 Mystery: November 05, 2025 Issue [#13430] |
This week: Cozy Mysteries for Your Thanksgiving Edited by: Adore lol♥ feels thankful♥  
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As we know, Christmas and Halloween get all the flashy books, but there is something so deliciously contained about a Thanksgiving mystery. You’ve got the high stakes of family drama, the confined space of a home (or a snowed-in mansion!), and the most dangerous element of all—a deadline for a perfectly roasted turkey. This edition, where I am a guest editor for this issue, will showcase five fantastic cozy mystery authors that will amaze your senses (and taste buds) for more. So, sit back and enjoy this issue where it's all cozy and Thanksgiving dishes lead to life and death. |
Well, wow! I can hardly believe it is NOVEMBER...again!!! Time is roaring past me (and anyone else who feels this rush of time lol) This is the month of great weather (cooooool  weather) and Thanksgiving.
My faves totally! Since we are officially in that beautiful stretch between autumn leaves and holiday lights, I think it’s the perfect time to talk about the unsung hero of the cozy mystery calendar: Thanksgiving.
Sure, Christmas and Halloween get all the flashy books, but there is something so deliciously contained about a Thanksgiving mystery. You’ve got the high stakes of family drama, the confined space of a home (or a snowed-in mansion!), and the most dangerous element of all—a deadline for a perfectly roasted turkey. All that stress and carving knives make for a perfect whodunit setting.
So, pull up a comfy chair, grab that leftover slice of pie you’re hiding, and let’s talk about five fantastic, feathery-focused cozy mysteries that are absolute must-reads this month.
You can’t talk about Thanksgiving cozies without mentioning the reigning queen of holiday murder, Leslie Meier, and her beloved sleuth, Lucy Stone. Leslie has given us not one, but two huge hits set during the holiday, and they both feature that great small-town Maine charm mixed with just enough high stakes sleuthing.
First up is “Turkey Day Murder.” Lucy Stone, the part-time reporter in Tinker's Cove, Maine, already has a full plate with Thanksgiving dinner prep, the annual high school football game, and a charity pie sale.
But the holiday spirit curdles when a local Metinnicut Indian activist, Curt Nolan, is found murdered, his head bashed in with an ancient tribal war club, right near the Thanksgiving football game!
The list of people Nolan had rubbed the wrong way is long, and Lucy finds herself balancing gravy making with finding a killer who is definitely not feeling grateful. It's a classic small-town cozy with a great atmosphere and a real sense of community.
Then we have “Turkey Trot Murder,” which gives us another chilling November in Tinker's Cove. This time, while training for the annual Thanksgiving Day 5K run (the “Turkey Trot”), Lucy discovers the body of beautiful Alison Franklin, frozen in a pond.
The police call it a simple overdose, but Lucy’s reporter nose twitches. Alison was the daughter of a wealthy investor, and the town is bubbling with rumors about her wealthy father, his new young wife, and her quiet struggle with addiction. This case is full of family secrets and small-town tensions, proving that even a run to burn off calories can end in a shocking discovery.
Next, we move to a mystery where the feast itself is the murder weapon! Isis Crawford’s “A Catered Thanksgiving” is a must-read for any foodie who loves a good kitchen disaster.
This one features sisters Bernie and Libby, who run the catering company, "A Little Taste of Heaven." They’ve been hired to prepare the perfect Thanksgiving dinner for the wealthy and spectacularly dysfunctional Field family.
The Fields are high-strung, viciously competitive, and fighting over the dominating patriarch Monty's extremely lucrative will. But the holiday goes from stressed to deadly when the turkey, which Monty is inspecting in the kitchen, explodes, sending the grumpy head of the family to the great dining room in the sky!
Now, Bernie and Libby are trapped at the Field Mansion—thankfully, a freak snowstorm has them all sealed in—and they must figure out which greedy family member rigged the bird before they become the next course. It’s got great recipes and a high-energy, sister-sleuth dynamic that will keep you guessing.
For a cozier with a unique setting, you have to try Julie Hyzy’s “Hail to the Chef.” This series features White House Executive Chef Olivia "Ollie" Paras, and this installment puts her right in the middle of Thanksgiving preparations for the First Family.
Ollie is navigating the highest-pressure kitchen in the country, busy planning the holiday menu, when things go from busy to deadly. A kindly electrician is electrocuted, and the First Lady’s nephew dies in what is ruled an apparent suicide, all leading up to the holiday.
Ollie is a resourceful and charming protagonist who knows that accidents and suicides are rare when there's an ongoing bomb threat and high-level political drama simmering under the surface.
This book gives a fascinating peek behind the velvet rope of White House life while keeping the cozy mystery elements grounded and fun. You'll be craving more of Ollie's investigative skills and her culinary creations!
Finally, let's wrap up with two authors who bring a touch of the past and a coastal vibe to their Thanksgiving tales.
Lee Harris’s “A Thanksgiving Day Murder” from the Christine Bennett series is a fantastic mystery with a focus on a cold case. Ex-nun Christine Bennett gets involved when the husband of a woman named Natalie Gordon pleads for her help. Natalie simply vanished more than a year ago while attending the Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The police have no leads, and not only is Natalie's current whereabouts a mystery, but her past seems to have been erased. Starting with a few cryptic belongings, Christine must unravel a life that someone tried very hard to bury. It’s a compelling mystery that highlights the darker side of a beloved tradition.
And for a cozy with a lovely seaside feel, check out Kathi Daley’s “Cottage on Gooseberry Bay: Thanksgiving Past.” Protagonist Ainsley Holloway is in Gooseberry Bay to find answers about her past and the lingering dreams that have haunted her since childhood.
While there, she teams up with friends to search for the truth about a local tragedy: a family that mysteriously vanished five Thanksgivings ago.
This book weaves together Ainsley’s search for her own identity with a historical, chilling cold case tied directly to the holiday. It’s a wonderful choice if you like a cozy that combines found family, coastal charm, and a touch of melancholy history.
There you have it! Whether you want a Maine local reporter, a trapped caterer, a White House chef, a parade cold case, or a seaside mystery, there is a perfect Thanksgiving cozy waiting to be devoured.
I hope these recommendations give you some thrilling reading material to enjoy once the last dish is washed (or even before you start cooking—I won’t tell!).
Happy Reading, and Happy Thanksgiving, you guys. Oh, and did I tell you guys that you are the best? Thanks for reading this newsletter...gosh, I'm feeling real thankful right now.   Thank you and see ya later 
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A good November welcome to you guys!!! We're still here and it's that month I love...turkey month!!! 
No, that['s not all that November is about. There's so much more and welcome to the November edition of the mystery newsletter Q&A section. Let's get to it, shall we?
Now, for the question of last month's newsletter for October: Which of the cozy Halloween mystery writer's books are known to feature costume parties, fall festivals? We had a brave reader submit the answer, and we'll look at it as follows:
Fiction Ðiva the Word Weava  Halloween in Gretchen Archer (writing as Addison) books often means costume parties and fall festivals.
She was the only participant and has received a MB for helping out with the answer. 
So, the question from the newsletter is as follows: How many cozy mystery writers were featured in this month's Mystery newsletter? The first 5 contributors will receive either a MB or Awardicon for their participation.
There is a 2nd bonus question that will warrant a guaranteed Awardicon for the item of their choice from their portfolio for the answer.
The second question is: Which author has a murder where a body is found during a 5k run? The first 5 contributors will receive an Awardicon for any writing in their portfolio for participation.
Well, we're hoping to see the grandkids and son this year in the ole' home state. I'll let you guys know what happens.
I'm also seriously considering writing...writing a few more things before the year's end.
My motivation is from seeing a few people I never thought would write or read, suddenly are doing both. Guess I need to get on it. lol
Take care till next month...December is on it's way. WOW! See you guys next month but till then, stay healthy, keep on writing and hug your family till next time. |
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