This one could have been a contender, but fell apart at book 2. I don't know why I keep trying Berkley/Penguin cozies; they're all the same and all written for an entirely different audience. I need to stick with the other, smaller presses and the older vintage classics.

Really -- you can predict this sort of thing based on the publisher, too, not just the author? Wow.

Yeah - Berkley Prime Crime churns out the cozies the way Hostess churns out Twinkies, although there are a few stand-out authors (which is what sucks me in every time there's a new series; looking for those elusive few). On the other hand, Henery Press (very small) has so far put out an outstandingly high ratio of high quality, well edited cozy mysteries. Quantity vs. Quality. :)

Always one of the best reasons for supporting small publishers! (Or, in fact, small companies everywhere.)