As a long time fan of cozy mysteries, I’m excited to see a resurgence in the popularity of the genre. But with my own book scheduled for release this summer, I’ve had several friends and family members ask how cozies differ from a typical mystery. It’s funny how you can live and breathe something during every minute of your spare time and then become stumped when asked to define it. My canned response became “a mystery without graphic violence or gore.” Far from well said…
Cozy mysteries typically involve a murder to solve but may also revolve around a theft. An amateur female sleuth is often the protagonist who follows a trail of clues and red herrings until finally solving the case. Stories are usually set in quaint villages or close-knit small towns filled with a cast of eclectic, humorous characters. A sweet romance is sometimes sprinkled into the mix. Titles are tongue-in-cheek plays on words, and book covers are brightly illustrated and whimsical while hinting at suspense. Cozies are ideal for readers looking for a fun, twisty whodunit to solve and a series to immerse themselves in.
Agatha Christie launched the genre with her Miss Marple series during the 1930s. Her books continue to be fan favorites and set the bar for the rest of us. Hallmark Movies & Mysteries have introduced the genre to a whole new fan base with viewer favorites such as the Murder, She Baked Mysteries and Aurora Teagarden Mysteries. Cozies offer themes to fit seemingly any interest. I love seeing a blend such as a bed and breakfast cozy with paranormal elements and a hint of romance all wrapped up into one book. See below for some ideas to add to your TRB pile. You’re sure to find several options that could fall under more than one theme. And rest assured, a “holiday” cozy is every bit as fun to read in March as in December.
The key to a cozy is an amateur sleuth solving a mystery free of graphic violence. But there are so so so many books under this umbrella that identifying one theme becomes tricky. Readers are sure to enjoy the Cozy Mystery Quartet podcast in this link to the first of over 20 episodes discussing all things cozy https://youtu.be/QHbKcSTXRKM .
https://cozy-mystery.com/blog/ is my go-to resource when looking for a new cozy mystery. This comprehensive, well-organized website offers more information and cozy themes than I could begin to include.
Author M.S. Spencer shared an idea of expanding the discussion in this post. Here’s one idea: I’d love for readers to share a cozy that is set in the heart of a city instead of a village or tiny town where everyone knows each other.
ANIMALS
Pick of the Litter, by M. Culler
https://books2read.com/u/bOnKlK
APPAREL
Death By Sample Size, by Susie Black
Death By Pins and Needles, by Susie Black
Divine Vintage, by Sandra L. Young
Kat Out of the Bag, by Wendy Kendall
BED AND BREAKFAST
Bed and Breakfast and Murder, by Patti Larsen
BOOKSTORE OR BOOK CLUB
Murder at a Cape Book Store, by Maddie Day
COFFEE SHOP
Scene of the Grind, by Tonya Kappes
CRAFTS
Knit or Dye Trying, by Allie Pleiter
CRUISE SHIP
Venus Rising, by Tammy D. Walker
CULINARY
Strawberry Shortcake Murder, by Joanne Fluke
FAMILY CENTERED
Polly’s List, by Kim Janine Ligon
HISTORICAL
The Twenty-One Year Contract, by L.B. Griffin
Murder at the Breakers, by Alyssa Maxwell
HOLIDAY
Framed by the Fireworks, by M. Culler
A New Year’s Cat-aclysm, by M. Culler
Gingerbread Dead, by Lori L. Robinette
Bloodstains and Candy Canes, by Marla A. White
The Starlight Mint Surprise Murder, by Marla A. White
IRISH
Irish Coffee Murder, by Lee Hollis and Barbara Ross
Murder in an Irish Village, by Carlene O’Connor
JEWISH
Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death, by Mark Reutlinger
A Pain in the Tuchis: A Mrs. Kaplan Mystery, by Mark Reutlinger
Oy Vey, Maria! A Mrs. Kaplan Mystery, by Mark Reutlinger
PARANORMAL
Trip the Light Phantasmic, by Judith Sterling
Scarlet at Crystal River, by Randy Overbeck
ROMANTIC
The Case of the Forgotten Fragonard, by Marilyn Baron
https://books2read.com/u/ml82P9
SENIORS SLEUTHS
The Fog Ladies: A San Francisco Cozy Murder Mystery, by Susan McCormick
The Fog Ladies: Family Matters (A San Francisco Cozy Murder Mystery, Book 2), by Susan McCormick
The Fog Ladies: In the Soup (A San Francisco Cozy Murder Mystery, Book 3), by Susan McCormick
SMALL TOWN
Body Snatched (Body Conscious Book 2), by Ana Diamond
TREASURE
Hidden Gem: The Secret of St. Augustine, by M.S. Spencer
WRITER
French Ghost, by Corinne LaBalme
Jill Piscitello 
Excellent post and excellent list!
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Such fun! I live cozies. Re: cozies set in cities—The Fog Ladies series mentioned above is set in San Francisco, with a gaggle of senior sleuths and an overworked young doctor solving crimes from their elegant apartment building in San Francisco.
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I love the senior sleuths theme and will have to check out The Fog Ladies.
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Thank you, Liz!
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Cozies and romances make me so happy! You have some amazing authors on this great list! Love it!
Kathleen Marple Kalb’s Ella Shane Mysteries are set in NYC! Great characters, solid mysteries, and a touch of romance. Ahhh.
Also, Judith Sterling recently published a first- in-series, Trip the Light Phantasmic. It’s a gothic cozy — so cool!
Thank you for a wonderful post!
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Thank you for the book rec! I have just discovered paranormal cozies and am finding them to be so much fun.
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Thanks so much for the shout-out, Anastasia!
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There are so many different settings etc. that make a cozy mystery. It seems the one single thing they have in common is an amateur sleuth. Oh, and a dead body!
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And sometimes a pet!
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Thanks so much for including me in this post, Jill! 🙂
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My pleasure!
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My pleasure!
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