Cozy Mysteries

I'm a big fan of mystery novels and often I prefer them to be complex and puzzling -- challenging to the brain. However, there are time when I'm looking for a lighter, and lighter-hearted, read. On vacation, for example, or at the beach, what I generally prefer are mysteries minus the gore. I look for likeable characters, a story with just enough of a puzzle to keep my attention but not so much that I have to struggle with it. I like some humor, maybe a little romance thrown in. Cozy mysteries exactly fulfill my requirements.

While adhering to many of the conventions of the early cozy mysteries (such as Agatha Christie's Miss Marple series), modern cozies are less limited as to settings and bring in a wider variety of subject matter. A bigger change, though, is the concept of themed stories (and, in fact, entire series). One can find entire series in which each plot is built around a specific interest, such as coffee, tea, or wine lore; crafts (knitting, embroidery, glassblowing); and the arts (dance, music, art, books). Most of these themed cozy mysteries include special non-fiction features such as recipes, cooking tips, and do-it-yourself projects.

Featured in this lens are five of my favorite modern cozy mystery series. They cover five different thematic areas and are by five different authors. Each series has several books, although just one for each series is listed. In addition, I've gathered representative books for 5 additional cozy mystery series (tattoos, witchcraft, and more) that intrigue me. I haven't read these yet, but they are on my list now.