Cozy mysteries where comfort meets chilling intrigue.
There are times when you may crave a gripping thriller filled with lots of tension, as well as times when you could do with a more comforting story.
In some instances, you just don’t need that thrill, but just a Mystery that unfolds with every new plot twist in the book.
Cozy Mystery Books represent a real thing these days. They're easy to digest and feature a light tone. It's not all about the mystery or the crime but also about the characters.
Overall, if you're looking for a lighthearted read that offers unexpected twists and turns, I highly recommend checking out my top picks for cozy mystery books of the year.
What Are The Best Cozy Mystery Books?
Familiar Troubles, by Karen McSpade (2023)
This is by far one of the top releases you’ll get and not just because of the stories, but also because of the intricate small details and volume. Exactly, this isn't just one story but a collection of five different books, each of them with a different plot twist.
Let me give you a few hints. Sidney Grace likes to believe she’s a bit of a witch, but she works as a journalist. Her grandmother knows that she has got excellent psychic abilities, and the possibility to contact the dead makes her the best in the family.
But Sidney’s quiet life changes when her mother gives her a call. Her retired witch grandmother has just been arrested for killing someone. Sidney ends up going to Florida, only to realize that most clues indicate her grandmother. She knows she’s not guilty, but who framed her?
Sidney must now use her skills to figure out the mystery and ensure her grandmother is safe.
And this is only one story. Books in this amazing collection include Paws in Space, Feline Like a Suspect, Cat Scratch Murder, A Meowing Suspicion, and Claw of Attraction.
I know some of them may sound a bit childish, but that’s what cozy mystery books are about. There’s no thrill, but just a constant challenge to figure out who has done it. And once you’re gone through these stories, you’ll crave for more, no doubt.
Murder is a Piece of Cake, by Valerie Burns (2023)
Octavia, who used to organize the annual Spring Baking Festival in New Bison, is no longer around. Her niece Maddy took over and must continue the legacy. She knows what responsibility means. She must get the main prize and turn the little bakery “Baby Cakes” into the top rated unit in the community.
Unfortunately for Maddy, she doesn’t have the same abilities as her aunt. She has no kitchen skills whatsoever, which is causing the bakery to struggle. Everyone is posting pictures of failed cakes, while one-star reviews keep building up.
To make things even worse, unscrupulous businessman CJ Davenport decides to open a local bakery and starts sabotaging her. It looks like Baby Cakes is quickly going down, but one day, a murder shakes the local community.
CJ Davenport is found dead with a Baby Cakes knife stuck in the back. Everyone is looking at Maddy, whose life turned upside down. She has got so much on her mind now, but she also needs to prove her innocence.
And as if all these were not enough, she knows that a killer is out there and might be coming for her next.
Get ready for a cozy thriller with many clues everywhere, twists that will confuse you with every page you turn, and just when you believe you have discovered the mystery, your mind will be blown away.
Nonna Maria and the Case of the Stolen Necklace, by Lorenzo Carcaterra (2023)
Lorenzo Carcaterra has managed to create one of the most charming characters in cozy mystery books with Nonna Maria. It's by far one of the most intriguing books in this genre, and only because it pushes you in different directions.
Nonna Maria has plenty to worry about. The small community on the island of Ischia has been severely shaken by two crimes, and no one knows what exactly is happening, yet some of the locals have already started pointing fingers.
First, there’s a robbery. A wealthy woman on the island claims that her necklace has been stolen from a hotel room. The necklace is not just extremely expensive, but it has also been in the family for generations.
She's positive that one of the two young women cleaning the room is responsible as she points her finger at them. Now, the problem is one of these women is Nonna Maria’s goddaughter. And while everyone agrees with the wealthy woman, the young cleaner decides to prove her innocence.
Things go even worse when a dead body is found on a road. No one knows who she is. No one has seen her before, and she doesn’t have any ID on herself. One of Nonna Maria's friends was driving in the area the night before, and she did hit something, but she couldn't tell if it was a pothole or an animal.
Now, Nonna Maria must solve two cases that apparently have nothing in common. She needs to find clues and connections, but also prove her goddaughter’s innocence. And deep down inside her, she knows that her friend is not guilty for killing the unidentified woman.
Fateful Words, by Paige Shelton (2023)
This is one of my favorite cozy mystery books, maybe because the action takes place in Scotland, one of the wildest places in the world if you ask me.
Sure, there’s the big cities and everything, but there’s something special about this place. Whenever you see it portrayed in movies, it is always about wild lands, plenty of grass, and beautiful views, and don't get me started on the accent.
Anyway, let me get back to the action. Edwin runs the Cracked Spine bookstore and needs to leave Edinburgh with some business. No one knows anything about it, though. Meanwhile, Delaney, who works at the bookstore, ends up responsible for hosting the annual literary tour of the city.
The tour group decides to check into a local inn, and that’s when the unexpected happens. The inn manager falls from the roof and dies. Soon after that, one of the tour members disappears, causing even more drama.
Delaney needs to solve the mystery now, running around Edinburgh in an attempt to get to the bottom of the problem. Clues everywhere, as well as things that don’t necessarily make sense at first, that’s what you’ll get from this incredible story.
Hot Pot Murder, by Jennifer J. Chow (2023)
I think this is one of those cozy mystery books that could be turned into a movie. It's easy to digest, and it has got a few plot twists that will leave you speechless. Anyway, the story follows Yale and Celine Yee. They’re cousins, and they run a food stall business.
Their business booms, so they’re about to draw attention from large restaurant chains. One day, they’re invited to an exclusive dinner organized by a local restaurant association. Restaurant owners from all over the area join for a hot pot dinner and some friendly chat.
But this year’s going to be different.
Association president Jeffrey Vue ends up killed.
Every attendee is considered a potential suspect, but the local police seem to focus on two people in particular. One of them is Ai Ho, who owns the restaurant where the tragedy happened. The other one is Yale’s father.
In an attempt to solve the mystery, Yale and Celine Yee decide to start their own investigation. They know that failing to figure out who killed Jeffrey Vue could get their business closed forever.
The Raven Thief, by Gigi Pandian (2023)
Gigi Pandian is one of my favorite mystery writers these days. She has earned a few awards over the past years, mainly because of her intricate stories and surprising twists. The Raven Thief makes no exception, either.
Secret Staircase Construction has just completed the initial project, a beautiful home interior where the client is about to start a new life without her cheating husband. A famous husband, if I may add, author Corbin Colt.
It all starts with a party to celebrate the new home until Corbin's dead body shows up. Everyone is in shock, yet any of the guests could be the potential killer. Eight people are around the table, and Grandpa Ash is the only one with a bit of blood on his clothes.
His granddaughter Tempest must now figure out what happened and how the blood ended up on him. She needs to find the killer before authorities decide to take him into custody for murder. After all, the blood found on him is the only clue they have, and they won't hesitate to arrest him.
Murder by the Seashore, by Samara Yew (2023)
Scarlett Gardner has always imagined that California could be the place where her dreams would come true. She moved to the southern part of the state and opened a local bookshop, Palm Trees and Page Turners. Life was good. She had the perfect boyfriend and a great business partner.
But one day, he decides to leave her. He finds a better job, leaving Scarlett to struggle with the new business. And as if all these weren’t enough, one day, she finds a dead body under the pier by the bookshop.
To make things even worse, she knows who it is, one of her customers.
She calls the police and gives a statement, hoping her life will go back to normal. One day, a lawyer representing Lorelai Knight shows up and tells her that she has a fortune to inherit. She has no idea who Lorelai is. And before she gets to realize what’s going on, the police are all over her again.
It seems the customer's name was Lorelai Knight, and somehow, her death benefited Scarlett.
The young business owner must now figure out what happened, as more clues lead to her. Her business booms, but not because of the books. Everyone wants to see the person the media has called the Bookshop Killer.
Scarlett needs to be one step ahead of the killer in order to figure out the mystery. She knows that failing to do so will get her in jail for a murder she didn’t commit. And in order to do all these, she has to employ all her creativity. I won't reveal any more details and spoil it, but I'm certain you'll enjoy this thrilling mystery.
A Most Agreeable Murder, by Julia Seales (2023)
An exceptional story filled with clues and small details and one of my favorite cozy mystery books in this collection! Julie Seales has created Beatrice’s story filled with intriguing details and a bunch of twirls that will surprise even the most avid mystery fan.
Beatrice lives in Swampshire, a small English town, and is still struggling to find her purpose in life. She is terrible at everything she tries. However, her life’s not bad, living with her parents and two sisters.
She is passionate about crime cases she reads in newspapers, but she desires to keep it a secret and doesn't want anyone to discover it. It's a small community, and if anyone found out, they would deem her a creep. She needs to keep this obsession to herself, especially since her family’s trying to maintain a clear image.
After all, the next autumnal ball is approaching, and her sister Louisa is about to go for the best bachelor in town, Edmund. If she doesn't get married, chances are their cousin will inherit the state.
Beatrice needs to keep her cool, but her world falls apart when a detective shows up in town.
Out of nowhere, Edmund drops dead. And when a massive storm starts outside, everyone’s trapped in there. They know there’s a killer among them, but they can’t point any fingers.
Beatrice needs to use her obsession and experience to find clues and identify the killer before someone else has Edmund’s fate.
Final words
I think these are the most fascinating cozy mystery books out this year. I could probably name a few other titles, but these ones will clearly satisfy your hunger for mystery and plot twists. Grab a coffee or a cocktail, go into your back garden on a sunny afternoon, and enjoy.
If you are in love with cozy mysteries check out also Joanne Fluke's cozy mysteries.
The post Top 8 Cozy Mystery Books For 2023 appeared first on Joelbooks.
