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Cuddle Up with 42 of This Year's Cozy Mysteries

Posted by Sharon on October 20, 2022


The phrase “cozy mystery� has become a useful descriptor for writers and readers both. It’s the emerging consensus term for mystery stories where sex and profanity are toned down, and any violence takes place offstage—or off page, perhaps. It’s a kinder, gentler style of crime fiction. Cozy mysteries are for those of us who like to puzzle over a whodunit without all the bad vibes and viscera.

We’ve rounded up here a handful ofthe best cozy mysteries of 2022, based on ŷ popularity and also our general sense of which of this year’s stories qualify as cozy. Veterans of the genre will recognize some familiar names, books, and series: Mia Manansala, Anthony Horowitz, Katherine Schellman, The Maid, The Thursday Murder Club, Marple.

Alert readers will note that cozy mysteries can often be spotted from a distance. Watch the book covers for old-school graphic design and elegant portrait silhouettes. Look for synopses that mention cats or bookstores or food. And, of course, the book title itself will often contain a hint. Any novel titled Caramel Pecan Roll Murder is probably a cozy mystery.

Scroll over the book cover images below for more details, and add anything interesting to your Want to Read shelf.



Have a great cozy mystery recommendation? Please share it in the comments below!

And be sure to check out more recent articles.

Comments Showing 1-23 of 23 (23 new)

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message 1: by Aarati (new)

Aarati Some of these book covers are just fabulous !!!!!


୨୧󲹾୨୧ Aarati wrote: "Some of these book covers are just fabulous !!!!!"

Yess! They are


Ally | abookishcoffeeholic Oh my gosh, I love this!


message 4: by Daniel (new)

Daniel Duhautbout I


message 5: by rae (new)

rae 100% recommend homicide and halo halo!! (read arsenic and adobo first)


message 6: by Charlotte (new)

Charlotte I've already read the Murder of Mr. Wickham, and it was amazing. Highly recommend! Going to have to look into some of these other ones.


message 7: by PinkPanthress (new)

PinkPanthress Very nice³ List!!
And I agree, some very lovely Covers! #Eyegasm


message 8: by Ritika (new)

Ritika Gupta I'm loving these books covers. Totally Salivating!


message 9: by Margaret (new)

Margaret S. Oh no, now i have 42 new books to add to my tbr list.


message 10: by Sarah (new)

Sarah So excited to have this list, and how have I not read a single one of these yet?


message 11: by Elisabeth (new)

Elisabeth rae wrote: "100% recommend homicide and halo halo!! (read arsenic and adobo first)"

I agree! Loved them both!


message 12: by maddy (new)

maddy It's not on the list but I 100% recommend The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle (or The 7 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, depending on where you are located). I also recommend Magpie Murders which is also by Anthony Horowitz who has a book on this list


message 13: by Carolyn (new)

Carolyn W.H. Flint - Hot Time

Will Thomas' Barker and Llewelyn series

Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series


message 14: by Jane (new)

Jane enormous addition to my TBR list!


message 15: by G.B. (new)

G.B. My poor TBR takes another big hit! 😅


message 16: by Lauren (new)

Lauren The Dales Detective Agency books are also cosy crime and totally deserve a spot on this listing!


message 17: by Jk (new)

Jk Helsinki trilogy


message 18: by Jody Tanis (new)

Jody Tanis You should add Rhys Bowen's latest "Peril in Paris", A Royal Spyness Mystery! It was published last week!


message 19: by Soledad Garcia (new)

Soledad Garcia What a great list! I have read The Thursday Murder Club "The Bullet that Missed" and highly recommend it. A good mystery and a good laugh in one, typical British sarcastic humour that I love. May I had to the list all the novels of @M.L.Longworth (10 of this series)The Provencal Mysteries, set in the gorgeous city of Aix-en-Provence, with delicious descriptions of food and wine thrown in with a good story. As cosy as it gets!


message 20: by sg.00 (new)

sg.00 macc so many great books!


message 21: by Kat (new)

Kat A mystery a day keeps sanity from going astray. 😉😀 Kat


message 22: by Ashe (new)

Ashe Adding 'Cover Art' by Vanessa Westermann, especially if you're cozying up in Canadian cottage country.

Cover Art


message 23: by Evan (new)

Evan I love this genre, especially if I can find a good, long series. Here are a few of my favorites not mentioned above:
- Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas
- Royal Spyness series by Rhys Bowen
- Daisy Dalrymple Mystery series by Carola Dunn
- Beryl and Edwina Mystery series by Jessica Ellicott
- Heathcliff Lennox series by Karen Baugh Menuhin
- Haunted Guesthouse series by E. J. Copperman
- Enchanted Inc series by Shanna Swendson
Happy reading!!


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