When I’m not reading about church life and spiritual transformation, one of my favorite genres is the cozy mystery. I am addicted to quite a few series that my sister keeps me supplied with as well as reading random free/discounted books I find on Kindle/Amazon. Cozies tend to be relationship centered mysteries where the blood and gore are kept to a minimum. There may be a romantic element, but most of the details are also left to the reader’s imagination and not detailed. I’ve read three cozies so far this year. The first one is Cast On, Kill Off by Maggie Sefton. This is the tenth book in her “knitting mystery” series. I have read all of this series and always look forward to seeing what the These books are a quick read and the friendships that develop around a knitting store are charming. Having dabled in knitting these last few years, I enjoy the details about the yarn and patterns even more. Kelly Flynn, the protaganist, balances accounting and sleuthing with her many knitting projects. Set in Colorado, I always want to bundle up in front of the fireplace when I read these books.

The other two books are part of a new series, Miss Pettybone’s Southern Series. Miss Pettybone’s First Case and The Murder of Minnie Stover by Melissa Rees, are set in a small town in Mississippi. The main character, Miss Pettybone, is a postal worker who stumbles upon her first case while delivering the mail. She involves her wacky friends in her adventures and flirts with the local Sheriff who she dated while in high school. These books are a quick read and I found myself cheering Miss Pettybone on throughout. I love the way Rees highlights the eclectic personalities of southern life.