Flower shops and gardens play a prominent part in many cozy mystery series. Personally, I've never understood the mystique of "getting my hands in the dirt." I garden in pots, so I don't have to weed, just water every few days. Since I'm not really a gardener, I thought I would share this website full of garden quotes.
Clicking on the blue hyperlink will take you to the library catalog for the entire series. The bold title is the first book in the series, followed by a description, provided by NoveList.
China Bayles mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Albert, Susan Wittig
Thyme of Death: When her friend Jo dies of an apparent suicide, ex-lawyer and herb-shop proprietor China Bayles looks with suspicion upon the friendly faces of quaint Pecan Springs.
Darling Dahlias mysteries (Most Recent: 2010)
By: Albert, Susan Wittig
The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree: The Depression-era women of a Darling, Alabama, garden club get to the bottom of a mysterious buried treasure and a young woman's murder.
Flower shop mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Collins, Kate
Mum's the Word: When her vintage Corvette falls victim to a hit-and-run, flower shop owner Abby Knight, crusader for all things good, joins forces with gorgeous cop Marco Salvare to catch the culprit, an investigation that becomes filled with deadly twists and turns.
English garden mysteries (Most Recent: 2009)
By: Eglin, Anthony
The Blue Rose: Believing they have found their dream home in a beautiful English garden house, Alex and Kate Sheppard make a science-defying discovery in their garden and find their world unraveling in the wake of genetic experiments, coded journals, and murder.
Lady Susanna Appleton mysteries (Most Recent: 2007)
By: Emerson, Kathy Lynn
Face Down in the Marrow-bone Pie: Lady Susanna Appleton, an herbalist with a wide awareness of the medicinal values of plants, ignores her husband in Elizabethan England and investigates the possibility of poisoning in the murder of their manor's steward.
Dirty business mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
Alternate series name: Paula Holliday mysteries
By: Harris, Rosemary
Pushing Up Daisies: When landscaper Paula Holliday stumbles upon a mummified corpse on the overgrown property of a wealthy dowager's estate, she joins forces with an ex-colleague, an aging rocker, and a secretive Mexican laborer to solve the crime.
Gardening mysteries (Most Recent: 2005)
By: Harrison, Janis
Roots of Murder: A small Midwest town fills with doubt and suspicion as Bretta Solomon, a widowed flower shop owner, begins to investigate the mysterious death of an Amish farmer who has always supplied her with her best flowers.
Gardening mysteries (Most Recent: 2006)
Alternate series name: Louise Eldridge mysteries
By: Ripley, Ann
Mulch: Organic gardener-turned-sleuth Louise Eldridge discovers that life is not always rosy, when, while mulching her yard with neighbors' clippings, she discovers body parts in some of the bags.
White House gardener mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: St. James, Dorothy
Flowerbed of State: When White House gardener Casey Calhoun is attacked by an unknown assailant and discovers a dead body, she tries to find the killer before she meets the same fate as the dead woman.
Showing posts with label Booklist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Booklist. Show all posts
Friday, November 11, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Cozy Mysteries-Animals, Bugs, and Birds
Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, the cats from the Rita Mae Brown series, were my first introduction to animals who helped solve mysteries. Cats seem to be the most popular sleuths, with at least four series just about them. Animals, bugs or birds play a part in several other cozy series.
Clicking on the blue hyperlink will take you to the library catalog for the entire series. The bold title is the first book in the series, followed by a description, provided by NoveList.
Meg Langslow (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Andrews, Donna
Murder, with Peacocks: (Not Owned) So far Meg Langslow's summer is not going swimmingly. Down in her small Virginia hometown, she's maid of honor at the nuptials of three loved ones--each of whom has dumped the planning in her capable hands. One bride is set on including a Native American herbal purification ceremony, while another wants live peacocks on the lawn. Only help from the town's drop-dead gorgeous hunk, disappointingly rumored to be gay, keeps Meg afloat in a sea of dotty relatives and outrageous neighbors.
Cat mysteries (Most Recent: 2007)
By: Babson, Marian
To Catch a Cat: Eleven-year-old Robin wants to join a popular gang at school. They'll accept him, though only if he kidnaps the prize-winning cat of old Mrs. Nordling first. But when Robin sneaks into the Nordlings' house in the dark of night, he gets more than just a schoolyard thrill. An argument, strange sounds, a woman's cry, and the cat--hurled out of a room--are all Robin needs to grab the frisky kitty and get packing. Then Mr. Nordling, covered in his wife's blood, lurches out into the hallway, and Robin runs for his life...feline prize in hand.
Melanie Travis mysteries (Most Recent: 2008)
By: Berenson, Laurien
A Pedigree to Die for: (Not owned) Thinking her life could not be worse after a disastrous summer peaks with her uncle's death, Melanie Travis realizes that she is in for more trouble when the disappearance of her uncle's prize-winning poodle suggests that murder has taken place.
Cat Who mysteries (Most Recent: 2007)
By: Braun, Lilian Jackson
The Cat Who Could Read Backwards: Former author and newspaper reporter, Jim Qwilleran, who has been taking lesser jobs and even been unemployed for a long time, is offered a starting job in the Feature Department, at the Daily Fluxion. As Qwilleran begins meeting artists, for an article, he senses strange undercurrents among the so-called modern art set. After Qwilleran moves into an apartment, he finds an ally in Koko, his landlord's Siamese cat. And when vandalized paintings, accidents, and murder occur, Qwilleran and Koko together solve the puzzle.
Mrs. Murphy mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Brown, Rita Mae
Wish You Were Here: Mary Minor Haristeen, postmistress of Crozet, Virginia, joins forces with her willful cat, Mrs. Murphy, and her Welsh corgi, Tucker, to investigate a series of bizarre postcards sent to the town's inhabitants that forecast impending death.
Sister Jane Foxhunting mysteries (Most Recent: 2008)
By: Brown, Rita Mae
Outfoxed: In a mystery set in the high-class and tradition-bound world of Virginia foxhunting, the murder of a candidate for the coveted "joint-master" leaves many suspects among the social climbers vying for the position.
Dog walker mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: McCoy, Judi
Hounding the Pavement: Manhattan dog walker Ellie Engleman becomes a murder suspect when one of her clients is found dead and the deceased's prizewinning bichon is missing, and she works with handsome Detective Ryder to discover the true culprit.
Queen bee mysteries (Most Recent: 2010)
By: Reed, Hannah
Buzz Off: During National Honey Month, beekeeper Story Fischer sets the town of Moraine, Wisconsin, abuzz when she must defend her bees, her business and her ex-husband from a murder accusation.
Clicking on the blue hyperlink will take you to the library catalog for the entire series. The bold title is the first book in the series, followed by a description, provided by NoveList.
Meg Langslow (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Andrews, Donna
Murder, with Peacocks: (Not Owned) So far Meg Langslow's summer is not going swimmingly. Down in her small Virginia hometown, she's maid of honor at the nuptials of three loved ones--each of whom has dumped the planning in her capable hands. One bride is set on including a Native American herbal purification ceremony, while another wants live peacocks on the lawn. Only help from the town's drop-dead gorgeous hunk, disappointingly rumored to be gay, keeps Meg afloat in a sea of dotty relatives and outrageous neighbors.
Cat mysteries (Most Recent: 2007)
By: Babson, Marian
To Catch a Cat: Eleven-year-old Robin wants to join a popular gang at school. They'll accept him, though only if he kidnaps the prize-winning cat of old Mrs. Nordling first. But when Robin sneaks into the Nordlings' house in the dark of night, he gets more than just a schoolyard thrill. An argument, strange sounds, a woman's cry, and the cat--hurled out of a room--are all Robin needs to grab the frisky kitty and get packing. Then Mr. Nordling, covered in his wife's blood, lurches out into the hallway, and Robin runs for his life...feline prize in hand.
Melanie Travis mysteries (Most Recent: 2008)
By: Berenson, Laurien
A Pedigree to Die for: (Not owned) Thinking her life could not be worse after a disastrous summer peaks with her uncle's death, Melanie Travis realizes that she is in for more trouble when the disappearance of her uncle's prize-winning poodle suggests that murder has taken place.
Cat Who mysteries (Most Recent: 2007)
By: Braun, Lilian Jackson
The Cat Who Could Read Backwards: Former author and newspaper reporter, Jim Qwilleran, who has been taking lesser jobs and even been unemployed for a long time, is offered a starting job in the Feature Department, at the Daily Fluxion. As Qwilleran begins meeting artists, for an article, he senses strange undercurrents among the so-called modern art set. After Qwilleran moves into an apartment, he finds an ally in Koko, his landlord's Siamese cat. And when vandalized paintings, accidents, and murder occur, Qwilleran and Koko together solve the puzzle.
Mrs. Murphy mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Brown, Rita Mae
Wish You Were Here: Mary Minor Haristeen, postmistress of Crozet, Virginia, joins forces with her willful cat, Mrs. Murphy, and her Welsh corgi, Tucker, to investigate a series of bizarre postcards sent to the town's inhabitants that forecast impending death.
Sister Jane Foxhunting mysteries (Most Recent: 2008)
By: Brown, Rita Mae
Outfoxed: In a mystery set in the high-class and tradition-bound world of Virginia foxhunting, the murder of a candidate for the coveted "joint-master" leaves many suspects among the social climbers vying for the position.
Dog walker mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: McCoy, Judi
Hounding the Pavement: Manhattan dog walker Ellie Engleman becomes a murder suspect when one of her clients is found dead and the deceased's prizewinning bichon is missing, and she works with handsome Detective Ryder to discover the true culprit.
Queen bee mysteries (Most Recent: 2010)
By: Reed, Hannah
Buzz Off: During National Honey Month, beekeeper Story Fischer sets the town of Moraine, Wisconsin, abuzz when she must defend her bees, her business and her ex-husband from a murder accusation.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Read Alike: Dean Koontz
Dean Koontz writes suspenseful horror novels that maintain a fast-pace and intricate plots. His novels are not for those with faint hearts or weak stomachs, but if you don't mind violence or adult language, Mr. Koontz provides a satisfyingly unsettling read.His earliest novels were more straightforward science fiction titles or explorations of other genres written under various pseudonyms. The current day result of his varied writing experience are novels that mix genre elements and keep readers on the edges of their seats.
Though most of his novels stand alone, Mr. Koontz also writes the popular Odd Thomas series. There won't be a new Odd Thomas title until the summer of 2012, but the stand alone 77 Shadow Street is due out this December.
You can read more about Mr. Koontz on his website (www.deankoontz.com), which includes a section on his beloved dog, Trixie.
Other authors fans of Dean Koontz may enjoy include:
Stephen King is arguably the biggest name in horror fiction, and it's likely you've already picked up one of his fast-paced novels with their sympathetic heroes and truly evil villains. Consider this your opportunity to add a hold request for Mr. King's upcoming science fiction suspense story about the assassination of John F. Kennedy, 11/22/63.
John Saul is another long-standing name in the field of horror writing. His fast-paced novels are cleverly plotted and suspenseful have appeal for adults as well as older teens. Start with House of Reckoning, Sarah Crane is lonely in her new foster home until she is befriended by the high school art teacher, but things start to fall apart when Sarah's paintings begin to echo violent crimes from the town's past.
Dan Simmons, like Mr. Koontz, has written both horror and science fiction, and featuring similarly sympathetic characters. Mr. Simmons, however, writes in a greater variety of style and tone from the character-driven and atmospheric historical novel The Terror (see Allison's staff review of The Terror) to the hardboiled mysteries featuring Joe Kurtz (start with Hardcase). More traditional horror fans should start with Children of the Night for Mr. Simmons take on vampires.
David Ambrose is the author of supernatural thrillers with an emphasis on the paranormal. His novels include detail on the technical aspects in addition to their fast-paced plots. Start with Superstition, scientists attempt to create a ghost, but their experiment quickly escapes their control with deadly consequences.
Peter Straub, an occasional coauthor of Stephen King, has written a number of creepy, violent, intricately plotted horror novels. Start with A Dark Matter, a midnight ritual in 1960s Wisconsin continues to haunt the participants 40 years later.
Joe Hill is the son of Stephen King, and an author of compelling and creepy horror stories in his own right, as well as a series of graphic novels, Locke & Key. To sample his novels try Heart Shaped Box, Judas Coyne is more interested in his collection of occult knick-knacks than his career as a rock star, but adding a ghost purchased over the internet to his collection was not his wisest move.
Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Cozy Mysteries-Crafts and Hobbies
Antiquing seems to be a popular subject for cozy mysteries. There are at least four different author series featuring antiques, under the broad heading of crafts and hobbies. Knitting, crocheting and quilting are also popular topics for cozy mystery writers.
Clicking on the blue hyperlink will take you to the library catalog for the entire series. The bold title is the first book in the series, followed by a description, provided by NoveList.
Trash 'n' treasures mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Allan, Barbara
Antiques Roadkill: Brandy Borne finds her return home met with mayhem and murder when her mother, a larger-than-life actress and gossip, is swindled out of some priceless antiques by Clint Carson who then winds up dead, making Brandy the prime suspect.
Dolls to die for mysteries (Most Recent: 2008)
By: Baker, Deb
Dolled up for Murder: Gretchen Birch, her mother Caroline, and her Aunt Nina discover that doll collecting can be a dangerous business, especially when it leads to murder, in this all new mystery series inspired by one of the world's most popular hobbies.
Josie Prescott antiques mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Cleland, Jane K.
Consigned to Death: Abandoning her lucrative career with a famous New York auction house following a high profile price-fixing scandal to live on the New Hampshire coast, Josie Prescott's peaceful new life is turned upside down by murder when the local police chief pegs her as a prime suspect in the crime.
Needlecraft mysteries (Most Recent: 2010)
By: Ferris, Monica
Crewel World: When her sister Margot turns up dead in her own needlecraft store in Excelsior, Minnesota, Betsy Devonshire launches her own investigation into the murder, uncovering an array of suspects ranging from an ambitious former employee to a greedy landlord.
Seaside knitters mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Goldenbaum, Sally
Death by Cashmere: When Angie Archer, her unpopular upstairs tenant, turns up drowned in the harbor, Isabel "Izzy" Chambers, owner of a knitting shop in the village of Sea Harbor, Massachusetts, and her friends, the Seaside Knitters, investigate the suspicious death.
Home repair is homicide mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
Alternate series name: Jacobia Tiptree mysteries
By: Graves, Sarah
The Dead Cat Bounce: Jake finds the corpse of a world-famous corporate trader who used to be a local boy, and when her friend Ellie confesses to the murder, Jake smells a cover-up and investigates as cops and journalists swarm into snowbound Eastport.
Claire Hanover mysteries (Most Recent: 2009)
Alternate series name: Claire Hanover, gift basket designer, mysteries
By: Groundwater, Beth
A Real Basket Case: Feeling neglected by her workaholic husband, forty-something gift basket maker Claire Hanover joins an aerobics class. In a moment of weakness, Claire agrees to let charming aerobics instructor Enrique come to her house to give her a massage. She realizes she has made a deadly mistake when Enrique is shot and killed in her bedroom and her husband Roger is arrested for the murder.
Knitting mysteries (Most Recent: 2007)
By: Kruger, Mary
Died in the Wool: When knitting shop owner Ariadne Evans stumbles upon the body of Edith Perry, a temperamental customer, in her store, she is plunged into the investigation into the crime, especially when her close friend Diane becomes a prime suspect and Detective Joshua Hayes, baffled by the knitting aspects of the case, enlists her assistance.
Decoupage mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Lawrence, Lucy
Stuck on Murder: Struggling to escape her painful past and earn acceptance in the New England community of Morse Point by teaching a decoupage class, Brenna Miller reluctantly persuades her enigmatic landlord to sell lakefront property to developers only to learn that the man is being framed for murder.
Home crafting mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
Alternate series name: Sophie Mae Reynolds mysteries
By: McRae, Cricket
Lye in Wait: Cocoa butter soap, check. Lemon lip balm, check. A dead body? That's just what Sophie Mae Reynolds finds in her workroom: the corpse of Walter Hanover, the neighborhood handyman. He died from drinking lye, something she has in good supply. But the police don't suspect Sophie Mae, a thirty-something widow who makes and sells beauty products.
Antique lover's mysteries (Most Recent: 2006)
By: Morgan, Deborah
Death is a Cabaret: (not owned) Former FBI agent Jeff Talbot, a professional antiques picker, is forced to draw on his old crime-solving skills when a priceless French cabaret set, commissioned by Napoleon for Josephine, goes up for auction and rival collectors start turning up dead.
Den of Antiquity mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Myers, Tamar
Larceny and Old Lace: When her eccentric aunt Eulonia is murdered, antiques dealer Abigail Timberlake wonders about the murder weapon--an exquisite bell pull--and her aunt's missing lace collection, and is horrified when her own son is threatened.
Candlemaking mysteries (Most Recent: 2006)
By: Myers, Tim
At Wick's End: Harrison Black soon discovers that he has inherited more than just his Great-Aunt Belle's candle shop when someone ransacks her apartment, forcing Harrison to embark an investigation that could get him snuffed out.
Soapmaking mysteries (Most Recent: 2007)
By: Myers, Tim
Dead Men Don't Lye: When his sister, Louisa, is accused of murdering her sleazy boyfriend Jerry, who was also the ingredient supplier for the family's specialty soap store, Benjamin must delve into Jerry's sordid past to prove Louisa's innocence.
Someday Quilts mysteries (Most Recent: 2010)
Alternate series name: Nell Fitzgerald mysteries
By: O'Donohue, Clare
The Lover's Knot: Overjoyed to receive a handmade quilt from her grandmother as an engagement gift until her fiancé calls off the wedding, Nell seeks refuge at her grandmother's home in picturesque Archers Rest, until the body of a local handyman turns up in the quilt shop and Nell is drawn into the investigation--and to the handsome police chief.
Knitting mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Sefton, Maggie
Knit One, Kill Two: Finding a killer becomes an all-too-personal quest for Kelly Flynn when she returns to Colorado from Washington, D.C., to uncover the truth about the death of her beloved Aunt Helen, turning to the knitting regulars at the House of Lambspun for a few lessons in knitting and in capturing a murderer.
Kitzi Camden mysteries (Most Recent: 2007)
By: Smith, Barbara Burnett
Bead on Trouble: When a young beader is killed at a beading retreat, Kitzi is faced with almost as many suspects as there are beads in her bag.
A Quilting mystery (Most Recent: 2008)
By: Thayer, Terri
Wild Goose Chase: When her mother passes away, Dewey becomes the new proprietress of Quilter Paradiso. Between learning the business and dealing with a conniving employee who is also her sister-in-law, Dewey is ready to snap. Then she finds a famous quilter lying dead on the floor-a bloody rotary cutter at her side. When hunky homicide detective Buster Healy enters the scene, romance flourishes... until another murder takes place. Can Dewey thread together the pieces to this murderous pattern before the killer strikes again?
Clicking on the blue hyperlink will take you to the library catalog for the entire series. The bold title is the first book in the series, followed by a description, provided by NoveList.
Trash 'n' treasures mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Allan, Barbara
Antiques Roadkill: Brandy Borne finds her return home met with mayhem and murder when her mother, a larger-than-life actress and gossip, is swindled out of some priceless antiques by Clint Carson who then winds up dead, making Brandy the prime suspect.
Dolls to die for mysteries (Most Recent: 2008)
By: Baker, Deb
Dolled up for Murder: Gretchen Birch, her mother Caroline, and her Aunt Nina discover that doll collecting can be a dangerous business, especially when it leads to murder, in this all new mystery series inspired by one of the world's most popular hobbies.
Josie Prescott antiques mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Cleland, Jane K.
Consigned to Death: Abandoning her lucrative career with a famous New York auction house following a high profile price-fixing scandal to live on the New Hampshire coast, Josie Prescott's peaceful new life is turned upside down by murder when the local police chief pegs her as a prime suspect in the crime.
Needlecraft mysteries (Most Recent: 2010)
By: Ferris, Monica
Crewel World: When her sister Margot turns up dead in her own needlecraft store in Excelsior, Minnesota, Betsy Devonshire launches her own investigation into the murder, uncovering an array of suspects ranging from an ambitious former employee to a greedy landlord.
Seaside knitters mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Goldenbaum, Sally
Death by Cashmere: When Angie Archer, her unpopular upstairs tenant, turns up drowned in the harbor, Isabel "Izzy" Chambers, owner of a knitting shop in the village of Sea Harbor, Massachusetts, and her friends, the Seaside Knitters, investigate the suspicious death.
Home repair is homicide mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
Alternate series name: Jacobia Tiptree mysteries
By: Graves, Sarah
The Dead Cat Bounce: Jake finds the corpse of a world-famous corporate trader who used to be a local boy, and when her friend Ellie confesses to the murder, Jake smells a cover-up and investigates as cops and journalists swarm into snowbound Eastport.
Claire Hanover mysteries (Most Recent: 2009)
Alternate series name: Claire Hanover, gift basket designer, mysteries
By: Groundwater, Beth
A Real Basket Case: Feeling neglected by her workaholic husband, forty-something gift basket maker Claire Hanover joins an aerobics class. In a moment of weakness, Claire agrees to let charming aerobics instructor Enrique come to her house to give her a massage. She realizes she has made a deadly mistake when Enrique is shot and killed in her bedroom and her husband Roger is arrested for the murder.
Knitting mysteries (Most Recent: 2007)
By: Kruger, Mary
Died in the Wool: When knitting shop owner Ariadne Evans stumbles upon the body of Edith Perry, a temperamental customer, in her store, she is plunged into the investigation into the crime, especially when her close friend Diane becomes a prime suspect and Detective Joshua Hayes, baffled by the knitting aspects of the case, enlists her assistance.
Decoupage mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Lawrence, Lucy
Stuck on Murder: Struggling to escape her painful past and earn acceptance in the New England community of Morse Point by teaching a decoupage class, Brenna Miller reluctantly persuades her enigmatic landlord to sell lakefront property to developers only to learn that the man is being framed for murder.
Home crafting mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
Alternate series name: Sophie Mae Reynolds mysteries
By: McRae, Cricket
Lye in Wait: Cocoa butter soap, check. Lemon lip balm, check. A dead body? That's just what Sophie Mae Reynolds finds in her workroom: the corpse of Walter Hanover, the neighborhood handyman. He died from drinking lye, something she has in good supply. But the police don't suspect Sophie Mae, a thirty-something widow who makes and sells beauty products.
Antique lover's mysteries (Most Recent: 2006)
By: Morgan, Deborah
Death is a Cabaret: (not owned) Former FBI agent Jeff Talbot, a professional antiques picker, is forced to draw on his old crime-solving skills when a priceless French cabaret set, commissioned by Napoleon for Josephine, goes up for auction and rival collectors start turning up dead.
Den of Antiquity mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Myers, Tamar
Larceny and Old Lace: When her eccentric aunt Eulonia is murdered, antiques dealer Abigail Timberlake wonders about the murder weapon--an exquisite bell pull--and her aunt's missing lace collection, and is horrified when her own son is threatened.
Candlemaking mysteries (Most Recent: 2006)
By: Myers, Tim
At Wick's End: Harrison Black soon discovers that he has inherited more than just his Great-Aunt Belle's candle shop when someone ransacks her apartment, forcing Harrison to embark an investigation that could get him snuffed out.
Soapmaking mysteries (Most Recent: 2007)
By: Myers, Tim
Dead Men Don't Lye: When his sister, Louisa, is accused of murdering her sleazy boyfriend Jerry, who was also the ingredient supplier for the family's specialty soap store, Benjamin must delve into Jerry's sordid past to prove Louisa's innocence.
Someday Quilts mysteries (Most Recent: 2010)
Alternate series name: Nell Fitzgerald mysteries
By: O'Donohue, Clare
The Lover's Knot: Overjoyed to receive a handmade quilt from her grandmother as an engagement gift until her fiancé calls off the wedding, Nell seeks refuge at her grandmother's home in picturesque Archers Rest, until the body of a local handyman turns up in the quilt shop and Nell is drawn into the investigation--and to the handsome police chief.
Knitting mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Sefton, Maggie
Knit One, Kill Two: Finding a killer becomes an all-too-personal quest for Kelly Flynn when she returns to Colorado from Washington, D.C., to uncover the truth about the death of her beloved Aunt Helen, turning to the knitting regulars at the House of Lambspun for a few lessons in knitting and in capturing a murderer.
Kitzi Camden mysteries (Most Recent: 2007)
By: Smith, Barbara Burnett
Bead on Trouble: When a young beader is killed at a beading retreat, Kitzi is faced with almost as many suspects as there are beads in her bag.
A Quilting mystery (Most Recent: 2008)
By: Thayer, Terri
Wild Goose Chase: When her mother passes away, Dewey becomes the new proprietress of Quilter Paradiso. Between learning the business and dealing with a conniving employee who is also her sister-in-law, Dewey is ready to snap. Then she finds a famous quilter lying dead on the floor-a bloody rotary cutter at her side. When hunky homicide detective Buster Healy enters the scene, romance flourishes... until another murder takes place. Can Dewey thread together the pieces to this murderous pattern before the killer strikes again?
Friday, October 7, 2011
Read Alike: Karen Kingsbury
Karen Kingsbury is one of the biggest names in Christian Fiction. Her novels are heart-warming, inspirational, often romantic, and always have a happy ending. She describes her books as Life-Changing Fiction (tm), and Ms. Kingsbury does not shy away from challenging subjects like abortion or September 11th.She writes stand-alone novels, like Unlocked, a story of autism, bullying, and the power of faith and high school musicals. However Ms. Kingsbury is best known for her series which follow the lives and loves of families and friends over the years. She's also written Non-fiction titles, as well as children's picture books.
The third book of her latest trilogy, Longing, comes out this November. In the first novel, Leaving, Bailey Flanigan leaves her hometown for the stages of Broadway, and finds no shortage of romantic possibility.
You can read more about Ms. Kingsbury, her books, and her charitable work on her website: http://www.karenkingsbury.com/
If you're already a fan of Karen Kingsbury, you might also enjoy these authors:
Lisa Tawn Bergren writes inspirational romances with both contemporary and historical settings, as well as Christian children's books. Her characters are flawed humans who strive to overcome their failings, and her plots include enough action to keep the pace moving. Start with The Bridge, a stand alone novel about a man haunted by the tragedy of his past, who returns to the Montana of his youth with his own young son and finds redemption.
Terri Blackstock is the author of fast-paced Christian Fiction that ranges from straightforward romance to suspenseful mystery to near-future dystopia. The challenges large and small her characters face help them to grow in their faith. For a story of family and community try Seasons Under Heaven, written with co-author Beverly LaHaye. For a suspenseful mystery try Cape Refuge, the first in a series about a small Georgia community.
Sharon Hinck has written a Christian Fantasy series in addition to novels with a contemporary setting. Her novels often make use of her experience as a mother of four to include the details of daily family life. Ms. Kingsbury's fans may enjoy Stepping into Sunlight. This is the story of a woman who is left to cope with post-traumatic stress after witnessing a violent crime; her struggle is only compounded when her husband is deployed, and she is left with her nightmares, her children, and her faith.
Francine Rivers writes inspirational novels about contemporary Christian characters and the difficult issues that challenge their faith. She also writes historical novels based on Biblical people and events. She deals frankly with topics like sexual violence and abortion, but readers may enjoy The Atonement Child about a young Christian woman who is raped and becomes pregnant as a consequence.
Nicholas Sparks' novels are easy to read, heartwarming, and a little bittersweet, with characters who are family oriented. His novels are popular across age groups and several have been adapted as movies. If you're new to Mr. Sparks, try The Notebook, but if you're already a fan, check out our Nicholas Sparks Read Alike post.
Dee Henderson writes Christian romantic suspense novels that are action-packed and character-driven. Try True Devotion, the first in her Uncommon Heroes series about military heroes starts with a Navy SEAL, the young widow he loves, and the man who murdered her first husband.
Lori Wick writes both contemporary and historical Inspirational Romances that share a strong sense of place and emphasis on community. Try Bamboo and Lace about a young woman raised by her missionary parents on a remote Pacific island who goes to Hawaii to visit her brother, and finds so much more.
Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Cozy Mysteries-Food and Drink
In case you missed my previous post, you can check out a definition of "cozy mysteries" here. Food and drink seems to be a popular subject with mystery writers - Carnegie Stout has 14 different author series featuring food aficionados. And many of these books come complete with recipes!
Clicking on the blue hyperlink will take you to the library catalog for the entire series. The bold title is the first book in the series, followed by a description, provided by NoveList.
Cheese Shop mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)By: Aames, Avery
The Long Quiche Goodbye: Charlotte Bessette finds the grand opening of her new cheese shop, Fromagerie Bessette, marred by a crime of passion that causes her to become the prime suspect in the murder investigation.
Maggy Thorsen mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Balzo, Sandra
Uncommon Grounds: Maggy Thorsen opens a new coffee shop, Uncommon Grounds in Brookhills. At the grand opening, one of the business partners ends up dead, and Maggy has to find out what happened.
Cooking class mysteries (Most Recent: 2009)
By: Bliss, Miranda
Cooking Up Murder: When Annie Capshaw and her best friend Eve take a gourmet cooking class together, they discover that murder is on the menu when a mysterious man is found dead in the parking lot after arguing with a fellow student, causing this case to come to a boil as they get closer to the truth.
Chocoholic mysteries (Most Recent: 2010)
By: Carl, JoAnna
The Chocolate Cat Caper: After accepting a job supplying chocolate from her aunt's luxury chocolate business to a party for unpopular defense attorney Clemintine Ripley, Lee McKinney takes on a new job as detective when someone adds cyanide to a chocolate confection eaten by the hostess.
Tea Shop mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Childs, Laura
Death By Darjeeling: When a guest turns up dead at a tea for the annual historic homes garden party she is catering, Theodosia Browning, the owner of Charleston's Indigo Tea Shop, turns sleuth to save her reputation, clear her name, and track down the real killer.
Coffeehouse mysteries (Most Recent: 2010)
By: Coyle, Cleo
On What Grounds: Clare Cosi, the manager of The Village Blend, finds a murder mystery percolating in her very own store when the assistant manager is found dead in the back and the police believe it to be an open-and-shut case of robbery, but certain clues lead Clare to believe otherwise.
Mysteries with recipes (Most Recent: 2009)
Alternate series name: Simmons sisters mysteries
By: Crawford, Isis
A Catered Murder: When Libby and her sister Bernie cater a vampire-themed high school reunion in honor of bestselling author Laird Wrenn, they find themselves knee-deep in murder when Wrenn drops dead after dinner and Libby is accused of the crime.
Madeline Bean catering mysteries (Most Recent: 2005)
By: Farmer, Jerrilyn
Sympathy for the Devil: Madeline Bean, caterer to the stars, is in the middle of the biggest job of her career. She and her partner Wesley have pulled off Hollywood's most outrageous A-list Halloween party for notorious producer Bruno Huntley, complete with an eerie fortuneteller who is astonishingly accurate and exotic food that's to die for. Before long, Bruno is thrashing and writhing on the dance floor. Just one problem: he's not standing up. And soon, he's not even breathing.
Hannah Swensen mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Fluke, Joanne
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder: Cookie-baking sleuth Hannah Swenson must protect her reputation when a popular delivery man is found murdered behind her bakery with Hannah's cookies scattered around him.
White House chef mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Hyzy, Julie A.
State of the Onion: While going up against her nemesis for the executive chef position, White House Assistant Chef Olivia Paras finds her goose cooked when she becomes the target of a world-class assassin, after witnessing a murder.
Cookie cutter shop mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
Alternate series name: Olivia Greyson mysteries
By: Lowell, Virginia
Cookie Dough or Die: Olivia Greyson finds her reputation and cookie shop in danger when she becomes the prime suspect in the murder investigation of her mentor, prominent business owner Clarisse Chamberlain, when it is revealed that Clarisse left her a large sum of money along with a collection of valuable antique cookie cutters.
Cupcake bakery mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Mckinlay, Jenn
Sprinkle with Murder: Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura, the proud owners of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery, race against time to save their business and catch a killer who used their cupcakes to kill a famous fashion designer.
Faith Fairchild mysteries (Most Recent: 2011)
By: Page, Katherine Hall
The Body in the Big Apple: In the prequel to the Agatha Award-winning mystery series, caterer Faith Sibley becomes embroiled in her first mystery after Emma Stanstead, a former high-school classmate is threatened by an anonymous blackmailer.
Heaven Lee mysteries (Most Recent: 2002)
By: Temple, Lou Jane
Death by Rhubarb: Kansas City caterer Heaven Lee turns amateur sleuth to save her business when a local lawyer drops dead from poisoning in the middle of dinner at Heaven's trendy new restaurant, Cafe Heaven.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Read Alikes: Military Science-Fiction
If you're reading about the experience of a soldier in the midst of a futuristic battle, you've likely picked up a work of military science-fiction. Whether colonists battling an alien invasion, or a fleet battling space pirates, these books are characterized by protagonists with a strong sense of duty, honor, and sacrifice. It's not uncommon for a hero or heroine to be faced with impossible odds and rise beyond expectations.While authors have been writing about future wars since before H.G. Wells, it wasn't until the 1960s that the sub-genre really took hold. Many authors of military science-fiction have military backgrounds that bring a level of realistic detail to the characters in their otherwise fantastic settings. Despite the fast-paced, action-packed adventure rides that often characterize these novels, it is the characters and the moral dilemmas and intellectual puzzles they face that bring readers back for more.
"Military SF novels aren't about the institution of warfare; they focus on the effects of war, on the soldiers, on the morality of an organization, and on what humanity will do to survive."
-Andrew Liptak, io9
We've gathered together a list of Military Science-Fiction authors available here at Carnegie-Stout:
The Honor Harrington series by David Weber is long-running, plot-driven, and peopled by engaging characters, not the least of which is Honor herself. This series is based in part on the navel adventures of the Horatio Hornblower series by C.S. Forester and the career of Admiral Nelson. The series starts with On Basilisk Station (which can be found on a CD-ROM in War of Honor) with Honor demonstrating her extraordinary skill as a tactician and leader under pressure.
David Drake uses his military background to create believable characters and detailed, fast-moving plots in fantastic settings. For his take on military science-fiction, check out With the Lightnings, the first book in his RCN series about a lieutenant unexpectedly thrust into command, and the librarian who becomes his indispensable partner.
Elizabeth Moon is a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps, and has written several series featuring military women, both science-fiction and fantasy. Her fast-paced Vatta's War series starts with heroine Ky Vatta being thrown out of the Space Academy, and so she turns to her influential family for a new career in Trading in Danger.
Laura E. Reeve was an officer in the U.S. Air Force before she was an author, which colors the richly detailed future of her Ariane Kedros series. In the first book in the series, Peacekeeper, Ariane is forced to face her past when she's called on to investigate a series of suspicious deaths. Espionage, a cold war, assassins, archaeology, alien forces, and a second murderer make for a compelling narrative.
Jack Campbell is a pseudonym used by retired U.S. Naval officer John Hemry. As Campbell, Mr. Hemry writes the fast-paced and gritty Lost Fleet series. The first book, Dauntless, starts with an important battle, but the real plot starts decades later when a military hero is reintroduced to a society changed by the endless war.
Mike Shepherd grew up in a Navy family, though he failed to survive Army boot camp, and instead made a career writing for the Federal Government. His popular Kris Longknife series follows the career of the title heroine who joined the navy to escape her powerful family, but finds her heritage is not so easy to avoid. The series starts with a bang in Kris Longknife: mutineer when Longknife's first mission is doomed to failure.
John Scalzi started his writing career as a journalist, a blogger, and an author of non-fiction before trying his hand at fiction. His unique take on military science-fiction and his witty writing style quickly made Old Man's War a popular read. The thought-provoking story of a seventy-five year old man who joins the military to protect Earth's distant colonies has recently been optioned for a potential movie adaptation.
Other authors of Military Science-Fiction include:
William Dietz, with several of his own series, as well as a title for the popular video game Halo. You can find other Halo titles by various authors in the catalog here.
Sandra McDonald, military science-fiction with an Australian twist. Check out this staff review for more.
Tanya Huff's Confederation series has the humans cast as the protectors of an alien alliance.
R.M. Meluch's series Tour of the Merrimack starts with humanity battling the alien Hive in The Myriad.
John Ringo writes action-packed and often violent novels, though not always science-fiction. His Legacy of the Aldenata series starts with A Hymn Before Battle where humanity joins the fight against the alien Posleen.
Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Read Alike: Cozy Mysteries
Although many people are familiar with series such as "Father Dowling" or "Daisy Dalrymple" or "The cat who mysteries" few people recognize they have a genre class all their own. NoveList describes cozy mysteries as "generally containing a minimum of violence and graphic unpleasantness (blunt instruments and poisons are popular weapons), and they often take place in a house, village, small town, academic setting, or other benign, familiar and conventional social setting, with characters who are usually civilized and mannerly. The mystery is usually solved by an amateur detective who understands human nature and is gifted in observation and deduction. Cozy is pretty much the opposite of hard-boiled."
I really like this definition of cozy mysteries, as it seems to encompass many facets of cozies. Working on this post, I discovered lots of series that I have read and enjoyed-apparently I like cozies! I also found plenty of new authors and series.
While there are stand alone cozies, most authors seem to prefer to write series. In fact, many writers have multiple cozy series, as well as writing other types of mysteries. I found well over 200 different authors who write cozy mysteries. I've divided them by type and will do several more posts which include lists of mysteries featuring animals, food and drink, crafts and hobbies, gardening, and of course, there are many mystery series about books and libraries.
The list below is just a sample of the many cozy mystery series at the library.
I really like this definition of cozy mysteries, as it seems to encompass many facets of cozies. Working on this post, I discovered lots of series that I have read and enjoyed-apparently I like cozies! I also found plenty of new authors and series.
While there are stand alone cozies, most authors seem to prefer to write series. In fact, many writers have multiple cozy series, as well as writing other types of mysteries. I found well over 200 different authors who write cozy mysteries. I've divided them by type and will do several more posts which include lists of mysteries featuring animals, food and drink, crafts and hobbies, gardening, and of course, there are many mystery series about books and libraries.
The list below is just a sample of the many cozy mystery series at the library.
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