that Dominic is playing with fire, and that he must close the case quickly - before the killer teaches them both a lesson in murder..."

A well-written mystery, as I would certainly expect from Ellis Peters, I don't think this novel appealed to me as much as the Cadfael books did. Perhaps the Cadfael books have just "gotten better" in my mind in the years since I've read them, or maybe it's just the difference in time and place between the two series. If I run across other Inspector Felse mysteries in a used bookstore I'll go ahead and buy them, but I won't take the initiative to order them new from Amazon.... especially seeing how expensive they've become!!

This book completes the Cozy Mystery Challenge for me and counts as my fourth in the Typically British Challenge.

The Door by Mary Roberts Rinehart

***** SPOILER ALERT *****

I picked up the book pictured here at my church's Trash & Treasure sale a couple of years ago. It got buried on my bookshelf until I recently came across it again while deciding what to read next for the Cozy Mystery Challenge. Originally published in 1930, my copy is from the 1942 first printing of the "Pocket BOOKS" edition.

I was not familiar with Mary Roberts Rinehart, so I decided to look her up at Wikipedia before beginning the book. Can you imagine my horror and disappointment as I read the following!?!

The phrase "The butler did it", which has become a cliche, came from Rinehart's novel The Door, in which the butler actually did do it although that exact phrase does not actually appear in the work.

I'll never know to what extent this knowledge affected my opinion of the novel. Throughout the entire book I found myself constantly "watching" the butler. Perhaps that's why I found the cast of characters rather boring and difficult to relate to. In fact, some of the players downright irritated me, including the narrator! It took me over a week to get through what should have been a quick read. The plot wasn't that bad, though, and I think under different circumstances I would have enjoyed it much more than I did.

Has anyone else read this novel or any other books by Mary Roberts Rinehart?

Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon

Earlier in the year I was the recipient of a gift voucher from Amazon. Since I won it at Dorte's blog I decided to browse some of her entries and purchase a book based on what I found. I liked her review of a book by Donna Leon and ordered the first book in the "Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery" series, Death at La Fenice. The blurb from the back cover reads:

"There is little violent crime in Venice, a serenely beautiful floating city of mystery and magic, history and decay. but the evil that does occasionally rear its head is the jurisdiction of Guido Brunetti, the suave, urbane vice-commissario of police and a genius at detection. Now all of his admirable abilities must come into play in the deadly affair of Maestro Helmut Wellauer, a world-renowned conductor who died painfully from cyanide poisoning during an intermission at La Fenice.

But as the investigation unfolds, a chilling picture slowly begins to take shape - a detailed portrait of revenge painted with vivid strokes of hatred and shocking depravity. And the dilemma for Guido Brunetti will not be finding a murder suspect, but rather narrowing the choices down to one...."

Often when I start a new series I enjoy the first book enough to want to continue on, but it may take me a couple of books to really get to know the main characters and feel comfortable with them. Death at La Fenice was an exception. I loved Guido and his wife Paola right away! Leon does an excellent job of portraying everyday life in Venice, not just the side that tourists see. Though I was totally satisfied with the conclusion of the mystery, I was sorry the book ended. I wasn't ready for my time in Venice to be over. The last thing I need to do is buy more books, so perhaps I can track down some of the other titles in this series at my library or used book store.

Oolong Dead by Laura Childs

Oolong Dead is the tenth installment in the "Tea Shop Mystery" series by Laura Childs and my third book for the Cozy Mystery Challenge.

Marion introduced me to this series because she knew how much I loved tea. Each book revolves around Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston, SC, and her eclectic group of friends. In addition, there is a section at the back of each book featuring recipes from the story and "Tea Time Tips".

This one begins with Theodosia riding in a steeplechase event. Something causes her horse to shy as they take one of the jumps and Theo is thrown from her mount. Not only does that "something" turn out to be a dead body, it's her ex-boyfriend's sister...a local media personality with whom she didn't get along. Things get complicated as Theo sticks her nose in places she shouldn't and ultimately finds her own life in grave danger.

As with most of her Tea Shop Mysteries, Childs does a good job of describing Charleston and the surrounding "low country" areas. I've never visited that part of the US, but I feel like I can visualize it from her writing. If you enjoy light, fast-paced cozies, I recommend this series.

Under the Cajun Moon

I've been a fan of Mindy Starns Clark ever since I read her Million Dollar Mystery series (which I still consider to be her best work). That series was followed up by the Smart Chick Mysteries. Her last three offerings have been stand alone books and the most recent, Under the Cajun Moon, was my favorite of the three.



The story begins with Chloe Ledet waking to a ringing phone in a strange hotel room with no idea of where she is or how she got there. Things worsen when she is accused of murdering a man whose body is found in the room with her. Soon another body is found and Chloe's memories that are beginning to surface only confuse and complicate matters. In an effort to find some answers, Chloe sets out into the swamps and bayous of south Louisiana with Travis Naquin, a man she vaguely remembers from her youth. Can she trust Travis?... circumstances leave her no other option.

Not only are Ms. Clark's books fun mysteries, they often provide some history or trivia relating to the story line. This book, which includes flashbacks to early 18th century France and the Louisiana Territory, shares many interesting facts about Cajun culture, New Orleans and the surrounding areas.


This was my second book for the Cozy Mystery Challenge.

Holly Blues

For my first book in the Cozy Mystery Challenge which began this month, I read Holly Blues by Susan Wittig Albert.

Holly Blues is the 18th book in the China Bayles Herbal Mystery series. Susan Wittig Albert does a good job in each book of introducing the main players and filling the reader in on any important back stories. This allows readers to jump right in without having to start from the beginning of the series, although I would still recommend starting with the first book.

This one has China back in Pecan Springs, TX... where most of the books take place. Her husband's ex-wife (and mother of his child) has shown up unexpectedly and manages to play on China's sympathies, getting herself invited to stay with them for the Christmas holidays. In very short order the storyline she has fed China falls apart leading to a number of unanswered questions. One disappearance, two deaths, and law enforcement from three towns keep China, her husband McQuaid, and her best friend Ruby busy until all the questions have been answered.

While certainly not Albert's best offering, I thought it was entertaining and worth the time spent reading.

A Cozy Challenge

Just three days ago I was moaning about an interesting reading challenge I had found but felt was too late to join. Dorte had a post yesterday about another challenge that looks just as fun.... "cozy mysteries" ....and it began on April 1st!

Although I've read several mysteries this year, I won't count them since the challenge had not yet started. I decided not to press my luck and only committed to six books and unless something better comes along, I already know which books I'll read!

If you'd like to know more about the challenge, click here or on the image in the sidebar.