Category Archives: Cozy

10 Reasons to Love Cozy Canadian Mysteries

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome back multi-published Canadian author Jo-Ann Carson. Today, Jo-Ann shares her love of Canadian cozy mysteries and her new release, One Cookie Short of Christmas.

Here’s Jo-Ann!

When people think of cozy mysteries, they tend to imagine the quaint English villages of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple stories, or Joanne Fluke’s small-town American tales. They envision settings with tea shops, nosy neighbors, and a dash of danger. While I like all those stories, I believe Canada provides a perfect setting for cozy crime. In fact, I’d go as far as to saying that the Canadian landscape is a delicious backdrop for murder. Here are ten reasons to try a cozy Canadian crime for your next read.

1. Picturesque Small Towns

From Prince Edward Island fishing villages on the east coast, to secluded mountain hamlets in British Columbia on the west coast, Canada is full of postcard-perfect communities that practically beg for a bookshop, bakery, or craft store sleuth. Consider for a moment, Louise Penny’s Three Pines series, which has captivated readers worldwide with its idyllic (yet murder-prone) Quebec village. Could her stories happen anywhere else? I think not. They are quintessentially Canadian.

2. Seasons That Steal the Scene

Cozy readers love atmosphere, and Canada delivers in spades. Think curling up with a maple latte while snowflakes swirl outside or attending a sunny lakeside summer festival where a suspicious death interrupts the pie-eating contest. In Vicki Delany’s Year-Round Christmas Mysteries, the perpetual holiday setting in Rudolph, New York, was inspired by her Canadian roots, proof that winter coziness translates beautifully to the mystery genre.

3. Foodie Heaven

Cozy mysteries often shine when food is involved, and Canadian has its own unique cuisine. Imagine your sleuth solving crimes between batches of butter tarts, Nanaimo bars, poutine, or salmon chowder. Canadian author Elizabeth J. Duncan does this wonderfully in her Penny Brannigan Mysteries, where food and friendship ground the story even as murder lurks nearby.

4. Quirky Communities

Cozy readers adore eccentric locals, and to be honest Canadian towns are full of them. Whether it’s the fisherman who swears he’s seen Ogopogo (a sea monster who lives in B.C.), the gossiping neighbor with a basement full of homemade wine (we have them from coast to coast), or the moose that keeps wandering into the hardware store, you’ll find quirky people and animals everywhere.

5. Festivals and Folklore

Every Canadian community has its unique traditions and festivals, from maple syrup celebrations to winter carnivals. Add in folklore, or ghostly legends, and you’ve got a perfect recipe for mysterious goings-on. Vicki Delany’s Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries often feature themed events that show how celebrations can add both charm and chaos to a cozy.

6. Close-Knit Settings

In cozy mysteries, everyone knows everyone, and this is also true in Canadian small towns. A single crime can ripple through the whole community, stirring gossip at the local Timmies, tension at the hockey rink, and suspicion at the town hall. Louise Penny has built her career on showing how a shocking event unsettles even the warmest of towns.

7. Multicultural Flavor

Canada’s cultural diversity allows amateur sleuths and suspects to come from many different backgrounds. This not only enriches character interactions but also allows the writer to explore diverse food, traditions, and culture. With more readers craving diversity in cozy mysteries, Canada offers endless possibilities.

8. Unique Law Enforcement

While cozy sleuths often operate outside official investigations, Canada’s mix of RCMP, provincial, and local police adds complications and intrigue to the process of crime fighting. Picture a friendly Mountie reluctantly teaming up with your amateur sleuth and how the interaction can add humor and heart. Delany, Penny, and other Canadian writers have already proven readers enjoy these unique dynamics.

9. Armchair Travel for Readers

We all know that reading cozy mysteries doubles as a mini vacation. Readers will love visiting the Niagara wine country, Quebec’s cobblestone streets, or Yukon’s wildflower meadows from the safety of their armchair. Penny’s Three Pines novels, in particular, have become global bestsellers partly because international readers fall in love with the setting as much as the sleuths. Joanne Guidoccio’s Ontario cozies have the warmth of a wood fire in the winter. My Vancouver Island mysteries draw on life in small towns surrounded by ocean, mountains and rugged wilderness.

Which brings me to number 10:

10. A Perfect Blend of Cozy and Wild

Canada’s charm lies in its balance of small, friendly communities surrounded by vast, sometimes untamed landscapes. That contrast heightens the coziness while leaving room for danger lurking just beyond the garden fence. Few places do “cozy with an edge” quite as well as Canada does.

My latest release is called One Cookie Short of Christmas.

When retired nurse Anna Maple hears the school’s Christmas baking table is short on cookies, she volunteers to help. But her holiday cheer quickly crumbles when she discovers one of Santa’s elves, murdered. It’s up to Anna to sift through the suspects and serve up justice before the killer strikes again.

This is a heartwarming, small-town, Canadian mystery with no gore, swearing, or sex. Filled with festive fun, a dash of danger, and cookies.

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An Early Review

5 stars by My2Doxie, posted on Goodreads, Bookbub, and Barnes & Noble

“One Cookie Short of Christmas is Book 3 in the Anna Maple Cozy Mystery by Jo-Ann Carson. I love holiday stories. Christmas is such a magical time of the year. Anna jumps in when she learns the school Christmas baking table needs more cookies. Unfortunately, she was not expecting to find one of Santa’s elves dead! I felt that Anna was a great main character. Get your cocoa and a candy cane and jump into the wonderful small town Canada mystery.”

About Jo-Ann Carson

Jo-Ann Carson writes powerful stories filled with evocative settings, strong characters, and fast-paced plots. Her stories fall into two main genre categories: supernatural suspense and cozy mystery.

Currently she is working on two projects. The open-ended Anna Maple Cozy Mystery series which is about a retired nurse who keeps tripping over dead bodies. The second is an urban fantasy series called Fangsters, which is the story of a book nerd sorceress blackmailed into running an academy for delinquent, teenage vampires.

To date, Jo-Ann Carson has published 37 stories. Her latest fantasy series include: Fangsters, the Dial Witch Trilogy, The Perfect Brew Trilogy, the Ghost & Abby Mysteries, and the Gambling Ghosts Novellas.

A firm believer in the magic of our everyday lives, Jo-Ann loves watching sunrises, walking the beaches with her poodle near her home in the Pacific Northwest, and reading books by a crackling wood fire. You can find more about her on her Substack website

Get Cozy with Kate Damon

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome Wild Rose Press author Kate Damon. Today, Kate shares her creative journey and new release, Jury Duty is Murder.

Here’s Kate!

What was your inspiration for this book?

I’m the kind of person who goes away for a week and comes home three weeks behind. So, I’ve always wondered how jury members maintained their lives when sequestered for weeks or even months. That was the question that put my creative juices to work.

The four jurors from the book return home after the trial, only to discover that their lives have been completely disrupted. Their relationships and jobs have all suffered due to their prolonged absence. As if this situation weren’t dire enough, they learn that other members of the jury have died under suspicious circumstances.

Now, finding the murderer takes priority over trying to restore their own lives. The challenge is that these four individuals did not get along during their time on the jury, and their feelings haven’t changed since then. However, they are left with no choice but to work together in order to catch the killer before they become the next victims.

What is the best part of being an author? The worst?

The best part is when a reader tells me how something I wrote touched them or made them laugh. The worst part is having to promote the book. Ugh.

Describe your writing space.

It’s a mess. LOL. Organizing my office was a New Year’s resolution like five years ago. The best part is I have a great view of my pool and the mountains. When my writing brain refuses to cooperate; I can always stare out the window. I also like that the walls are painted Monet purple, a color that is supposed to be good for creativity.

Which authors have inspired you?

Oh, my, there are so many. But the first one that comes to mind is Louis L’Amour. I met him in person when he gave a talk at a local college. I had yet to be published at the time, and he was so encouraging to me.

His advice was to write, write, write. He also said that water does not flow until it’s turned on. I’m happy to say I took his advice, and Jury Duty is Murder is published book #51 (counting fiction and nonfiction books).

What is your favorite quote?

I came across this quote years ago and it touched me so much, it’s been hanging over my desk ever since. “We’re all just walking each other home” by Ram Dass. It’s a simple quote but, oh, so powerful.

Any advice for aspiring writers?

I think Louis L’Amour said it all. Turn on that faucet and write, write, write! The only thing I would add to stay in constant touch with your characters. That means checking in with them every day.

Blurb

The verdict is in; a famed athlete is headed for prison. The jurors have done their job and are free to go back to their lives. But after being sequestered for four months, life as some knew it no longer exists.

HAROLD ASHMAN’s house is almost destroyed by a careless driver. Exotic dancer, CEECEE LAINE, discovers that her boyfriend is two-timing her, and she no longer has a job. Actor ALEX MANNING learns his career is down the tubes, and 72-year-old, HELEN RYDER, discovers her family is plotting to put her in an old folks home.

Then things take a turn for the worse. When former jurors start dropping like flies, CeeCee, Helen, Harold and Alex are convinced there’s a killer on the loose. Now the feuding foursome must find him before he kills them—or before they save him the trouble by killing each other.

Excerpt

The ringing telephone woke me up. Without opening my eyes, I felt around until I touched the nightstand and finally, my phone. “Hello.”

“Wake up.”

I groaned. “Alex, what do you want?”

“I need you to wake up.”

I forced myself to sit up. The clock on the radio said it was after ten. “This better be important.”

“Something is terribly wrong,” Alex said. “It’s the thirtieth and nobody’s dead.”

“Hallelujah.” I hung up and dived back into my pillow. The phone rang again, and I groaned. Only Alex would think that no dead bodies meant something was wrong. I rolled over and grabbed the phone. “Now what?”

“No one’s dead.”

– Excerpted from Jury Duty is Murder by Kate Damon, Wild Rose Press, 2025. Reprinted with permission.

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About Kate

When Kate Damon is not writing, she and her husband enjoy spending time with family and friends, raising Monarch butterflies, and playing a wicked game of bridge.

Writing as Margaret Brownley, she has published more than 46 novels and is a New York Times bestselling author. Known for her memorable characters and humor, she is a two-time Romance Writers of America Rita finalist.

Not counting the book, she wrote in sixth grade, and the puzzle of the missing socks, this is her first mystery.

Where to find Kate/Margaret

Website | Twitter/X | Facebook (Kate Damon) | Instagram | BookBub |
Goodreads (Kate Damon)

Facebook (Margaret Brownley) | Goodreads (Margaret Brownley)


Book Trailer

Giveaway

Kate Damon is giving away one $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:
• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card.
• This giveaway starts May 5 and ends July 31.
• Winner will be contacted via email on July 31.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

Enter to win here.



Celebrating National Cozy Mystery Day

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

Concerned about the lack of attention paid by libraries and bookshops, author Sarah Weldon took matters into her own hands and created National Cozy Mystery Day. Observed annually on Agatha Christie’s birthday (September 15th), this is a day set aside to celebrate cozy mystery books, movies, and television series worldwide.

In her research, Sarah discovered that cozy mysteries are the second most popular genre (after romance) on Amazon. Unfortunately, she has not been able to easily find cozy mysteries in UK libraries and book stores. In fact, she often has to describe the books to sales associates. Sarah’s ultimate goal: Dedicated bookshelves of cozy mysteries in each literary establishment.

A long-time fan of the genre and author of the Gilda Greco Mystery Series—A Season for Killing Blondes, Too Many Women in the Room, A Different Kind of Reunion—I also have to describe the genre to interested friends and potential readers.

Here’s my description…

A cozy is a mystery that includes a bloodless crime and contains little violence, sex, or coarse language. The crime takes place “off-stage,” and very few graphic details are provided. Sex, if there is any, is often behind closed doors. It is not unusual to read about a couple enjoying a romantic dinner and then turn the page to find them waking up to breakfast.

The sleuth is usually female and not a medical examiner, detective, or police officer. A bright and intuitive woman, the sleuth gravitates toward such “people” professions as a librarian, florist, teacher, homemaker, caterer, and nun. Some examples of amateur sleuths include Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher in Murder She Wrote.

While the local police force doesn’t take sleuths too seriously, these women manage to find connections (relatives, friends, love interests) to classified information. In the Gilda Greco Mystery Series, the protagonist is a career development practitioner, and the chief detective on the case is her former high school crush.

The cozy takes place in a small town or village. While I’ve stretched it a bit and based the novel in the mid-size Ontario city of Sudbury, I have introduced characters who grew up in Gatchell, the Italian section of town.

A cozy is a “fun read” that engages the reader. By the end of the story, the criminal is punished, and order is restored to the community.

Book 1 in the Gilda Greco Mystery Series

Hours before the opening of her career counseling practice, Gilda Greco discovers the dead body of golden girl Carrie Ann Godfrey, neatly arranged in the dumpster outside her office. Gilda’s life and budding career are stalled as Detective Carlo Fantin, her former high school crush, conducts the investigation.

When three more dead blondes turn up all brutally strangled and deposited near Gilda’s favorite haunts, she is pegged as a prime suspect for the murders. Frustrated by Carlo’s chilly detective persona and the mean girl antics of Carrie Ann’s meddling relatives, Gilda decides to launch her own investigation. She discovers a gaggle of suspects, among them a yoga instructor in need of anger management training, a lecherous photographer, and fourteen ex-boyfriends.

As the puzzle pieces fall into place, shocking revelations emerge, forcing Gilda to confront the envy and deceit she has long overlooked.

Excerpt

I noticed a man making his way through the crowd that had gathered outside the front window. Tall and lean with salt and pepper hair, the man sported a black leather coat and a light gray suit. When he stopped to talk with Uncle Paolo, he flashed a badge. As I approached the two men, my heart started beating faster. Carlo Fantin. How could I have forgotten my old high school crush? If anything, he looked even better now than he did back then. He hadn’t bulked up or lost his hair. He was still hunk material.

He stared, his blue eyes widening in surprise and something else I couldn’t quite define. Amusement. Anticipation. Maybe even lust. Whatever it was, he had stopped talking to Uncle Paolo and was now giving me his full attention.

He flashed the beautiful smile that had once captivated me and every other female student at Sudbury Secondary. “Hello, Gilda. It’s good to see you again. Uh, in spite of these circumstances.”

“Hi Carlo, I’m–”

“Detective Fantin.” My uncle shouted.

Before I could say anything, Aunt Amelia piped up, “We’re so glad you came, Detective. We’ll sleep better tonight knowing that you’re in charge.”

My mother and Sofia appeared at my side. All those years ago when I had fantasized about connecting with Carlo, I had envisioned many wonderful scenarios where we would bump into each other and fall in love—on the beach, dance floor, even at a bar. Never in a million years, did I think we would reconnect in these circumstances with my family in tow.

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The Right Character Names

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

“How attached are you to the name Anna May?”

Sandy Isaac’s question took me and six other members of the critique group by surprise. While I appreciated most of the suggestions I had received, I wondered about Sandy’s question. Anna May Godfrey is the villain in A Season for Killing Blondes. I had spent several years in Anna May’s company and wasn’t prepared to change her name.

Sandy noticed my hesitation and explained her resistance to the name. Said quickly, Anna May becomes “anime,” a style of animation often featuring themes intended for an adult audience. Two of the other members nodded while five of us merely shrugged. But Sandy’s concern raised several questions in my mind.

How would my readers respond?

Would they make the same connection as Sandy?

Would Anna May’s name suit or hinder her villain status?

Continue reading on the Sisterhood of Suspense blog.

A Perfect Fit for Baci Perugina!

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

When a book blogger asked me to compare the Gilda Greco Mystery Series to chocolate, I had no problems coming up with the perfect answer: Baci Perguina, the most famous chocolate brand in Italy and popular with Italians worldwide.

Perugina’s signature recipe includes whipped milk chocolate, gianduia filling, and chopped hazelnuts all in bittersweet chocolate. Each bacio (kiss) comes individually wrapped in silver and blue packaging and hugged by a poetic love note.

The three books in the series—A Season for Killing Blondes, Too Many Women in the Room, A Different Kind of Reunion—contain romantic elements, humor, and bittersweet moments. A perfect fit for Baci Perugina!

Continue reading on the Sisterhood of Suspense blog.

How to Deal With Information Overload

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

One lost email could cost a life. A bit overly dramatic, but it didn’t stop Constable Leo Mulligan from suggesting that Gilda Greco could have prevented a former student’s death, if only she had read that email.

The storyline of A Different Kind of Reunion revolves around this overlooked email.

I would like to think that a lost email would never set in motion such dire consequences in real life situations. But still, a part of me worries about the increased inflow and outflow of information.

Continue reading on Kristina Stanley’s blog.