I’m loving this series. I hope you (find the time and energy to) continue this. I think it is really interesting. I think we read similar styles of books.
Also. I have ratty Agatha Christie editions from my parents. They are so old and falling apart. Are there new editions you like to collect? (Asking because I too collect the Penguin Clothbound classics so I know you will have taste ☺️)
I'm glad you enjoyed! I was a little trepidatious about it, as it's talking about MY tastes rather than something more universal, but like I said, I think it's helpful hearing other people talk about their preferences as something to compare your own tastes to.
Yay, another Penguin Clothbound collector! I'm gaga for that line... I actually haven't found a good hardback line of Agatha Christie, at least here in the US. I do have the couple of facsimile editions, which I wish they would do for all her books, and then I found a few matching hardbacks from some kind of book of the month type thing that Bantham must have put out at some point. But mostly, they only have a few of her bigger titles in hardback but mostly they've done a cover redesign for paperbacks only. :/
I think you'd enjoy the Tallman's Valley Detectives trilogy. The main cast is very likable and the mysteries, both the immediate ones in each book and the overarching one connecting them are more conspiratorial, and even when there are deaths they aren't described in any graphic detail it's more about this detective and her partner, her family, and uncovering the truth about something that's effecting their town.
I agree that a mystery doesn't have to be a murder mystery. There are several series that are Christian based that are just fun. I read The Morning Shade Mystery series by Lori Copeland which was about some older people in a neighborhood where crazy things happen that they have to figure out. In the first book there was someone breaking into houses and rearranging furniture. It was hilarious. I'm also reading The Patchwork Mysteries published by Guidepost which is about a quilt restorer. The mysteries are historical or genealogical and she finds clues in the quilts she is restoring. I love that kind of stuff. Definitely love small town settings too. Have you ever read any of the Aunt Dimity series by Nancy Atherton. They are cozy mysteries that are slightly paranormal and just super cute. This is a great video! I love mysteries, especially cozies! I cohost a month-long reading challenge on Booktube called #MarchMysteryMadness. I hope you will join in.
I haven't read anything from Nancy Atherton-- I'll have to keep my eyes open! The great thing about the mystery genre is that there really is something for every taste. I'll stay tuned on March Mystery Madness! That may be in the middle of my move, though, so not sure how much reading time I'll have
I absolutely love your channel and am looking forward to more videos like this in the future! Do you have any good recommendations for cozy mysteries? I'm just starting to get into mystery and I've tried two (On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle and Brownies and Broomsticks by Baily Cates), but I didn't particularly care for any of them. I'd really like the cozy mystery feel where a woman owns a bakery, shop, etc., but the mystery is actually a big part of the plot and not just something the main character stumbles through - I've felt in the two I've read that there are just these huge intuitive leaps that just so happen to pan out for the characters, which bugs me so much!
Oh, thank you! I'm so glad to have you here :) As for strictly cozy mysteries, The Courtagonist is truly the queen here on Booktube, methinks (she's got a comment on this video, if you've not checked her channel out yet), so she can give much more thorough recommendations than I. I tend to like a lot of "cozy-adjacent" series or OG cozy series rather than cozy series being released today. I'd say that Agatha Christie's Miss Marple books are the true Ur text of cozy mysteries. She's a little old lady in an adorable little town, and I love those books. I also like the "Cat Who" series by Lilian Jackson Braun, especially once the hero moves with his psychic cat detectives (yes, you read that right) to a little town in the midwest. And then Nora Roberts has a lot of standalone books that I'd call cozy suspense, where the heroines are in a small town kicking ass and avoiding menace. "The Search" has a heroine who runs a search & rescue dog training school, "Whiskey Beach" 's heroine has a yoga business, "The Obsession" has a photographer heroine, "The Witness" has a security expert heroine, etc. etc.
Ok. Starting over. Three excellent books, stand alones: The False Inspector Dew Rough Cider The Reaper all by Peter Lovesey; John Dickson Carr for locked rooms and PIs of a sort; Colin Dexter for the excellent Inspector Morse series. Morse is a surprisingly well-developed character. I love Country House mysteries, by which I mean enclosed setting with limited suspects, so boats, trains, hotels; boarding school or university settings; mysteries set at Christmas or in the deep deep winter. Not so crazy about suspense or spies.
You are so articulate and interesting, you qualify as a character yourself! As an older gentleman trying his hand at writing a cozy, I really appreciate how cozy you make your discussions. I'm subscribed and look forward to your delightful comments to come!
Is "cozy mystery" the American term for a 'whodunnit'? I only now realise that The Curious Incident was a mixing of literary & detective fiction, which is probably why it was so successful (not really my taste though). The detective genre is indeed under-appreciated. Hybridising with it will enhance any story. What would Harry Potter be without JKR's love of the detective genre, for instance?
Haha, thank you so much! I'm actually catless at the moment, though the only pet I've ever had was a demon cat named Chloe who I loved despite her flaws. But like.. yeah. Fair guess! :)
Would it be possible to cross genres. Like say a mystery series that include supernatural characters along with humans? Say my sleuth works for an organization (outside of normal law enforcement) that investigates crimes that involves humans and supernatural characters.
I just discovered your channel, and honestly, I'm loving all the talk about detective stories (I think they tend to be a bit overlooked on youtube and easily dismissed in "real life")! EDIT as to not spam your comments: In Italy there is a series of detective stories set in Ancient Rome where the "detective" is a Senator, and every book is a different kind of mystery (like, more of a "legal" thriller, or with a more "procedural" feel to it)-- unluckily, I don't think they've been translated in English (which is weird). Though, if you are interested in the kind of enclosed setting, maybe the series of Inspector Montalbano by Andrea Camilleri could be an interesting read? It is set in a fictional town in the south of Sicily, and there is also a very popular tv show still ongoing! Uhm sorry for the unsolicited recs, I just got very excited? But I do share most of your tastes in detective stories: "enclosed" cast & recurring characters, and not too much like a procedural show. Looking forward to seeing your next videos!
Oh, I'm so glad! Always happy to have new people aboard! And if you find that series in English, definitely let me know! That sounds exactly like the kind of mysteries I love... I do also love a legal thriller. I'm obsessed with watching The Pelican Brief whenever it comes on TV
That´s kinda a misleading title. You barely mentioned tropes. You mostly talked about the books you like and some of the basic contents/genres, not tropes.
I like all of the stuff in mysteries that you mentioned! I recently discovered your channel, and I’m loving your videos.
That makes my day! Glad to have you :)
I love love love this video! I agree so much on reading something more Cozy. Cozies are my absolute favorite of the Mystery Genre!
I bow down to the Mistress of Cozy Mystery! You know far more than I in this subgenre
bookslikewhoa Oh goodness! Make me blush! 🙊🙈 It’s such an amazing and relaxing genre to read.
I need to read more Cozy. Love mystery and thriller in general 💕
I’m loving this series.
I hope you (find the time and energy to) continue this. I think it is really interesting.
I think we read similar styles of books.
Also. I have ratty Agatha Christie editions from my parents. They are so old and falling apart. Are there new editions you like to collect? (Asking because I too collect the Penguin Clothbound classics so I know you will have taste ☺️)
I'm glad you enjoyed! I was a little trepidatious about it, as it's talking about MY tastes rather than something more universal, but like I said, I think it's helpful hearing other people talk about their preferences as something to compare your own tastes to.
Yay, another Penguin Clothbound collector! I'm gaga for that line... I actually haven't found a good hardback line of Agatha Christie, at least here in the US. I do have the couple of facsimile editions, which I wish they would do for all her books, and then I found a few matching hardbacks from some kind of book of the month type thing that Bantham must have put out at some point. But mostly, they only have a few of her bigger titles in hardback but mostly they've done a cover redesign for paperbacks only. :/
Awesome video! Loved all the suggested examples at the end and added several to my TBR. Thanks!
Yay!! Always glad to spread my TBR disease to others ;)
I love reading whodunnits because you have to focus on the actions of multiple characters instead of just one character’s actions.
I think you'd enjoy the Tallman's Valley Detectives trilogy. The main cast is very likable and the mysteries, both the immediate ones in each book and the overarching one connecting them are more conspiratorial, and even when there are deaths they aren't described in any graphic detail it's more about this detective and her partner, her family, and uncovering the truth about something that's effecting their town.
I agree that a mystery doesn't have to be a murder mystery. There are several series that are Christian based that are just fun. I read The Morning Shade Mystery series by Lori Copeland which was about some older people in a neighborhood where crazy things happen that they have to figure out. In the first book there was someone breaking into houses and rearranging furniture. It was hilarious. I'm also reading The Patchwork Mysteries published by Guidepost which is about a quilt restorer. The mysteries are historical or genealogical and she finds clues in the quilts she is restoring. I love that kind of stuff.
Definitely love small town settings too. Have you ever read any of the Aunt Dimity series by Nancy Atherton. They are cozy mysteries that are slightly paranormal and just super cute.
This is a great video! I love mysteries, especially cozies! I cohost a month-long reading challenge on Booktube called #MarchMysteryMadness. I hope you will join in.
I haven't read anything from Nancy Atherton-- I'll have to keep my eyes open! The great thing about the mystery genre is that there really is something for every taste. I'll stay tuned on March Mystery Madness! That may be in the middle of my move, though, so not sure how much reading time I'll have
Cozy mysteries, Agatha Christie, etc., my goodness we have the exact same taste in mysteries!
Dame Christie 💕
I absolutely love your channel and am looking forward to more videos like this in the future!
Do you have any good recommendations for cozy mysteries? I'm just starting to get into mystery and I've tried two (On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle and Brownies and Broomsticks by Baily Cates), but I didn't particularly care for any of them. I'd really like the cozy mystery feel where a woman owns a bakery, shop, etc., but the mystery is actually a big part of the plot and not just something the main character stumbles through - I've felt in the two I've read that there are just these huge intuitive leaps that just so happen to pan out for the characters, which bugs me so much!
Oh, thank you! I'm so glad to have you here :)
As for strictly cozy mysteries, The Courtagonist is truly the queen here on Booktube, methinks (she's got a comment on this video, if you've not checked her channel out yet), so she can give much more thorough recommendations than I. I tend to like a lot of "cozy-adjacent" series or OG cozy series rather than cozy series being released today. I'd say that Agatha Christie's Miss Marple books are the true Ur text of cozy mysteries. She's a little old lady in an adorable little town, and I love those books. I also like the "Cat Who" series by Lilian Jackson Braun, especially once the hero moves with his psychic cat detectives (yes, you read that right) to a little town in the midwest. And then Nora Roberts has a lot of standalone books that I'd call cozy suspense, where the heroines are in a small town kicking ass and avoiding menace. "The Search" has a heroine who runs a search & rescue dog training school, "Whiskey Beach" 's heroine has a yoga business, "The Obsession" has a photographer heroine, "The Witness" has a security expert heroine, etc. etc.
Ok. Starting over. Three excellent books, stand alones:
The False Inspector Dew
Rough Cider
The Reaper
all by Peter Lovesey;
John Dickson Carr for locked rooms and PIs of a sort;
Colin Dexter for the excellent Inspector Morse series. Morse is a surprisingly well-developed character.
I love Country House mysteries, by which I mean enclosed setting with limited suspects, so boats, trains, hotels; boarding school or university settings; mysteries set at Christmas or in the deep deep winter.
Not so crazy about suspense or spies.
I LOVE COUNTRY HOUSE MYSTERIES... *`*frantically writes down these titles*'*
You are so articulate and interesting, you qualify as a character yourself! As an older gentleman trying his hand at writing a cozy, I really appreciate how cozy you make your discussions. I'm subscribed and look forward to your delightful comments to come!
Is "cozy mystery" the American term for a 'whodunnit'? I only now realise that The Curious Incident was a mixing of literary & detective fiction, which is probably why it was so successful (not really my taste though). The detective genre is indeed under-appreciated. Hybridising with it will enhance any story. What would Harry Potter be without JKR's love of the detective genre, for instance?
Whodunnits (especially early Whodunnits) tend to be Cozy
Just found your channel, already love you, love this series, love your cat... (just assuming lol 😂)
Haha, thank you so much! I'm actually catless at the moment, though the only pet I've ever had was a demon cat named Chloe who I loved despite her flaws. But like.. yeah. Fair guess! :)
I recently rediscovered my love of Agatha Christie, which lead me to your channel. I also really love The Cat Who series by Lilian Jackson Braun.
Would it be possible to cross genres. Like say a mystery series that include supernatural characters along with humans? Say my sleuth works for an organization (outside of normal law enforcement) that investigates crimes that involves humans and supernatural characters.
I just discovered your channel, and honestly, I'm loving all the talk about detective stories (I think they tend to be a bit overlooked on youtube and easily dismissed in "real life")!
EDIT as to not spam your comments: In Italy there is a series of detective stories set in Ancient Rome where the "detective" is a Senator, and every book is a different kind of mystery (like, more of a "legal" thriller, or with a more "procedural" feel to it)-- unluckily, I don't think they've been translated in English (which is weird).
Though, if you are interested in the kind of enclosed setting, maybe the series of Inspector Montalbano by Andrea Camilleri could be an interesting read? It is set in a fictional town in the south of Sicily, and there is also a very popular tv show still ongoing!
Uhm sorry for the unsolicited recs, I just got very excited? But I do share most of your tastes in detective stories: "enclosed" cast & recurring characters, and not too much like a procedural show.
Looking forward to seeing your next videos!
Oh, I'm so glad! Always happy to have new people aboard!
And if you find that series in English, definitely let me know! That sounds exactly like the kind of mysteries I love... I do also love a legal thriller. I'm obsessed with watching The Pelican Brief whenever it comes on TV
omf im finalising my short cozy mystery novella it's called *mine* & it's abt kidnappings in a small town,,, it's on wattpad if any1's interested ?
You should watch Detective Conan anime series! There are a lot of episodes but I think you will enjoy it!
I read the comic series in school. Loved it. Still popular in Indonesia 💕
That´s kinda a misleading title. You barely mentioned tropes. You mostly talked about the books you like and some of the basic contents/genres, not tropes.