My Favorite Mysteries of the Year

Since this is the time of year for following traditions, and since it is a tradition among CWC members--and the extended Pirate community--to poach ideas follow wonderful examples, I am listing my favorite mysteries of the year.

Deb already said a lot of what I would have said about Hurricane Punch, so I'll leave that one off my list.


Homicide in Hard Cover by Kate Carlisle

This first in her Bibliophile mystery series was published in 2009. After reading it, I bought the second in the series, If Books Could Kill, and then the third one, The Lies That Bind, when it came out in November. All three books could make the list, but I'll just use the first one as an example.

Brooklyn Wainwright is a rare book expert, and is sought after for her ability to restore antique books. She is also the child of a couple of hippies who followed the Grateful Dead for years, naming each of their passel of children after the town they were conceived in. Then they moved the family to a commune in Sonoma. Now the commune members are all very well off due to the amazing wine they make and the quaint tourist town they run.

Brooklyn is smart, funny and competent in her work. She has well-rounded, interesting friends. She's not so smart about the fellas, but we've all been there.

The biggest compliment I can give the author is that I was still guessing at who the murderer was right up until the end. One thing I can't say about the third book in the series. That one I realized quite early on who done it. But I think that's a hazard with series. It seems that figuring out who the author has picked for the villain, and often the victim, becomes easier over the course of the series.


A Clue for the Puzzle Lady by Parnell Hall

I had seen various Puzzle Lady books at the book store, but didn't find the first in the series until recently. I'd also seen a YouTube video by Hall about the joys of a book signing tour, so I knew he had a sense of humor.

The Puzzle Lady is ostensibly Cora Felton, a sweet-looking little old lady ala Miss Marple. But Cora's a front for her neice, Sherry, who actually creates the crossword puzzles that are syndicated nationwide. Sherry has a nasty ex-husband she's hiding from so her picture can't be next to the puzzles. Plus Cora has more of the look.

When the murder is discovered, Chief Harper is in over his head, not so much because he's stupid, but because he is beset by the mayor and the local newspaper. A pet peeve of mine is when the cops are made out be stupid.

I have to say that I knew immediately who did it, but it was fun watching the red herrings pile up as Cora, Sherry, Chief Harper and Aaron Grant--the local reporter who may just have a thing for Sherry--run around trying to figure it out.


The Scent of Rain and Lightening by Nancy Pickard

When Jody Linder was three, her father was murdered and her mother disappeared. She was raised by her grandparents, the richest ranchers in their small Kansas town, and her three doting uncles. Then 23 years later the man who was convicted of her father's death--on circumstantial evidence--is released from prison for a new trial. This sets in motion a series of events that finally leads Jody and her family to the truth of what happened the night her father was killed.

While Jody is not a professional investigator, this is as far from a cozy as one can get. It's gritty. But a thoroughly enjoyable read.


The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde

While the previous book is in no way a cozy even though the person who solve the mystery is not a professional, this one feels very cozy-like with a police inspector as the investigator. Maybe that's because it's set in an England where the fairy tales are true and Humpty Dumpty is the victim.

I've seen reviews that said this was a tedious, pun-riddled read. Well, I happen to love puns and send-ups of fairy tales. Fforde also skewers the conventions of murder mysteries along the way. And I thought put-upon Jack Spratt of the Nursery Crime Division, who is also the Jack of Giant Killer fame, was an endearing protagonist.


So, who's next to succumb to the "Best of 2010" bug?

White Christmas?

I was having a discussion with a coworker the other day. He said it's not a White Christmas unless it snows on Christmas Day. I said as long as there's snow on the ground on Christmas, then it's a White Christmas.

So what do you say?

Whether it's white or not--Merry Christmas!

. . . And This One's For Mary . . .

I've already talked about how the format for CWC has changed. We have one submission to critique for this month, and homework to bring in a short scene for everyone to mark up at the meeting.

And since Jenny won't be submitting--long story that she tells better on her blog--we're looking for things to do for February. I offered to lend everyone a cozy to read. They can read as far as they want, then write up what they thought, where they stopped and why. I want to get a discussion going about what the found fun, irritating, exciting, etc. I think this will lead to figuring out what's expected in cozies and what's optional.

The nice side effect of this exercise it that I got to go through the ones I've already read that I haven't loaned to Carrie the extraordinary hairdresser/first reader. Deb has kindly allowed the rest of us to adopt her if we want, and Carrie agrees, of course.

Anyway, as I went through the stack, there were books that I immediately identified as good fits for each person in the group. Ali will like this one with the funny protagonist, Shane should identify with the protag fixing up her house, etc.

Then I have to wait to see if I chose wisely.

A Good Time to Get Cozy

Here in Colorado, the snow is falling and it's COLD. It's the soft, gentle snow--at least in my neighborhood--that makes it look like December outside.

Feels like a great time to snuggle in with a cup of hot cocoa and sink into a good cozy. Think I'll go home and do that tonight.

Now the question: Writing or reading?

So Why Do You Want to Write Cozies?

Mary asked me that question at our latest CWC meeting.

Jenny mentioned that she had visited the library and checked out three cozies. She took to heart my comment that there are certain genre conventions, just as there are in fantasy or romance or sci/fi, and it would be helpful to be critiqued by people who are familiar with those conventions. Her initial response was "Good writing is good writing." Well, yeah. But there are still certain things one expects when picking up a particular genre.

Anyway, Jenny was talking about some of the things that bugged her in the first book she picked up. I countered with my own pet peeves from a couple well-known cozy authors.

After listening to us banter back and forth for a few minutes, Mary asked her question.

My answer was immediate. I grew up on these kinds of books. When they're done well, they are a great escapist read. These are the books you take on vacation with you--to read on the plane, or the beach, or before turning out the light at the hotel. They're fast and light. And the best ones can still stay with you long after "The End."

Agatha Christie did them so well. And so do many of the modern cozy writers. I hope to profile some of them in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Jenny is blogging about her experience as a cozy newbie--and doing a great job of deconstructing what makes a cozy cozy. Check it out.

So, why do you want to write what you write?

December Goals

Deb just reminded me that I haven't updated my goals for December. Deb can be a real pain sometimes.

I've realized that I need to do some more research for HM. In particular, I need to know more about the history of mining in Colorado. But it's a made up town, you say? Well, yes, but I still want it to fit in with the real world. At least as much as I can.

Goals:

--Finish CWC critiques (1/1)
--Research CO mining history
--Play some more with story

What have you planned for December?