| Imagine your terror at finding out that
| |
| | it convenient for her to "casually
|
| Jessica Fletcher was moving from Cabot
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| | overhear" things at a scene of the crime.
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| Cove to your neighborhood! Would you stay
| |
| | More and more, cozy mystery books are
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| up at night just wondering when this
| |
| | being written as parts of a series. The
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| unassuming, friendly woman was going to
| |
| | reader becomes emotionally involved and
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| befriend you? Would you wonder which of
| |
| | connected with the reoccurring
|
| your friends would be the first, and then
| |
| | characters. It's almost as if the reader
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| second, third, even fourth to die? I
| |
| | is "going home" to a familiar place when
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| loved watching Jessica solve all the
| |
| | she reads her next cozy mystery book in a
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| murders in Cabot Cove, then when she ran
| |
| | series. (Of course, publishers of these
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| out of neighbors, have to move to New
| |
| | series must enjoy knowing that fans of a
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| York. If you are reading this article
| |
| | series guarantee the success of each book
|
| about cozy mystery books, you probably
| |
| | in the series. It's not uncommon for fans
|
| have enjoyed watching Jessica solve her
| |
| | of a cozy mystery series to pre-order a
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| way through one community after the next.
| |
| | book before it is available at the
|
| She is a prime example of a Cozy Mystery
| |
| | stores.)
|
| Heroine....
| |
| | In a series, it is important that the
|
| Cozy mysteries have become a booming
| |
| | characters are likeable, so that the
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| business. Many cozy mystery readers are
| |
| | reader will want to visit them again. The
|
| intelligent women looking for a "fun
| |
| | supporting characters are equally
|
| read" that engages the mind, as well as
| |
| | important to the reader. It is for his
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| provides entertaining fun... something to
| |
| | reason that there are so many funny,
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| "look forward to getting back to." This
| |
| | eccentric, and entertaining secondary
|
| is not to say that intelligent men don't
| |
| | characters. Can you imagine wanting to
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| read cozies...they do!
| |
| | read the second book in a series that has
|
| The crime-solver in a cozy mystery is
| |
| | all of it's characters as scummy,
|
| usually a woman who is an amateur sleuth.
| |
| | low-life people, perpetrating evil deeds
|
| Almost always, she has a college degree'
| |
| | and being downright mean all of the time?
|
| whether she is using it or not. Her
| |
| | Cozy mysteries are considered "gentle"
|
| education and life's experiences have
| |
| | books... no graphic violence, no
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| provided her with certain skills that she
| |
| | profanity, and no explicit sex. Most
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| will utilize in order to solve all the
| |
| | often, the crime takes place "off stage"
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| crimes that are "thrown her way." The
| |
| | and death is usually very quick.
|
| cozy mystery heroine is usually a very
| |
| | Prolonged torture is not a staple in cozy
|
| intuitive, bright woman. The occupations
| |
| | mysteries! The victim is usually a
|
| of the amateur sleuths are very diverse:
| |
| | character who had terrible vices or who
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| caterer, bed and breakfast owner,
| |
| | treated others very badly. Dare I say....
|
| quilter, cat fancier/owner, nun,
| |
| | the victim "deserved to die?" And, there
|
| gardener, librarian, book store owner,
| |
| | are usually connections between the
|
| herbalist, florist, dog trainer,
| |
| | victims (if indeed there are multiple
|
| homemaker, teacher, needlepoint store
| |
| | victims... which usually, in a cozy
|
| owner, etc. These are just a few examples
| |
| | mystery, there are!), even though the
|
| of what the amateur sleuth does.... When
| |
| | reader is not aware of the obvious
|
| she's not solving crimes, that is!
| |
| | connections until the amateur sleuth
|
| The cozy mystery usually takes place in a
| |
| | solves the crimes.
|
| small town or village. The small size of
| |
| | Sex (if there is any) is always behind
|
| the setting makes it believable that all
| |
| | closed doors. It is implied.... at most!
|
| the suspects know each other. The amateur
| |
| | Two characters may go from having a
|
| sleuth is usually a very likeable person
| |
| | late-night, romantic dinner to----fast
|
| who is able to get the community members
| |
| | forward----one person taking a cup of
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| to talk freely (i.e. gossip) about each
| |
| | coffee up to their partner, who is
|
| other. There is usually at least one very
| |
| | enjoying the delicious luxury of sleeping
|
| knowledgeable and nosy (and of course,
| |
| | in. Enough said!
|
| very reliable!) character in the book who
| |
| | Cozy mysteries tend to be fast-paced,
|
| is able to fill in all of the blanks,
| |
| | with several twists and turns throughout
|
| thus enabling the amateur sleuth to solve
| |
| | each book. There are usually several red
|
| the case.
| |
| | herrings to provide distracting clues to
|
| Although the cozy mystery sleuth is
| |
| | the reader. The amateur sleuth is able to
|
| usually not a medical examiner,
| |
| | sift through the clues, tossing the
|
| detective, or police officer, a lot of
| |
| | useless information out while analyzing
|
| times her best friend, husband, or
| |
| | the good clues. There is a lot of puzzle
|
| significant other is. This makes a very
| |
| | solving involved in a cozy mystery.
|
| convenient way for her to find out things
| |
| | The cozy mystery puts an emphasis on
|
| that she would otherwise not have access
| |
| | plots and character development. You
|
| to... Do you know any caterers or dog
| |
| | definitely could not convert a cozy
|
| trainers who have access to autopsy
| |
| | mystery novel into an "action movie" with
|
| reports? I don't! (Unless you count some
| |
| | a lot of car chases and young,
|
| of my favorite cozy characters...)
| |
| | gratuitously topless actresses! An
|
| At the same time, it is probably safe to
| |
| | expression comes to mind that could
|
| say that the local police force doesn't
| |
| | easily differentiate the cozy mystery
|
| take the amateur sleuth very seriously.
| |
| | from other types of
|
| They dismiss her presence, almost as if
| |
| | mysteries............. "Brains over
|
| she doesn't exist. This of course, makes
| |
| | Brawn" every time.
|
