There’s nothing quite like an unseasonably cold weekend to make you want to settle into a comfortable chair with a hot beverage and a cozy mystery. There are plenty of them out there – mysteries that feature cooking, antiques, genealogy, libraries, and so many other topics.
Here’s a new one by an author I turn to when I need something clever but light: Deadly Editions by Paige Shelton who writes several cozy series. This one is part of her Scottish Bookshop series and features a Midwestern woman transplanted to Edinburgh and a used book shop. The Scottish Bookshop series is like candy for me, and each one is sweeter than the one before. Delaney, Tom, Aggie, Elias, Rosie, Edwin, and Hamlet are back for more mysterious and deadly shenanigans in the heart of Edinburgh. The mystery here is a treasure hunt involving a priceless copy of The Strange Case of Dr.. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Delaney finds herself smack in the middle of another bookish mystery. The writing is sassy and casual, the characters are like old friends, making this book a winner for me. I keep recommending Paige Shelton to mystery readers, and this one will be no different. Published 4/6/21 so should be in libraries and bookstores.
Coming in May is a new entry in the Witch City cozy series by Carol Perry. Featuring TV news reporter Maralee “Lee” Barrett and set in Salem Massachusetts, this whimsical series includes some of the expected Salem witchy elements but also a set of memorable newsroom characters and a group of retired ladies who thoroughly enjoy a good mystery. See Something is another solid entry in the Witch City series. Lee and Pete are up to their necks in a new, intriguing mystery while also adjusting to some changes in their personal lives. One of the things I really like about this series is that Perry allows the characters to grow and move through their lives instead of keeping everything the same and just overlaying the mystery onto a pre-determined story. In this entry, we see Lee moving on with her career, Aunt Ibby & the “Angels” making progress on their detective work, and Pete making the biggest move of all. Combined with a cracking good mystery, this one will give you a few hours of entertainment
The Avery Ayers Antique Mystery series debuts in June 2021 with Ruby Red Herring by Tracy Gardner. After her parents’ deaths, Avery Ayers takes over the family business, Antiquities & Artifacts Appraised, from the home office in Lilac Grove and a branch in Manhattan. Now living back at home with her younger sister Tilly and their newly moved-in, eccentric Aunt Midge and her Afghan hound, Avery’s life is filled with jewels, tapestries, paintings, and rare finds. But their world is rocked when Avery learns that the theft of a priceless ruby may be connected to her parents’ demise. Perfect to tuck into your bag for a vacation getaway, this charming cozy mystery will help you pass a couple hours with your feet up. The plot will appeal to people interested in antiques and jewelry and the characters will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries and mystery/romances. Nothing unusual or special, but still a lot of fun.
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