I'm currently consuming a cozy mysteries/urban fantasy every two days and need plenty more. Some mystery series I enjoy are: Jacqueline Kirby by Elizabeth Peters, Tita Rosie's Kitchen by Mia P. Manansala, Dead-End Job by Elaine Viets, and Noodlehouse by Vivian Chien. For urban fantasy I like the Esther Diamond series by Laura Resnick and anything by Tanya Huff. I'm fine with older titles which have plot elements clearly tied to when they were written (e.g., no cellphones), and I also don't mind books which were written recently but have a historic setting. More of what I'm looking for:
- + The writing is humorous or has a sense of the absurd.
- + It is a long-running series that will keep me going for a few weeks. This is a preference, not a strict requirement.
- + Woman MC. An AFAB or NB character would also be fine.
- + MC is intelligent, as evidenced by not having her life threatened in every book.
- + The MC and/or main supporting character is not the typical straight, white, 20-something who wants to lose a few pounds. She's possibly queer, a person of color, older, actually overweight, etc. – and she doesn't read like the author merely took the typical character and changed an attribute; her experiences are informed by who she is.
And I don't want:
- – The MC is inexplicably a doormat to a difficult parent or sibling, which is one of the main plot devices that gets her into bad situations. Having a fraught relationship with a controlling person is acceptable.
- – Misunderstandings arise because the MC cannot communicate honestly and effectively with a love interest, family member, or friend.
- – Romance is a main part of the plot, especially with a police officer. It can be a minor plot.
- – The character's sexual mores are conservative, for instance they spend book after book chastely agonizing over a love triangle, to the point where you want to cut the Gordian knot by recommending polyamory.
- – Children are a main part of the plot, or childcare comes up frequently.
- – The MC is religious.
by AnotherPointlessName