If they were a food, cozy mysteries (also known as cozies) would be the grilled cheese and tomato soup of the mystery genre. For the most part you know what to expect but they can be dressed up or dressed down depending on who and what shows up inside. They’re meant to leave you feeling cozy and comforted.
Cozies are a gentle form of crime fiction where violence occurs off the page, and sex, if it happens at all, is no more than implied. They’re fairly easy to read, they have a fast-paced plot, and the crime is typically investigated by an astute amateur sleuth. In the vein of classic detectives such as Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown, the protagonist is generally an unassuming but well-liked member of a quaint, tight-knit community who is employed in a capacity that allows them lots of room for snooping. Regardless of what’s going on inside its pages, the overall feel of a cozy mystery is generally comforting, and it typically leaves you with a nicely wrapped up ending.
So, if your perfect cold weather lunch is a steamy cup of tomato soup with an ooey gooey grilled cheese on the side, check out this list of cozy mysteries. They’re sure to satisfy!
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