Who would you say today is writing mysteries that are in the vein of Golden Age mysteries? I love contemporary cozies but Golden Age was my first love and I'd love to find some new classic mystery writers. Is there anyone you think of as classic mystery writers today?

Thanks for the welcome. I would say Classic mystery writers are A J Jance, Jonathan Kellerman and Faye Kellerman.

Hmm. "In the vein of Golden Age" ... thinking of Christie's Miss Marple mysteries, possibly Susan Wittig Albert's China Bayles series, Laura Child's tea shop mysteries, and Donna Andrews's Meg Lanslow? Also, would M.C. Beaton fit that particular mould? Or possibly that of Dorothy Sayers and Margery Allingham?

For a series involving a male main character, I was initially tempted to say Colin Dexter, but Morse, for all his erudition and iconoclasm, is perhaps just a tad too grumpy to fit in with the Poirots and Holmses. Then again, Ngaio Marsh's Inspector Alleyn would probably have gotten along well with Ruth Rendell's Inspector Wexford, P.D. James's Commander Dalgliesh, and Caroline Graham's Inspector Barnaby ...

All of which series I'm sure are not new to you, however, so no help on that front, sorry -- just the ones that come to mind most proximately if I think "Golden Age gone contemporary"!

That all said, have you seen "Murder by Death"'s review of Sofie Ryan's "The Whole Cat and Caboodle" ("Second Chance Mysteries, #1)? What she wrote made the book go straight onto my TBR list ... and it would seem to fit in well with the the Miss Marple-alikes in the new cozy crowd. (Am I the only one who finds it strange that virtually all of these feature a MC who is some sort of shop owner or inn keeper, btw?)

It is interesting how the shop owner/inn keeper mystery has become almost a standard.

I know most of those but there are several that I haven't read yet. My TBR list grows larger. So, a new genre for me to use, "Golden Age gone Contemporary!" I find that after reading a few cozies in a row, I really need something more "classic."

I do love Ngaio Marsh. I should probably do a reread. M.C. Beaton is also a favorite, particularly Hamish.

In my eternal quest to fit all my mysteries into a genre, "Golden Age gone Contemporary" may become a category. Off to find some Ruth Rendall and Faye Kellerman.

Yay -- a new mystery category! :)

How about Elizabeth Peters Amelia Peabody series. I haven't read either Murder By Death or the Whole Cat and the Caboodlie. Both are on TBR List. I Luke Ngaio Marsh, I would read again if I could find the books. Marica Mueller might be another and Donna Andrews is a favorite.

I love Amelia Peabody! I think I had classified her as cozy or historic but her mysteries are classic. I haven't read Marcia Mueller or Donna Andrews. The TBR stack grows again. Thanks for the suggestions.

Thanks for posting this! I've wondered the same thing myself. I also need to work on getting the definitions ironed out, as my idea of cozy and classic don't always seem to mesh with others.

My ideas of cozy and classic have changed over the years. I use to think of Miss Marple as cozy and I still do to some degree but I know I classify her more as classic. I use the tag Contemporary American Cozy for all those tea shop/craft shop/interior decorator mysteries that are written today. I really enjoy them but they are a different thing than Miss Marple. At least in my mind.

Reply to post #9 (show post):
Those I agree with. Basically, 'theme' mysteries, for me, are always labeled cozy. They might take some aspects from it...but they tend to be more cozy to me.

I haven't read Louise Penny. I've only heard rave reviews about her so I need to find some to read.