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Celebrating 100 books read 2003-2013
Our thanks to Carolyn G. Hart, author of the "Death on Demand" and "Henrie O" mysteries,
for inspiring the name of our group,
"The Christie Capers," and for personally providing us with a special treat for our first meeting!.
For listings of cozies by author (movies, too!) check out CozyMysteries.com.
Copies of our book are available at the Circulation desk about a month before
each meeting. New members are always welcomed.
THE CHRISTIE CAPERS FEATURED SELECTIONS:
2014~
2013 ~
2012 ~
2011 ~
2010 ~
2009 ~
2008 ~
2007 ~
2006 ~
2005 ~
2004 ~
2003
August, 2014:
July, 2014:
June, 2014:Murder on the Cliffs (Joanna Challis)
Daphne DuMaurier mystery
May, 2014:Murder at Midnight (Elliott Roosevelt)
Eleanor Roosevelt mystery
April, 2014:Bertie and the Seven Bodies (Peter Lovesey)
Prince Albert, later King Edward VII mystery
March, 2014:Tale of Briar Break (Susan Wittig Albert)
Beatrix Potter mystery
February, 2014:The Ninth Daughter (Barbara Hamilton)
Abigail Adams mystery
January, 2014:Jane and the Madness of Lord Byron (Stephanie Barron)
Jane Austen mystery
December, 2013: Price of Murder (Bruce Alexander)
Sir John Fielding mystery
November, 2013: Oscar WIlde and the Dead Man's Smile (Giles Brandreth)
Oscar Wilde mystery
October, 2013: An Expert in Murder (Nicola Upson)
Josephine Tey mystery
September, 2013: Author Laura Bradford
one of our favorite authors, Laura Bradford, returns to Windsor Locks Public Library on September 18 to discuss
her latest mysteries. Laura writes both an Amish mystery series and the Southern Sewing Circle mysteries (the latter as Elizabeth Lynn Casey).
Visit ElizabethLynnCasey.com and
LauraBradford.com for information on both of these wonderful cozy series.
August, 2013: The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency (Alexander McCall Smith)
This is the first in the charming Mma "Precious" Ramotswe series, set in Botswana. In this novel, Precious
searches for a boy who may have been kidnapped by witch doctors. Visit
alexandermccallsmith.co.uk.
July, 2013: Broken Shore (Peter Temple)
Detective Joe Cashin is posted to a quiet village on the Australian coast, but soon the community
is shaken by the murder of a local philanthropist, who appears to have been keeping some
important secrets. Visit Text Publishing's
Peter Temple Page for information on the author and his novels.
June, 2013: Death of an Irish Sinner (Bartholomew Gill)
Chief Superintendent Peter McGarr of Dublin has been asked to investigate the ritualistic
murder of author Mary-Jo Stanton. He finds himself and his family being drawn into the web
of Opus Dei, a secret order of religious zealots. Publisher
Harper Collins
lists all of Gill's Peter McGarr mysteries.
May, 2013: Under the Dog Star (Sandra Parshall)
Thanks to Sandra for the gift of copies of books to the Christie Capers!
Virginia veterinarian Rachel Goddard and Sheriff's Department investigator Tom Bridger deal with premeditated murder using a
trained attacks dogs. Learn more at
SandraParshall.com.
April, 2013: Death of a Perfect Wife (M.C. Beaton)
When seemingly perfect Trixie Thomas moves to Lochdubh with her henpecked husband, she convinces
the local ladies to follow her lead in eating healthy, banning alcohol, and taking up bird-watching.
Scottish detective Hamish MacBeth has his hands full when someone poisons Trixie, the
perfect wife. All of M.C. Beaton's books are listed at
agatharaisin.com.
100 Books read!!
March, 2013: Mark of the Lion (Suzanne Arruda)
Jade del Cameron travels to Africa afer World War I in search of her lost lover's brother
and the murderer of his father. "...an enjoyable romp through a colorful place and period
in which the heroine has a Douglas-Fairbanks-in-a-split-skirt-charm ...” (Kirkus). Check
out more Susanne Arruda books at SuzanneArruda.com.
February, 2013: Night Train to Memphis (Elizabeth Peters)
Vicky Bliss, an Art Historian, works at the National Museum in Munich, Germany.
"A cruise on the Nile is the lure for Vicky to help an intelligence agency solve a
murder and stop a heist of Egyptian antiquities--and possibly capture Vicky's on-again,
off-again art thief lover, John Smythe." More information on Elizabeth Peters and her
Vicky Bliss series can be found at mpmbooks.com.
January 2013: Maigret and the Fortuneteller (Georges Simenon)
Le Commissaire Maigret uses his powerful intuition to solve the death of
fortuneteller Madamoiselle Jeanne in this mystery, originally published in 1944.
A complete listing of Simenon's Inspector Maigret novels can be found at
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maigret
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December 2012: Death in a Strange Country (Donna Leon)
Venice, Italy is the setting for Leon's second Comissario Guido Brunetti mystery. When the body
of a young American is fished out of a canal in Venice, it is up to Brunetti to discover
whether the crime was a simple mugging or a much larger conspiracy. Visit
DonnaLeon.net for more about this wonderful series.
November 2012: Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Alan Bradley)
Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce is not your typical English amateur sleuth. She is an
imaginative, gifted girl with a flair for chemistry and an unfortunate family life,
living in a crumbling old mansion. When she discovers a corpse in the cucumber patch her
father, an ardent philatelist and widowed recluse, seems to be the most likely suspect.
Find out more about Flavia at FlaviadeLuce.com
October 2012: Still Life (Louise Penny)
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is called in when a well-loved member of the Three Pines
community is found lying dead in the maple woods. This is the first in
Louise Penny's award winning Canadian mystery series.
September 2012: Mystery Author Carole Shmurak
Carole Shmurak, local educator and author of the Susan Lombardi mystery series, returns
to the Windsor Locks Library to discuss her new book, Most Likely to Murder.
The public is welcome to join us. Copies of Carole's books will be available for sale
and signing after the program. Visit Carole's classic mystery review blog,
Death by Committee.
August 2012: Devil's Food Cake Murder (Joanne Fluke)
When Hannah Swenson finds a visiting minister face down in a plate of devils' food cake,
she knows that his death was no accident. Find out more about Joanne's Fluke's Hannah Swenson
series at MurderSheBaked.com
July 2012: Half Price Homicide (Elaine Viets) Helen Hawthorne is still trying to clear
her name in Viets' fast-paced 9th Dead End Job mystery. Now working at Snapdragon's Second Thoughts,
a high-end clothing consignment shop, Helen finds herself investigating the death of a trophy wife while
longing to settle down with her true love, Phil.
ElaineViets.com
June 22, 2012: Author Anne Canadeo ~ 7:00 PM
June 2012: The Body in the Bookcase (Katherine Hall Page)
Murder becomes personal when Faith's friend dies during a robbery. AFter the Fairchild
home is burglarized, Faith gets involved with investigating the seemingly related crimes.
Katherine-Hall-Page.org
June 11, 2012: Author Laura Bradford ~ 7:00 PM
May 2012: Books by the Bay Mysteries (Ellery Adams)
Olivia Limoges and the Bayside Book Writers of Oyster Bay, North Carolina, are
up to their ears in dead bodies. Check out this wonderful series at
ElleryAdamsMysteries.com
April 2012: A Stitch Before Dying (Ann Canadeo)
What could be more relaxing than teaching knitting workshops at a beautiful Bershire spa retreat?
Maggie Messina and the Black Sheep Knitters are enjoying their weekend at the Crystal Lake Inn until a
killer strikes. Who was the intended victim and what does spa owner Dr. Max Flemming have to hide? Visit
Simon & Schuster's
Anne Canadeo page for more on the Black Sheep knitting series.
March 2012: Sweet Poison (Ellen Hart) Jane Lawless is multitasking,
running her Minneapolis restaurants and working for her lawyer father's gubernatorial
campaign. When one of Ray Lawless's volunteers is murdered, the prime suspect is one
of her father's former clients, innocent convicted murderer Corey Hodge. Hart is the
2010 winner of the GCLS Trailblazer Award for lifetime achievement in the field of
lesbian literature. EllenHart.com
February 2012: TBA (Krista Davis) Domestic Diva Sophie Winston seems to stumble across
murders at every turn. Find out more and check out Davis' wonderful book covers at
DivaMysteries.com.
January 2012: Broken Places (Sandra Parshall)
In the third book of Parshall's wonderful Rachel Goddard series, Rachel is an
"earwitness" to the murder of Cam Taylor. After Cam's wife Meredith is also found
dead, Rachel becomes the target of several attempts on her life. Visit
SandraParshall.com to find out more
about this series
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December 2011: Backstage Murder (Shelley Freydont)
Lindy Haggerty dons her dancing shoes to help a friend rescue a troubled show, but finds herself involved in murder
when the show's tantrum-prone diva is found dead in her dressing room. Freydont is a former dancer.
ShelleyFreydont.com
November 2011: Author Elizabeth Lynn Casey (Southern Sewing Circle mysteries)
was here to talk about her cozy series and the development of her career as an author. If you love a cozy be sure
to check out the Southern Sewing Circle mysteries!
ElizabethLynnCasey.com
October 2011: Wormwood: A China Bayles Mystery (Susan Wittig Albert)
China is invited by herbalist Martha Edmond to help out with some workshops at Mount Zion Shaker Village Spa
in Kentucky. While there she stumbles upon murder and possible financial shenanigans. Albert includes a parallel
story set in the past as well.SusanAlbert.com
September 2011: The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree (Susan Wittig Albert)
It's 1930, and the Darling, Alabama garden club has inherited a new club house from a dear departed founding
member, Dahlia Blackstone. They soon find themselves involved in investigating the untimely death of club member
Bunny Scott. Visit SusanAlbert.com for more on the Darling Dahlias series.
August, 2011: A Nice Class of Corpse (Simon Brett)
After moving into a genteel establishment for the elderly, curious widow Melita Pargeter begins to wonder
about some of the strange goings-on at her new home, especially the fatal fall of a sweet elder lady. Can you say
"Arsenic & Old Lace? Prolific author Simon Brett provides information on his life and writing at
SimonBrett.com
July, 2011: Nantucket Diet Murders (Virginia Rich)
After publishing 3 mystery novels starring the wonderful amateur sleuth, Eugenia Potter,
Virginia Rich's legacy was carried on by author Nancy Pickard, who continued the series. In this
novel, Rich's last, Eugenia reunites with old friends in Nantucket only to find that all of them are
noticeably thinner, decidedly fashionable, and devoted to a new local diet guru. A couple of
"accidental" deaths lead Eugenia to suspect that something odd is going on. Read more about
Virginia Rich.
June, 2011: The Nine Tailors (Dorothy L. Sayers)
Sayers is at her finest in this classic Lord Peter Whimsey mystery. When his
car breaks down on New Year's Eve at Fenchurch St. Paul, Lord Peter is recruited to
replace one of the local bell ringers to ring in the new year. When a body is discovered
a few months later he is called back to the village to help solve the crime. This mystery
is well worth it if you can get through the first 100 pages or so of this novel,
which is full of detailed bell-ringing information.
Sayers.org.uk/dorothy.html
May, 2011: Siver Scream: A Bed & Breakfast Mystery (Mary Daheim)
Judith McMonigle Flynn has some reservations when famous movie producer Bruno Zapft
and the stars of his latest film descend on her bed & breakfast, Hillside Manor,
at Halloween. After she discovers Bruno dead face down in the kitchen sink she begins
to think that she should have heeded her insticts. Learn more about Mary Daheim's
Bed & Breakfast series at AuthorMaryDaheim.com
April, 2011: Death by Cashmere (Sally Goldenbaum)
Izzy Chambers rents the apartment over her Seaside Knitting Studio to Angie Archer,
a woman with a "reputation," causing a stir in Sea Harbor. An even bigger stir erupts
when Angie's body is discovered in the harbor and strange things start to happen in the
little town. This is the first in
Sally Goldenbaum's Seaside Knitting series of mysteries.
March, 2011: Murder Is Binding (Lorna Barrett)
Murder in a New Hampshire cookbook store with carving knife as weapon...Is mystery bookshop owner Trish Miles, the
main suspect, guilty or will she be able to take matters into her own hands and find the REAL killer? This is the
first in Lorna Barrett's Booktown Mystery series.
February, 2011: Death at La Fenice (Donna Leone)
Famed conductor Hellmut Wellaur's last performance at La Fenice is interrupted by cyanide poisoning, and Commissario Guido
Brunetti is assigned to the case. Leon's writing is superb and her readers are drawn into the atmosphere of Venice. Visit
Donna Leon's web page at DonnaLeon.net
January, 2011: Cover Her Face (P.D. James)
Cover Her Face is the first in Phyllis Dorothy James' acclaimed Adam Dalgleish series. James' work has been
"praised for its sophisticated narrative techniques and its complex and multifaceted characters." As Dalgleish unravels
the mystery of beautiful servant Sally Rupp's locked-room strangulation, the reader is treated to a wonderfully slow and
subtle revelation of the various characters' true personalities and well-kept secrets. P.D. James is profiled at
ContemporaryWriters.com".
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December, 2010: Open Season (Archer Mayor)
Archer Mayor's Vermont-based Joe Gunther series has been described as one of the best police procedural series
around. In this first novel in the series Joe Gunther is faced with solving a series of bizarre crimes that seem linked
to an earlier murder. To find out more about this award winning author and his books visit
ArcherMayor.com
November, 2010: A Highland Christmas (M.C. Beaton)
"I was at a fishing school in Sutherland in the very north of Scotland, and I thought, what a wonderful setting for
a classical detective story, 11 people isolated in this Highland wilderness. So Hamish Macbeth was born." M.C. Beaton's
tall, red-haired and exceedingly handsome Constable MacBeth is a brilliant detective with little ambition who
prefers his little croft in the village of Lochdubh to success in the big city. For a complete list of the Hamish
MacBeth series, visit Amazon.com.
October, 2010: The Godwulf Manuscript (Robert B. Parker)
In this, the very first of Parker's Spenser series, the series' hero is hired by Boston University to recover a rare
stolen manuscript. A murdered student is his only clue and the case against a pretty coed looks open and shut.
Information about Parker and his beloved Spenser series is available at
robertbparker.net.
September, 2010: Cardington Crescent (Anne Perry)
Charlotte Pitt's sister, Emily, is visiting relatives at Cardington Crescent with her husband, George,
when George is found dead, murdered, poisoned with his morning coffee. Bow Street Inspector Thomas Pitt is called
in on the case as circumstantial evidence points toward his sister-in-law as the murderer. Perry's Thomas
and Charlotte Pitt series is the longest running detective series by a living novelist. Find out more
about Anne Perry at AnnePerry.net.
August, 2010: Mrs. Mallory Wonders Why (Hazel Holt)
Widow Sheila Mallory fears for the future of her dear elderly friend Miss Graham when plans are announced to turn the woman's oceanside home
into an upscale nursing facility. When Miss Graham is found dead, a victim of her favorite dessert, Sheila starts snooping around, putting
her own life in jeopardy. Read more about Hazel Holt's mysteries.
July, 2010: The Body in the Transept (Jeanne Dams)
American widow Dorothy Martin trips over a body after Christmas Eve services in her adopted homeland of Great Britain. Thus begins a new hobby as
an amateur sleuth! Get the scoop on this author at JeanneDams.com.
June, 2010: Death and the Lit Chick (G.M. Malliet)
When best-selling author Kimberlee Kalder turns up dead at Dalmorton Castle during a mystery writers' conference, Inspector Arthur St. Just is already
on the scene and ready to investigate. Multiple suspects and the traditonal castle setting make this a cozy worthy of comparison to the works
of the great Agatha Christie. Find out more about author G. M. Malliet.
May, 2010:Pushing Up Daisies (Rosemary Harris)
Former media executive Paula Holliday has relocated from New York City to Springfield, CT to pursue a more relaxing career as a master gardener. When
she is hired to restore the gardens at the historic Halcyon estate, her relaxation comes to a screeching halt when she digs up a mummified baby. Visit
RosemaryHarris.com for more on this Connecticut author and the Dirty Business series.
April, 2010: Eggs in Purgatory (Laura Childs)
Two murders, a runaway girl, a vicious widow, and a messianic cult leader might have a negative impact on business at the Cackleberry Club, a cafe where
eggs are the morning specialty. Find out more about the Cackleberry Club series at LauraChilds.com
March, 2010: Red Hot Murder (Joanne Pence)
Chef Angie Amalfi takes a romantic trip with her fiancé to his boyhood home in the Arizona desert, but murder is on the menu and Angie soon
finds herself investigating two murders. Check out JoannePence.com for more information on Angie
Amalfi and Joanne Pence.
February, 2010: Baltimore Blues (Laura Lippman)
Unemployed newpaper reporter Tess Monaghan embarks shakily on a new career as a private investigator.
She takes on her first case when friend and fellow rower Rock is accused of murder. Rumor is that Tess does get better as
an investigator in subsequent books in this Baltimore-based series. Find out more at
www.lauralippman.com/.
January, 2010: Six Strokes Under (Roberta Isleib)
You don't have to be a golf lover to enjoy Isleib's golf-themed mysteries! In this one, Cassie Burdette's dreams of winning a spot on the
LPGA tour are threatened by repressed memories (not hers), slightly twisted competitors, and the discovery of not one, but two dead bodies.
Visit Roberta Isleib's Official Web Site to find out more about this series.
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December, 2009: Knit One, Kill Two (Maggie Sefton)
In the first entry of this charming knitting series, Washington, DC accountant Kelly Flynn arrives in Colorado to plan her Aunt Helen's funeral and settle
the estate. Kelly quickly discovers that her aunt's death involved much more than a simple burglary gone wrong and she decides to stay in Colorado
long enough to untangle her aunt's mysterious financial problems and to solve the crime. In the process she also learns to knit and comes to love
the community of the House of Lambspun. Maggie's home page at MaggieSefton.com has more information
on both her mystery series.
Hot on the Trail (Jane Isenberg)
Post-menopausal New Jersey college professor Bel Barrett has two goals in this novel: to find out who killed her elderly student and to find time to marry her ever-patient
love, Sol. To find out more about Jane Isenberg's Bel Barrett series visit her web site at www.JaneIsenberg.com/
November, 2009: Death at Hilliard High (Carole Shmurak)
Professor Susan Lombardi is drawn into a strange case at Hilliard High when African-American teacher Shauna Thompson becomes the victim of
a series of apparently racially motivated pranks. Along the way, of course, Susan unwittingly becomes involved in the discovery of a body and the
disappearance of teacher Leo Loops, husband of the victim. Read more about Carole Shmurak's
Susan Lombardi series.
October, 2009: A Real Basket Case (Beth Groundwater)
Claire Hanover, aged 46, is the owner of a successful Colorado-based gift basket business. When her masseur is shot
during a massage session at Claire's home, her husband Roger is considered a prime suspect. Claire must not only convince
her husband that the massage was strictly business, but she must also solve the crime before her husband goes to trial. This is
the first in Beth Groundwater's Claire Hanover series.
September, 2009: Death of a Dunwoody Matron (Patricia Sprinkle)
Dunwoody is the ultimate in suburban chic on the surface, but nearly every resident of this exclusive neighborhood
harbors a secret. When beautiful Yvonne Delacourt is found murdered, amateur sleuth Sheila Travis finds herself
embroiled in a crime with a personal connection. Get acquainted with Patricia Sprinkle, then check out some of her
fiction and nonfiction works!
August, 2009: The Summer Garden Murder (Ann Ripley)
Louise Eldridge, TV gardening show host and amateur sleuth, becomes the prime suspect when the body of convicted killer Peter Hoffman is discovered
buried under her azalea bushes after the local police receive an anonymous tip. The plot thickens when another body is found planted in the vegetable
garden. A complete list of Ann Ripley's gardening mysteries can be found at Cozy-mystery.com
July, 2009: The Deserter: Murder at Gettysburg (Jane Langton)
Homer Kelly and his wife Mary sift through clues from the past and present to discover what really happened to Mary's ancestor, Seth Morgan,
at the battle of Gettysburg. Visit Fantasticfiction to learn more about Jane Langton's
books.
June, 2009: The Stabbing in the Stables (Simon Brett)
When Jude begs Carole to give her a ride to meet a client at a local stable, they don't expect to find the dead body of an ex-equestrian with
a lot of enemies waiting for them. Learn more about Simon Brett and his Feathering series.
May, 2009: Goodbye, Ms. Chips (Dorothy Cannell)
Learn more about Dorothy Cannell and interior decorator / sleuth Ellie Haskell at
wikipedia.com. This Wikipedia article has the most comprehensive information I could find on Cannell and her books.
April, 2009: Cover Your Assets (Patricia Smiley)
Management Consultant Tucker Sinclair's life is turned upside down when her old flame, successful Hollywood agent Evan Brice, returns to
town after a 10 year absence, only to turn up dead. Fans of Janet Evanovich will enjoy
Patricia Smiley's charming, easygoing style.
March, 2009: Mallets Aforethought (Sarah Graves)
Jacobia "Jake" Tiptree discovers not one, but two bodies while renovating the historic Harlequin House in her adopted
hometown of Eastport, Maine. She becomes involved in solving both murders, one modern day and one from the past. Learn more
about Sarah Graves and her Home Repair is Homicide mysteries!
February, 2009: Break a Leg, Darlings (Marian Babson)
Evangeline Sinclair and Trixie Dolan are aging film stars looking for career revival in the theater. During their jaunts through
various pub theaters they encounter a lovable Irish wolfhound, a decidedly odd group of vintage film fans, and, of course,
a murder. Learn more about Marian Babson on Wikipedia.
January, 2009: Murder at the Library of Congress: A Capital Crimes Mystery (Margaret Truman)
Art theft, murder, and the country's most venerble research institution, the Library of Congress, set the stage for Truman's sixteenth Capital Crimes
mystery. For more information on Margaret Truman and her mysteries, visit the
Harry S Truman Library & Museum site and read her Biography and Bibliography.
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December, 2008: Crimson Snow (Jeanne Dams)
Swedish immigrant and maid Hilda Johansson discovers that South Bend, Indiana has a darker side when she investigates the murder
of her younger brother's teacher. Author Jeanne Dams offers some interest commentary
about her research on this series on her web site, www.jeannedams.com/.
November, 2008: So Shall You Reap (Marilyn Wallace)
Happily married beekeeper Sarah Hoving agrees to take part in her hometown's bicentennial celebration, but disturbing memories about her
mother's disappearance years before suddenly begin haunting her. Will she be a murderer's next victim, or could she herself be the murderer?
Check out Internet Book List for a list of the late Marilyn Wallace's work.
October, 2008: Martians in Maggody (Joan Hess)
When aliens descend on Maggody, Arkansas, the media and UFO enthusiasts from around the country quickly follow. After a tabloid
reporter is found dead, skeptical Sheriff Arly Hanks starts asking questions. Learn more about Joan Hess' Maggody series at
www.maggody.com.
September, 2008: The Sudoku Murder (Shelley Freydont)
Katie McDonald, master puzzle-solver, finds herself working as curator of the Avondale Puzzle Museum while trying to discover the murderer
of the museum's founder, Professor P.T. Avondale, before the murderer finds her! This is the first in
Shelley Freydont's sudoku series.
August, 2008: The English Breakfast Murder (Laura Childs)
Theodosia Browning, the owner of Charleston's Indigo Tea Shop, is the amateur sleuth featured in Laura Childs' Tea Shop series of
cozy mysteries. In this entry, Theodosia discovers the body of art dealer Harper Fiske floating in the waves during the annual "turtle crawl"
at Halliehurst Beach. What appears at first to be a terrible accident soon looks suspiciously like murder! Find out
more at LauraChilds.com.
July, 2008: Wanton's Web (Alex Matthews)
Psychotherapist Cassidy McCabe's fiancé has trouble on his hands: the mother of his love child is murdered and he is the main suspect.
Alex Matthews is the author of nine Cassidy McCabe mysteries. Find out more at
alexmatthews.com.
June, 2008: Keepsake Crimes (Laura Childs)
Scrapbooker extraordonaire Carmela Bertrand becomes a reluctant sleuth after he soon-to-be-ex is accused of murder during
New Orleans' annual Mardi Gras festivities. Visit LauraChilds.com for info on Childs' three
charming mystery series (and make sure you check out the adorable teapot links!).
May, 2008: Fool's Puzzle (Earlene Fowler)
Author Jo-Ann Mapson was instrumental in the publication of this, Fowler's first Benni Harper mystery. Did you know that Benni's last
name came from Earlene Fowler's maternal grandmother? If you love quilts and want to know more about this author and her books,
check out www.earlenefowler.com. Make sure you visit the quilt gallery!
April, 2008: Framed in Lace (Monica Ferris)
Did you know that the reason Monica Ferris killed off Margot Berglund, the original heroine of this series, is that the author didn't feel that
she knew enough about needlework and running a small business to write the character convincingly? Instead she brought in Margot's
sister Betsy ("who is as ignorant as I am") to solve the crimes and run the shop. Find out more about the fascinating
Monica Ferris at www.monica-ferris.com.
March, 2008: A Catered Murder (Isis Crawford)
When nasty vampire-fiction author Laird Wrenn drops dead at a reunion dinner, many "ill-wishers" become instant suspects.
Caterer Libby Simmons, her sister Bernie, and wheelchair-bound father Sean, a retired police officer, are on the case.
For information on Isis Crawford (aka Barbara Block) visit
www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/isis-crawford/.
February 20, 2008: The Chocolate Cat Caper (JoAnna Carl)
Recent divorcé Lee McKinney moves to Michigan to study for her CPA exam and help her Aunt Nettie out with her luxury chocolate shop,
Chocolade TenHuis. When a prominent (but disliked) lawyer is poisoned by one of Aunt Nettie's amaretto truffles, Lee can't help but be drawn
in to the investigation. Visit www.joannacarl.com for more information about this charming series
and its author.
January 16, 2008: The Body In the Bouillon (Katherine Hall Page)
Massachusetts caterer Faith Sibley Fairchild embroils herself in yet another murder, this time while investigating Hubbard House, a local
retirement home, at the request of her favorite aunt. This is the 3rd of Katherine Hall Page's 15 Faith Fairchild mysteries (number 16 will be
published in April!). Visit the Agatha Award winning author's web site at
www.katherine-hall-page.org.
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December 19, 2007: This Dame for Hire (Sandra Scoppettone)
Faye Quick is a female PI working on her own in New York City during WWII. Faye has been working as a secretary in a detective agency,
learning everything there is to know about the business, and when her charming boss is drafted she takes over the agency.
Her first case involves finding the killer of a young woman whose body she stumbles over on a snowy New York evening.
Sandrascoppettone.com provides more information on the author and her books.
November 14, 2007: Murphy's Law (Rhys Bowen)
After fleeing Ireland and arriving in America, Molly Murphy finds herself in trouble on Ellis Island. This is the first in Rhys
Bowen's acclaimed Molly Murphy series. Find out more about Rys Bowen and her three mystery series, visit her
website at home.comcast.net/~rhysbowen/
October 17, 2007: Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor (Stephanie Barron)
Jane Austen arrives at Scargrave Manor only to have the Earl, an elderly gentleman, succumb to an ailment too mysterious and
violent to be anything but murder. Jane's friend Isobel begs her to help solve the crime in this charming and sophisticated cozy.
Learn more about Stephanie Barron and her Jane Austen series at
stephaniebarron.com.
September 19, 2007: Death by Committee (Carole Shmurak)
The Christie Capers will enjoy an email discussion of this academic mystery.
June 20, 2007:We'll Always Have Parrots (Donna Andrews)
When the star of a cheesy cult TV show is found murdered, Meg Langslow's fiance, Michael, could be a suspect. Meg is soon hot
on the trail of the murderer through a hotel filled with actors, devoted fans, monkeys, and excaped parrots. For more
information on Donna Andrews and her Meg Langslow series click on DonnaAndrews.com.
May 16, 2007:Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (M.C. Beaton)
Tough PR exec Agatha Raisin retires to a Cotswolds cottage to enjoy country life and, hopefully, to find love. In an effort to impress
her fellow villagers with her culinary skills, Agatha illegally enters a store-bought quiche in a local competition, with mortal consequences.
The resulting investigation catapults the irascible Agatha into a murder investigation and a new hobby as an amateur investigator. Visit
Notes in the Margin for more information on author M.C. Beaton.
Apri 18, 2007: Murder by the Book (Rex Stout)
Nero Wolfe's able assistant, Archie Goodwin, travels to Los Angeles to look for clues in the murder of law clerk Leonard Dykes. To find out more about Rex
Stout and his creation, Nero Wolfe, visit Merely a Genius.
March 21, 2007: Strawberry Shortcake Murder (Joanne Fluke)
When one of the judges of Lake Eden's first annual Dessert Bake-Off is found dead, facedown in one of Hannah Swenson's
delicious stawberry shortcakes, Hannah is on the case. Visit author Joane Fluke's charming web site,
MurderSheBaked.com for recipes, reviews, and more information on Hannah Swenson
and the Cookie Jar.
February 21, 2007: Serpent on the Crown (Elizabeth Peters)
"A novel filled with riveting suspense, pulse-pounding action, and the vibrant life of a fascinating place and time,
The Serpent on the Crown is the jewel in the crown of a grand master, the remarkable Elizabeth Peters." Visit her
website, www.ameliapeabody.com for more information on this book and
Peters' other works.
January 17, 2007: A Dilly of a Death (Susan Wittig Albert)
A few days after the Pickle Queen turns up missing, a sudden rainstorm reveals that all is not kosher at Morgan's Pickles. Fortunately,
herbalist and retired lawyer China Bale is on the scene when trouble surfaces on the eve of Picklefest. Visit
Susan Wittig Albert's web site to find out more about her China Bale mystery series.
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December 20, 2006: The Christmas Cookie Murder (Leslie Meier)
Working mother Lucy Stone looks forward to the annual Tinker's Cove cookie exchange every year, but this year everything seems to go wrong. When
Tucker Whitney, one of the cookie ladies, is found murdered the next day, Lucy sets out to uncover the killer. Leslie Meier does not have an official web site,
but type her name into Google and you'll find bibliographies and biographical information on several sites!
November 15, 2006: Death at Epsom Downs (Robin Paige)
Suan Wittig Albert and her husband, Bill Albert, team up to write the Robin Paige Victorian mysteries. Death at Epsom Downs features actress
Lillie Langtry and a horse-doping scandal that threatens the future of horse racing in Victorian England. Find out more about Robin Paige at
MysteryPartners.com.
October 18, 2006: Chatham School Affair (Thomas Cook)
The tragic events at the Chatham School destroyed 5 lives in this genre-stretching mystery set on Cape Cod in 1926. Read more on the web about
Thomas H. Cook.
September 20, 2006: Mark your calendar! The Christie Capers welcomed mystery author Carole Shmurak to the Windsor Locks
Library. In a talk entitled "Academic Robes and Little Black Dresses: Merging the Traditions of the Professor/Sleuth and the Female
Investigator", Carole discussed her mystery series, her college professor sleuth Susan Lombardi (based on Carole herself!), and mystery fiction in general.
Read Steve Lewis' charming interview with Carole Shmurak.
June 28, 2006: Deadmistress (Carole Shmurak)
The tranquility of an elite Connecticut girl's school is shattered when Head Mistress Sabena Lazlo is found murdered in her office.
Former faculty member Susan Lombardi becomes involved in the investigation in this academic cozy guaranteed to please. Read
more about Connecticut author Carole Shmurak!
May 17, 2006: Alone (Lisa Gardner)
According to reviews on LisaGardner.com, this psycholgical thriller is "thrill-packed",
"twisted", "intricate and suspenseful" and Gardner "wrings every possible surprise out of the storyline". Why not join our group
for a discussion of this spellbinding novel?
April 19, 2006: Stone Quarry (S.J. Rozan)
A cabin in the woods, a neighbor's secret past, and a quiet search for recently stolen possessions...the quiet country
atmosphere is shattered for P.I. Bill Smith and his sometime-partner Lisa Chin as they investigate the connection between
a murder, a runaway girl, and a missing teen. Read more about this and S.J. Rozan's other books at
www.sjrozan.com.
March 15, 2006: Shop Till You Drop (Elaine Viets)
Helen Hawthorne's career is going nowhere fast! One day she discovers that the manager of the ultra-chic clothing store where
she works has been embezzling money and selling designer drugs as well as designer clothes. When murder is added
to the mix Helen realizes that she will have to solve the case in order to protect the secret of her own past. Author
Elaine Viets' web site at www.elaineviets.com has more information about all of the books in
her Dead-End Job series.
February 15, 2006: Surrogate Thief (Archer Mayor)
In the summer the population of Gloucester, Massachusetts swells to 3 times its usual size, making it an ideal destination for
someone on the run. Vermont detective Joe Gunther shows up in Gloucester with an arrest warrant for the suspect in a 32 year old homicide,
only to discover that someone beat him to the punch: his suspect has just been fished out of the water with a hole in his chest.
Visit Archer Mayor's web site at archermayor.com/ for more about this Vermont author and
his work.
January 11, 2006: Tell No One (Harlan Coben)
Eight years after the murder of his beloved wife, Elizabeth, Dr. David Beck receives a bizarre email that includes
a phrase that has meaning only for him and Elizabeth. Find out more about this book and author Harlan Coben
at harlancoben.com/.
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December 7, 2005: Comedy of Heirs (Rett MacPherson)
While preparing to host her family's annual Christmas get-together genealogist and historian
Torie O'Shea discovers evidence of a rotten apple in her family tree. For more on this cozy and
author Rett MacPherson visit RettMacPherson.com.
November 9, 2005: The Hook (Donald Westlake)
A chance meeting between a blocked author in a bad marriage and a washed-up writer with an
unpublished manuscript results in a deadly deal and an unbreakable but unwanted bond between
the two men. For more about this book and author Donald Westlake visit
http://www.donaldwestlake.com/.
September 21, 2005: The Ice House (Minette Walters)
The lives of three reclusive women are changed forever when they become the targets of a murder investigation after a long-dead
body is discovered in an ice house. For more on this book, winner of the John Creasey Award for Best Debut Crime Novel, visit
www.minettewalters.co.uk/.
May 18, 2005: Liberty Falling (Nevada Barr)
This seventh entry in the Anna Pigeon series is set on Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
National Monuments, where "urban crime and politics smash into history". Visit
www.nevadabarr.com/ for biographical information,
bibliographies, and National Park information from Nevada Barr!
February 16, 2005: I Am the Only Running Footman (Martha Grimes)
Scotland Yard Superintendent Richard Jury takes on an elusive strangler in a case of family secrets-and family lies in I Am the Only Running Footman.
Learn more about mystery author Martha Grimes at MarthaGrimes.com.
January 19, 2005: Death in a Tenured Position (Amanda Cross)
To the dismay of her male colleagues, Janet Mandelbaum is made the first woman professor at Harvard's English Department. After someone
slips Janet a mickey at an afternoon tea, she enlists the help of her friend Kate Fansler to find out who is out to get her. But before Kate is able to track down
the culprit, time runs out for Janet. Learn more about Carolyn Gold Heilbrun (aka Amanda Cross) at
http://www.bastulli.com/Cross/Cross.htm.
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December 15, 2004: Murder at the Old Vicarage (Jill McGown)
A Christmas snowfall, an isolated village, and a dead body in the local vicarage add up to a case that appears at first glance to be open and shut. But
Chief Inspector Lloyd and Sargeant Judy Hill soon discover that this case is as perpelxing as their relationship in this homage to Agatha Christie. This book
was originally published in the U.K. under the title "Redemption". Read more about Jill McGown's books at
http://www.jillmcgown.com/
November 17, 2004: Half Moon Street (Anne Perry)
Superintendent Thomas Pitt investigates the murder of prominent photographer Delbert Cathcart in 1891 London. Perry provides
her readers with a look at the dark side of Victorian morality and social customs in this offering from her popular Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series.
For more about Anne Perry visit her web site at http://www.anneperry.net/.
October 20, 2004: Southern Cross (Patricia Cornwell)
Recent widow Judy Hammer arrives in Richmond, VA to clean up the police force in this story of corruption, robberies, and scandal that escalate into murder.
Visit http://www.patriciacornwell.com/ to learn more about the author and her works.
September 15, 2004: Ritual Bath (Faye Kellerman)
Sargent Peter Decker and his future wife, Rina Lazarus, meet and embark on their first crime-solving collaberation in Ritual Bath,
published in 1986. Read more about Faye Kellerman and her writing at
http://www.bastulli.com/Kellerman/Kellerman.htm. For more about this book visit
MysteryGuide.com/.
May 19, 2004: The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Laurie R. King)
Young Mary Russell meets Sherlock Holmes in 1915 and becomes his apprentice sleuth in this Agatha Award nominated first novel
by Laurie R. King. Information about King and her other books can be found at www.laurierking.com/.
April 21, 2004: In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner (Elizabeth George)
Did you know that, despite her success as the author of the very British Inspector Lynley series, Elizabeth George is a born and
bred American? Visit Elizabeth George's home page at
www.elizabethgeorgeonline.com/ for more intersting facts about this popular author.
March 17, 2004: Jane Jeffry mysteries (Jill Churchill)
Learn more about Jill Churchill's suburban single mom and amateur sleuth, Jane Jeffry, by visiting
Cozybooks.com. Read summaries of all of the Jane Jeffry series, from "Grime and Punishment"
through her latest adventure, "Bell, Book, and Scandal". Learn more about Churchill's other literary endeavors as well!
February 18, 2004:Valentine mysteries by Jane Haddam,
Lee Harris, Carolyn G. Hart, and
Ruth Dudley Edwards.
Click on each author's name to
visit her home page and discover more about each of these terrific authors!
January 21, 2004: Storm Track (Margaret Maron)
Margaret Maron's web site at www.margaretmaron.com has a nice drop-down menu that will
lead you to all of information that you might need about the author and her Judge Deborah Knott series. Storm Track, the
seventh in this Southern mystery series, was published in 2000 and is both an Agatha Award Winner and a Mystery Guild Main Selection.
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December 17, 2003: Tied Up in Tinsel (Ngaio Marsh)
Visit Naigo-Marsh.org for information about this charismatic New Zealander's home
and life. A bibliography of her works is available on the Ngaio Marsh page as well.
November 19, 2003: Death Dines at 8:30, a mystery anthology edited by (and including
stories written by) Claudia Bishop with Nick Dichario.
For more information about this book and Ms. Bishop's Hemlock Falls novels, visit the
Claudia Bishop home page. Claudia Bishop also writes under
her given name, Mary Stanton.
October 22, 2003: Death on Demand (Carolyn G. Hart)
Visit
Carolyn's home page at CarolynHart.com to find out the latest news about her books! The
Windsor Locks Library has two copies of her latest Pulitzer-nominated mystery "Letter from Home", the author's first mystery set
in her home state of Oklahoma!
September 17, 2003 : The Body in the Library (Agatha Christie)
Visit Agatha Christie.com for more information about the queen of crime
and her books.
Please call the library at 860-627-1495 or email us for more information about
our book discussion groups.
Return to Book Clubs page
If you enjoy holiday-oriented mysteries visit Holidays Can Be Murder!
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