The Cozy Mystery
My favorite genre to read is the cozy mystery. In fact, my personal library is made up of 80% cozies and 20% other fiction. I’ve been reading cozy mysteries for years and I simply can’t get enough of them. If you’re unfamiliar with it, let me introduce you to the coziest genre.
What is a cozy mystery?
The cosy mystery is a subgenre of mystery. The protagonist is an amateur sleuth that solves mysteries. There is always a murder but it always happens off page and the violent act is typically not described in great detail. It usually takes place in a small town or a small community. There’s usually a cast of colorful side characters that add a tremendous amount of charm to the story. Only Murders in the Building and Murder, She Wrote are good examples of a cozy mystery TV show.
Why I love them
I love trying to solve mysteries. At the same time, I don’t like reading or watching anything with violence. The cozy mystery checks these boxes for me. Plus, I love the tight knit community in which they take place, the fun characters, and justice is always served in the end! Another reason I love cozy mysteries is they are often serialized so I can revisit the town and characters again and again.
Where to get started?
If you’ve never read a cozy mystery, then I have to ask…what are you waiting for? I must admit though, there are so many to choose from that it’s almost overwhelming. There’s at least one out there for every taste. There are historical cozies, paranormal ones. Personally I love culinary or bookish cozies so my recommendations are based around these themes.
Coffeehouse Mystery by Cleo Coyle
Secret, Book and Scone Society by Ellery Adams
Book Retreat Mystery by Ellery Adams
Secret Bookcase Mystery by Ellie Alexander
Bakeshop Mystery by Ellie Alexander
Cupcake Bakery Mystery by Jenn McKinlay
Hannah Swensen Mystery by Joanne Fluke
Port Danby Series by London Lovett
Her Royal Spyness Series by Rhys Bowen
Noodle Shop Mystery Series by Vivien Chien
Of course, there are many, many more to choose from. I actually discovered a lot of these through Good Reads and YouTube (Courtagonist, Intentionally Bookish, Amy Marie) so poke around online to find a theme you’re interested in.
Do you read cozy mysteries? If so, what are some of your favorites?