Step into the cozy world of the Down South Café Mystery series, where Southern hospitality, mouthwatering comfort food, and clever whodunits brew a perfect storm of charm! Written by Gayle Leeson, this delightful cozy mystery series follows Amy Flowers, a spirited chef in Winter Garden, Virginia, as she whips up delectable dishes and solves murders with a side of small-town sass.
With its blend of heartwarming characters, quirky humor, and just the right dash of suspense, Down South Café Mystery invites readers to savor a slice of Southern life while unraveling crimes that keep you guessing. Ready to pull up a chair at Amy’s café?
How Down South Café Mystery Began
Gayle Leeson, a USA Today bestselling author also known as Gayle Trent and Amanda Lee, launched the Down South Café Mystery series in 2016 with The Calamity Café. Inspired by her love for Southern culture and cozy mysteries, Leeson crafted a world where food and family are as central as the mysteries themselves. Her goal? To create stories that feel like a warm hug from a Southern grandma, complete with recipes to boot!
Leeson’s own Virginia roots shine through in the series’ vivid setting and authentic dialogue. After success with other cozy series like the Embroidery Mysteries, she channeled her knack for crafting relatable heroines into Amy Flowers, a culinary school grad with big dreams and a knack for sleuthing.
The Heart of Down South Café Mystery
The series kicks off with The Calamity Café (2016), where Amy quits her waitressing job at Lou’s Joint and offers to buy the diner from her abrasive boss, Lou Lou. When Lou Lou is found dead, Amy becomes a suspect and dives into solving the murder to clear her name. In Silence of the Jams (2017), Amy’s café thrives, but a poisoning at her diner puts her back in the sleuthing game. Honey-Baked Homicide (2017) sees Amy investigating a beekeeper’s murder, while Apples and Alibis (2019) throws her into a farmer’s market mystery after a delivery gone wrong.
At its core, the series is a love letter to Southern traditions—think biscuits, jam, and neighborly gossip. Themes of community, resilience, and family (especially Amy’s bond with cousin Jackie and feisty Aunt Bess) weave through each book, grounding the mysteries in heart. The Winter Garden setting, with its cozy café and vibrant townfolk, feels like a character itself, while Leeson’s light, humorous style and included recipes make every story a treat.
Unlike darker thrillers, Down South Café Mystery keeps things clean and fun, with just enough twists to keep readers hooked. Amy’s practical yet curious nature, paired with quirky sidekicks like Homer and his daily hero quotes, adds charm that fans adore.
Why Down South Café Mystery Resonates
The Down South Café Mystery series has carved a niche in the cozy mystery genre, delighting readers with its relatable characters and comforting vibe. Fans praise its small-town charm and Leeson’s ability to craft suspects who keep you guessing until the final page. The series’ focus on food—complete with recipes like fudgy chocolate cake—has inspired home cooks, while its clean storytelling appeals to those seeking light, uplifting reads.
With eight books and counting, the series continues to grow, with titles like Truffles and Tragedy (2021) and Cake and I Scream (2023) cementing its place as a fan favorite. Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to make readers feel like they’re part of Winter Garden’s tight-knit community, sipping coffee at Amy’s café.
- First book published: 2016
- Number of books: 8
- Setting: Winter Garden, Virginia
- Genre: Cozy Amateur Sleuth Mystery
Craving a cozy mystery with Southern flair? Grab The Calamity Café and dive into the Down South Café Mystery series’ delicious world of food, friends, and clever crime-solving!