If I were to sum up what makes a cozy mystery in just one word, the word I would choose is connection. Yes, cozies have other characteristics, including no graphic violence, no profanity, and no overt sexual behavior, but at their core these stories are about how we connect with one another. Its these connections and the loyalties that come with them that motivate the protagonist to try to solve the crime. Its these same bondsor lack of themthat motivate others to help or hinder these efforts. And one of the reasons cozy mysteries are so popular with readers is because they feel a connection to the characters as well.
Traditionally, cozy mysteries are set in a small townSt. Marys Mead in Agatha Christies classic Miss Marple novels and Cabot Cove, Maine, in the popular TV show, Murder She Wrote. My own Magical Cats series takes place in Mayville Heights, Minnesota, which in some ways is like the small town where I grew up. But there are also cozies that take place in big cities. Cleo Coyles Coffeehouse series is set in New York, Greenwich Village to be specific. Leslie Budewitzs Spice Shop mysteries are based in Seattle, while Los Angeles is the setting for Jennifer Chows Sassy Cat books.
Whether the plot unfolds in a charming small town or a bustling metropolis, its the relationships the main character has with the people in her town or her neighborhoodfriends, family, coworkersthat make her uniquely able to solve the crime that has disrupted her community. The conventional cozy sleuth isnt a professional. She doesnt work for the police. Shebecause the character has almost always been femaleis often a white woman between the ages of about 30 and 45, not withstanding Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher. However, those traditional parameters are expanding as we look to our entertainment choices to be more reflective of our lives and our world. As new authors join the genre, more cozy mysteries are featuring protagonists that dont fit the traditional amateur sleuth definition with respect to gender, age and ethnicity, allowing more readers to see themselves reflected in the stories.
EJ Coppermans (Jeff Cohen) Aspergers Mysteriesthere are five books in the seriesfeature Samuel Hoenig, who has Aspergers Syndrome. Samuels strength is his logical and literal way of looking at things. Jane Darrowfield from Barbara Rosss Jane Darrowfield Mysteries is retired and bills herself as a professional busybody.
Alexia Gordons Gethsemane Brown is African-American. Mimi Lee from Jennifer Chows Sassy Cat mysteries is Chinese, while Raquel Reyes new Caribbean Kitchen mysteries showcase cooking show star and amateur sleuth, Miriam Quiones-Smith, who is Cuban-American. Frank Anthony Politos new cozy series, which debuted in May, features gay couple, Peter and JP. Like the classic cozy sleuths that came before them, its the connections these new characters have in their communities that help them solve a crime.
Here are ten cozy mysteries that all expand the classic definition of an amateur sleuth.
Mimi Lee Gets a Clue by Jennifer J. Chow
Mimi Lee has a lot on her plate. Shes started a pet grooming business, her mother is determined to find her a husband, and shes the number one suspect in the murder of a local pet breeder.
Murder in G Major by Alexia Gordon
Classically trained musician, Gethsemane Brown, is stranded in the Irish countryside, tasked with turning a group of boys into an orchestra. At least shes staying in a cozy cottage. Theres just one small problem. Its haunted by the ghost of the murdered owner who wants Gethsemane to clear his name.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
The Thursday Murder Club meets each week at their retirement home to talk about unsolved crimes. When a local developer is found dead, the four friends find themselves caught up in a current case.
The Question of the Missing Head by EJ Copperman & Jeff Cohen
Samuel Hoenig answers questions for a living and his Aspergers Syndrome gives him a unique perspective on the world. So will he be able to answer the latest question posed to him: Who stole a head from the Garden State Cryonics Institute?
Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien
Lana Lee is home waiting tables at her familys restaurant as she gets her life back on track. When the buildings property manager dies after eating a batch of the restaurants shrimp dumplings everyone at the restaurant comes under suspicion. Its up to Lana to find a killerand maybe get to know a handsome detective a little better!
Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala
Lila Macapagal moved back home to nurse a broken heart and gets pulled into trying to save her Tita Rosies restaurant. When her ex-boyfriendwho also happens to be a food criticdies after an argument with Lila, she suddenly finds herself the prime suspect in a murder.
Mango, Mambo and Murder by Raquel V Reyes
Miriam Quiones-Smith has relocated to Coral Shores, Miami. She misses her job teaching Carribean food culture in New York. Now shes dealing with a snobby mother-in-law, a distant husband and her new job as a food expert on local TV. And shes rapidly becoming the main suspect in a murder!
Renovated to Death by Frank Anthony Polito
Peter PJ Penwell and his partner, JP Broadway, are the producers and stars of the hit home renovation show, Domestic Partners. When the two men discover a dead body in their latest renovation project they may have to add catch a killer to their list of tasks
Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody by Barbara Ross
Jane Darrowfield has gone undercover at a 55 plus condo community, tasked with smoothing relations between the various cliques. Any progress shes made is quickly derailed when one of the residents is bludgeoned with a golf club. Now Jane is on the trail of a killer.
The Plot is Murder by V.M. Burns
Samantha Washington is about to see her long held dreams of owning a mystery bookstore and writing a novel come true. Then an unscrupulous real estate agent is found dead in Samanthas backyard and she soon becomes a suspect. With some help from her grandmother, Nana Jo, and the older womans friends Samantha vows to clear her name.
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10 Cozy Detective Series You Need In Your Life - CrimeReads
Recommendation and review posted by G. Smith
