After reading and collecting hundreds of cozy mysteries, I have two pet peeves: 1) A heroine who engages in a vehicle chase or an insanely risky scheme to capture the villain to conclude the story. After demonstrating high levels of critical thinking and sleuthing skills throughout the story, the heroine suddenly seems to lose her mind and acts with zero regard for her physical safety. In real life these acts would absolutely result in death. The cozy has suddenly transformed into an action movie thriller. 2) A writer who gives multiple characters a first or last name beginning with the same letter. Readers try to remember one or two characteristics about each new person as they are introduced into the storyline. When multiple people have similar names it makes the story into work, not fun.

@LisaLatte

3 ай бұрын

Hi Debra: Yes, it can be frustrating when the characters aren't consistent. And for sure, it's always best practice to have every character name start with a new sound of the alphabet. i.e. Sarah and Cindy would violate this rule but Sarah and Candy wouldn't. Good adds to the Pet Peeves list - thanks for sharing. XO Lisa

I know I'm late here but I want to say a few things... 1. As a old white southern male, I'm terribly sorry about your bad experience. Yes racism is a big part of the old southern culture and the younger generation is trying their hardest to help us get away from it. 2. We do have large multicultural communities here in Arkansas. My wife and I live in a community with a thriving Hmong population and 45 minutes away from us is a HUGE Vietnamese and Laotian part of Ft.Smith. We even have communities where white folks are the minority. Heck even 2 of my sisters are black. 3. We are trying so hard. Much harder than folks realize to change the stigma associated with us. Not just Arkansas but all over the south. 4. Also I do understand that most cozy mysteries in the south are written just for the Southern white, 40ish woman who worships Paula Deen and buys nothing but Pioneer Woman kitchen stuff from WalMart. BUT give us a chance we are trying. 5. Finally the wife and I are cat people and I just told her I couldn't wait to read your books.

@detectivefiction3701

8 ай бұрын

If you've never personally harmed a minority, then I don't see why you need to apologize. It's unrealistic and frankly sounds insincere when you try to apologize on behalf of a huge and varied region like the American South. As an individual human being, you can really only speak for yourself. Speaking as a white woman in her 40s from Virginia (which, of course, is the South though not the Deep South), the South is hardly the only place in America with past and present racism. Oregon, for example, has an ugly racial history and seems to contain many racially sheltered and clueless people today. Natives of New Jersey can be extremely racist as well as anti-Semitic (having spent a lot of time in New Jersey, I've personally met some of these bigots). But do I expect tolerant people from Oregon or New Jersey to apologize on behalf of the intolerant people from those states? Certainly not; that would be silly.

Agree with 80 percent of your list. In addition, I am tired of: 1: Triangles 2: inept cops, I would rather see crooked cops, than bumbling cops 3: main characters who are supposedly millennials, using expressions that are outdated and no one under 50 uses.

@LisaLatte

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Ivy: Such a good point - so over love triangles too. Unless I'm re-reading Twilight, we should get rid of triangles in all books. haha. And for sure - I'd love to see a dirty, deceptive cop over a dumb one anyday! And yes, millenials using phrases like - I'll make you a mixtape or something is weird. LOL. XO Lisa

@Sharmelle586

2 жыл бұрын

I agree with all this. I'm so over the triangles, it's one of the biggest tropes in cozies (next to the amateur sleuth & cop clashing). Having a cop who's crooked but can do the job when needed would be a refreshing change.

I agree with the cheating, I hate it, even if it's just considering it in your head. I'm also over love triangles. I love the south since I associate it with hospitality and old values. I've lived in California all my life and have experienced racism and religious discrimination, and always from other minorities.

@LisaLatte

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, Nahid - cheating is so wrong, especially emotional cheating. It's also the reason I avoid Angelina Jolie movies. And I'm right there with you - I have been discriminated by all minorities, not just white and in all areas of the country/world. But it's only in the South that people have actually tried to kill me because of what I look like so that's the only reason I don't get the warm touchy feelies from the deep South. XO Lisa

@thebookborough

3 жыл бұрын

@@LisaLatte totally agree on the cheating!!! The south will always trigger that memory. I was physically assaulted in China during a year abroad as a teen because I was a foreigner so I totally get it.

@mollietenpenny4093

2 жыл бұрын

@@LisaLatte What happened? 😲 Who wanted to hurt you and why? I'm from the South by the way.

I would love to see different reasons for the MC to move back home. Maybe quitting a terrible job/getting fired; the death of a loved one ; a part of their life that they're trying to escape from or a mistake they're running away from etc. There are so many possibilities beyond a cheating partner!

I'm completely onboard with the "Dating the sheriff" trope being done to death. I can see how it would be tough, though, for an amateur detective to get much information regarding the case and the suspects without some kind of inside connection like that. . The warm weather cozies you mentioned... I kinda' like those. I heard the reasons you gave and I can't argue, but I wonder how much of this might be related to your own location. From my point of view, sunshine, beaches and eighty-degree weather seems rather exotic and makes a great story background. The word, "cozy", though, does sound more like a warm fireplace during a blizzard than it does a sunny beach. . Enjoyed the video. Thank you. Subscribed.

I totally agree about when the murder takes place late in the book. Too many characters as well. Deep South too.

@LisaLatte

3 жыл бұрын

hi Rebekah - True that to all those things! XO Lisa

Actually agree with 100% of your list. The Riviera for warm weather locales is my only exception. You sort of stuck to "contemporary" cozies. In contemporary cozies there sometimes can be a whole anti-urban anti-career attitude, like a modern Stepford Wives. As you point out people can be motivated and successful and still be driven detectives. Why do they have to be broken or a humble baker? The cozies set in pre-WWII most often grate on me when the author has the characters do something you could not do. Like wander around in the rain at night without a flash light. When characters try to disguise themselves as someone not in their class and then everyone (including the murderer) around them tolerates or is not suspicious of their out of character behavior.

I’m currently writing a cozy mystery that takes place in Oregon, and it never occurred to me to talk about homeless people or pot. Yes, both are in abundance in the state (some cities more than others), but it’s weird to me that cozy mystery writers would talk about that at any length. You’re right, they’re not particularly cozy!

@LisaLatte

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Lesley - Thank you for not putting those subjects in your book! I did just read another Oregon based cozy without either of those 2 subjects as the features of the book so it sounds like I just ran into some bad ones. XO Lisa

I don't think my Pineapple Port series fell into any of your pet peeves until the last one... it takes place in Florida. SO CLOSE! :)

@LisaLatte

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Amy: Ha - that's hilarious. But I bet lots of other people love Florida! XO Lisa

@kirstyfp

2 ай бұрын

I LOVE your Pineapple Port mysteries!! 🍍

@AmyVansant

2 ай бұрын

@@kirstyfp Thank you! :)

I agreed with many of your pet peeves. I have one that I close the book right away. I really don't like when the author lealeaves the POV to essentially say..."I wouldn't have done that if I had known what was about to happen." When the author announces something is about to happen, it feels like a lazy way of attempting to build tension. It just annoys me! Lol

@LisaLatte

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Linette: For sure - I'd close the book too. That's just like TV Shows (Magnum PI and Hawaii Five-0 used to do this all the time) where they start out with some super crazy tense scene or murder for like a couple paragraphs or a chapter and then say... "24 hours earlier" and then start the story from there. SO LAZY. XO Lisa

I started to talk about your aversion to the south but then you talked about your experiences and I now understand. I am not a fan of the deep south either. I also agree with all of your list. I actually prefer cozies set in the upper North East of the country. I don't like cozies set in bakeries and always revolving around food (Bailey Cates books are my exception). I get sick of inept cops, stop bumbling around and do your job. Let's not forget the woman who is chasing any and every man she can find because she thinks sh.has to be married or dating someone to have some self worth.

@LisaLatte

3 жыл бұрын

Hi April: Very true - I like independent strong women who are comfortable with their single status. And I also love cozies set in Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts - love the upper NE. XO Lisa

@LadyIarConnacht

11 ай бұрын

So, you basically believe ridiculous stereotypes and tropes and have experienced racism - sure you have. Nobody in the South or anywhere else dislikes Asian people, except maybe those that look down on them and hate them for no reason. By the way, I live in the Northeast and us farm girls are plenty strong enough, even WITH our husbands and children.@@LisaLatte

@detectivefiction3701

8 ай бұрын

Interesting. I'm from Virginia and sometimes think I don't much care for New Jersey or New England because I have met some people from those areas who were rude, loud, crass, and close-minded. But then I remind myself that I shouldn't engage in regional stereotyping, if only because I don't like it when people stereotype the South.

Your channel just popped up in my feed. This is a really good list, and so unique from everyone else who did this list. I really liked the one about the murder not happening early enough, and the one about the stories from the Deep South. I can’t take the plantation lifestyle being romanticized - once you realize what that represented, nope. I’m subbing, of course! 😁

Your vibes are so good! I love your energy.

@LisaLatte

2 ай бұрын

Aww thanks Tatum! XO Lisa

We share a lot of pet peeves. As a writer, I think book 1 can have the murder occur a bit later in the story because you have to set the set the stage and introduce the MC.

@LisaLatte

3 жыл бұрын

Hi there: Are you sure - because I love police procedurals where the murder is on page one. Not saying you're wrong but I guess I'm that reader that loves to just get right into the murder and start investigating. XO Lisa

Thanks for your great comments. I agree with most of your pet peeves. For myself, I have certain tropes that I don't like and if I see them in a book blurb, I skip them. Examples for me: talking pets (just weird), the countless, and endless, bakery-centered books (I've lived in a lot of places around the country and I've never seen a bakery, much less been in one, yet in cozies, there's one on every block, including tiny, remote ranch -country towns with a population of 300) and the gossipy ones (celebrity/rock star/royalty). (The last 3 are related in my mind to those ugly gossip shows I refuse to watch. What a person does in their private life should remain private, and shouldn't be broadcast to the world by some intrusive snoops who can't mind their own business.)

@LisaLatte

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Kathleen: That's a good idea - checking book blurbs first to see if it's a pet peeve. You probably save yourself a lot of calories by skipping the baking cozies - I'm extremely susceptible to power of suggestion haha. But yes, it's pretty hilarious that a tiny town of 300 has a thriving bakery. LOL. XO Lisa

Your wrap is like a cuddle duds. There so comfortable with a pair of leggings and a t. Perfect attire for reading binges.

@LisaLatte

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Melly: Yes, it's the best! XO Lisa

Well said!

Not Cozy-too much kissing or beyond the Hollywood bedroom door. DNR and round file. I won’t even pass it on. PS: I am so happy. My Oregon book has zero marijuana 😬🤪😂.

@LisaLatte

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Shannon: Yes, finding an Oregon book with zero marijuana is always a good find! I mean seriously - why would I want to read about bongs and vaping and edibles. So gross. XO Lisa

@shannonsymondsauthor

3 жыл бұрын

@@LisaLatte 😂😂😂😂 Funny story. My 88 year old mother came to visit after they legalized it. There were more new pot stores than fast food places. As we drove her back from the airport she said, (words spelled so they sound the way she said them), “What is all this Can-ee-bus?” Lol Explain this gross mess to a grandma! 😂😂😂😂😂🤦‍♀️! Not in my book!! Too real and we all need a little escape! Let me know if you want a paper copy of Murder Takes a Selfie for an Oregon book with one of your pet peeves still in the book. 🤪

I agree with ALL of your pet peeves!

@LisaLatte

3 жыл бұрын

Hi KH: Super - we're cozy mystery kindred spirits! XO Lisa

Really liked this video! No clue what DNF stands for...lol...time to Google!

@LisaLatte

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Linette: DNF is Did Not Finish. XO Lisa

I share these pet peeves

@LisaLatte

2 ай бұрын

Right?! always nice to meet a kindred cozy mystery reader! XO Lisa

I agree with a lot of those pet peeves, especially the love triangles, dating a cop, cheating and mean girls. Another pet peeve is the main character talking about their wild curly hair all the time. And a while back I read too many cozies with main character being a red head and then having so many cliches about angry redheads. I haven’t read any like this recently, but that previous experience turned me off so much that a few years later, I still can’t take it. You mentioned not liking books set in the Deep South. One of the settings I don’t like is France. I have no good reason to dislike it, but most of the time I will not pick up a book set in France. Glad to have found your channel!

@LisaLatte

3 жыл бұрын

Ha - yes, the curly hair and the angry redheads. Totally forgot about that until you mentioned it. For sure - those should be on the list, too! XO Lisa

I agree with your points but I like Courtney can’t DNF. I am always hopeful it will get better…sometimes it does, sometimes not

@LisaLatte

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Nancy: Ha - yes, very true. It does make me feel a little guilty giving up on each in case it gets better at some point. XO Lisa

I agree with you about the Deep South…Having moved from Massachusetts to Florida I find the same thing. Not everyone of course..

@LisaLatte

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Nancy: Yes! It's just "different" sometimes in some areas of the South. XO Lisa

I have a love hate relationship with the Hannah Swensen books because of the dumb way too drawn out love triangle that spoiler ends in Hannah marrying neither man

@LisaLatte

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Danny: Yes, the love triangle was super annoying! Hopefully, it's gone like the 2000's and never to return again! XO Lisa

@Melted-Kuchi-kopi

3 жыл бұрын

@@LisaLatte it sucks be she I love the characters and setting but the live triangle to so insufferable. Especially because she so clearly seems to favour one over the other.

I’m so sorry that happened to you!😩😩

You obviously from a big city, and don’t seem to understand that feral cats shouldn’t be brought indoors. You can try to catch and fix but even the animal shelters in rural areas will list the cat as a barn buddy, a cat that intentionally let outside because that is what it’s used to. They have access to a barn or shed if they want shelter and food and water is provided. 😅

@LisaLatte

Жыл бұрын

Hi Theresa: I wish I was from a cool big city like NYC or LA but I'm from the armpit of the world aka Kankakee, IL. I strongly believe that all cats and dogs should be kept indoors or on a leash when outside without a fence. It's too easy to be hit by a car, lost, injured or killed by predators or abused by crazy people. I love animals [possibly more than people] and just don't want to see them in pain or suffer. I volunteered at an animal shelter where we rehabilitated feral cats that went on to find their forever indoor homes and they all seemed very happy to get hugs, kisses, a steady supply food, vet care and a warm blanket to cuddle under. Alright, maybe they weren't so excited about the vet care but some of them were in really bad shape from trying to live outside on their own. XO Lisa

@cre8tivity87

Жыл бұрын

You absolutely can bring feral cats indoors. There is a KZread channel called Tiny Kittens. I love watching it because they take in feral cats, heal them if they're hurt, spay them, domesticate them and adopt them out to their fur ever homes. Also, all the cats I had growing up in my city were feral and yes it took a while, but they eventually loved being indoors and sleeping in a warm bad at night, especially in the winter.

📕📕📕📕🏳️‍🌈🧕🏿👌🏾🥰

I don't like the demeaning cop trope. I can't stand when the cop talks down to the main character. I also don't like when, for some reason, they name the gay man Lance. Like there is no other name but that for a gay man but that one. I also don't like when the so called friend puts down the main character. It's like, why are you even a friend if you are going to put them down. Dump that person. I also don't like parents that put down something about their kid. Or other family members does. Be supportive or be quiet.

@LisaLatte

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Butterflies015: Ha - what a good point. There are totally tons of books with a gay character named Lance. Never realized that until you mentioned it. And for sure - more positivity and support! XO Lisa