Why I Started Reading Cozy Mysteries (And You Should Too)
Devanshi Jain
July 13, 2018
However, as much I may love mysteries and pitting myself against the author, a lot of crime fiction can be bloody and gory. It does deals with dark subjects and requires you to dive into the murky depths of human depravity and evil. I enjoyed flirting with this darkness when I was younger but as I grow older, more cynical and more jaded, I find myself gravitating towards lighter reads especially when it comes to mysteries.
This is where cozy mysteries come in. They are the perfect balance of mystery without the gore and dark motives. Sprinkle in some humour, a sense of community, a touch of romance, a beautiful setting and you’ve got all the hallmarks of a book which will not only tease your grey cells but also make you feel good inside.
(Artwork by Nimisha Todi)
Many cozy mysteries are set in intimate settings. Be it a quaint village in England, or a small town in southern America, or a completely fictional island, the setting itself is an important part of the feel of the novel. These are places with small populations where everyone knows everyone’s business and, at the same time, they also look out for each other. Mom-and-pop stores thrive here and chain restaurants and coffee shops are not welcome. The police force is small and not used to solving crimes like murders. However, the protagonist typically knows at least one person inside the police force. It could be a family member, a close friend or even a potential love interest. Through this ‘inside (wo)man’, our protagonist gets access to confidential information despite resistance from other cops who believe she should not be meddling with police business. This insider information is usually critical to setting her on the right path.
In H.Y. Hanna’s Oxford Tearoom Mysteries, Gemma quits her fancy job in Sydney to return home to Oxford to follow her dream of opening a traditional English tearoom serving scones with jam and clotted cream. Soon after her return, she finds herself the prime suspect in the murder of the woman who sat next to her on the flight home. Set in picturesque Oxford and a Cotswold village, Hanna uses these places brilliantly, bringing them alive for us. As for Gemma, not only does she keep stumbling onto corpses and into mysteries, she also has to deal with the return of her ex-boyfriend, CID Devlin; her mother’s attempts at matchmaking; her new business; and the antics of four old ladies who fancy themselves to be detectives.
Many cozy mysteries also have supernatural elements- the lead characters could be a set of witches along with other ‘imaginary’ creatures like vampires and werewolves. Sometimes these books involve a whole cast of supernatural characters like trolls, gnomes, fairies, and elves. Even minotaurs, gryphons, angels and unicorns may make an appearance.
Amy Boyles’ Bless Your Witch series features Dylan Apel who has suddenly discovered she is a witch and must now learn how to use her powers without alerting humans. Throw in two sassy sisters, two even more enigmatic grandmothers and one mysterious man who is following her around, and it seems as if her life couldn’t get more complicated until her best client is killed in her boutique. With ten books out, this series continues to get more complex with an expanding universe which is rather delightful.
Cozy mysteries are definitely worth a shot but be careful as there are tonnes of bad books out there. Be prepared for some trial and error as you discover what you enjoy reading. I highly recommend signing up for Kindle Unlimited as most of the books I enjoy are available as part of that subscription.
Devanshi has been reading ever since she can remember. What started off as an obsession with Enid Blyton, slowly morphed into a love for mystery and fantasy. Even her choice of career as a lawyer was heavily influenced by the works of Erle Stanley Gardner and John Grisham. After quitting law, and while backpacking around India, she read books on entrepreneurship, taught herself web design and delved into social media marketing. She doesn’t go anywhere without a book.
She is the founding editor of The Curious Reader. Read her articles here.