Valentine's Day is upon us and there are a lot of books about love and romance perfect for the holiday. But we don't want that. We want a good cozy mystery instead. And if it is Valentine's Day themed, that is even better.
Luckily for us, there are plenty of cozy mysteries out there that are centered around Valentine's Day. With so many to choose from, it can be hard to narrow them down to just a few that will keep you entertained. We decided to look at some of our favorite cozy mystery authors to see what they had for us in terms of Valentine's Day themed offerings. And we found a few that we think you might enjoy.
So what are we reading this Valentine's Day and you might want to as well?
5 Cozy Mysteries to read this Valentine's Day
Be My Valencrime (The Juniper Junction Cozy Holiday Mystery Series) by Amy M. Reade
Be My Valencrime is the third book in this series and it is definitely a fun one. Honestly, there are some interesting twists and turns in this book, particularly if you have read the first two books in the series. That being said, I actually read this one first and then went back and read the others because I enjoyed this one so much. Be My Valencrime felt like a quick read and it was perfect for the season.
The Valentine Mystery (A Tess and Tilly Cozy Mystery) by Kathi Daley
This book felt like it had it all. It was the second book in a series with an impressive 18 books published at this point. And if you enjoy a cozy mystery with animals, food and even shelter animals finding forever homes that are set in a small town, then this one is for you. Of course, we also have a murder to solve, which is what we need in an engaging cozy mystery.
Homicide and Hearts: Valentine's Day by Madelyn Scott
I had to pick this book up when I saw the pup on the cover and I am so glad that I did. This was a fun read thanks to the characters and the dogs. It’s definitely one for the animal lovers out there, although we do have to point out that the victim in this case is a veterinarian. What was very interesting in this book is that the prime suspect in the murder is also the person trying to figure out exactly what happened. And luckily for her, she has her dog at her side, trying to help as well. I really enjoyed this read. I will say that it went by very quickly, and it was the kind of book that had me wanting to come back for more. I would absolutely read more of Madelyn Scott’s work just based on this book alone.
Death By Baguette: A Valentine’s Day Murder in Paris (Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery Series) by Jennifer S. Alderson
While this is the second book in the series, I actually read this as a standalone story. And I really enjoyed every bit of this one. I love that this was a travel cozy mystery, as I feel like we don't talk about these nearly enough. Plus, I love that the Valentine's Day themed mystery was set in Paris, which is often called the city of love. The fact that the victim in this book happens to be our leading lady's boyfriend adds an extra spicy twist to the story. This was a great read and left me wanting more.
Antagonizing Antiques (Cozy Corgi Mysteries Book 26) by Mildred Abbott
I have been a fan of the Cozy Corgi Mysteries since they debuted and I am so glad that Mildred Abbott finally released a Valentine's Day mystery in September of 2022. It may have taken 26 books to get here, but it was worth the wait. This was another fun read from the author with plenty of romance, mystery, and food. The fact that this one features a recipe for strawberry pop tarts definitely got me even more excited for this one. (I love it when cozy mysteries feature recipes.) While I highly recommend reading the entire series, I definitely think this one can be read alone as well.