Whether or not you're a cat lover like me, you have to admit there’s something undeniably comforting about a cozy mystery featuring a cat. As intuitive companions, secret sleuths, or magical beings, feline characters bring warmth, humor, and just a hint of the uncanny to every investigation. These stories often unfold in charming small towns or bookish settings, where curiosity (both human and feline) leads straight into trouble. And, of course, murder. From library stacks to

I love cozy mysteries with plenty of wit and humor, quirky characters, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting. How about you? From amateur sleuths with unconventional day jobs (bookies, grim reapers) to wildly entertaining plots involving meddling families, small-town secrets, and accidental murders, these series prove that solving crimes doesn’t have to be serious to be satisfying. Whether you’re in the mood for something light and witty or a little edgy, these 25

French Impressionism remains one of the most beloved movements in art history, capturing fleeting light, modern life, and the quiet beauty of everyday moments. In 2026, museums around the world are celebrating these artists in extraordinary ways, from major international exhibitions to intimate, focused studies of individual painters. Monet exhibitions are particularly popular this year since it’s the 100 th anniversary of his passing. Whether you’re planning a trip or simpl

Holy mackerel! I was looking for a spring-themed cozy mystery, and I found an entire library full of them! But several of these popular murder mysteries stood out—10 to be exact—because they’re ideal for sweet tooths like me. If you’d like a little yumminess in your next TBR, consider choosing one of these ten cozy mysteries that blend equal parts sweetness and suspense.         A Matter of Hive and Death by Nancy Coco In a quaint coastal Oregon town preparing for a quirky UF

If you love a perfectly constructed classic whodunit—one filled with secrets, subtle clues, and a final reveal that makes you gasp—you’re already part of a long tradition of cozy mystery readers enchanted by Agatha Christie. For over a century, her novels have invited readers into drawing rooms, country houses, trains, and far-flung destinations, each setting hiding a puzzle just waiting to be solved. And much like today’s cozy mysteries, Christie’s stories offer that irresis

Few artists capture joy, movement, and modern life quite like Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Known for his luminous color, soft brushwork, and scenes of everyday leisure, Renoir helped define Impressionism , and his paintings continue to draw crowds around the world. If you’re planning your art travels (or simply dreaming from afar), 2026 offers a remarkable opportunity to experience Renoir’s work across major exhibitions and world-class collections. From Paris to Pittsburgh, here’s

When most people think of John Singer Sargent, they picture the dazzling society portraits done in oil paint (like the one in Sargent's Deadly Commission ) that I’ve been showing in previous posts . But whenever Sargent could step away from the grand salons and aristocratic drawing rooms, he enjoyed painting with watercolors. These paintings, created primarily in the last three decades of his life, reveal an artist painting not for patrons but for himself. They’re intimate, l

Oh, how I love the Gilded Age! It was a time of glittering wealth, social ambition, and shocking inequality. It was an era defined by lavish mansions, opulent balls, and larger-than-life personalities, particularly among New York’s elite families like the Vanderbilts and Astors. Known in France as the Belle Époque and in Britain as the late Victorian and Edwardian eras, this period captured my imagination when I was researching Sargent’s Deadly Commission . Glamour, scandal,

I know I've been spending plenty of time on the French Impressionists because they're part of my first book, Revenge Among the Renoirs . But I'd be remiss if I didn't devote at least a little attention to the American Impressionists of the following generation. Led primarily by artist Childe Hassam, American Impressionism took the light-filled brushwork and modern sensibilities of French painters like Monet and Renoir and translated them into distinctly American scenes of sun

World’s fairs, also known as international expositions, have long captured the imagination of millions. These grand events blend innovation, culture, and spectacle, offering a snapshot of human progress at a particular moment in time. From the steam-powered wonders of the 19th century to today’s immersive, tech-driven exhibitions, world’s fairs have evolved alongside society itself. Early Fairs The story of world’s fairs begins in the mid-19th century, during a period of rapi

If you’re planning your cultural calendar for 2026, there’s no better artist to build a trip around than Francisco de Goya. Few painters capture the full spectrum of human experience—beauty, brutality, power, and madness—quite like Goya. From glittering royal portraits to haunting visions of war and despair, his work feels as urgent today as it did over 200 years ago. Whether you’re drawn to blockbuster exhibitions or world-class permanent collections, here are the must-see p

Few artists captured the elegance of high society quite like John Singer Sargent. Born in 1856 to American parents in Florence, Sargent grew up traveling across Europe, absorbing artistic influences from Paris to Madrid. As a teenager living in Paris, he trained at the prestigious atelier of Carolus-Duran, where he mastered a fluid, confident brushstroke inspired by Diego Velázquez. By his late twenties, Sargent had become one of the most sought-after portraitists in Europe.

Sometimes the words on the page of your cozy mystery look impossibly small, don’t they? Or maybe that just means we need a little boost from a pair of reading glasses. Particularly if we’re—ahem—of a certain age. I was looking at readers today, and I thought I would share what I found. First, reading glasses, or "cheaters" as some people call them, vary widely in terms of price. You can get three-packs for $12, and you can get a single pair for $70. Of course, it depends on q

If you love cozy mysteries and  the art world—and I’m assuming that’s why you’re here—you’re in for a treat. With main characters ranging from gallery owners and art conservators to painters and art teachers, these series blend creativity with crime-solving in the best possible ways. Even better? Many of them offer a behind-the-scenes look at art history, art technique, and culture so you can learn something new while trying to figure out whodunit. Here are some of my favorit

The Impressionists didn’t just paint differently—they changed the way we see. Trading rigid academic rules for spontaneity, light, and modern life, they captured fleeting moments with a freshness that still feels contemporary today. In fact, their work was so revolutionary that I felt the best place to start the Art History Mysteries was right in the midst of them. But if the French Impressionists are new to you, and you just want to dip your toe into the art history pool, h

Have you ever noticed how often drinks show up in cozy mysteries? From steaming cups of tea to indulgent cocktails, these small details help set the mood, deepen the character, and make these fictional worlds feel just a little more deliciously real. If you’re a classic whodunit fan, why not take it one step further by figuring out the perfect match for every cozy on your TBR list? Now, if you're reading my Art History Mysteries series , you'll know that a Mexican mocha is t

If you’re even remotely obsessed with artist John Singer Sargent (and I'm hoping you are after reading my cozy mystery called Sargent's Deadly Commission ), you’ve got a perfect excuse to plan an art-inspired itinerary that spans the U.S. and Europe. Whether you’re chasing his dazzling portraits, his atmospheric landscapes, or those loose, luminous watercolors, here are four must-see places to experience Sargent in 2026.   Temporary Exhibition John Singer Sargent: An American

I can’t really explain why, but there’s something magical about a   cozy mystery set in Ireland . Maybe it’s the rolling green hills, the quaint villages where everyone knows everyone, or the sense that ancient secrets linger just beneath the surface. I suppose it's the combination of all of these that draws me to Ireland-based cozies. In general, the authors excel at creating mysteries filled with rich atmosphere and engaging detail. And it just so happens that every one of

No one would ever describe me as a fashionista, but when I was researching clothing for Sargent's Deadly Commission , my cozy mystery set in the Gilded Age, I came across the designs of Charles Frederick Worth. His stunning dresses stopped me in my tracks, and I knew I had to include them in my book somehow. If you're not familiar with it, let me introduce you to the House of Worth. The story starts with Charles Frederick Worth, an Englishman who moved to Paris in the mid-180

The French Impressionists are often praised—and sometimes criticized—for the beauty of their paintings. But when they first emerged on the Paris art scene in the late 1800s, they weren’t just painting pretty pictures. They were radicals, rewriting the rules   of what art was supposed to be. At the time, the art world was dominated by the official Salon, which favored polished, highly detailed paintings of historical events, myths, and noble heroes. Then came artists like Edou