When I broke up with Grey’s Anatomy, it was a big deal. Normally if I start watching a show, I am in it until the end. Even if the end is slow in coming and the seasons in between are full of lame jokes or nonsensical plot lines or irritating characters (or all of the above). I’m weirdly loyal (or stubborn?) that way.
And I’m the same way with books.
While I don’t believe in wasting my time reading bad books, I also have an annoying, nagging need to know what happens in the end. So when I get sucked into a series, it takes a whole lot for me to stop reading it, to not pick up the next novel in the ongoing story.
But I have to admit, I’ve been struggling with Stephanie Plum. For a while now. And even though the twenty-second book in the Janet Evanovich series came out last week, I’m not sure when I’ll get around to reading it.
[If you don’t know, Stephanie Plum is a bounty hunter in Jersey with a crazy family, even crazier friends, and a tendency to get into trouble. The hijinks, they are wacky and they ensue on a regular (some might say predictable) basis. Oh, and there’s a never-ending, never-resolved love triangle.]
For the first dozen and a half books, I enjoyed the series thoroughly. (I didn’t even mind the Katherine Heigl movie, but that’s another post.) But over the past few years, the stories have become repetitive and the characters cliches. So while waiting the months between releases (and the months I spent waiting my turn in the reserve line at the library), I started looking for similar series.
I didn’t know it at the time, but what I was looking for was a cozy mystery with a strong female lead. [Again, if you don’t know, the cozy mystery is {according to Wikipedia} “a subgenre of crime fiction in which sex and violence are downplayed or treated humorously, and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community.”]
In case you, like me, are both a little tired of Stephanie Plum despite a previous love of the series and also wondering how long it will take for the 636 people in front of me in that library reserve list to read the most recent installment, here are a few other series you might like.
Eat, Pray, Die Mysteries by Chelsea Field: The only time I’d heard of a professional taste-tester was in a Bible story, but this series is about a top-secret organization that trains its operatives to detect the tiniest hint of poison. They’re then hired out to high profile people who, apparently, might be poisoned. Izzy is Australian and on the run from a knee-busting debt collector, thanks to a deadbeat ex-husband. She’s also in training to become a poison taster and finds herself teaming up with a quirky neighbor and a handsome client. Funny and definitely unique!
(And all six books are free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers. Click here to learn about Kindle Unlimited–or sign up for a FREE 30-day trial.)
The Geek Girl Mysteries by Julie Anne Lindsey: This is exactly what it sounds like. A self-described geek girl (who’s into coding, comics, gaming, and cosplay) is at the wrong place at the wrong time and ends up solving murder mysteries.
Miss Fortune Mysteries by Jana DeLeon: An undercover CIA operative is made by a deadly arms dealer, so she hides out in a small Louisiana town. Where she solves mysteries. Because of course. Very funny, very sweet, and unlike in the Plum books, the characters actually show some personal growth.
Lexi Carmichael Mysteries by Julie Moffett: Beautiful but socially clueless computer geek works for intelligence agency and navigates the world of love triangles. Okay, to be fair, the love triangle is resolved before too long (although the social skills are still a work in progress).
Rose Gardner Mysteries by Denise Grover Swank: Rose is working at the DMV and living with her overbearing mom in a beige, boring life. Until she has a vision of herself dead – and then finds her mother murdered. Suddenly life is a lot more colorful – and so is Rose. This one has difficult family dynamics, a small town with more than its share of mysteries, and – surprise! – a love triangle. I like this series but am about three books behind.
(And don’t miss the spin-off series, Rose Gardner Investigations.)
Addison Holmes Mysteries by Liliana Hart: This series is like a carbon copy of the Stephanie Plum books. Addison is a teacher whose life implodes in wacky ways, whose family is as quirky and complicated as can be, whose tendency to get in trouble is rivaled only by Ms. Plum’s. Seriously, this is the southern version of the Stephanie Plum books – and I really liked them! I will warn you that they’re a little racier than the other series, though.
Though they aren’t quite as similar to the Stephanie Plum books, these series are also good if you’re a fan of any of the above:
White House Chef Mysteries by Julie Hyzy: Learning about the world of White House chefs is interesting, and the titles of each installment are delightfully punny. Plus, good characters solve mysteries. Writing this made me realize I’m three books behind, so I’d better get caught up!
Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner: You might have guessed from the series’ title that this one involves a supernatural storyline. A sweet reader recommended this one, and I might have ignored her suggestion if I hadn’t read the description that said, basically, “What if Buffy the Vampire Slayer grew up and moved to the suburbs?” She had me at Buffy – and kept me through all five books available on Amazon immediately.
I’d also recommend anything by Jennifer Crusie (more romance than mysteries, but lots of quirky characters and small towns full of whimsy) or the Maggie Kelly mysteries by Kasey Michaels (romance novelist solves crime with the assistance of her book’s characters, who have somehow come to life).
Do you read the Stephanie Plum books? What do you do when you are a little tired of a book series – quit or power on through?
What’s your favorite cozy mystery series?
This post includes affiliate links, so if you click through and make a purchase I might make a small commission at no extra charge to you. And this post may be linked to these amazing carnivals and link parties.
Great list! Im also enjoying the High Heeled mysteries by Gemma Halliday.
You know, I read the first one in that series and didn’t love it. Maybe I need to give it another try!
I have a hard time breaking up with shows and books too. I broke up with Stephanie Plum a long time ago, but, goodness, I loved the early books so much. And Grey’s Anatomy, although I tend to get pulled back in when new episodes are on Netflix. I broke up with Scandal too, right as others thought I was crazy. But, you know, gotta do what you gotta do. There isn’t enough time in the day to waste it on books and shows that aren’t what we want them to be!
Ooooh, Scandal. I’m glad I resisted that one from the get-go.
Yay Mary! Wasn’t the demon hunter soccer Mom fun? I will say that is was starting to wear on me by book five but it redeemed itself in the end. I actually missed it for a few days afterward. =)
I also read the Ivy Malone mystery series by Lorena McCourtney and it was cute. Ivy Malone is an older woman who uses her powers of aged “invisibility” and over imagination to fight crime and it is funny. They tried to throw in a Christian piece that I actually found a little forced but it was a good read. There are four books in the series.
I highly recommend the latest novel by Max Lucado too. Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe is a good book! Max is such a great story teller.
Happy Reading!
Lina
I haven’t heard of the Ivy Malone series, Lina. I’ll have to look it up!
I haven’t read cozy mysteries in years, but I went through a phase where I did. And the series I really liked was the Psychic Eye series by Victoria Laurie. I also read a bunch of the Lucy Stone books by Leslie Meier. Maybe I should revisit some of them.
Oooh, I haven’t heard of either of those. I’ll have to look them up!
Natalie at the library suggest The Spellman series by Lisa Lutz if you like Janet Evanovich. She really enjoyed the audio books. Have you read any of them?
I read the first one and did not love it at all. But maybe I should give it another chance? Have you tried the series yet?
I am listening to the first book. There are some definite laugh out loud moments. But if you dId not care for it, move on. Way to many books out there waiting to be read.
Hi Mary – I really enjoyed Marie Force’s Fatal series…(9 books now so definitely read them in order) I’m always waiting for the next one she writes in this series.
I also love Lillian Hart – the Addison Holmes series and Miss Fortune series by Jana De Leon, I laugh out loud when I read those two authors – but I can guarantee that I will laugh somewhere (more than once actually) when I read any of Julie Garwood’s books – her historical books and the FBI series – they are my go to “feel good” reads.
Just adding my two cents into your discussion….thanks for the authors and their series mentioned above….I’ll check them out….I’m always looking for new books to read.
Myrtle Clover cozy mysteries by Elizabeth Spann Craig…hilarious…and well written.
I absolutely LOVED Stephanie until around 13 or so. I had to break up with her, which was difficult to do. I’ve gotten better at it in more recent years – I just don’t have the time to waste on things that I don’t completely adore anymore – but it’s still hard. I’ve been in the mood for some quick, fun reading though, so this is a great list for me!
It’s a TV show, but I would recommend Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries! The first 3 seasons are on Netflix now. It’s set in the late 1920s in Australia, Phryne is a wealthy aristocrat who is intelligent, quick witted, sexy, tough… and her supporting cast is also fantastic. The show is very well written, it’s funny, and doesn’t feel cliched or repetitive. It’s a very fun series and I’d recommend it for anyone who likes to read/watch mystery stories. The show is based on the Phryne Fisher detective series by Kerry Greenwood – I haven’t had a chance to read any of them yet, unfortunately. They’re on my list though – if they’re anywhere as good as the series (or better, as tends to be the case) then they’re definitely worth the read!
I also love the earlier Stephanie Plum books! Have you read the Kinsey Milhone alphabet series by Sue Grafton? Another strong female, and laugh out loud funny at times.