The air is chilling, the leaves are beginning to turn, and we’re all pulling our sweater selections out of our closets. It’s officially the start of the fall season in our hearts, at least. With this change of season comes a feeling of comfort, a feeling of cozy, and one might say a feeling of mystery as well. This month, we’ll be talking about cozy mysteries! We find cozy mysteries to be a great intro to the spookier side of the year. We’re inviting those who read cozy mysteries all the time, or those who have never read one before to join us and learn more about the genre.
What’s on our nightstands this week: Shirin just finished reading All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover. For all of her controversies, Hoover has a catchy writing style that makes serious subject matter an easy read. This book focuses on a married couple struggling with fertility issues, describing in detail the woman’s emotions and the impact on her marriage. It did a good job depicting the inner workings of a woman’s mind in this situation, which could help a partner empathize. So while heavy, it was a worthwhile read.
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Meaghan has been reading The Only One Left by Riley Sager, the popular thriller author’s latest release. Sagers’ writing really sucks you in right away. The novel is set in New England with a gothic, spooky house vibe that is always a good choice. The main character is a caretaker who goes to work in a mansion for an elderly woman accused of murdering her family years ago.
With a solid reading week out of the way, we’re diving into the elements of a cozy mystery. As a rule, mysteries often focus on a crime like murder and feature a detective or lawyer leading an investigation. But cozy mysteries flip this – the lead is typically an everyday person with no law enforcement background who simply stumbles into a situation. Think of it like an adult version of kids’ mysteries like Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. The crimes are still serious but the stakes feel lower because the investigator is not a professional, but an everyman like the reader.
The protagonist also tends to be female, and an amateur sleuth. Oftentimes the mystery occurs in their place of business, home, or that of someone close to them. They take it upon themselves to investigate, usually against the wishes of the actual detective on the case whom they wind up bonding with after a time. The leads tend to be more endearing than messy.
The cozy elements of a cozy mystery often come from small-town settings where everyone knows each other. We can’t imagine a cozy mystery set in a huge city. The small town makes it more personal and easier for a civilian to question people and get information, and the protagonist tends to have a vested interest in solving the crime. On top of this, the tiny police force can really focus on a rare case like this.
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The shocking nature of a murder in a low-crime area also adds intrigue to the story. The main character is usually quick-witted and clever rather than messy or unreliable the way that thriller protagonists often are. They have a determination to solve the case, likely because it affects their town and people. The intimate setting makes the story more personal, and the coziness shines through even more because of these themes.
Elements like pets and food/culinary businesses also feature prominently in the cozy mystery, adding to the cutesy nature of these novels. It’s rare to find one not set in a bookshop, library, bakery, or restaurant. There’s also usually a quirky sidekick or family member to add to the humorous aspect of the story as well. The suspects tend to be peculiar too since everyone knows each other in the small town, and the personalities mean readers can guess at possible romantic chemistry too.
The non-professional investigator makes these mysteries fun and cozy to read. The stakes are lower than in a thriller and the leads endearing rather than unstable. We love reading a cozy mystery in September- they’re the perfect gateway into cooler weather and fall feelings.
Enjoying this episode? Be sure to check out all of our coverage of the genre over at https://fully-booked.ca/. We’re a listener-supported podcast! Please consider pledging and helping Fully Booked to grow our library over at https://ko-fi.com/fullybooked, or by leaving us a 5-star rating and review wherever you’re listening. Thanks, bookworms, and don’t forget to keep on reading.
