During the winter months, there’s nothing I love more than curling up with a hot drink and a comforting read. And what better genre to pick up than one with “cozy” in its very name?
Despite being rather paradoxical (after all, it’s difficult to wrap my head around the fact that a murder can be transformed into an almost “feel-good” narrative), cozy mysteries are very often charming, funny, and safe, with humor and gratifying endings that don’t leave you hanging. For these reasons, they have been a staple in my winter (and, well, year-round) reading since I was first introduced to them while perusing my grandmother’s dusty bookshelves. The history of this pleasant-sounding yet contradictory genre extends far beyond my own discovery of it, and this winter, as I looked for more books to add to my TBR, I was curious about the origins of the books that hold a special place in my heart. If you share this curiosity, here’s a (brief) history of cozy mysteries!
“Cozy mysteries” don’t adhere to any strict, clear-cut definition. Rather, they are often categorized by their lightheartedness in comparison to other murder mysteries and typically center around an amateur detective as opposed to the archetypal Sherlock or Poirot. The protagonists in these books are often normal people thrown into strange situations and make it their mission to “get to the bottom of things.” Something I love about this genre is that it is, at times, both relatable and wildly unrelatable. You’d never catch me going after a bad guy by myself, but you would definitely catch me having a level-10 breakdown over witnessing a crime of the level these protagonists do.
The attribution for the term “cozy mystery,” as we recognize it today, has roots in the mid-to-late 20th century. This new subsect of the mystery genre was formed in large part as a response to the dark and dismal mystery novels that emerged in the 1930s-1950s. Prior to this trend, the mystery genre experienced what many referred to as its “Golden Age,” with writers like Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers penning novels that remain relevant and popular to this day (“The Cozy Mystery Explained” 2024). Cozy mysteries were a move towards returning to this “Golden Age” and a shift away from the darker works in the mystery genre that had taken root. From the 1960s onward, the cozy mystery began to develop into more of a formulaic narrative structure, one which relied on humor and satisfying conclusions.
While the cozy mystery subgenre is marked by certain identifiable characteristics, like an amateur sleuth and a clear-cut ending to any given case, the cozy mystery has changed over time, branching out into different subsections and adapting to the taste of modern audiences. Readers can now find romantic, paranormal, and contemporary cozy mysteries—among others—on their shelves. Additionally, the protagonists of these novels are also equipped differently than their counterparts in the 1960s and 1970s; rather than scouring library archives for clues, our nonprofessional detectives have access to boundless amounts of information on their person at all times thanks to their mobile devices.
Newer cozy mysteries are also notably more inclusive and contain relevant social themes and messages. Some of my favorite works in this genre (see below!) remain lighthearted and comforting while also addressing broader themes like LGBTQ+ activism, mental health struggles, and gender and racial discrimination. The inclusion of these important subjects in a genre once dominated by white, middle/upper class protagonists represents the push for progress throughout different subsections of literature.
I couldn’t go all this time talking about cozy mysteries without recommending a few! Here are some of my favorite reads from this genre that span decades.
Set in Hollywood, this narrative follows TV stars, divorcees, and co-business owners Jay Allan and Cindy Cooper, who become the primary suspects in a murder case after a business rival is killed. In order to clear their names and save their livelihood, the two must work together to find the real murderer. A wonderful combination of charm, intrigue, and humor, this mystery is a comforting and entertaining read.
What’s not to love about family chaos, dates gone wrong, and incredibly endearing side characters? Beyond just the compelling plot and thrills, this book by Jesse Sutanto contains powerful female voices that make the narrative all the more engaging! While a little less heavy on the “mystery” aspect but with the same dedication to humor and a relatable protagonist thrown into a crazy situation (in this case, accidentally killing her blind date), this novel is reminiscent of the cozy mysteries that first drew me into the genre.
A cozy mystery made specifically with book lovers in mind, this story follows a group of readers who must search among themselves for the murderer of a popular writer’s club president. Set in a quaint North Carolina town, this book offers the charm and intrigue characteristic of the genre.
When Lila returns home after a breakup and is asked to save her family’s restaurant, the last thing she expects is to be thrown into the center of a murder investigation. A tale of family love, culinary rivals, and a murder most mysterious, this novel offers something for every reader to enjoy and will keep you enthralled until the very last page.
Sam Parker, Pine Reads Review Social Media Manager
Sources referenced:
Piccotti, T. (2021, April 23). Agatha Christie – Books, Disappearance & Life. Biography. https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/agatha-christie.
“The Cozy Mystery Explained.” (2024). Masterpiece. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/special