Book Review: Writing the Cozy Mystery by Nancy J. Cohen

Here is the first book review for January 2015 by Sheila Renfro.
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Book review: Writing the Cozy Mystery by Nancy J. Cohen

Published by Orange Grove Press Copyright 2014

10 Chapters, 43 pages and includes writing exercises and resources.

I love reading cozy mysteries and often wondered how the author penned them. So I picked up this book by Nancy J. Cohen, author of the Bad Hair Days Mysteries series.

This book is helpful whether you are a cozy mystery, a children’s mystery or even a thriller writer.

It includes all the elements needed to complete a novel.

Chapter one describes the genre and chapter two gets down to the world building or setting the scene.  She suggests as many authors do, on including the five senses when writing a scene to make it come alive. Pick a setting you want to spend a long time in especially if you are writing a series.

Chapter three and four help you map out your character and suspects. She has a clever way of mapping the suspects and motive.

Chapter five is all about keeping the momentum flowing in the middle.

Chapter six is how to solve the puzzle you created.

Chapter seven- Don’t rush the grand finale, let it simmer and soak up every emotional detail you can.

Chapter eight gives you insight into keeping a series going from one book to the next.

Chapter nine offers incredible organizational tools that can be used for any type of book you are writing.

Chapter ten is final words from the author.

At the end is a list of writer’s resources that you may find useful.