Until I joined PBS I was always into the more gritty mysteries. I never even knew there was such a thing as a "cozy" mystery.  The hardest thing now is to decide which to read next.  Jill Churchill was mentioned in the recent post listing cozies.  Her "Grace and Favor" series sounds like it might be a fun read. I would love to hear some opinions from our posters.  

Pat

Her Grace and Favor series is fun.  It's about a sister and brother living during the depression.  They're adults but were very childish because they were from a very wealthy family.  Dad took care of everything.  Dad isn't around now but the house they're living in has a housekeeper and a butler.  The butler is the one controlling the purse strings per dad's will for 10 years. 

The brother and sister are striving to make ends meet.  They're growing to adulthood very nicely.

I also like her Jane Jeffery series but it's getting a bit stale after more than 15 books.  There are only so many murders a housewife can solve realistically.  How many dead bodies have you run across lately?  

I always wondered about the Grace and Favor series, if it was better than the one Jane Jeffrey book I read---which I wanted to throw across the room! LOL Usually if I try an author that has more than one series and don't like what I've tried, I tend to stay away from other series they write, too. Does anyone else do that? Are there authors who have different series with very different writing styles or different "types" of books, or does the leopard always show its spots? :)

Cheryl

That's good to know, Kim--thanks! I will definitely think about giving them a chance. I've got too many other series going at the moment to start something new, though, and already a whole parcel of new authors on my TBR waiting to be tried. Someday! :)

Cheryl

The Grace and Favor series is one of my favorites. I zipped through them so quick that I was sad to finish the last one. I'm wondering if any more will be written. The last one, "Who's Sorry Now", was in 2005. I sure hope the series isn't finished.

I wondered if Churchill had run out of steam with the Grace and Favor series. It is much better, in my opinion, than the Jane Jeffries series.

I like the historical context and the way current events are woven into the story line.

I love this series too!  Amazon has had "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" a Grace and Favor book in Large Print listed forever (publish date seems to keep getting pushed out).  But no sign of a regular print version coming out.

I've read and enjoyed the first two books of Grace and Favor. For me, the hook is in the period detail, along with the likable characters, as the mystery - particularly book two - was pretty easy to figure out.

I guess I am odd man out.  I like the Jane Jeffry books and didn't care for the Grace and Favor ones.

Pat,

I am a gritty mystery girl too.   Maybe I will give this one a try with you. :) 

Cheryl, have you tried the Tim Myers books?  He has written several series under his real name, and uses other names for other series.  If you want more detail, just respond here.  I'll check back in the next day or so.  I love reading series more than novels, and cozies are my favorites.

Hi Nancy, yes, I've tried two of Tim Myers books (different series) and didn't care for them. I did finish the first candle one but the first soap one was awful and I DNF'd it. I was interested because I make handmade soap myself but I found it didn't hold my interest at all. I like the occasional cozy, but I've gotten more picky about them in recent years--seems like there are so many that are just cardboard cutouts of one another and the writing is often just...bad.

Cheryl

Cheryl, I agree that those two series were not his best.  I did enjoy the Lighthouse series, and written as Elizabeth Bright  "Cardmaking."  I am getting the Melissa Glazer Clay and Crime series, but have not begun them yet.  Lighthouse was the most enjoyable.

What is your favorite soapmaking book(s)?  I have some molds and some glycerin and some books, but haven't done anything yet.  I hope to make some soap this summer.  Have you done any bath oil, lotions, etc.?

If you want to PM me directly, that would be great, as we are kind of off the subject here. :)

Happy reading!

Hi Nancy, I did send you a PM as we did get way off topic. LOL

Cheryl