Just as the title suggested, it’s a cozy collection of stories - envy, jealousy, adultery, dementia caused by envy
of an animal, and murder - to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee, on a lazy winter or rainy day.
The Corbett Correspondence by E Marston & P Lovesey
A series of correspondence between two operatives in the Secret Service. Through the letters, they solved a crime, fell in love and decided to get married.
Like to Die by Catherine Aird
The residents of a nursing home suffered from food poisoning; however only one person who did not seem to be affected, died the next day.
Immortality by Jon L Breen
The chairman of Classic Pictures had fallen to his death from his twelfth-story apartment. Who had murdered him? The unhappy investors whom he had insulted at his dinner party earlier, or his wife, who might have resented the loss of her movie career?
Ways to Kill a Cat by Simon Brett
An author had become famous, writing stories about her husband’s cat. However the cat’s fame and popularity outshone hers; she needed to get rid of it.
Mea Culpa by Jan Burke
A crippled boy overheard his stepfather at confession in church; blaming his mother for his problems; wondering aloud if there was a way to end the marriage. Suspecting that his stepfather was planning to murder his mother, the boy tried to prevent him.
The Gentleman’s Gentleman by Dorothy Cannell
Dickie was devastated to hear that his beloved has fallen in love with the charming Lord Dunstair, who was later found dead in the garden. Dickie’s valet discovered that his Lordship was there under false pretenses.
Malice Among Friends by Sarah Caudwell
A man and a woman were competing for the editorship of a journal, a step to intellectual glory. The man’s girlfriend devoted herself to the campaign by attempting to vilify his rival’s character, and was caught in the act.
True Confessions by Kate Charles
Celia had befriended a priest at church and invited him to dinner. He brought along his wife, a beautiful young woman, not a typical clergy wife. Celia suspected her husband of having an affair with her best friend. She turned to her priest for advice and comfort.
Abstain from Beans by Lindsey Davis
Milo had let his villa out to an educational sect and did not expect to find it burned down, with a dead philosopher in the grounds. He wanted to find out who and why, and engaged one of the philosopher’s disciples to help him.
Time’s Winged Chariot by Marjorie Eccles
Spenser was making plans for his retirement; however his wife did not want him around, disturbing her peace. When he intended to dig through her garden, she was annoyed. So she planned to stop him, while he plotted to get rid of her.
Alternative Reality by Anthea Fraser
Sybil created an alternative identity in another part of town; away from the recent disappointments in her life. She spent once a week there, building the stories of fictional family members. Little did she know that she would be a target for a break-in.
Come Sable Night by Kerry Greenwood
Getting rid of an unfaithful lover by poisoning is rather an extreme act; however if fate chose to intervene, then he really deserved it.
Murder Mid-Atlantic by Edward Marston
Working on board an oceanic liner gave the American purser a whole range of experiences; yet nothing had prepared him for a theft, a murder and an elderly First Class passenger who was not impressed with Americans.
City Boy by Susan Moody
How to get rid of an unwanted relative who invited himself into your life and refused to go away, even if you hinted or told him outright.
One in Every Family by Betty Nathan
An unpleasant aunt came to stay for Christmas; the family was warned to be generous and kind to her. Yet it was the son’s girlfriend, who looked ‘like a bit of fluff’ who employed her battery of charms to handle the unpleasant problem permanently.
The Two Ladies of Rose Cottage by Peter Robinson
Miss Eunice and Miss Teresa lived in Rose Cottage, with a deadly secret to hide. The police came to dig up their garden – there were rumors of human bones, mutilation and murder.
Sweet Fruition by David Williams
A woman who toiled with her husband for a better life; she had wanted to move to the sun and sea to enjoy the spoils. Her husband wanted to delay the enjoyment; so she found a distraction and got rid of him. After a decent period of mourning, she married the ‘distraction’; hoping to realize her dream. Yet it looked like she had to find another ‘distraction’ again!