Crime Reads » V. M. Burns

"I Do"...Plan the Perfect Crime: Seven Cozy Mysteries That Revolve Around Weddings

Valerie (V.M.) Burns Says "Yes" to Capers from Catherine Bruns, Isis Crawford, Lee Hollis, and Others

By V. M. Burns | August 1, 2025

Literary Fiction Can Be Murder

Literary Fiction Can Be Murder

Or, a list of mysteries in which bookish people must solve crimes at bookish events

By V. M. Burns | November 28, 2023

Relating to Diverse Characters: The Common Denominator

Relating to Diverse Characters: The Common Denominator

Unless you're reading an autobiographical novel, you won't find a character exactly like you. But as humans, there are shared experiences that unite us.

By V. M. Burns | August 29, 2022

Now, More Than Ever, Is the Time for 'Escapist Fiction'

Now, More Than Ever, Is the Time for 'Escapist Fiction'

The need for escape over the past year has blurred the lines of an already hazy demarcation between literature and genre fiction.

By V. M. Burns | February 1, 2021

The Timeless Joys of Pet Cozies

The Timeless Joys of Pet Cozies

Because every amateur sleuth needs a dog or a cat, or both.

By V. M. Burns | November 27, 2019

The Irrepressible Allure of the <br>Wedding Cozy

The Irrepressible Allure of the
Wedding Cozy

7 Cozies That Explore the True Meaning of "Till Death Do You Part"

By V. M. Burns | May 3, 2019

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The Coziest Bookstore Mysteries Around

By V. M. Burns | November 27, 2018