I've been reading several series of light mysteries and every one of the heroines have been named Abby!  Victoria Laurie's "Psychic Eye Mysteries" have Abby Cooper as the sleuth; Kate Collin's "Flower Shop Mysteries" have Abby Knight , the "Candy Shop Mysteries" have Abby Shaw and Abby Rose is the sleuth in Leann Sweeney's "Yellow Rose Mysteries".

What is it about the name ABBY??

Too funny.  I never noticed that!  Perhaps they all just started with A for a name for their sleuth and ended up all liking Abby? 

Out of those series you listed, I've only read the Flower Shop mystery, so I hadn't noticed the trend.   Maybe Abby is a funny name?    I'll add one more Abby for you.  It's not from a cozy mystery series, but it is a humorous series .... Abby Normal from Christopher Moore's vampire series.  (Her name is a play on words.)

What I would like to know is what is up with all of the vintage / antique shop owners as main characters in paranormal books?   There's the Real Vampires series by Gerry Bartlett, the Nicki Styx series by Terri Garey, and at least one more.   And if you want to throw TV series into the mix also - there's Ghost Whisperer.

It's a very common name in romance novels as well especially historicals.  I have never met an Abby in real life. 

My sister went to college with a girl named Abby...and she ended up marrying a guy with the last name Abbey.  Don't know why, but she actually changed her name when she got married--so she was Abby Abbey.

I never realized it either and I've read all those series. LoL!  

Now, of course, I'll always notice it. Funny how that works.

Also Shirley Damsgaard's Ophelia and Abby mysteries, Abby is the witch grandmother.  I'm just starting that series and I've read Victoria Laurie's books.  I have the others on my list "books I need to read eventually".

I never noticed all of the Abby's in books...and I do know some in real life!