I Need a Hobby

Staci here on my every other Saturday. 

I need a hobby. Oh, sure, I have hobbies, like reading, cooking for fun, or solving puzzle books. But I need a good hobby, one that takes years of experience and a certain amount of knowledge to really excel at.

That’s the trend these days in the cozy mystery world. If the main character doesn’t have an interesting job like owning an ice cream shop, organizing closets, or running a booth at the farmer’s market, then they at least need to have a hobby, something that the reader would be interested to learn more about while they try to figure out the who, how, and why of the murder. I’ve read mysteries where the main character raises bees for honey in their spare time, one who scrapbooks, and another who creates miniatures (now, who could that be?). As I read these books, I learn all sorts of tidbits about how to calm agitated bees or turn household objects into miniature furniture. Not only is the information interesting, but it adds more depth to the main story. And often times, recipes or tips are included at the end of the book in case the reader is interested in trying their own hand.

Which leads me back to my hobbies. I love to cook, but I only like to cook other people’s recipes. Force me to cook something from scratch, and I’d starve to death, so clearly a book that requires original recipes is out of the question. I love to read, but seriously, no one wants to read a book about the main character sitting on her couch, reading books. So instead of writing a book that revolves around a hobby, I guess I’ll just keep reading those cozy mysteries that do. Not only will I get the pleasure of trying to figure out the killer, but I’ll also learn a little something along the way. It’s the best of both worlds.

What are some of your favorite mystery series that involve a hobby? 

Comments

[Camille Minichino]

Thanks for the shout out, Staci! I like the idea of a main character who sits on her couch and reads. All kinds of things can happen when she reaches under the cushion, for example, or the light goes out . . .

[Ann]

Hmmm. Hobby mysteries. Well, you mentioned miniature mysteries, and then there's the mathematics professor who creates puzzles in her spare time. :-) And I'm with Camille. A protagonist that "stays put" on the couch would be something different! Or a gamer? Is there a series with a protagonist who does online gaming for a hobby?

[Staci]

Camille, I could write a whole book about what's under my couch cushions. The mystery would be to figure out what some of the items really are. = )
Ann, I don't know of any such series, but there definitely could be one. An avatar could be killed online, and then the actual person murdered in the real world. The detective could use her online social connections to track down the killer. I like it!

[penny warner]

What do you do when your hobby is writing???