Cozy mysteries Archives

And Then There Were Crumbs: A Cookie House Mystery

by Eve Calder

After losing her Manhattan restaurant job and leaving her cheating fiancé on the same day, pastry chef Kate makes an impromptu move to their planned honeymoon location, Coral Cay. She is in desperate need of a job and as luck would have it Sam, the grumpy baker and owner of The Cookie House is hiring. But Kate is only working there a few short days before Sam is accused of poisoning a sneaky land developer with his secret ingredient cinnamon rolls.

The Quiche of Death: The First Agatha Raisin Mystery (Agatha Raisin Mysteries Book 1)

by M. C. Beaton

One MMD team member (hi, Brigid!) choose this as one of her best books in the Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club Best Books of the Year event last month. From the publisher: "Bored, lonely, and used to getting her way, Agatha Raisin enters a local baking contest: Surely a blue ribbon for the best quiche will make her the toast of the town. But her recipe for social advancement sours when the judge, Mr. Cummings-Browne, not only snubs her entry but also falls over dead! After her quiche’s secret ingredient turns out to be poison, she must reveal the unsavory truth. That is, Agatha has never baked a thing in her life! In fact, she bought her entry ready-made from an upper-crust London quicherie. Grating on the nerves of several Carsely residents, she is soon receiving sinister notes. Has her cheating and meddling landed her in hot water, or are the threats related to the suspicious death?"

Bake, Borrow, and Steal: A Bakeshop Mystery

by Ellie Alexander

It is fall in Oregon and Torte bakeshop owners Juliet Montague Capshaw and her husband, Carlos are busy creating one-of-a-kind chocolate showpieces for an extraordinary exhibit of lost Shakespeare pages on display at the local museum. But on opening night the security guard tasked with protecting the manuscripts is killed and the Baird’s work is stolen.

Arsenic and Adobo (A Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery Book 1)

by Mia P. Manansala

The premise of this culinary and comedic cozy is top notch! After Lila Macapagal moves back home and starts helping out at her Tita Rosie’s struggling restaurant, a visit from her ex-boyfriend/town food critic is the last thing she wants. Then to make matters much worse, he drops dead while eating his food Lila prepared for him and she is accused of killing him. So with the help of her bestie who is a barista next door and her cute dachshund, Lila works to prove her innocence. The food descriptions were all so fun, and I have heard the series gets even better as it goes along.

Shady Hollow

by Juneau Black

On a list of cozy mysteries, Shady Hollow is the coziest of them all! Imagine an idyllic town similar to Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls but all the townsfolk are animals like in Fantastic Mr. Fox and Zootopia. When the normally peaceful Shady Hollow is disrupted by the murder of a curmudgeon old toad, newcomer Vera Vixen has to use her reporting skills to get to the bottom of the mystery before the killer strikes again. I absolutely loved the adorable setting, the quirky characters, and the clever names of the villagers. Looking forward to reading more of Vera’s sleuthing adventures!

The Secret, Book & Scone Society

by Ellery Adams

Book lists, deepest secrets, AND made-for-you comfort scones? Yes, please! Bookshop owner Nora is able to recommend the exact book a reader needs in their life to help lighten their load. So when a troubled businessman who has asked Nora for her book assistance is found dead, it is up to the society of friends Nora forms to follow the clues and crack the case. If you like Sarah Addison Allen’s novels, this poignant cozy may be good fit for you!

Vinyl Resting Place

by Olivia Blacke

What a perfectly punny title and entertaining start to a new series! Juni Jessup and her sisters Tansy and Maggie have recently reopened Sip & Spin, their family’s vinyl record store and coffee shop in suburban Austin when a murder victim is found in their supply closet. Putting a huge record scratch on their grand opening festivities. Soon their Uncle Calvin suddenly disappears and is wanted as a suspect for the murder, so it is up to Juni and her sisters to figure out whodunit and quickly before they lose the shop they worked so hard to reopen. Filled with cool musical references and clever coffee drinks like “Oops..I Did it Americano” “All the Single Lattes” and “Friends in Mocha Places”, I wish I could visit Sip & Spin in real life - sans murder!

Board to Death

by CJ Connor

After divorcing his husband, Ben Rosencrantz moves back to his hometown to help his ailing father run their family’s board game shop and cafe. However, things do not go as planned when a local toy and antiques dealer is found dead on the shop's doorstep and Ben is the number one suspect. Luckily, Ben has the help of flower shop owner, Ezra, to try their hand at investigating and making a possible love connection. Plus, Ben owns a cute chihuahua named Beans! This debut “quozy” (queer + cozy) set in the trendy Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City is delightful on audio narrated by Robert Mac Minshew.

The Windsor Knot: A Novel (Her Majesty the Queen Investigates Book 1)

by SJ Bennett

A surprising novel set at Windsor Castle that asks “What if Queen Elizabeth was actually a nonagenarian amateur sleuth?” The answer is it makes a great premise for a unique cozy series! When a guest at an exclusive “Dine and Sleep” event is found murdered in a compromising position, it is up to her Majesty and her Assistant Private Secretary to uncover the truth about his untimely demise. While this may sound quirky and silly, rest assured that the tone of The Windsor Knot is more regal, witty, and nuanced. Perfect for fans of The Crown, The Diplomat, and Rising Sun by Michael Crichton. The author notes on her website that this series does not need to be read in order, but “the first 3 are set chronologically in the spring, summer, and winter of 2016. The fourth takes place in 1957, when the young Queen was busy travelling the world.”

Hollywood Homicide

by Kellye Garrett

Inspired by the author’s experience in the entertainment industry, this delightfully fresh series set in Los Angeles reminded me of The Bling Ring and Search Party meets Insecure. Dayna Anderson used to star in Super Bowl commercials but now she is trying to make ends meet when she unwittingly witnesses a hit and run. After realizing there is quite a hefty reward for information about the murder, Dayna is on the case with the help of her friends. Highly recommend the audiobook read by the incomparable Bahni Turpin! (And just to note, while I enjoyed all the book’s twists and turns, I could have done with less discussion about dieting and individuals’ weight.)

A Peculiar Combination

by Ashley Weaver

Hats off to team member Donna for cracking the code to an excellent recommendation with this captivating mystery series set during WWII. Electra McDonnell is a quick-witted safe breaker and cat burglar, who is scraping by during the war with the help of her locksmith Uncle Mick. That is until they get caught redhanded one evening by the British government and Ellie is offered a deal: help Major Ramsey break into a safe to retrieve blueprints integral to stopping a German spy or head to prison. She chooses to complete the mission, yet when they arrive Ellie discovers the alleged spy dead at the scene. The unlikely pair of Major Ramsey and Ellie must then team up to keep the plans from getting into enemy hands. Chock full of engaging lock-breaking details and spy-heist intrigue, this series is best read in order—and fabulous on audio as performed by Alison Larkin.

Mimi Lee Gets a Clue

by Jennifer J. Chow

A talking cat? Punny business name? And a whole litter of adorable chihuahuas? Count me in! Mimi Lee is struggling to get her pet grooming business, Hollywoof, off the ground and running when she is accused of murdering a local puppy mill owner. To prove her innocence, she starts investigating with the help of her handsome neighbor Josh who just happens to be a lawyer. And did I mention she has a very sassy talking cat named Marshmallow who totally steals the show? Fluffy and funny, the audiobook is such a great time narrated by Natalie Nandus, who is a hilarious follow on instagram!

Pride and Premeditation (Jane Austen Murder Mysteries Book 1)

by Tirzah Price

From the publisher: "Perfect for fans of the Lady Janies and Stalking Jack the Ripper, the first book in the Jane Austen Murder Mysteries series is a clever retelling of Pride and Prejudice that reimagines the iconic settings, characters, and romances in a thrilling and high-stakes whodunit. When a scandalous murder shocks London high society, seventeen-year-old aspiring lawyer Lizzie Bennet seizes the opportunity to prove herself, despite the interference of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the stern young heir to the prestigious firm Pemberley Associates. Convinced the authorities have imprisoned the wrong person, Lizzie vows to solve the murder on her own. But as the case—and her feelings for Darcy—become more complicated, Lizzie discovers that her dream job could make her happy, but it might also get her killed."

Cozy mysteries