Maya Corrigan SmorgasBlog

Puns in Book Titles

6/30/2018

Book covers of By Cook or by Crook, Scam Chowder, The Tell-Tale Tarte, and S'more Murders by Maya Corrigan

Puns in the titles of cozy mysteries signal a light tone and often a large helping of humor. The tradition of using a food pun in the titles of culinary mysteries traces back to the 1990s when Diane Mott Davidson’s Cereal Murders and Phyllis Richman’s The Butter Did It came out. If anyone knows of earlier punning titles of food mysteries, please let me know. Four of my titles incorporate a pun with food and the suggestion of wrongdoing or death. For all but my first book, the title dish has five-ingredients or fewer, appears on the cover, and plays a role in the plot. Needless to say, I obsess about titles.

Comment with your favorite punning culinary (or other) mystery title for a chance to win an Advanced Reader Edition of S'more Murders, which comes out on July 31st. To comment, click on the word "Comments" in the column to the left of this post.

Note: I can ship only to U.S. addresses. The contest ends Sunday, July 8th at midnight. I'll contact the winner by email and announce the results in this blog.
Share your favorite puns and good luck!

Chris Mann is the winner of the contest!

Thank you to everyone who shared a title with a pun. I've enjoyed reading them.

56 Comments

Kay Bennett

6/30/2018 08:16:09 pm

I love this series. Just checked to make sure I did have the upcoming release pre-ordered. I do!! I love the punny titles of cozies. Between that, the covers, the wonderful settings and characters, I just love cozies. One of my favorite titles is not a culinary one - Mission Impawsible! Plus I love me some dogs in my books, lol

Maya Corrigan

7/1/2018 11:40:41 am

Hi Kay, Thank you so much for pre-ordering the book! The number of pre-orders affects how many copies bookstores order for their shelves, so it's a big help to writers when readers pre-order. Love that title you mentioned. I hadn't heard of that book.~Maya

7/2/2018 04:33:37 pm

I always pre-order books as soon as I see they are available. Not only do I get the great book, but I don't have to remember when they are being released, lol. I love your series. I love the characters and everything about them. (Also I always write reviews for them too)

Barbara E Fricks

7/2/2018 08:33:35 pm

Maya thanks for letting us know about the pre-orders affecting book stores orders. I will keep that in mind as authors have new releases.

Penny Harper

6/30/2018 09:31:00 pm

Scene of the grind by Tonya Kappes is one of my favorites. I love finding Authors that's I haven't read their books. I always look for a great book cover to catch my eye. A good storyline and good characters is what's important to me. I especially like books that has humor to them.

7/4/2018 07:12:00 am

Hi Penny, Thanks for posting and for sharing the punning title. I've been adding to my list of new authors and books to read just by reading the comments. ~Maya

Barbara Cameron

6/30/2018 10:25:12 pm

I love Jill Churchill's titles. Three favorites are Grime & Punishment , War & Peas & Silence of the Hms.
Punny ( is that a word?) titles are what get me to pick up a book. I love cozies because of the humor & quirkiness.

6/30/2018 11:10:08 pm

Silence of the Hams! Oops, sorry.

7/1/2018 12:14:42 pm

Hi Barbara,
Thank you for commenting. I figured out that you must have meant hams. I believe I read Grind and Punishment, but not the others. Good titles.
~Maya

Susan Edmondson

7/1/2018 09:19:00 am

I love punny titles in my mystery books like the ones from Sofie Kelly Magical Cats ones are some of my favorite plus tons of others.

7/1/2018 12:18:47 pm

Hi Susan,
Thank you for commenting. I'm not familiar with the Sofie KellyMagical Cats series.I'll have to look them up. Good luck in the raffle.
~Maya

Lily-Ann Gill

7/1/2018 11:00:18 am

You are a new author to me, and I already love the titles of your books! I also loved Assalted Caramel by Amanda Flower. ❤❤

7/1/2018 12:21:25 pm

Hi Lily-Ann,
Thank you for leaving a comment. I have met Amanda Flower and also love that title.I hope you try my books and enjoy them.
~Maya

Amanda Wilcox

7/2/2018 04:05:38 pm

I think my favorite so far come from Ellie Alexander's Bakeshop Mystery series with "Another One Bites the Crust" being my favorite actual title.

7/4/2018 07:13:24 am

Hi Amanda, Thank you for commenting. I was on a panel about culinary mysteries a few years ago. She does have great titles.
~Maya

Dianne

7/2/2018 04:52:53 pm

I love clever book titles, they really draw attention to the book. My favorite is "By Cook or by Crock". Great series, looking forward to the new book.

7/4/2018 07:14:23 am

Hi Dianne, Thank you so much for your comment and the kind words about my series. I hope you enjoy the new book!
~Maya

Kara Marks

7/2/2018 05:11:04 pm

S'more Murders is an excellent pun!

7/4/2018 07:16:03 am

Hi Kara, Thank you for commenting. That pun is one of my favorites too. ;-)
~Maya

Judith A Fritz

7/2/2018 06:46:06 pm

I would love to receive a print copy of S’More Murders to review or win one.

Judy Fritz
1501 S. Airport Drive, Lot 193
Weslaco, TX. 78596

7/4/2018 07:17:13 am

Hi Judith,
Thank you for your comment and good luck in the drawing for a book.
~Maya

Tari Hann

7/2/2018 08:57:36 pm

Lots of faves but a new fun one is Purrder She Wrote

7/4/2018 07:19:27 am

Hi Tari,
Thank you for your comment. I'm not familiar with Purrder She Wrote, but I'm guessing it involves a cat. :-)
~Maya

Merissa Racine

7/2/2018 10:49:21 pm

I loved all the Spencer Quinn Chet and Bernie series. Dog On It was a favorite. And I've read all of Diane Mott Davidson's series. I liked the comment about Purrder She Wrote. Cute!

7/4/2018 07:21:30 am

Hi Merissa,
Thank you for commenting. My husband is a Chet and Bernie fan. He really enjoyed Dog On It--a great title that fits the story.
~Maya

Sandy McMahon

7/2/2018 11:07:17 pm

I just got a copy of Scone Cold Killer by Lena Gregory! I love these titles!☘️

7/4/2018 07:23:08 am

Hi Sandy,
Thank you for your comment. Title puns with food in them are my favorites.
~Maya

gbarrd

7/3/2018 12:14:53 pm

Love the mysterie's.

7/4/2018 07:24:47 am

Hi Gbarrd,
Thank you for your comment. Good luck in the raffle. I hope you enjoy the book.
~Maya

Carolsue

7/4/2018 12:50:23 am

I like all of the titles by Tamar Myers, such as Gruel and Unusual Punishment and Assault and Pepper.

7/4/2018 07:26:13 am

Hi Carol Sue,
Thank you for commenting. Those are two great titles with puns that incorporate food.
~Maya

Marci Konecny

7/4/2018 06:18:58 pm

I have to admit this is a new series to me, so I haven't had a chance to read any of the books, but this is definitely my favorite type of adventure. When I read the title Scam Chowder I laughed out loud...Lol. That has to be my new favorite. Looking forward to starting this series.

7/7/2018 05:20:44 pm

Hi Marci,
Thank you for commenting, and I'm glad you're looking forward to the series. Good luck in the drawing.
~Maya

Nonie Gail

7/7/2018 07:03:48 pm

Just love this one as I live across the lake from New Orleans (The Big Easy) ...
Jasper Fforde
The Big Over Easy: A Nursery Crime (A Nursery Crime Novel) ... this was fun!

7/8/2018 11:17:24 am

Hi Nonie,
I've enjoyed a few of Jasper Fforde's books involving characters based on nursery rhymes. I haven't read the Over Easy one yet. It's a great title. Thank you for commenting.
~Maya

Nessa Amherst

7/7/2018 08:15:24 pm

I've enjoyed the Kensington Palace Chef Mysteries by Nell Hampton (Nancy J. Parra), and some of them are quite witty: Lord of the Pies and Kale to the Queen. What do you think?

7/8/2018 11:20:30 am

Hi Nessa,
Thank you for commenting. I've read Nancy Parra's Gluten for Punishment. Her Kensington Palace Chef Mysteries are on my list. She has some great title puns.
~Maya

Faith Creech

7/7/2018 10:00:00 pm

I love T.Y. Hanna’s books One Down Bun to Go, Another One Bites the Crust, etc.

7/8/2018 11:21:56 am

Hi Faith,
Delicious baking pun titles! Thank you for contributing them.
~Maya

Taylor R. Williams

7/7/2018 10:46:17 pm

Can't wait to read your books - so far my favorite pun title is Assault and Pepper - awesome book in an awesome series

7/8/2018 11:25:20 am

Hi Taylor,
Thank you for commenting. Assault and Pepper is such a good pun that two writers used it as a title, Tamar Myers and Leslie Budewitz. I hope you enjoy my books. Happy reading and eating!
~Maya

Linda Herold

7/8/2018 12:10:15 am

I like a Tale of Two Kitties by Sophie Kelly!

7/9/2018 08:39:13 pm

Hi LInda,
Thank you for posting the punning title, and good luck in the drawing.
~Maya

Karlene Barger

7/8/2018 12:27:11 am

Toucan Keep a Secret by Donna Andrews

7/11/2018 09:11:04 am

Hi Karlene, Thank you for sharing a title with a pun. Donna Andrews has some of the best title puns. Who knew there could be so many bird puns?
~Maya

Michelle Fidler

7/8/2018 05:57:48 am

No Farm, No Foul by Peg Cochran. I just finished the second book in that series. Imagine if the chickens were stolen. Then it would be no fowl.

7/11/2018 09:12:49 am

Hi Michelle,
Thank you for commenting with that clever title!
~Maya

Dianne Bann

7/8/2018 06:54:58 am

Killing Thyme is my choice of a pun title. A unique title is one way to catch my eye and make me want to read a book. Also any cover with a cat or dog on it

Kay Garrett

7/8/2018 01:48:40 pm

Love all the puns in cozy mystery titles, but the one that I as a good old Southern gal that comes to mind that I thought was extremely good is "Biscuits and Slashed Browns" (A Country Store Mystery) by Maddie Day. Love the graphics tooI

I would love to be the very fortunate one selected to receive to win an Advanced Reader Edition of "S'more Murders". Thank you for the chance! I have this book on my TBR list.

7/11/2018 09:19:01 am

Hi Kay,
Thank you for commenting and for putting my book on your TBR list. There are so many fun books available, it's hard to decide what to read next. A clever title and an attractive cover image are good ways to entice readers to pick up a book.
~Maya

Chris Mann

7/8/2018 05:06:23 pm

A punny titled cozy was the first mystery I ever read and was hooked. I enjoy humor in my reads and several authors always deliver. Tamar Myers’s Play It Again Spam and Butter Safe Than Sorry; Mary Daheim’s Scots On the Rocks, Creeps Suzette, and Legs Benedict; and any of Jill Churchell’s punny titles with their nod to Shakespearean and classic book titles make it very hard to pick just one favorite.

7/11/2018 09:20:25 am

Hi Chris,
Thank you for commenting with all those funny, punny titles. I also like the the titles that remind us of classic books and movies.
~Maya

Cathi Gil

7/8/2018 07:55:51 pm

I really like punny titles for cozy mystery books. How about "To Brie or Not To Brie" by Avery Aames? I would like the chance to win.

7/11/2018 09:21:26 am

Hi Cathi,
Thank you for sharing that punning title. Avery Aames has a lot of delicious cheese puns.
~Maya

Pam Flynn

7/9/2018 11:20:28 am

I love Scam Chowder pun title! It's just fun & makes me smile.

7/11/2018 09:52:04 am

Hi Pam,
Thank you for commenting. Scam Chowder is one of my favorite titles too! I also like the book ;-) and hope you enjoy it. Happy reading and eating!
~Maya

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Puns in Book Titles

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