Reading The Cozy Mystery

With their intimate settings, subdued action and likeable characters, cozy mysteries are rarely seen as anything more than light entertainment. The cozy, a subgenre of crime fiction, has been historically misunderstood and often overlooked as the subject of serious study. This anthology brings together a groundbreaking collection of essays that examine the cozy mystery from a range of critical viewpoints. The authors engage with the standard classification of a cozy, the characters who appear in its pages, the environment where the crime occurs and how these elements reveal the cozy story's complexity in surprising ways. Essays analyze cozy mysteries to argue that Agatha Christie is actually not a cozy writer; that Columbo fits the mold of the cozy detective; and that the stories' portrayals of settings like the quaint English village reveal a more complicated society than meets the eye.

Meet Raspberry. He is one fierce kitty. And Lucy Fong gets to pet sit him for a weekend. Will she win him over or forever be known as a feline fatale? This is a novella. For readers who like fun cozy mysteries, quirky characters, and a dash of humor. Keywords: cozy mystery, amateur sleuth, traditional mystery, mystery, small town mystery, female protagonist mystery, murder mystery, cozy mysteries, interracial, female sleuth, humor, series, college, funny, female protagonist, novel, secret, suspense, cat mystery, mystery detective stories, mystery humor, mystery romance books clean, mystery romance suspense, mystery suspense murder, mystery with women, mystery women books, mystery romance, lighthouse, beach read

What happens when small-town murder meets a big-hearted café owner? Grief, greed and grudges. The perfect recipe for murder... The death of a much-loved member of the community is the catalyst for another murder in the bustling English coastal town of St. Eves. When relatives of the deceased arrive in town, it's not long before tempers flare as they become consumed by greed, intent to get their hands on the family fortune. As hostilities go from bad to worse, a body is discovered and café owner Charlotte Denver becomes embroiled in a murder investigation. As she delves for clues to the identity of the killer, she finds her life in danger as the story twists and turns its way to a dramatic conclusion. Who is the mystery murderer? They say that blood is thicker than water, but is that really the case? This is a light, clean, mystery with characters who'll stay with you long after you've finished reading, and a selection of recipes for you to try. It contains no graphic violence, language, sex, or cliffhangers. Cozy murder mystery series, cozy murder mystery, cozy murder mystery books, cozy murder, cozy mystery, cozy mysteries, cozy romance mystery, amateur sleuth, female amateur sleuth, British cozy mystery, British cosy mystery, culinary cozy mystery, culinary cozy mystery series, cozy mystery with recipes, small-town mystery, lighthearted cozy mystery, happy endings, standalone cozy mystery, international cozy mystery, clean cozy mystery, cozy mystery with dog, animal cozy mystery, quirky characters, nosy old women

Murder in an English village. Unsolved mysteries. An empty-nester longing for a quiet life. What could possibly go wrong? After a challenging week, event organiser Megan Fallon returns to her childhood home for some much-needed friends and family time. But what promised to be a leisurely break soon takes a chilling turn when the tranquil English village becomes the scene of its very own murder mystery, and Megan finds herself at the heart of the investigation. As she juggles looking for clues with organising a family celebration, Megan soon begins to suspect even those she once trusted. Could any of them really have committed such terrible crimes? Thank goodness for a little light relief, courtesy of her favourite, adventure-seeking uncle, a clumsy childhood acquaintance who's undergone a startling transformation, and a cantankerous tabby cat who's always guaranteed to provide plenty of feline mischief! Settle down in a comfortable chair with this first in series cozy mystery with secrets and hidden motives that will keep you guessing until the very end. Will you guess whodunnit? This is a clean, lighthearted, free mystery read with no strong profanity, violence, or sex, and is written in British English. Cozy murder mystery series, free cozy mystery, cozy murder mystery books, cozy mystery, cozy murder, cozy murder mysteries, animal cozy mystery, animal cozy, cozy romance mystery, amateur sleuth, female amateur sleuth, British cosy mystery, British cozy mystery, cozy mystery series, murder in an English village, unsolved mysteries, English village murder mystery, murder investigation, secrets and hidden motives, clean and lighthearted mystery, whodunnit mystery, tabby cat, free mystery, no profanity, violence, or sex

Susan’s book club reads mystery books all the time, but this time they aren’t just reading about it, they are living it when Laura dies the same way the main character in the book did. Carbon Monoxide poisoning might be common, but Susan does not like the coincidence and refuses to believe it is accidental the way the police think it is. Butting heads with Detective Mason, Susan is determined to find out the truth and together with her beloved dog Toby she sets out to find it. Will Susan be able to find out what truly happened, and whether it was murder or an accident, or will the fact that she can’t remember the night herself get in the way of the truth? Will Toby be able to help her, despite the fact that he can’t talk?

An escape to the country... ends in death. Summer 1933. Fresh from the discovery that she has family living nearby, Kitty Underhay has packed her carpet bag, commandeered a chambermaid and set off on a visit to stately Enderley Hall. She's looking forward to getting to know her relatives, as well as the assembled group of house guests. But when elderly Nanny Thoms is found dead at the bottom of the stairs after papers of national importance are stolen, Kitty quickly learns that Muffy the dog's muddy paws on her hemline are the least of her problems. Calling on ex-army captain Matthew Bryant for assistance, Kitty begins to puzzle out the mystery. And when more shocking murders follow, the stakes are raised for the daring duo as never before. Which of the guests stand to gain from the theft of the documents? And which, as the week progresses, stand to lose their lives? A charming cozy historical murder mystery that fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Lee Strauss won't be able to put down! Readers love the Miss Underhay mysteries: 'Endearing, engaging characters; and a fast-moving plot line filled with unexpected twists and turns. This is a whodunit that you will not want to put down till it's done!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'I loved this cosy mystery. There were many twists and turns and I couldn't wait to find out the identity of the perpetrator behind the crimes. I look forward to reading more in this series.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Gripping from the very first page. It was quite difficult to put the book down... Very deserving of 5 stars and more.' NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars 'I read it as fast as I could... I was engrossed in the plot and wanted to know what was going to happen. I loved the fleshed out and likeable characters... The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and the solution came as a surprise.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'The pace was fast, my interest nonstop and there was plenty of action - an excellent whodunit that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend highly.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'This is a lovely read! I could visualise the hotel so well, the town, the hustle and bustle of life in the 1930's... I thoroughly enjoyed the storytelling, the little clues, the way the mysteries developed. It definitely got the little grey cells working!' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars 'A beautifully written cosy mystery whodunnit in the vein of Agatha Christie and Josephine Tey. Charming, atmospheric and thoroughly entertaining.' Goodreads reviewer 'I couldn't put this book down... a a very fun read that kept me engaged the entire way through.' India Reads 'This isn't a book you want to put off, I kept coming back and picking it right back up to continue reading!' Goodreads reviewer

Love a good beach read? A Deadly Beach Read is a fun, cozy mystery set on the New Jersey shoreline. Finding a dead body was the last thing Daisy expected. When the victim’s wife sees Daisy standing beside her husband’s lifeless body, chaos ensues and accusations fly. Her life is turned upside down, and now even the neighbors are getting in on the action. Forced to search for answers that nobody is willing to give, Daisy does her best to avoid going to jail for a crime she didn’t commit. With a bulls-eye on her back, and an over anxious cop hoping to solve his homicide investigation, she must match wits and outmaneuver both other suspects and an officer ready to arrest her. “A Deadly Beach Read” is a family-friendly story with no foul language, no sex, and no gore. (cozy mystery, cozy mysteries, cozy, cozies, cozy mystery series, mystery series, beach mystery, NJ mystery, mystery in New Jersey, mysteries)

‘Oooh I loved this book… I wanted a book which would be absolutely soothing to read with a murder in it and this was it. The book was everything I wanted in these troubling times. I loved it.’ Book Reviews by Shalini Move over Miss Marple, there’s a new sleuth in town! Meet Eleanor Swift: distinguished adventurer, dog lover, dignified lady… daring detective? England, 1920. Eleanor Swift has spent the last few years travelling the world: taking tea in China, tasting alligators in Peru, escaping bandits in Persia and she has just arrived in England after a chaotic forty-five-day flight from South Africa. Chipstone is about the sleepiest town you could have the misfortune to meet. And to add to these indignities – she’s now a Lady. Lady Eleanor, as she would prefer not to be known, reluctantly returns to her uncle’s home, Henley Hall. Now Lord Henley is gone, she is the owner of the cold and musty manor. What’s a girl to do? Well, befriend the household dog, Gladstone, for a start, and head straight out for a walk in the English countryside, even though a storm is brewing… But then, from the edge of a quarry, through the driving rain, Eleanor is shocked to see a man shot and killed in the distance. Before she can climb down to the spot, the villain is gone and the body has vanished. With no victim and the local police convinced she’s stirring up trouble, Eleanor vows to solve this affair by herself. And when her brakes are mysteriously cut, one thing seems sure: someone in this quiet country town has Lady Eleanor Swift in their murderous sights… If you enjoy witty dialogue, glamorous intrigue and the very best of Golden Age mysteries, then you will adore Verity Bright’s unputdownable whodunnit, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Downton Abbey! Readers love A Very English Murder! ‘I fell in love immediately! Agatha Christie eat your heart out… I was instantly swept away in the drama of it all and fell in love with everything about the book… Lady Swift is my new idol. I absolutely adored her… Plenty of twists, turns and deterrents to put the reader off the scent.’ Sarah in Readerland ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Wow, we have a feisty new heroine taking command in the historic cozy mystery genre! What a fun new character, she is… Totally digging this series so far!’ Beauty Sleuth Book Diva ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘What a great cozy mystery! I am hooked! This is the best book, bar none that I have read this year… An extremely witty, fast-paced mystery… I love the heroine, intrepid adventuress… I want to live at Henley Hall, I love Gladstone, the very funny bulldog, too cute! A most enjoyable read!’ Reviews by Carol in Tallahassee ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘So engaging. I loved reading this book it was so easy to read and absolutely captivating. I cannot wait to read of the further adventures of Lady Eleanor and her beloved bulldog Gladstone. Highly recommended.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘I liked Eleanor a lot, she’s feisty and sweet… The ending had me a little teary, because she’s finally come home… The best part of the book was that it made me feel cozy and warm. Looking forward to the next book! Highly recommended.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘I LOVE British mysteries! I knew without a doubt Eleanor was going to take me on a fantastic journey and that she did!... Makes you feel like you are there with her sleuthing through the quaint villages and countryside. I like a book that leaves me wanting more and this book definitely did that!’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘So fun! I really enjoyed the adventurous Ellie and the lovable cast of supporting characters at Henley Hall… I was kept guessing until the very end.’ Goodreads Reviewer