Cozy Mysteries with a Thanksgiving Theme

 In the United States, we think of Thanksgiving as kicking off the winter holiday season. As cozy mystery fans know, cozies with holiday themes are quite popular, yet there aren't loads of them set around Thanksgiving. You'll have an easier time finding cozies tied into Halloween or Christmas than Thanksgiving-themed cozies; however, turkey day is not without its very own cozy mysteries. Here are a few of them:

Thanksgiving Dinner Death (Juniper Holiday Cozy Mystery, Book 2) by Leighann Dobb

This year, Juniper has invited most of Crescent Cove to her Thanksgiving feast. Even that annoying Detective Mallard and his gang of ducklings.

The mansion is decorated. The table is set. The cooks (both living and ghostly) are trying new recipes. Everything is perfect until someone ends up face-down in the pecan pie.

Juniper is determined to solve the case before Detective Mallard can ruin her fun with his rules, but will she manage it before the killer decides to try again, or will this Thanksgiving meal be Juniper’s last supper?

 

Sweet Thanksgiving (A Sweet Cove Mystery, Book 21) by J A Whiting

It is November in the seaside town of Sweet Cove, Massachusetts and Ellie and Jack 's wedding is fast approaching. But first, there's a mystery to solve. A well-known author and celebrity chef is in town for book signings when something unexpected happens. The Roseland sisters, Mr. Finch, Chief Martin, and two fine felines are drawn into a new mystery. Who can be trusted? Who is telling lies? Who has secrets they're trying to hide? Can they solve the case before Ellie walks down the aisle?
 

 

 

Trappings, Turkeys & Thanksgiving (A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery, Book 28) by Tonya Kappes

Mae West is bound and determined to stay in shape for her wedding day and with all the delicious southern dessert Mary Elizabeth is serving for Thanksgiving Mae has joined the local running group to race in Thanksgiving’s annual Turkey Trot.

She never figured murder would be on the menu and a couple of people she loves have a perfect motive.

The list of suspects isn’t exactly brief especially when one of the governor’s recently pardoned prisoner is at the top of the list. Mae has a pretty full plate between trying to plan a wedding that will satisfy everyone, keeping Dottie in line as well as trying to get a long with her future mother in law.

So what’s a little investigation to keep her mind off things? If Mae’s not careful, she may find herself served up as a last-minute course with all the trimmings.

 

Turkey Trot Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery, Book 24) by Leslie Meier 

The last surviving flowers on Lucy Stone’s porch have fallen victim to the first frost of the season. On the bright side, Thanksgiving, and the annual Turkey Trot 5K, are coming up in Tinker’s Cove, Maine—though sadly, Lucy’s four kids won’t be home today. But the holiday turns tragic when Lucy finds beautiful Alison Franklin dead in Blueberry Pond.
 
No one knows much about Alison, except that she was the daughter of ultrawealthy investor Ed Franklin, whose new wife is around Alison’s age. With heroin use increasing in town, police blame an accidental overdose, while her father casts vague accusations rooted in prejudice. But Lucy can’t understand what terrible forces could lead a privileged woman to ruin…
 
As a state of unrest descends on Tinker’s Cove, Lucy is thrown into a full-scale investigation. Now, Lucy must beat the killer to the finish line—or she can forget about stuffing and cranberry sauce… 
 

 

Raspberry Danish Mystery (A Hannah Swenson Mystery, Book 21) by Joanne Fluke

Thanksgiving’s coming, but with a missing husband and a murder to solve, Hannah isn’t feeling very thankful…
 
Hannah Swensen has been feeling as bitter as November in Minnesota since her husband, Ross, vanished without a trace and left their marriage in limbo. Still, she throws herself into a baking frenzy for the sake of pumpkin pie and Thanksgiving-themed treats while endless holiday orders pour into The Cookie Jar. Hannah even introduces a raspberry Danish pastry to the menu, and P.K., her husband’s assistant at KCOW-TV, will be one of the first to sample it. But before taking a bite, P.K.—who’s been driving Ross’s car and using his desk at work—is murdered. Was someone plotting against P.K.—or did Ross dodge a deadly dose of sweet revenge? Hannah will have to quickly sift through a cornucopia of clues and suspects to stop a killer from bringing another murder to the table.

 

 

10 Cozy Mysteries with a Wedding Theme

A wedding and a murder? That's just what you'll find in these ten cozy mysteries featuring a wedding theme.

Death by Proxy by Paula Darnell

When DIY Diva Laurel McMillan and her handsome fiancé police detective Lieutenant "Wes" Wesson are almost run down in the parking lot of their favorite restaurant just days before their scheduled wedding, Laurel comes away with bumps and bruises and a feeling of foreboding. More mysterious events follow, and an accidental drowning turns out to be a case of murder, and the killer's not done yet. Will Laurel and Wes make it to their wedding day?

The Wedding Plan by Kathi Daley

In book 10 in the Tess and Tilly Cozy Mystery series, Tess and Tony plan a secret wedding ceremony, Nona plans a visit, and Tess and Mike plan a face to face meeting with their father. 

Of course, you know what they say about the best laid plans!

 

 

Southern Magic Wedding by Amy Boyles

It’s Pepper's and Axel’s wedding day. Finally, the big day has arrived and the entire town is ready to celebrate. And Pepper is ready, too. She can’t wait to start her new life. The only problem is that suddenly Axel has ex-girlfriends oozing out of the woodwork. Worse, when a spell is cast on Axel the day before the wedding, his future with Pepper becomes murky.  

 

Divine Wedding by Hope Callaghan

As Delta and Gary prepare to walk down the aisle just days away from what could be Divine’s wedding of the decade, Jo offers to help Delta spruce up Gary’s old farmhouse. While there, Jo’s hound dog runs off. She and Delta track him down where they make a shocking discovery that threatens to rip the couple apart. The discovery sets off a chain of events that cast suspicion on the groom-to-be. Is it possible that Gary isn’t the man he claims to be?

 

Murder at the Wedding by Helena Dixon

1934: Kitty Underhay steps out of the battered Rolls Royce and onto the gravelled driveway of Thurscomb Castle in deepest Yorkshire. She’s honoured to be a bridesmaid at her cousin Lucy’s wedding to the reluctant Lord Rupert Woodcomb, but as family and friends gather for welcome drinks, Kitty dodges intrusive questions about her own marital status by taking a stroll about the castle grounds. As she passes through the manicured gardens, a fatal shot rings out…

Murder at an Irish Wedding by Carlene O'Connor

Any wedding is a big deal in the County Cork village of Kilbane, but with a local lad marrying a famous fashion model at Kilbane Castle, there’s no talk of anything but the upcoming nuptials. Siobhán O’Sullivan and her five siblings have their plates full catering the three-day affair from their bistro. But the celebratory mood suddenly turns sober when the best man is found murdered in the woods.

Better Off Wed by Laura Durham

A guest with an axe to grind. A bridal party full of secrets. This wedding planner is about to turn detective… Annabelle Archer is a few days away from completing the most elaborate wedding she's ever planned. As she daydreams about the doors her perfect reception could unlock for her business, she stumbles over a dead body at the bottom of the stairs.

 

 

Wedding Bell Blues by Lynn Cahoon

In the California coastal town of South Cove, Jill Gardner, owner of Coffee, Books, and More, becomes more engaged in sleuthing than in her wedding preparations when there’s a murder in a dress shop, but if Jill’s not careful, she may not live to wear her wedding gown.

 

 

Weddings Can Be Murder by Connie Shelton

Charlie Parker's brother, Ron, is ready for the happiest day of his life when he will marry long-time girlfriend Victoria Morgan. Charlie will be matron of honor, her husband Drake the best man. But when Charlie stops by the bride's house to pick her up for the ceremony, the place is in disarray and Victoria is missing.

 

Wedding Cake Crumble by Jenn McKinlay

With Angie and Tate's wedding just around the corner, it's a happy time for Melanie Cooper and the bakery crew. Not only are they finessing the last minute details of the big day, but their bakery, Fairy Tale Cupcakes, has just been hired to bake cupcakes for the blockbuster book signing of a controversial author who wrote a steamy bestseller filled with juicy local gossip.

But one by one, the people Angie has hired to work at the wedding begin turning up dead. As the body count rises, the bestselling author is the next to bite the dust. Mel quickly realizes she needs to figure out how the murders are connected and why--before the killer brings the entire cupcake crew crumbling down. After all, Angie and Tate deserve their sweet happily ever after. 

 

 

 

 

Make a Yarn-Wrapped Bangle Bracelet

 Fun and Easy DIY Project 

Making a yarn-wrapped bangle bracelet is an easy, fun project that yields great results with a minimum amount of time and materials, and it's a good way to use yarn left over from other projects. 

For the bangle pictured above, I used a plastic wavy bangle as the base and Moda Dea Wild!, a specialty nylon yarn made in Italy. I purchased the yarn years ago, and I don't believe it's still being made, but you can probably find some on eBay or Etsy if you're looking for this exact yarn. Any type of yarn may be used, though.

Supplies needed: yarn, bangle, tapestry or yarn needle. I used a plastic bangle, but any type of undecorated bangle will do, such as metal, wood, or glass. The bangle can be round or square. I used a tapestry needle, but a yarn needle will work also. You just need to be able to thread the yarn through the eye of whichever needle you choose.

Cut a length of yarn to use for wrapping. Ten yards of yarn is usually more than enough. I had plenty left over.

 

Make a small ball of the ten yards of yarn or wrap it around a small piece of cardboard. I used a one-inch by two-inch piece of cardboard. Now you have a small ball that can easily pass through the center of the bangle when you're wrapping it.

To begin, hold or glue the loose end of the yarn to the back of the bangle. Glue is completely optional. If you decide not to use glue for this step, simply hold the yarn in place until you've done several wraps over it. That's all that's needed to hold it in place.

Proceed to wrap the yarn through the center and around the bangle, making sure that it's tightly wrapped and that you're covering the tail of yarn you glued or held on the back to start. It doesn't matter whether you wrap outside to inside or left to right just as long as you consistently wrap the same way each time.

Keep wrapping!

Once you've wrapped the entire bangle, make sure the yarn is snug and cut a tail of about ten or twelve inches.

Thread the tail through the eye of the tapestry needle. There's no need to knot the tail.

Insert the needle in the back of the yarn on the bangle and pull it through as pictured above. Now take a stitch through a few strands of yarn on the back and repeat three or four times. Go back the other direction and do the same, pulling the yarn tight each time. 

Cut the yarn tail close to the back of the bangle, taking care not to cut the yarn that's wrapped around the bangle. You're all done. Enjoy your new bangle bracelet!  

Pictured above is another bangle, which I also wrapped with Moda Dea Wild! yarn in a different color combination. Experiment and have fun wrapping bangle bracelets with yarn. If you love yarn, you'll enjoy seeing how it looks on your wrist.

 

Love yarn? Love cozy mysteries? See my list of 10 Cozy Mysteries for Yarn Lovers.