Cozy mysteries are known for their clever series names and wonderful pun-based titles. With the end of 2017 approaching, we've compiled the best pun-based cozies into a huge bundle sweepstakes! So sign in, comment below, and let us know which cozy title is your favorite for a chance to win a copy of all 12 books!
Gone Gull
by Donna Andrews
Meg is spending the summer at the Biscuit Mountain Craft Center, helping her grandmother Cordelia run the studios. But someone is committing acts of vandalism, threatening to ruin the newly-opened center’s reputation. Is it the work of a rival center? Have the developers who want to build a resort atop Biscuit Mountain found a new tactic to pressure Cordelia into selling? Or is the real target Meg’s grandfather, who points out that any number of environmentally irresponsible people and organizations could have it in for him?
While Meg is trying to track down the vandal, her grandfather is more interested in locating a rare gull. Their missions collide when a body is found in one of the classrooms. Can Meg identify the vandal and the murderer in time to save the center’s name―while helping her grandfather track down and rescue his beloved gulls?
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A Crime of Passion Fruit
by Ellie Alexander
Jules Capshaw is trying to keep her cool as Torte gets set to make its transformation from quaint, local confectionary café to royal pastry palace. Meanwhile, Jules’s estranged husband Carlos is making a desperate plea for her to come aboard his cruise ship and dazzle everyone with her signature sweets. She may be skeptical about returning to her former nautical life with Carlos but Jules can’t resist an all-expense-paid trip, either. If only she knew that a dead body would find its way onto the itinerary…
Now, instead of enjoying tropical drinks on deck between whipping up batches of sea-salted chocolates and flambéing fresh pineapple slices in the kitchen, Jules is plunged into dangerous waters. Her investigation leaves her with more questions than answers: Why can’t anyone on board identify the young woman? And how can she help Carlos keep passengers at ease with a killer in their midst? Jules feels like she’s ready to jump ship. Can she solve this case without getting in too deep?
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Cat Among the Pumpkins
by Mandy Morton
As All Hallows’ Eve approaches, Hettie Bagshot of The No. 2 Feline Detective Agency has more than just a ghost and warlock tart on her plate. Along with her faithful sidekick, Tilly, the tabby duo set out to investigate an old crime and a spate of new murders.
Why is Mavis Spitforce dressed as a pumpkin? Can Irene Peggledrip really talk to cats from the spirit world? Did Milky Myers murder his family on Halloween, longer ago than anyone can remember? All questions the pair must answer before the case can be solved. As the November fog closes in, where will the killer strike next―and will there be enough catnip to go around?
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Assault and Beret
by Jenn McKinlay
London milliner Vivian Tremont and her American cousin and partner, Scarlett Parker, tip their caps to their beloved shop on Portobello Road in Notting Hill and set off for Paris, where Viv can’t wait to teach a hat-making class. But she has another reason to travel to the City of Light: to find the man she impulsively eloped with years ago and have their marriage annulled.
William Graham is not only handsome and charming, but he also has a glamorous job as an insurance investigator who works with priceless pieces of art, most recently a small Renoir that has been discovered in a junk shop. But when both Will and the masterpiece suddenly disappear, it’s up to the ladies from London to follow the trail of clues. They’ll need to hold on to their chapeaux, however, because someone is a master in the art of deception…
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Grace to the Finish
by Julie Hyzy
Now that Grace Wheaton has officially been named heir to Bennett Marshfield’s fortune, her usually busy schedule has become a juggling act. In addition to her duties at Marshfield Manor, she’s bankrolling her roommates’ refurbished wine shop, Amethyst Cellars. Grace is excited to check out the rustic space with Bruce and Scott. But that excitement turns to dismay when they stumble upon the body of the banker involved with the sale.
Grace wants to get to the bottom of this mystery quickly so that her friends’ new venture isn’t overshadowed by an unsolved murder, but she’s got even more to balance when her troubled sister, Liza, is released from prison early. Liza’s first stop is Marshfield Manor and her first priority is grabbing a bite of Bennett’s fortune for herself. Grace has to keep her greedy sister at bay and catch a killer before her new life comes crashing down around her.
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Fixing to Die
by Miranda James
It’s autumn down south, and An'gel and Dickce Ducote are in Natchez, Mississippi, at the request of Mary Turner Catlin, the granddaughter of an old friend. Mary and her husband, Henry Howard, live in Cliffwood, one of the beautiful antebellum homes for which Natchez is famous.
Odd things have been happening in the house for years, and the French Room in particular has become the focal point for spooky sensations. The Ducotes suspect the ghostly goings-on are caused by the living, but when a relative of the Catlins is found dead in the room, An'gel and Dickce must sift through a haunted family history to catch a killer.
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Yews with Caution
by Kate Collins
It’s April in New Chapel, and Abby and her husband, Marco, are off to buy shrubs for their new house. But the owner of the local landscaping company is nowhere to be found. Abby’s best friend, Nikki, meanwhile, believes she unwittingly helped a group of her hospital coworkers conspire to kill the man.
After the police get involved, Nikki becomes a suspect. Abby digs deeper for clues to save her friend only to discover bushels of folks bearing a deep-rooted hatred for the two-faced business owner. Marco attempts to help Abby with the case but soon falls critically ill. Now Abby must find the real culprit on her own before everything goes to pot…
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A Puzzle to Be Named Later
by Parnell Hall
The Puzzle Lady couldn’t be happier. Matt Greystone, the rookie sensation who just signed a huge contract with the Yankees after coming to the team as the player to be named later in a trade with the Diamondbacks, winning seventeen games as a starting pitcher, was coming to town to rehab from an arm injury. A diehard Yankee fan, Cora was delighted when Matt invited her to a weekend pool party.
On the plus side, she got to meet Derek Jeter.
On the minus side, she had to solve a puzzle (that was also named later), and a couple of the guests got killed.
Solving murders is right up the Puzzle Lady’s alley. Unfortunately, someone has broken into the house of a local psychiatrist and rifled her patient files, and Chief Harper wants Cora to solve that, too.
Cora already knows who broke into the house.
She did!
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A Room with a Brew
by Joyce Tremel
It's Oktoberfest in Pittsburgh, and brewpub owner Maxine “Max” O'Hara is prepping for a busy month at the Allegheny Brew House. To create the perfect atmosphere for the boozy celebration, Max hires an oompah band. But when one of the members from the band turns up dead, it's up to Max to solve the murder before the festivities are ruined.
Adding to the brewing trouble, Candy, Max's friend, is acting suspicious… Secrets from her past are fermenting under the surface, and Max must uncover the truth to prove her friend's innocence. To make matters worse, Jake's snooty ex-fiancée shows up in town for an art gallery opening, and she'll be nothing but a barrel of trouble for Max.
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Addressed to Kill
by Jean Flowers
Love is in the air for postmaster Cassie Miller and the residents of North Ashcot, Massachusetts. Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and the town is gearing up for a special dinner dance at the senior center. With the local musical group performing at the dance displaced from their regular practice location, Cassie is all too happy to host them during off-hours at the post office.
But not everything is coming up roses. When one of the musicians, Dennis Somerville, is found shot in his home, rumors swirl over who might have wanted him dead. Cassie must determine if there is a link between a string of recent break-ins and Dennis's murder before another victim winds up with more than a broken heart.
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Comic Sans Murder
by Paige Shelton
The visit of quirky world-famous horror author Nathan Grimes to Star City is especially thrilling for Clare Henry and her grandfather Chester. As the owners of The Rescued Word, a charming boutique shop in town, Clare and Chester specialize in restoring old typewriters and repairing beloved books. They’ve invited Nathan to their shop to use their equipment for his next book.
But all plans to work on the book take a step in the wrong direction when a tourist discovers an abandoned ski boot on the slopes—and the only sign of the owner is the dismembered foot he left inside! Nathan’s writer’s curiosity for all things horror is further piqued after the body of Clare’s high school friend Lloyd Gavin is discovered sans one foot. When all toes point to a class reunion gone wrong, Nathan can’t help but join Clare and her best friend, police officer Jodie Wentworth, as they hurry to track down the killer before more former classmates become Most Likely to Be Killed.
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Ginger Snapped
by Gail Oust
Piper Prescott and Police Chief Wyatt McBride might have gotten off on the wrong foot but, over the past year, their interactions have evolved into a friendship of sorts. And when the body of Shirley Randolph is found floating in a fishing hole, their relationship reaches entirely new territory.
Shirley, the town's Realtor of the Year, was also Wyatt's suspected romantic interest, and now the residents of Brandywine Creek are speculating that Wyatt is responsible for her death. As the town council moves to suspend the handsome lawman, Piper springs into action to save his reputation and possibly his freedom. She enlists the aid of her BFF, Reba Mae Johnson, along with Wyatt himself, to help solve the puzzle and find Shirley’s real killer.
Pointing them toward high-powered real estate tactics and possible affairs, the investigation soon becomes personal when Piper's shop, Spice It Up!, is burglarized, and she’s forced off the road late one night, narrowly escaping serious injury. Realizing that she must be close to uncovering the truth, and that the evidence against Wyatt is no longer circumstantial, Piper resorts to drastic measures to prevent a grave miscarriage of justice.
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interesting books
Has to be A Room with a Brew…
Comic Sans Murder. They all sound good. I need them all for a “cozy binge read”
Yews with Caution is the most classical pun, but I’ll give Gone Gull points for being current.
Ginger Snapped
Cat Among the Pumpkins sounds fun
Of these, I’d say “Yews With Caution.” I like that another person referred to it as a “classical pun.” A lot of these titles are more “word play” or “clever.”
Ginger Snapped.
If there is one place that puns can thrive, it appears to be within the cozy field.
grace to the finish
thanks for the chance
Where is And Then There Were Nuns?
Yews with Caution and Gone Gull. Gotta love the puns
room with a brew! great title
room with a brew! great title
Ginger Snapped sounds fun :). Thanks!
So many good ones! A Room with a Brew is a great punny title!
As a baseball fan, I have to choose “A Puzzle To Be Named Later”.
GInger Snapped made me laugh the most, but I also like A Room with a Brew.
A Room with a Brew.
Comic Sans Murder!!
My favorite is Gone Gull.
Comic Sans Murder!!
I read two Donna Andrews books this year, How the Finch Stole Christmas and Gone Gull, so I’ll vote for Gone Gull.
Cat among the Pumpkins…..I live with 3 rescue cats…such fun
My favorite is
Ginger Snapped
Addressed To Kill.
Comic Sans Murder — had to think about it for a while!
Comic Sans Murder is intriguing.
Gone Gull.
Assault and Beret
Room with a brew
It’s a toss-up – Room with a Brew or Fixing to Die. Both sound really fun!
Ginger Snapped
Ginger Snapped
Ginger Snapped
A Room With A Brew.
Cat Among the Pumpkins
So clever! A Room with a Brew is my favorite title of these.
I like Cat Among The Pumpkins the best.
Comic Sans Murder is my favorite title (love Paige Shelton’s books) and Comic Sans is also my favorite typeface.
Comic Sans Murder is my favorite title (love Paige Shelton’s books) and Comic Sans is also my favorite typeface.
Comic Sans Murder cannot be beat!
I have to vote for Gone Gull with Yews with Caution a close second. I am a bit biased as I have enjoyed everything Donna Andrews has written, with Kate Collins on my “gotta read the rest of her stuff” list. I like the sound of Ginger Snapped, too.
Yews with Caution
Ginger Snapped
A Crime of Passion Fruit, although they’re all pretty clever!
“Yews With Caution” is easily my favorite pun – it doesn’t require knowledge of specific books to understand, and the yew tree is often seen in graveyards, so it seems a perfect fit for a mystery!
Cat among the Pumpkins sounds like a fun read.
Yews with Caution is a killer title.
Lots of finalists but ‘Ginger Snapped’ is the one that whets my appetite. Bet it’s got some spicy characters, so long as they’re not half-baked.
Like Gull Girl is my favorite. Would like to win so I can read them all!
I’m going for Room With A Brew
addressed to kill is my favorite title. But, all of the titles sounds like fun reading.
Love ginger snaps, so my choice is Ginger Snapped.
Yews with Caution by Kate Collins!
Room With A Brew
A Puzzle to be Named Later bu Parnell Hall. All the books are good, but I love Hall’s sense of humor.
Assault and Beret
Assault and Beret
I like Yews with Caution.
A Room With a Brew!
A Puzzle to be Named Later. Baseball + cozy= perfect reading before spring training. I really want to win these!
Room with a Brew. Takes place in Pittsburgh which is within driving distance so I’m interested in this book.
Room with a Brew. Takes place in Pittsburgh which is within driving distance so I’m interested in this book.
Ginger Snapped
Ginger Snapped
Witty title grabs interest.
A Room with A Brew was close but I’m going with Gone Gull.
Addressed To Kill.
A Crime of Passion Fruit. Hope there may be some recipes too.
Gone Gull is my favorite. I love Donna Andrews’ books & her titles are always fun. Thanks.
Truly a difficult decision, but Ginger Snapped just hit my funny bone
I’m a huge Agatha Christie fan, so Cat Among the Pumpkins is my personal favorite. 🙂
My favorite is Gone Gull.
Many good ones. I think I like “A Room with a Brew” for the best pun title.
Gone Gull
[b]Ginger Snapped sounds yummy[/b]
These all sound like great story lines. Ginger Snapped is at the top of my must read list from this selection.
Ginger Snapped! Yes!
Comic Sans Murder
Cat Among the Pumpkins
Ginger Snapped
Ginger Snapped
ginger snapped.
They all sound good but I’d probably go with Assault and Beret
I love these types of books! I choose “Grace to the Finish” as my favorite.
Crime and Passion Fruit tickles my funny bone !
Gone Gull. Funny bird puns are Donna’s specialty and the puns and the books are always wonderful.
I like A Crime of Passion Fruit
‘Grace to the Finish’ by Julie Hyzy. Love Manor mysteries.
A Puzzle to be Named Later. I love the baseball angle
gone gull especially after gone girl…lol
A Crime of Passion Fruit!
“Yews with Caution” is my favorite of the titles. It’s clever, practical and original , I think. But I’d love to read all the books. I’m in the mood for light fiction. It’s been a LONGGGGG 2017. We need a break!! Thanks for the sweepstakes.
“A Room with a Brew” sounds like a good book to start with a beverage of my choice.
Ginger Snapped is clever and so is the cover.
Keep my favorite local. Joyce Tremel. Room with a Brew. Pittsburgh all the way!
A Puzzle to Be Named Later by Parnell Hall, because I just picked up a stack of the Puzzle Lady books. This one would fit in nicely.
Sounds like a wonderful collection. Great for mid-winter reading
Comic Sans Murder is my favorite!
My favorite title is Assualt and Beret, and of the ones I’ve read, it’s the best. I also loved Comic Sans Murder.
To reflect my location, I have to choose “Fixin’ to Die.” That’s how the title would appear in my neck of the woods. 😉
A Crime of Passion Fruit by Ellie Alexander.
Room with a Brew.
A Puzzle to Be Named Later is my favorite from the list, but there were a few others I had in mind that I liked even better.
Room with a Brew is my favorite title.
Loved Yews With Caution. It was a fun book with a great title!
CAT AMONG THE PUMPKINS by Mandy Morton. I so badly want to read this book. It sounds purrrrrrrfectly wonderful! This is the second book in this series.
Cat Among the Pumpkins sounds like a lot of fun!
Love Gone Gull; by Hyzy’s Grace is always a good read.
It’s a toss-up between A Room with a Brew and Ginger Snapped.
I like A Room with a Brew best.
I love several of these authors, but I would have to say Assault and Beret by Jenn McKinlay!
Love all these authors
Gone Gull
So if a redhead goes crazy, is it called Ginger snaps? Ginger Snapped is my favorite book title.
There are some pretty catchy titles here. They all gave me a good chuckle. For now, I’ll go with a Room with a Brew. Who couldn’t use one of those!