Five on a Theme: Cozy Mysteries

It’s chilly and the days are growing shorter, which means it’s perfect timing for a mystery! Last month we talked about cozy horror; this month we are talking about cozy mysteries. This is arguably the most familiar of the “cozy” subgenres. Bookish Brews defines cozy mysteries as “a sub-genre of crime fiction, where sex, violence, and cursing are kept to a minimum, and often happen off state… These novels are light, fast-paced, and generally focus on plot and character development, which ensures a comforting and predictable feeling for the reader.” Are you just starting to read this genre or looking to try a new-to-you author? Check out one of these five suggestions.

Board to Death by C.J. Connor

C.J. Connor has been reviewing books for BookRiot and NoveList for years, and this is their debut novel. Set in his home state of Utah, Board to Death stars an anxious, ex-academic-turned-game-shop-owner gay protagonist who is struggling to care for his sick father and keep the store afloat. Then, a customer keels over dead in his doorway. Flustered over what to do, he teams up with the florist next door to catch the murderer (and possibly feelings). This is a gentle romance with an upbeat story that prioritizes character growth over clever twists, making it a charming introduction for romance readers interested in cozy mysteries. The anxiety representation is particularly touching.

The Frangipani Tree Mystery by Ovidia Yu

Travel back to 1930s, Singapore in this series opener by beloved author Ovidia Yu. Protagonist SuLin turns her inquisitive nature from reporting to crime solving, manipulating Britain’s racist prejudice in her favor. Similar to Perveen Mistry in The Widows of Malabar Hill, Yu leverages SuLin’s unique access to community in order to play the role of amateur sleuth. The setting is a real standout in this novel, as is the upbeat tone. Kirkus describes it as a “vintage whodunit bubbling with charm and an infectious curiosity about human nature.” *Chef’s kiss!*

Murder in G Major by Alexia Gordon

In addition to writing cozy mysteries, Alexia Gordon also hosts a cozy mystery podcast on which she interviews other cozy mystery authors. You can listen to “The Cozy Corner with Alexia Gordon” here.  This award-winning title stars Black classical musician Gethsemane Brown. Finding herself jobless in Ireland, she accepts the serendipitously offered (and remote) position as the music director for an Irish countryside all boys school. Bonus – the job comes with lodging! And a ghost. Well-developed characters and a small town full of secrets make for an engaging story and series. Reading this will make you want to curl up with your music streaming service of choice (including the library!) and listen to the several pieces referenced in this series.

Artifact by Gigi Pandian

Gigi Pandian is one of the co-founders of Crime Writers of Color, a supportive author community that maintains an ever-growing booklist and hosts a phenomenal bookish podcast. Like Murder in G Major, Artifact primarily takes place in contemporary Scotland. Historian Jaya Jones receives a mysterious set of jewels in the mail from her ex-apparently-now-dead boyfriend, alongtrai with a confusing note that draws her abroad to hunt for clues. She teams up with an ex-con-turned-academic, and together they traipse around the Scottish Highlands, looking for connections between Indian and Scottish history. If you enjoy a treasure hunt with a side of romantic tension, start here. If you like your mysteries with a side of urban fantasy, check out Gigi Pandian’s other series, Accidental Alchemist Mystery.

Assault and Pepper by Leslie Budewitz

It wouldn’t be a cozy mystery booklist without at least one story relating to food! This entire series is set in Pike Place Market and the local politics throughout the background of the story will resonate with folks who have lived in the area for the last couple of decades. The sense of place is strong in this one! In this series, Pepper Reece has taken over ownership of the Seattle Spice Shop, and in each book, she somehow gets caught up in a murder most foul. Throughout her investigations, she enjoys cooking, allowing delighted readers to relish over food descriptions and recipes. If you enjoy an amateur sleuth, culinary themes, and a Seattle vibe, this fun series is for you.

~Posted by Genesee R.

Murder: What’s Age Got to Do With It?

The beginning of autumn always makes me want to curl up with a good book and a steaming mug of tea and nothing is cozier to me than a cozy mystery. With protagonists ranging from “your average 30 something whose life has been upended and must return home” to (usually) “single women who inherit mysterious old houses or bookstores,” the tropes found in cozies are numerous and predictable – it’s what makes them cozy! This season however, I’m going to take my chances with some not-so-nice-but-still-compelling, murderous elderly ladies and septuagenarians with a passion for solving crime. Here’s some recent releases that will find good company next to Miss Marple on my TBR pile this cozy season.

If you loved the movie Red, Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn is for you. After giving 40 years of their lives to a secret organization of assassins called The Museum, four women are sent packing on a luxury trip to mark their well-deserved retirement. But when one of their own starts targeting them, they’ll show the Museum exactly what it means to be old-school.

Best-selling South Korean author Gu Byeong-Mo made her English language debut in The Old Woman With The Knife, which is about Hornclaw, a highly competent 65-year-old assassin hoping to cash out and retire. However, she makes the mistake of getting too close to a doctor and his family after a chance encounter. In her line of work, there’s always consequences for such connections and this time her very life is at stake.

#BookBingoNW2023: Peak Picks Edition! True Crime or Crime Fiction

Looking for a book without holds to help you make your Book Bingo? Check out one of these Peak Pick titles that fit the True Crime or Crime Fiction category! Pro tip: Click on “Availability by Location” to see what branches have that title on hand.

In S.A. Crosby’s All the Sinners Bleed, Sherriff Titus Crown, the first Black person in that role, is tasked with investigating a school shooting that leaves two dead, including a beloved history teacher. His probing leads him down a disturbing road, uncovering videos of both of the deceased and their involvement in the ritualistic killings of seven Black children. But who is the third party in the videos, masked and mysterious?

 

The tiny town of Port Mettier, Alaska, where all of the residents live in one high-rise, serves as the dramatic backdrop of screenwriter Iris Yamashita’s debut murder mystery City Under One Roof. Detective Cara Kennedy comes to Port Mettier to investigate after teens find body parts in a cove; she’s also hoping for a resolution to the recent disappearance of her own family members. When her efforts seem fruitless, she’s all set to leave, only to be shut in by an avalanche sealing the only tunnel out of town. The discovery of a severed head and a missing family indicate there’s more in this small town than Cara anticipated.

I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai interrogates the entire idea of true crime, the societal fascination with death, and the demand for women’s voices in the #MeToo era. Bodie Kane returns to her New Hampshire boarding school to teach podcasting to high schoolers, some of whom decide to dig into the killing of Bodie’s former roommate in a Serial-style show. Bodie shares the students’ suspicion that the Black athletic trainer convicted of the murder was not responsible, but the path forward is murky.

~Posted by Jane S.

For more ideas for books to meet your Summer Book Bingo challenge, follow our Shelf Talk #BookBingoNW2023 series or check the hashtag #BookBingoNW2023 on social media. Book bingo is presented in partnership with Seattle Arts & Lectures.

#BookBingoNW2021: Mystery and Crime under 250 pages

As Summer Book Bingo 2021 comes down to the wire (deadline: Sept. 7), you may be looking to maximize your remaining reading time. To that end, here are a selection of mysteries that clock in under 250 pages, for rapid reading. Feeling more leisurely? Check out our longer list of suggested mystery/crime novels.

If You Like Tana French

We librarians hear a lot about readers’ favorite writers, and some names come up over and over again. One of these is Irish mystery writer Tana French, whose gritty Dublin Murder Squad series provides the perfect blend of police procedure and intricate psychological suspense. Only trouble is, she doesn’t write them fast enough. No worries: here are some other terrific titles – many by less well known writers – that are sure to please.

The Dark Lake, by Sarah Bailey. When her former classmate is found murdered, Det. Sgt. Gemma Woodstock uncovers puzzling mysteries in the victim’s life, from her abrupt departure from a dream teaching job to her run-down existence in spite of wealthy family ties.

Lost You, by Haylen Beck. After a closing elevator door separates them, a single mother on vacation with her son discovers he has been abducted by another woman who claims she is his mother!

One Small Sacrifice, by Hilary Davidson. An apparent suicide. A mysterious disappearance. Did one man get away with murder—twice? It is Det. Sheryn Sterling job to find out. A riveting police procedural with a strong female detective and an intriguing antagonist.