There are lots of cozy mystery series available if you enjoy reading cozy mysteries.
And you’ll definitely want to read many different series if you wish to write cozies.
When you read books among a wide variety of cozy mystery series you’ll begin to get a feel for how stories in this genre are constructed.
For example, you’ll see how various authors make a cozy setting come to life—and the setting is most important in a cozy mystery because readers want to read about a small town or village (or other “cozy” spot) that seems like a great place to live or visit.
You’ll also see the different types of main characters or amateur sleuths various authors develop in cozy mysteries.
And, you’ll learn how different authors create a whole cast of supporting characters, many of whom become suspects as the amateur sleuth attempts to solve the crime that has been committed.
Once you see how other authors write cozy mysteries, it will be much easier to generate ideas for your own stories.
Here are some popular cozy mystery series to check out.
You’ll notice that many of them have fun titles, which are puns or have double meanings, etc. that readers love.
The Aunty Dimity Series by Nancy Atherton
There are over 20 books in this series, to date. The first one is Aunt Dimity’s Death.
The special “hook” to this series is that Aunt Dimity is a ghost who communicates with Lori Shepherd (the main character/amateur sleuth) via an unusual diary.
Lori inherited a house in the English countryside from Aunt Dimity and the quaint village where the house is located is full of delightfully quirky inhabitants who make for a fun cast of recurring characters from book to book.
Lucy Stone Mysteries by Leslie Meier
The first book in this series is called Mistletoe Murder.
Lucy Stone is just your everyday housewife and mother who works part time for her local newspaper.
Coffeehouse Mysteries by Cleo Coyle
If you love coffee and coffeehouses, you’ll love this series. The first book is called On What Grounds.
Clare Cosi lives with her cat, Java, in an apartment over the coffeehouse, “where caffeine and crime are always brewing.” The book includes recipes and coffee making tips.
Teashop Mystery Series by Laura Childs
The first three mysteries in this series are available in one set called Tea for Three.
In this series, Charleston tea shop owner Theodosia Browning always seems to find herself steeped in mystery and murder.
Next, here are two different series by the same author.
Both have been turned into television shows.
Agatha Raisin Series by M.C. Beaton
The first book in the series is Quiche of Death.
Agatha Raisin gives up her successful PR firm, sells her London flat, and moves to the quiet village of Carsely (only, it turns out things are so quiet in Carsely after all).
Hamish MacBeth Series by M.C. Beaton
This series takes place in Scotland, where Lochdubh Constable Hamish Macbeth faces all sorts of crimes to solve.
The first book in the series is Death of a Gossip.
The Scottish countryside really comes alive in this series—mostly, it sounds cold, cold, cold but beautiful, and Hamish is a quirky, but endearing, character who makes for fun reading.
The Bait & Stitch Cozy Mystery Series by Ann Lost
The first book in this series is A Pattern for Murder.
The unique twist on this series is that the main character is the owner of The Bait & Stitch, a combination knitting and bait shop amid a Finnish community in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Okay, so these are just a few popular cozy mystery series available today and some of my personal favorites.
There are many, many more to choose from, and since cozy mysteries continue to attract loyal readers, why not develop your own cozy mystery series?
I’d love to help.
Learn more about my new one-on-one coaching program, Let’s Get Cozy: Write a Cozy Mystery, here.
Happy reading—and writing!
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