What exactly is a Cozy Mystery?

We hear a lot of terms when it comes to our books. And thanks to BookTok, more and more people are being introduced to the many different subgenres of books on the market. And while we all know what a Mystery is, do you know what a Cozy Mystery is? What makes a book a Cozy Mystery?

Recently, I was trying to explain to someone who already reads Mystery and Thriller books what a Cozy Mystery was, especially in comparison to what they enjoy reading. And what I noticed was that I didn't have the best explanation for it. I had suggestions for what to read that would be considered a Cozy Mystery, but I couldn't explain it in words. So I did some research to figure out what the real description of this subgenre is.

What makes a Mystery a Cozy Mystery?

Obviously we have to point out that as will many genres and subgenres, there are no hard-line rules as to what makes a book fall into a specific category. This means that there is no set-in-stone definition of what a Cozy Mystery is. That being said, as PBS explains in their own explanation of what a Cozy Mystery is (they are actually debuting two Cozy Mystery style shows as part of the Masterpiece collection), "the main rule of thumb seems to be that the story contains no graphic violence and generally, no swearing or sex. These are more lighthearted crime narratives—you won’t be so disturbed that you need to sleep with lights on."

We have to point out that the no-sex thing is not necessarily accurate in terms of books, but it does make sense in the world of TV. However, we are not talking about graphic sex scenes either, instead, think more along the lines of the fade-to-black approach to sex.

There was one other point that was brought up that makes something a Cozy Mystery. And that is the idea that, "the cozy mystery’s protagonist is an amateur sleuth who uses intellect and life experience to solve a case."

Of course, there is more that goes into a Cozy Mystery than just the more lighthearted nature of the mystery or even the amateur sleuth vibes. We also need or at least want some humor in the mix. We want there to be a community that is part of the story. Every Cozy Mystery we have ever read has seemingly been set in a smaller town or neighborhood where everyone knew everyone else. These were all the nosy neighbors that you know and love because they have been there the whole time.

Cozy Mysteries are unique in that there are certain things that have to be present, specifically a mystery like a murder or an outrageous crime, but they also have to have a lightness to them that gives you those comforting vibes. It's a mystery, but it is not oppressive.

Some Cozy Mysteries might feature things like recipes and cooking-themed stories, while others might have a dog or a cat as a sidekick. There are knitting and crafting-related mysteries in the mix, and even bookstores can play a big part in these stories. Basically, there is something a little bit extra that just adds to those cozy vibes. And it is what makes this such a broad category. (It's also why it is not easy to pin this to one specific definition.)

There are so many books that might fall under the Cozy Mystery genre. So what are some you might be interested in checking out?

Some Cozy Mystery suggestions that will give you an idea of what the genre includes

If you are looking for some Cozy Mystery suggestions that will give you a better idea of what this subgenre entails, we have you covered there too.

• Death of an Ice Cream Scooper by Lee Hollis
• The Grim Reader by (Secrets of the Castleton Manor Library) Margaret Welch
• Murder by the Book by Lauren Elliott
• Cruel Candy (Cozy Corgi Mysteries) by Mildred Abbott
• A Spoonful of Murder (A Soup Lover's Mystery) by Connie Archer
• Fat Cat At Large (A Fat Cat Mystery) by Janet Cantrell
• Monster Mayhem (A Luna Thorn Witchy Mystery) by Amanda M. Lee

Honestly there are thousands of books that fall into the category of Cozy Mysteries. And once you know if you prefer a food-themed mystery, a mystery with a cat, or something else, you might just find yourself in a whole new world of reading.

What's your favorite Cozy Mystery? What is it about this genre that you enjoy?