Readers of the Molly Sutton series enjoy the light-hearted cozy mysteries for their charming characters, delicious descriptions of food, and the picturesque setting in France.

Molly is newly divorced, so she packs up and moves from the United States to the fictional village of Castillac, where she opens a bed and breakfast and becomes an amateur sleuth. She is assisted by a charming local policeman and the eccentric locals. Readers like Molly’s smarts and resourcefulness and root for her even when she occasionally blunders.

There’s a warm, light tone to the characters and stories and that’s intentional. Nell Goddin says that her books include all the things she loves, “I want my escapes to be full of the things I love most about being alive on this earth: Coffee. Love. Almond croissants. Justice being served. Friendship….” The attention to detail that she brings her depictions of daily life in a small town and to French cuisine are elements that fans also frequently highlight.

Each novel has a standalone case to solve, but Nell suggests reading her Molly Sutton series in order to learn more about the characters as they develop.