Top 10 Cozy Mysteries on Goodreads

I've read and enjoyed all of these books but one -- and that one is in Mt. TBR :) If I had to choose just *one cozy series to name as a favorite, it would probably be the White House Chef series, by Julie Hyzy. The first book is State of the Onion.

This list is certainly a mixed bag. It's hard for me to figure out how an Agatha Christie ends up on the same list as Joanne Fluke. While I love a good Golden Age mystery - most of which qualify as a cozy, I'm just not up for mysteries that must revolve around teashops, bakeries, coffeehouses, etc. MC Beaton and Rhys Bowen are great cozy authors - they take a premise/gimmick which plays a small part in the story, but go far beyond that premise in the story.

I've read all of the Diane Mott Davidson, and many of the Joanne Fluke and they are too constrained by their "gimmick." The Cat Who mysteries started out great, but about half-way through just became awful - the first three were the best and then the next maybe 10 and beyond that, don't bother.

I haven't read Charlaine Harris, Jana Deleon, or Cleo Coyle and I don't think I will. Just my preference.

The Cat Who series introduced me to cozy mystery, so they are definitely my favorite. I've since found that although I adore themed cozy, they are better with animal sleuths but NOT talking animals. I love Laurie Cass, Miranda James and Laura Childs the most.

Really enjoy the Sneaky Pie Brown series by Rita Mae Brown. Mrs. Murphy, Tucker and Pewter are so humorous. Hair, Fair and the rest of the community seem like family. Entertaining!

I do love a good cozy.

Ashley Weaver's Amory Ames Mysteries is quite fun historical cozy. She's a socialite who sleuths with her husband. Death Wears a Mask & A Most Novel Revenge & Murder at the Brightwell.

Judith Flanders' Sam Clair books are also engaging. She's a book publisher who just keeps finding herself in the midst of murder. A Murder of Magpies, A Bed of Scorpions & A Cast of Vultures

And though there's only one so far, I really enjoyed Death at Breakfast by Beth Gutcheon. The two ladies who sleuth are recent retiree friends who are travelling together. They reminded me of Rosemary & Thyme of the television series.

Agatha Christie and Nr. 1 Ladiies Detective Agency are among my favorites.
On my list I am adding
The Black Sheep Knitting Mysteries by Anne Canadeo
The Kelly Flynn series by Maggie Sefton
Seaside Knitters mysteries by Sally Goldenbaum
Read other types of mystery books as well, but the tree I've added to my list are perfect with a cup of tea and a knitting project

Recipes for Love and Murder by Sally Andrew. It's strange to describe a murder mystery as charming but that is how I would describe this book.

Most of these are fun times. Cozies are good when the mood is right.

I have to add Charlotte MacLeod - all but especially the two series - Peter Shandy starting with Rest You Merry and Sarah Kelling starting with The Family Vault All recently made available in digital by Open Road Media, if you have not discovered these, you need to!

Robin wrote: "This list is certainly a mixed bag. It's hard for me to figure out how an Agatha Christie ends up on the same list as Joanne Fluke. While I love a good Golden Age mystery - most of which qualify as..."

Robin wrote: "This list is certainly a mixed bag. It's hard for me to figure out how an Agatha Christie ends up on the same list as Joanne Fluke. While I love a good Golden Age mystery - most of which qualify as..."

This certainly is a mixed bag and I wouldn't put Agatha Christie in with any of the other books. What exactly qualifies a book as a "cosy" anyway?

Robin wrote: "This list is certainly a mixed bag. It's hard for me to figure out how an Agatha Christie ends up on the same list as Joanne Fluke. While I love a good Golden Age mystery - most of which qualify as..."
I've found that once an author catches on, they start adding other series and that is when the first series suffers. Suddenly they have too many deadlines to meet and the stories go flat. I got sick of the Laura Childs tea shop cozies when the they became thinly filled in outlines. Same for the Sneaky Pie Brown books. I got sick of Big Mim's Gucci shoes. I expect a certain amount of formula, but not noticeable. These days I'm still okay with Cleo Coyle, and the Kate Carlisle book binder series is good. (I bind books, so the day that gets short shrift, I'll be done.) I like the Bailey Cates bakery series, so far, and the Madelyn Alt books. But none of these compare to Laurie R. King's Mary Russell series (not cozy) or Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon or Dana Stabenow's Kate Shugak. Of course the queen of them all is Sara Paretsky and V.I. Warshawski. None of these are remotely cozy, but they are well-written and imaginative.

Cynthia wrote: " what exactly qualifies a book as cozy.."
Cozies have a specific definition,
"Cozy mysteries, also referred to as "cozies", are a subgenre of crime fiction in which sex and violence are downplayed or treated humorously, and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community."

Agatha Christie basically invented the genre with Miss Marple (as diztinct from Poirot who is not cozy) and most craft or hobby or profession or similar setting are squarely in the cozy mystery world. This list is ridiculously diverse, including the very mediocre Joanne Fluke along with the grande dame Agatha Christie.

Remember the criteria was simply what cozy mysteries added most to GR member lists. Pretty weak criteria, me thinks. All the more reason to add in comments.

The Shadow of the Wind should be here

I am really enjoying the new series by Agatha Frost. Agatha Frost.

I've read most of these. If I have to put a favorite series- it's Donna Andrews ' Meg Lzngslow - no wait- Denise Swansens ' Srumble Rivet - it's so hard to pick one favorite. I have older ones that I love too. I am also now getting into new( to me) authors now. I just love cozyies. With or without recipes. Ruthann

I love Earlene Fowler's Benni Harper mystery series. The only sad thing is that she has quit writing them.

Cynthia wrote: "This certainly is a mixed bag and I wouldn't put Agatha Christie in with any of the other books. What exactly qualifies a book as a "cosy" anyway? "

I think her Miss Marple qualifies as cozies. The rest and other detectives, no.

I agree with the addition of Donna Andrews' series. I adore The Shadow of the Wind but wouldn't call it cozy by any stretch of the definition. I enjoyed Rhys Bowen's Molly Murphy series but perhaps it's more historical than cozy. Sheila Connelly also writes a wonderful cozy!

Joyce Tremel's Pittsburgh Brewhouse series, and Annette Dashofy's Zoe Chambers set in rural (and imaginary) Vance Township are my two favorites.

I can't believe Ann Charles didn't make this list. Her Deadwood series is THE best and her Jackrabbit Junction series is also very good.

I do love Agatha Christie and reread her but I also love and reread Dorothy Sayers and Margery Allingham and, yes, Sherlock. For plotting and writing you can't do better than the Golden Age.

Jill Paterson's Australian Fitzjohn series is a good modern cozy. As is Marty Wingate's UK series. Estelle Ryan's series is unique and well written, compelling. D.J. Donaldson's New Orleans forensic detective series is outstanding -- setting, characters, writing -- and he has finally done another. But read them in order. Cajun Nights was the first. E-books or used books are available and worth it if you love NOLA.

The La. Longshot series is VERY funny! (Esp if you like Stephanie Plum; these may be better.) And if you like it, you might also love the Texas "Bubba" series (C L Bevill), which is also hysterical! In both series it is the characters (and to lesser degree the settings) that snag your interest, rather than the plots.

If you like Joanna Fluke and Diane Mott Davison you will probably like Krista Davis's books, and Leslie Meier's, though no recipes. And try Renee Pawlish's Denver detective series.

Not sure I'd call all of these cozies, but each has its appeal, some better at characters and settings than plots. Easy reading. Fun.

PS I own books from each of these writers and in a few cases, like Donaldson and Allingham, entire series. (La Longshot series and Bubba series I have as ebooks.)

Cynthia wrote: "Robin wrote: "This list is certainly a mixed bag. It's hard for me to figure out how an Agatha Christie ends up on the same list as Joanne Fluke. While I love a good Golden Age mystery - most of wh..."

A good cozy needs a good plot, with clues and red herrings, as well as good/great characters and setting. Call them Brains over Brawn. They'd never make good movies.

One of my favorite cozy mysteries is "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency." Many sequels follow ...

Kirsti wrote: "The Cat Who series introduced me to cozy mystery, so they are definitely my favorite. I've since found that although I adore themed cozy, they are better with animal sleuths but NOT talking animals..."
I LOVE the Cat Who mysteries (The Cat Who Saw Red probably is my favorite). I agree about the talking animals!!!!! Coco and YumYum do NOT talk (thank heavens!)

Suzanne wrote: "I do love Agatha Christie and reread her but I also love and reread Dorothy Sayers and Margery Allingham and, yes, Sherlock. For plotting and writing you can't do better than the Golden Age.

Jill..."

Some of the series are a bit coy, but there is always an author like Louise Penny to read.
Barb wrote: "I've read and enjoyed all of these books but one -- and that one is in Mt. TBR :) If I had to choose just *one cozy series to name as a favorite, it would probably be the White House Chef series, b..."

I like the Monica Ferris series revolving around a needlework shop in a small town in Minnesota. I think it's one of the best of the crafting cozies that I've read. The first book in the series is called Crewel World.

I adore cozy mysteries, my No. 1 is Gillian Larkin!

A pretty "gentle" mystery series, set in Victorian England, is the Charles Lenox books by Charles Finch. I like to read these when I want only mild stimulation with characters whose company I enjoy. The word "cozy" works here IMO.

I like cozy mysteries I have most of M.C, Beaton and Emily Brightwell Books every time a new book comes out I buy it

also this tiny book called The Museum of Literary Souls by John Connolly

Cherringham A Cosy Crime Series by Matthew Costello and Neil Richardson!
Very good little stories!!

Donna Ball & her dog series along with hummingbird house.

Hands down Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache novels are the best cozies. Not only do they continue to get better as the series progresses, but I dont feel embarrassed recommending them to friends. They are really well written.
That being said, i do enjoy some of the craft based cozies. I am a huge quilter so there is nothing like an audiobook of some lighter fair such as Kate Carlisle, Krista Davis, Lorna Barrett, and Laura Childs while stitching a rainy day away.

Susan wrote: "Really enjoy the Sneaky Pie Brown series by Rita Mae Brown. Mrs. Murphy, Tucker and Pewter are so humorous. Hair, Fair and the rest of the community seem like family. Entertaining!"

Agreed! Rita Mae Brown has kept up the interest.

In addition to by Rhys Bowen, I also love her Molly Murphy series

CanBioRunr wrote: "Hands down Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache novels are the best cozies. Not only do they continue to get better as the series progresses, but I dont feel embarrassed recommending them to friends. T..."

IDK if I would put Louise Penny down as a cozy. In most definitions of a cozy, the main protagonist is an amateur detective (aka busy body!) rather than a member of a law enforcement agency or a private investigator. I'm surprised not to see Mary Dahiem on the list and Carola Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple series. I also like the Sarah Graves Home Repair is Murder series - there is more substance to the series than the series title indicates. And Margaret Maron's Deborah Knott series, which also pushes the cozy definition as the MC is a judge, but it has a lot of family ties in a small community, with the murder "off stage" - oops, a dead body!

Until I joined goodreads...I had no idea what a "cozy mystery"was!!! I just love mysteries.

British writers Ann Granger and Lesley Cookman

Cozy Mystery, sounds amazing.

Catherine wrote: "Until I joined goodreads...I had no idea what a "cozy mystery"was!!! I just love mysteries."

hahaha..me too :D

I really liked reading The Cat Who Could Read Backwards and the entire series The Cat Who... It features an journalist and two adorable Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum.

I just read up the series by Laura Morrigan starting with Woof at the Door. She can talk to animals and trys to help them by finding out who killed or harmed their people.

I'm not too fond of cozies, at least the stuff I've tried before. I love Christie, of course, but wouldn't put her in the same category as the contemporary authors all writing about culinary puns. She is the Queen of Mystery! One series I've been excited to try out was The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

Under an English Heaven recently won the blue ribbon for best British/Classic Cozy and the Grand Prize for best mystery in the Mystery and Mayhem Awards. It is the first in a series (next to come this year) and has received more than 400 reviews on Amazon.Under an English Heaven: An Ellie Kent Mystery

I like some authors one doesn't seem to hear much about anymore such as E.X.Ferrars,&Anthony Gilbert, whose lawyer Arthur Crook was a great help to elderly ladies & spinsters,in sticky situations many times.Also,Patricia Wentworth's Miss Silver ,& Doris Miles Disney's book,"The Day Miss Bessie Lewis Disappeared" is a riot.Georgette Heyer wrote a few cosy mysteries ,too.Dorothy Gilman's "A Nun In The Closet" was good.Also,Elizabeth Cadell's "The Fledging" is worth a read.And many others such as Hazel Holt,Emily Brightwell."So many books,so little time."

It was a sad day when Heron Carvic no longer wrote the Miss Seeton cozy-mystery series.
And "The Bat" by Mary Roberts Rhinehart, is one of her best efforts,I think.

Very surprised no one mentioned the Death on Demand series by Carolyn G. Hart! Absolutely one of my favorites - and I have so many. This one caught me immediately with the many references to the classic mysteries. Try it!

Irishcailin wrote: "Very surprised no one mentioned the Death on Demand series by Carolyn G. Hart! Absolutely one of my favorites - and I have so many. This one caught me immediately with the many references to the cl..."
Oh, yes! I loved the early Death on Demand mysteries: A neighborhood bookstore, two cats (Agatha & Edgar?), a young protagonist and mysterious happenings ... what more could one want?

Nothing! I have only read the first three or four, and I do so enjoy Laurel - :)

We have neglected go mention Joan Hess and her Maggody series - funny quirky and ecc3ntric.