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May 19, 2022

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Are you thinking of creating a cozy mystery? Perhaps you're wondering about what is you would consider a "cozy mysteries novel" is?

Cozy mystery is a genre that is on the rise, and with great reasons. Learn more here.

What Is a Cozy Mystery?

Elements of Cozy Mysteries

Red Herrings

Characters

In general, the main character of your novel of cozy mystery will be an amateur sleuth. There are many cozy mystery novels, though certainly not all, will feature females as protagonists.

A lot of series also cast a detective as the protagonist--specifically, a lovable, possibly quirky, detective.

It must have a person that the reader can picture their self in friendship with. You generally don't find cops who are hard hitting as characters in cozy mysteries.

The main character is typically with likable characters too. It is important for the majority of people in your mystery to be people the reader can relate to.

Together with the protagonist another crucial character is the murder victim (if you're including the murder in your main mystery--many, though the majority of cozies don't). Generally, cozy mysteries feature murder victims who are not popular, and you're thus not making the reader feel awfully for them.

Of course, the murderer, who should be someone that we do not like at the end.

Setting

The cozy mysteries are usually located in cozy settings, such as an intimate town, a seaside resort or a similar location where readers would like to spend a little time. They rarely take place in major cities. What is essential is to have a place where people tend to get acquainted and form an intimate community or village feel.

Theme

It is generally true that the characters and plots in a cozy thriller generally tend to be black and white: the protagonist and her allies are good, while the killer is poor. The good guys prevail in the end, and the bad guys are being punished. Justice is the winner. Cozies aren't the right place for characters with moral graying outlines or stories where the murderer is not brought to justice.

What Should Not Be Included?

The components of what you should include in your cozy story are as crucial as the elements of what you should avoid including. It shouldn't contain a lot of violence or blood--yes, you may have an incident of murder but it must be relatively non-bloody. The harm of small animals or children is usually not a good idea. Even though romance is permitted in cozy mysteries but they rarely include anything explicit. There also isn't usually much sexual content.

Cozies are just that: cozies are cozy. When there's a murder, usually, your focus is on the investigation and the main character, not specific details about the crime.

How to Write an Cozy Mystery

How to Start Your Story

The cozy mysteries begin like other crime fiction novels. The protagonist is living their normal lives before they're thrust into the mystery, which is the main focus of the book.

What to do to End Your Story

What length should a cozy mystery last?

They are typically less long than other genres of crime fiction. They come close to 50,000 to 60,000 words.

Different types of Cozy Mysteries

Historical Cozy Mysteries

This sub-subgenre does exactly what it sounds like--cozy mysteries with a historical context. It could be that the murder occurs in the garden of a famous monarch , or in a town of a smaller size in the 1930s. Whatever you choose, be sure to do your homework first in order to ensure that historical fiction has certain levels of exactness to them.

Cozy Mystery Series

One of the major reasons to read cozy mysteries is comfort. When readers enjoy a person, it is relaxing to go back to them over and over and watch them work on more and more problems. This is where a series is a good idea. Definitely start your own cozy mystery with only one book, but if you find you want to revisit this particular location and character, you should consider making a series out of the story.

British Cozy Mysteries

Since small villages are such the most sought-after cozy setting, it's no surprise that an abundance of cozy mystery novels have been written by British authors or that are set in typical tiny English, Irish, Scottish, or Welsh towns. There's an element of charm to be found in cozy novels as well as setting them in the British Isles is just one method to infuse your tale with the same charm.

Famous Cozy Mystery Authors

Here are some essential cozy mystery authors to read when you are planning your own tale.

Agatha Christie

Some think Agatha Christie to be the first cozy mystery author. While not all of her works are considered to be cozies however, some are. This includes the wildly popular Miss Marple series. And Agatha Christie books are everything however they are dated. Pick one of them up and you'll be able to see the difference for yourself.

Amanda Flower

Amanda Flower is a current well-known cozy mystery writer, and has a number of cozy mysteries under her belt, including the Amish Quilt Shop Mystery series, as well as the Magical Bookshop Mystery series. Start reading Flower's books, which may take some time to complete, but this is fine because you'll be enthralled by the experience.

Vivien Chien

The author of the ongoing Noodle Shop cozy series of mysteries is definitely one to pick up. Her series revolving around murders committed in a noodle shop is quirky and delightful.

Cozy Mysterious Novels to pick up

Besides the authors mentioned above, here are a few more cozy mysteries that you could add to your reading list:

still Life By Louise Penny

This is the debut book in the charming series which is a follow-up to an inspector, often hailed as the "modern Poirot," from Quebec, finding secrets in a rural village.

The Secret, Book, & Scone Society, by Ellery Adams

Small town, a cozy bookshop, and a murder to be solved--over Scones makes the very first installment of this collection a must read for anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.

Devil's Chew Toy written by Rob Osler

A much-needed LGBTQ supplement to the cozy mystery genre this comedy about a mild-mannered teacher at a high school caught in adventures beyond his control should be added to the list.

Cozy Mystery Movies

Don't restrict your exploration of cozy mysteries only to novels! There are plenty of excellent cozy mystery films out there, too. Below are a handful of them:

  The Death of the Nile

A reimagining of the most popular Agatha Christie book featuring famous detective Hercule Poirot, this fun investigation isn't one to be missed.

"Hallmark's" Mystery Movie Series

The Hallmark channel is a fantastic place to find not only romance, but tons of charming mystery films. Check out their collection of selections. We're sure you'll not be able to choose the one.

Cozy Mystery TV Shows

Remember to keep an eye out for the TV series! From classics to the latest shows in streaming, there's plenty of content out there to keep you entertained for quite some time.

 Murder She Wrote

The most well-known programs on television, Murder She Wrote is a show that stars Angela Lansbury as a mystery writer who is entangled in murder investigations. It has never gone out of fashion.

 Midsomer Murders

A small British town with a peculiar detective and a new murder that needs to be solved every week -- there's a lot of fun to be had in this British television series.

 Marple

How Do You Write It?

With so many cozy mysteries available in a variety of forms, you're trying to figure out how to make yourself stand out. The good thing about cozy mysteries is that they're supposed to be straightforward, and their readers are ravenous, and there will always be someone who is eager to soak the unique spin you've put in the field.

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