Cozy Mysteries

One of the most popular types of mystery is the Cozy Mystery. Cozy mysteries have certain elements that attract readers to them. They occur in benign, intimate environments like villages, castles, and universities and they lack graphic sex, violence, and profanity. Cozies have amateur sleuths solving crimes who use keen observation and intellect to hunt down criminals. These characters use brain power and not brawn, like in other hard-boiled detective novels. Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers are examples of authors of classic cozy mysteries.

Today's cozy mysteries still have most of the same characteristics as mentioned above, but they also have a few contemporary twists, too. Cozies today can occur anywhere in the world from Maine to California and their sleuths are not just from upper class society either. They are common folk with varied lifestyles, such as single mothers and active seniors. These mysteries are very humorous and readers love the books because the series make them laugh. Also, authors of these new cozies use many gimmicks with their characters. If readers like gardening, cooking, dogs, cats, quilting, or archaeology, there is surely a cozy mystery with those interests! Listed below are mystery writers and their series, both classic and contemporary, for you to discover and enjoy!

AUTHOR	SLEUTH	SETTING
Albert, Susan Wittig	China Bales, Herb Shop Owner	Texas
Allen, Conrad	George Porter Dillman, Ship Detective	Luxury Liners
Atherton, Nancy	Aunt Dimity, Ghost	England
Beaton, M.C.	Agatha Raisin, Retiree	England
Beaton, M.C.	Hamish Macbeth, Constable	Scotland
Bishop, Claudia	Sarah And Meg Quilliam, B&B Owners	New York
Braun, Lilian Jackson	Jim Qwilleran & Cats, Reporter	Midwest
Brett, Simon	Melita Pargeter, Widower	England
Brightwell, Emily	Inspector Witherspoon And Mrs. Jeffries, Housekeeper	England
Cannell, Dorothy	Ellie & Ben Haskell, Interior Decorators	England
Chesterton, G.K.	Father Brown	England
Christie, Agatha	Hercule Poirot, Detective	England
Christie, Agatha	Miss Marple, Spinster	England
Conant, Susan	Holly Winter, Dog Trainer	Massachusetts
Craig, Philip R	Jeff Jackson, Private Investigator	Massachusetts
Cross, Amanda	Kate Fansler, English Professor	New York City
Davidson, Diane Mott	Goldy Bear, Caterer	Colorado
Dunn, Carola	Daisy Dalrymple, Aristocrat	England
Fowler, Earlene	Bennie Harper, Quiltmaker	California
Frazier, Margaret	Sr. Frevisse, Nun	England
Gilman, Dorothy	Mrs. Pollifax, Cia Operative & Senior	Connecticut
Grimes, Martha	Richard Jury, Investigator	England
Henry, Sue	Alex Jensen, Sled Dog Musher	Alaska
Hess, Joan	Arly Hanks, Police Chief	Arkansas
Holt, Hazel	Sheila Malory, Writer	England
Langton, Jane	Homer Kelly, Professor	Massachusetts
Meier, Leslie	Lucy Stone, Homemaker	Maine
Paige, Robin	Kathryn Ardleigh, Writer	England
Peters, Elizabeth	Amelia Peabody, Archaeologist	England
Peters, Ellis	Brother Cadfael, Medieval Monk	England
Rich, Virginia	Eugenia Potter, Widow & Chef	Maine & Arizona
Roosevelt, Elliot	Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady	Washington
Sayers, Dorothy L.	Lord Peter Wimsey, Criminologist	England
Sherwood, John	Celia Grant, Widow & Horticulturalist	England
Sprinkle, Patricia	Sheila Travis, Pr Executive	Atlanta

*BASED ON A READING LIST COMPILED BY MADISON PUBLIC LIBRARY

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last updated 3/23/02
http://www.westlakelibrary.org/cozymt.htm