May is Mystery Month, so I thought I would list some of my favorite mystery reads. Today’s post will focus on the cozy mystery series I’ve enjoyed.
What is a cozy mystery, you may be wondering? Great question! Simply put, a cozy mystery is a mystery that is relatively PG. That doesn’t mean there isn’t death along the way because there usually is; I mean, what mystery novel doesn’t involve death? But that death, along with any intimate moments that may happen along the way, is done “off-screen.” That means you don’t see the death, and when the body is found, it is often not full of nightmarish things. The sleuth in many cozy mysteries is an amateur who happens to be at the right place at the right time.
Cozy mysteries are, well, cozy! They are books one tends to curl up to read under a snuggly blanket, with a cup of tea (or some other warm drink) nearby. Perfect for a wet spring day! Or a cold winter day, for that matter.
Many cozy mysteries are part of a series, some short, some rather long (one I’ve enjoyed has 26 books!). The great thing about cozy mysteries is that while they are part of a series, you can read them in any order and are generally okay with that. Sure, characters will overlap, and events from one book may be mentioned in another, but there are often enough details to make that not an issue.
Top 10 Cozy Mysteries
Melanie Travis Series by Laurien Berenson
This series follows Melanie Travis, a single mom and school teacher, as she learns to be the owner/trainer/handler of her standard poodle. She is often in the company of her Aunt Peg, a staple on the dog show circuit. There are 26 books in the series, the most recent one published in August 2020.
ScotShop Mystery Series by Fran Stewart
This is a short series of books, only three in total. While the series may be small, the books are still enjoyable. You follow Peggy Winn as she operates The ScotShop in a small town in Vermont. On a trip to Scotland to acquire more items to sell in her shop, she finds herself with a new companion. His name is Dirk, and he’s a hunky Highland ghost that no one else can see but her.
A Candy Holliday Mystery Series by B.B. Haywood
This lovely series is set in Maine, and all the titles involve food. YUM! Candy Holliday is a farmer who helps her father on his farm. She has lived in the small town her whole life, and as such, she knows most of the town’s secrets. This series has eight books, most recently published in 2017.
Gladdy Gold Series by Rita Lakin
This series of books follows Gladdy Gold, a senior living in Florida who operates her private investigation firm from her retirement home. What a great premise! The series has nine books, the most recently published in 2019.
High Heel Series by Gemma Halliday
Love a little fashion with your mystery? This is the series for you! Maddie Springer lives in Los Angeles and is a shoe designer. This series has a bit of comedy and romance sprinkled in. And there is nothing wrong with that! There are 12 books in the series, with the most recent two being published in 2020.
A White House Chef Mystery by Julie Hyzy
A series of mysteries set at the White House? Yes, please! This series follows assistant chef Ollie Paras as she tries to work up to the executive chef position and stay alive. A bit of spy intrigue is sprinkled with the rest of the mystery. The series has nine books, the last being published in 2016.
Cupcake Bakery Mystery Series by Jenn McKinlay
Best friends Mel Cooper and Angie DeLaura finally succeeded in opening their dream cupcake bakery. What could go wrong? Try becoming a murder suspect. What are friends and business partners to do? Try to find out who did commit the crime. There are 13 books in the series, with one released this year.
Royal Spyness Series by Rhys Bowen
A historical cozy mystery, what could be better? This book series is set in 1930s England and stars the cousin of King George V, Lady Victoria Georgiana “Georgie” Charlotte Eugenie. Georgie is penniless and trying to live in London as an ordinary person. There are 15 books in the series, one published in 2020 and another expected in 2021.
Miss Julia Series by Ann B. Ross
Miss Julia is a widow living in North Carolina. She has her Southern charm and is a firm believer in living correctly. The small town she lives in is your typical Southern small town, where everyone knows everyone and what’s happening—or at least they think they do! The series has 23 books, with the last one published in 2021.
A Jaine Austen Mystery Series by Laura Levine
Jaine Austen is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles. She shares a name (though it’s spelled differently) with a famous writer. Jaine tends to be a bit sarcastic and cynical. This series has 18 books, including the 18th book, which will be published in 2021.
Have you read any of these cozy mysteries? If so, what do you think? Have you read anything that you think I missed? Let me know in the comments below.
Looking for some more books to read? Check out my book reviews and monthly reading wrap-ups.
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