If you’re anything like me, then you’re probably tired of winter, tired of the cold, and tired of January 2021 feeling too much like 2020. And if you’re anything like me, you probably crave fiction that’s a bit cozier than you might normally read. I spent most of December reading Jane Austen and only Jane Austen. (Yeah, it was that kind of month.)
But if you’d prefer to stick with the mystery genre, that’s okay. The cozy mystery is the literary equivalent of comfort food: warm, nourishing, and satisfying right down to the last bite. Think coffee, waffles, macaroni and cheese . . . Goodness knows that with all the unexpected and unprecedented (and dare I add, unwanted?) events of the past few months, we all need a little comfort and reassurance right now.
So grab your favorite fluffy blanket, fire up the Keurig machine, curl up in a comfortable chair, and be prepared to while away a few hours with these new-ish cozy mysteries.
(Bonus! I’ve added three soon-to-be released cozy mysteries. If you love culinary cozy mysteries, check those out!)
Hidden Treasure by Jane K. Cleland
When the finding of an old trunk leads to murder, antiques appraiser/dealer Josie Prescott investigates. While I don’t have any particular interest in antiques, it’s fascinating to watch Josie go about her work. She’s an endearing busybody with a loving husband, a new house, and quirky friends. And a cat. It seems like a prerequisite that all cozy heroines must have a cat (or two). Link to my review: Hidden Treasure by Jane K. Cleland
The Clutter Corpse by Simon Brett
Link to my review of The Clutter Corpse by Simon Brett
When pro-declutterer/hoarding expert Ellen Curtis finds a dead body in a hoarder’s home & learns she knew the victim, she jumps in and investigates. After all, she was supposed to be decluttering the suspect’s future home with his hoarder mother. And the victim? Let’s just say that Ellen’s professional encounter with the young woman left a nasty taste in her mouth. Through Ellen’s friends, there are multiple other connections, too. Features some fabulous characters, including an over-the-top mom, a hoarder/client who “collects” cats, and a surly-sweet friend who is determined to repurpose every piece of supposed garbage that he encounters.
The Secrets of Bones by Kylie Logan
When a cadaver dog finds a missing teacher’s skeleton hidden in the attic of an all-girls school, staff administrator/dog trainer Jazz Ramsey investigates. No one really liked the victim, Bernadette Quinn, and her difficult personality means that there are plenty of suspects, both teachers and students. This is the second book in the Jazz Ramsey series and just as warm-hearted and realistic as the first. Logan captures Jazz’s conflicting emotions as she watches her widowed mom begin dating, tip-toes back into a relationship with cop/ex-boyfriend Nick, grieves her father’s death, and wonders if her best friend’s new flame will end up a winner or a heartbreaker. I also appreciated the strong female leadership at Jazz’s school, the formidable Sister Eileen.
Link to my review of The Secrets of Bones by Kylie Logan
The Spotted Dog by Kerry Greenwood
And continuing with the dog/cat theme . . . Despite the title, there are more cats than dogs in this cozy. Australian baker Corinna Chapman investigates the disappearance of an ex-service dog & ends up with more mysteries to solve. Plenty of quirky characters. Don’t read this on an empty stomach, though. After reading her food descriptions, you’ll have the munchies! (I baked a loaf of bread, a batch of muffins, and homemade pizza dough while reading this novel.)
Link to my review of The Spotted Dog
The Art of Murder by J. S. Strange
While not a traditional cozy mystery, I found that this LGBT mystery had some cozy-elements to its story. I had a chance to review it on a DampPebbles blog tour. P.I. Jordan Jenner investigates an artist’s murder and its connection with a dangerous vigilante group. Strange turned my presuppositions about human sexuality upside down! Link to my review of The Art of Murder.
Charlotte Stuart and Smita Bhattacharya
I’ve featured two cozy indie authors on the site, Charlotte Stuart and Smita Bhattacharya. Both have warm-hearted, quirky stories to tell.
Smita is the author of the Darya Nandkarni cozy mystery series. If you’ve ever wondered what a multicultural Nancy Drew would be like, here’s your chance to find out! She shared her inspiration for Darya in her guest post.
Charlotte shared a chapter of her recent novel Why Me? Chimeras, Conundrums, and Dead Goldfish. (Interesting title, eh?) Plus there’s a Q&A with her where she talks about her surrogate cat (see, the cat theme again!!), sailboat living, & why she writes light-hearted books about serious subjects.
I also got a chance to read her “Discount Detective” novel, Survival Can be Deadly. A newly widowed woman becomes a private investigator at an off-the-wall PI firm, filling the shoes of a sleuth who disappeared. Her first investigation is to find a missing girl. This takes her to a survivalist’s camp on a remote island. A funny & charming mystery featuring a winning heroine, an everywoman with a useless doctorate in English, a mom pushing her to remarry, kids, and the perfect quip for every occasion.
In a week or two, I’ll share my review of the historical cozy Murder by Numbers by Eric Brown. If you’re an Agatha Christie fan, you’ll appreciate this one. In the meantime, here’s the link to the page from Eric Brown’s website: Murder by Numbers | Eric Brown
Bonus! 3 Upcoming Culinary Cozy Mysteries
One of my favorite publishers, Severn House, has several cozy releases scheduled for 4 May 2021.
“Hernia’s fourth Billy Goat Gruff Festival is derailed by murder and a series of outrageous pranks in this hilariously entertaining cozy mystery filled with quirky characters – the latest delectable offering in the longrunning Pennsylvania-Dutch mystery series featuring the irrepressible Magdalena Yoder.” (for fans of Diane Mott Davidson)
The Curse of the Cherry Pie by Amy Patricia Meade
“A sharp and tangy culinary mystery featuring Tish Tarragon. Can Tish beat the curse of the cherry pie to win first prize at the Virginia Commonwealth Bake-Off?” (for fans of Joanne Fluke and Leslie Meyer)
Flat White by Sandra Balzo
Amazon.com: Flat White (A Maggy Thorsen Mystery, 13) (9780727890573): Balzo, Sandra: Books
“Coffee and romance – the perfect way to warm a freezing winter at Uncommon Grounds! Until Maggy Thorsen’s new barista’s beau turns up on the doorstep, bringing a deadly chill with him…” (for fans of Cleo Coyle, Kate Carlisle, and Laura Childs)
Your turn!
So how about you? What kind of books do you turn to for literary comfort? Are you a fan of cozy mysteries? If so, what are your favorite titles/authors? Share them with me in the comments!
[…] Check out my list of 7 cozy mystery novels to read right now (plus 3 upcoming releases!)! […]