Sleight of Hand

Somehow my original Cozies Up post disappeared from the blog. I didn't know this was possible, but I'm learning fast. My daughter assures me it is impossible, that no one can get 'into' my blog. And yet it happened. Blog gremlins.

Posting the list again in hopes that this time out, it will stay where it's supposed to.

And thanks to Classic Mysteries once again for giving me the original idea to blog about cozy mysteries.

When you're feeling melancholy and just want something 'comfortable' to read, or if you're just not in a mood to suffer the strewn body parts and extravagant bloodletting of the average thriller, herewith my list of some of the 'cozies' I've read and enjoyed in the past couple of years.

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEED by E.J. Copperman (First in a charming new series featuring divorced mom Alison Kerby, a haunted guest house on the Jersey shore and a very dead but very much still 'present' private eye.)

THE SWEETNESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIE by Alan Bradley (Debut)
THE WEED THAT STRINGS THE HANGMAN'S BAG by Alan Bradley
(Both charming mysteries set in the England of the 1950's and featuring precocious 12 year old Flavia de Luce as narrator.)

DEATH OF A COZY WRITER by G.M. Malliet (A terrific debut from 2008.)

IN THE SHADOW OF GOTHAM by Stephanie Pintoff (Another good debut.)

THE WRITING CLASS by Jincy Willett
(Murder within the sheltered confines of a writing class. Fun.)

SOME LIKE IT HOT-BUTTERED by Jeffrey Cohen
IT HAPPENED ONE KNIFE by Jeffrey Cohen
A NIGHT AT THE OPERATION by Jeffrey Cohen
(Three set in New Jersey and featuring like-able schmoe Elliot Freed who owns a small town theater that only shows comedies from the 'golden age'. Cohen is a very funny writer.)

MISS BIGGIE AND THE POISONED POLITICIAN by Nancy Bell
MISS BIGGIE AND THE MANGLED MORTICIAN by Nancy Bell
...and several other titles. (Another funny series, this time set in a small Texas town and told from the point of view of a 12 year old boy. Despite the titles, these are not 'sugary' books.)

MISS ZUKAS AND THE LIBRARY MURDERS by Jo Dereske
MISS ZUKAS AND THE STROKE OF DEATH by Jo Dereske
...and many other titles. (A wonderful series set in the Pacific northwest and featuring the very inflexible yet like-able Lithuanian librarian, Miss Helma Zukas.)

BLESSED IS THE BUSYBODY by Emilie Richards
BEWARE FALSE PROFITS by Emilie Richards
...and many other titles. (The Ministry is Murder series. Absurd, but tons of fun.)

HIGH RHYMES AND MISDEMEANORS by Diana Killian
SONNET OF THE SPHINX by Diana Killian
VERSE OF THE VAMPIRE by Diana Killian
(The three books take place in the lake district of England and feature a young American woman on vacation and a mysterious British antique dealer. The writing is deft, polished and very enjoyable.)

CROCODILE ON THE SANDBANK by Elizabeth Peters
LION IN THE VALLEY by Elizabeth Peters
THE CURSE OF THE PHARAOHS by Elizabeth Peters
...and many, MANY more titles. (Though not, I suppose, strictly cozy, to me they are comfort reading. You can never stay grim when you're reading another Amelia Peabody Victorian adventure. They are just plain fun.)

THE BODY IN THE BELFRY by Katherine Hall Page
...and many more titles. (The Faith Fairchild mysteries are always enjoyable. My favorite is THE BODY IN THE VESTIBULE.)

THE SPELLMAN FILES by Lisa Lutz
CURSE OF THE SPELLMANS by Lisa Lutz
REVENGE OF THE SPELLMANS by Lisa Lutz
THE SPELLMANS STRIKE AGAIN by Lisa Lutz
(Funny, smart-mouth cozies featuring a misfit family of private eyes who can't stop spying on each other.)