Cozy Mysteries

       Rainy days and snowy ones are perfect for staying inside and getting cozy with a new book. Get even more comfortable reading a cozy mystery.

These charming mysteries feature an amateur sleuth who usually works in a field completely unconnected with private detectives or law enforcement. The sleuth is usually a woman who is well educated, employed, or retired from her profession. Most sleuths work at their real job while solving crime. The setting tends to be a in a small town or village, one that comes with a cast of quirky, yet likeable, locals. Sometimes the secondary characters may be as fun and likeable as the heroine. Many cozy mysteries are written as series, so continuity is important and the same characters reappear.

The victim (well it wouldn’t be a mystery without one) is usually not a nice sympathetic character. Following the murder (all violence is done off stage) the protagonist lady sleuth ends up stumbling upon the body. Cozys are a good choice for those who are looking for “clean” reads. The violence is minimal. While the characters may be married or romantically involved affection is never graphic, and there is a minimal use of profanity. The plots tend to be fast paced and feature twists and turns that the heroine must overcome in order to solve the crime.

The local police rarely take the sleuth seriously. However, the sleuth tends to have some sort of connection to law enforcement which allows them to see information not accessible by the general public. That information to help solve the crime.

Some of the detectives find their own lives threatened the closer they get to solving the crime. Once all the detection has been done the guilty party is apprehended, often without violent incident. The murderer usually has a motive for committing the crime (no random serial killers here) and explains exactly the reason. The killer exits, a few loose plot threads are wrapped up and another cozy comes to a close.

The cozy spans a large variety of topics and themes. Here are some for your reading list:

For those who like their murder served cold check out some of these culinary themed cozies:

The Hannah Swensen Mysteries by Joanne Fluke. First book in the series is: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b2957502~S50

A Cupcake Bakery Mystery by Jenn McKinlay. First book in the series is: Sprinkle with Murder http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4238906~S50

A Cooking Class Murder by Miranda Bliss. First book in the series is: Cooking Up Murder http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b3875801~S50

For those who are looking for a “crafty” murder

A Southern Sewing Circle Mystery by Elizabeth Lynn Casey. First book in the series is: Sew Deadly http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4179969~S84

A Needlecraft Mystery by Monica Ferris. First book in the series is Crewel World http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b2571348~S84

For those who are looking for a good old fashioned cozy, check out these classic “cozy” characters

Miss Jane Marple- Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie(only one out of 12 novels and 20 short stories) http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b3838118~S84

Jessica Fletcher- Murder She Wrote- while Angela Lansbury played her on TV, the show spawned a series of books featuring the character.  The Queen’s Jewels: A Murder She Wrote Mystery http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4542383~S50 (one of over 40 titles written by the author Donald Bain, who writes as Jessica Fletcher)

Dial “meow for murder”, and read a purr-fectly good cozy with these titles:

Author Rita Mae Brown and co-author cat Sneaky Pie Brown write the Mrs. Murphy Mystery series. The first book in the series is: Wish You Were Here http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b1597944~S84

Author Lilian Jackson Braun wrote “The Cat Who”… series The first book in the series is: The Cat Who Could Read Backwards http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b2034956~S84

Last, but not least, get booked for crime with some library themed mysteries!

The Mobile Library Series by Ian Sansom- first book in the serie is The Case of the Missing Books http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b3872455~S50

The Cat in Stacks Series which is a rare cozy that features a male protagonist. First book in the series is Murder Past Due http://alpha2.suffolk.lib.ny.us/record=b4294116~S50

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While there are many more variations on the cozy theme, this list represents are starting point for readers. Looking for a cozy type not listed here? There just might be one that addresses your topic. For more cozy suggestions please check out the following:

Crafting Can Be Deadly: http://www.portjefflibrary.org/docs/craft.pdf

Dine, Wine, Die http://www.portjefflibrary.org/docs/dine.pdf

Check out the bibliography “Booked For Crime”. It can be found in the rounder on the small table that faces the new book section in the front reading room. If you need help finding any of these books, please see the librarian on the Reference Desk and they will be happy to help!