Miso Cozy Mysteries Series by Steph Gennaro, S.J. Pajonas

She’s got her head in the clouds and a taste for solving crime…. Mei Yamagawa is out of luck and out of money. After five years in Tokyo, she has little to show for it besides a laundry list of unrealized dreams. Left without a choice, she returns to her rural Japanese hometown, ready to be branded a failure by her relatives and rivals. At the least, she looks forward to seeing her best friend, until Akiko is accused of murdering her own father... moreShe’s got her head in the clouds and a taste for solving crime…. Mei Yamagawa is out of luck and out of money. After five years in Tokyo, she has little to show for it besides a laundry list of unrealized dreams. Left without a choice, she returns to her rural Japanese hometown, ready to be branded a failure by her relatives and rivals. At the least, she looks forward to seeing her best friend, until Akiko is accused of murdering her own father. As Mei helps her farmer mother with the crops, she scouts for clues to clear her friend’s name. But during her investigation, she can’t help but notice the celebrity chef looking in her direction. The amateur detective can balance a new love interest and a murder case… can’t she? To clear her friend of the crime and find the real killer, Mei’s going to need every last ounce of her imagination… and just a pinch of luck. The Daydreamer Detective is the savory starter to the Miso Cozy series of cozy mystery novels. If you like twisty plots, delectable food descriptions, and rural Japanese towns, then you’ll love Steph Gennaro's’ culinary tale. less

She’s got her head in the clouds and a taste for solving crime…. December has set in and just when the rural town of Chikata is recovering from one murder, Mei and her new boyfriend, Yasahiro, find their friend, Etsuko, dead in her apartment. Etsuko was sweet and talented, and now everyone suspects her longtime boyfriend killed her. Mei doesn’t believe it, though, and she vows to help solve the crime. But Mei has more to think about than murder... moreShe’s got her head in the clouds and a taste for solving crime…. December has set in and just when the rural town of Chikata is recovering from one murder, Mei and her new boyfriend, Yasahiro, find their friend, Etsuko, dead in her apartment. Etsuko was sweet and talented, and now everyone suspects her longtime boyfriend killed her. Mei doesn’t believe it, though, and she vows to help solve the crime. But Mei has more to think about than murder. With the barn gone and their vegetable stores destroyed, she and her mother are down to their last canned goods and no money for heat. Mei’s mom is fortunate to find work, but Mei must fend for herself, get a job, and keep their financial situation a secret from Yasahiro. In pursuit of paying work, she stumbles onto a new witness to the crime, and before long, the dead woman’s secret life unravels before everyone’s eyes. Half-starving and out of her element, Mei is on thin ice, and it’s going to take a whole lot of ingenuity and quick thinking to solve the crime before the killer gets to her as well…. The Daydreamer Detective Braves The Winter is the delightful second course to the Miso Cozy series of cozy mystery novels. less

She came for relaxation, but she found a family in crisis. .. Mei Yamagawa's first vacation in years takes an unexpected turn when she and her boyfriend Yasahiro are forced to leave their luxurious hot springs resort. Stranded in a small guesthouse on New Year's Eve, Mei finds herself playing chauffeur to a cantankerous old woman with a chip on her shoulder... moreShe came for relaxation, but she found a family in crisis. .. Mei Yamagawa's first vacation in years takes an unexpected turn when she and her boyfriend Yasahiro are forced to leave their luxurious hot springs resort. Stranded in a small guesthouse on New Year's Eve, Mei finds herself playing chauffeur to a cantankerous old woman with a chip on her shoulder. What should have been a relaxing holiday becomes a crash course in family dysfunction as Mei contends with the bitter old woman's cutting remarks and unreasonable demands. But when Mei rescues a confused elderly lady from the streets, she uncovers a tangled web of family secrets and long-held resentments that threaten to boil over. Can Mei salvage her ruined vacation, help a fractured family heal, and still find time to ring in the New Year with Yasahiro? Or will old resentments and buried secrets spoil more than just her holiday plans? Ozoni and Onsens is the charming third installment in the Miso Cozy series of cozy mystery novels. If you enjoy strong female leads, intergenerational drama, and the warmth of Japanese New Year traditions, then you'll adore Steph Gennaro's touching exploration of family, forgiveness, and fresh starts. Note: This story is shorter than the rest of the series as it was originally written for newsletter subscribers. This shorter work is reflected in the price. Edited Feb 2019. Previously published under the name S. J. Pajonas. less

Mei Yamagawa’s bad luck is almost at an end. .. Her tea shop is a week away from opening, she and Yasahiro have planned a trip away, and the future is looking bright and hopeful. But when Yasahiro’s ex-fiancée, Amanda, shows up unexpectedly, demanding his time and presence, all of their plans dissolve. Amanda is tough and drives Mei up the wall, so it’s no surprise when Mei tells her to get lost, only for Amanda to be murdered a few hours later... moreMei Yamagawa’s bad luck is almost at an end. .. Her tea shop is a week away from opening, she and Yasahiro have planned a trip away, and the future is looking bright and hopeful. But when Yasahiro’s ex-fiancée, Amanda, shows up unexpectedly, demanding his time and presence, all of their plans dissolve. Amanda is tough and drives Mei up the wall, so it’s no surprise when Mei tells her to get lost, only for Amanda to be murdered a few hours later. Yasahiro becomes the prime suspect, and Mei must put everything on hold to help free him. Following Amanda’s past through her digital footprint, Mei uncovers secret lovers,shady business deals, and the biggest secret of all, why Amanda and Yasahiro broke up in the first place. With everyone turning against her and the case under media scrutiny, tracking down the killer becomes an obsession Mei can’t give up. There’s no turning back, though, because solving the murder means getting her life back. Not solving it means losing everything forever. With her head in the clouds and a taste for solving crime, you don’t want to miss Mei in The Daydreamer Detective Opens a Tea Shop, the tantalizing fourth installment in the Miso Cozy series of cozy mystery novels. If you love determined amateur sleuths, digital-age detective work, and a steaming cup of intrigue, you'll savor Steph Gennaro's brew of romance, rivalry, and ruthless murder. Edited Feb 2019. Previously published under the name S. J. Pajonas. less