Cozy Mystery Suggestions
Need a break from gritty noir, serial killers or intense thrillers? A cozy mystery can be a great “palate cleanser” between darker novels.
Here are some suggestions from our Meetup group members.
Check back often; I hope to add to this list!
Danielle Recommends:
Steve Higgs
Albert Smith’s Culinary Capers Series
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Lorenzo Carcaterra
Nonna Maria series
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Shirley Recommends:
G M Malliet
St. Just Series
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Sloan and Crosby Series
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Colleen Cambridge
Murder at Mallowan Hall
“Agatha Christie’s housekeeper is the amateur detective.”
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Kalpita Recommends:
Alan Bradley
Flavia de Luce series
“The amateur detective is Flavia de Luce, a brilliant eleven-year-old with a passion for chemistry and a genius for solving murders. The books are set in the 1950s in a small English village.”
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Ovidia Yu
Singaporean Mystery Series
“The amateur detective, Rosie “Aunty” Lee, is a feisty widow and owner of Singapore’s best-loved home cooking restaurant. Lots of commentary on food and Singaporean society.”
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Vaseem Khan
Baby Ganesh Agency Investigation Series
“Set in Mumbai, the PI is Ashwin Chopra, a recently retired inspector. His wife Poppy and his inherited baby elephant play a part in the stories as the series goes on.”
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Darynda Jones
Sunshine Vicram Series
“This is a humorous mystery sexy romance, so not for everyone! The protagonist is Sunshine Vicram, the reluctant new Sheriff of a small town in New Mexico and mom of a teenage daughter.”
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Lilith Recommends:
Iona Whishaw
Lane Winslow Series
“Set in rural Canada after WWII—not as light and fluffy as some others but nor gory or rigorous either”
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Jessica Ellicott
Beryl & Edwina Series
“Set in an English village, two “spinsters”—one an adventuress and one a staid English lady—start a detective agency. Very light and funny.”
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Allison Montclair
Sparks & Bainbridge Series
“Set in London, two opposites form a matchmaking business but end up solving mysteries. Also pretty light and funny.”
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Maureen Johnson
Truly Devious Series
“This is actually young adult fiction, and the main character is a teenage girl who goes to a boarding school for high school students with special talents—hers is solving mysteries. This one has some darker elements, but also made me laugh a lot because teenagers are hilarious. One of the kids declares that he has a new religious practice of “screaming meditation” every morning, much to the annoyance of the school administration. There’s definitely times I think I might need to take that up.”
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Marni Recommends:
Christopher Fowler
Bryant and May series
“Humorous mystery fiction featuring the Peculiar Crimes Unit in London and the elderly Arthur Bryant and John May. If you love London and like a strong dose of the absurd with your mystery fiction, you’ll love this series!”
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Dorothy Gilman
Mrs Pollifax series
“Funny, absurd, eccentric. Features bored widow-turned-spy Emily Pollifax. Charming characters, excellent writing and highly unbelieveable plots (which is half the fun).”
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Joan Hess
Claire Malloy series
“Comic mystery fiction featuring amateur sleuth/bookstore owner/busybody Claire Malloy. A widow with a dramatic, teenage daughter (WHO SPEAKS IN ALL CAPS) investigates crime in the small college town of Farberville. (also writes the comic/mystery Arly Hanks-Maggody series).”
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G A McKevett
Savannah Reid series
“Plus sized private investigor and her quirky friends, family and colleagues.”
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