A cozy mystery is a subgenre of crime fiction that is characterized by being light-hearted and wholesome. The key qualities of a cozy mystery are:
- Small-town setting
- Amateur sleuth protagonist
- Minimal violence and/or graphic content
- Little to no sexual or profanity content
- Focus is on character relationships and community
- Often includes a hobby or a profession as a central theme
- Typically is part of a series
If you want a deep dive into the elements of a cozy mystery, we have a podcast episode just on that!
Some examples of a cozy mystery are Death by Dumpling by Vivian Chien, The Vampire Knitting Club by Nancy Warren, A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette, and Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala.
What are some of your favorite cozy mysteries? Let us know in the comments below!
