We love a heart-pounding thriller, but sometimes we’re in the mood for something gentler. And that’s when we turn to cosy crime.
What makes a cosy mystery? These are intricate crime novels, featuring an amateur sleuth, a close-knit community, and an eclectic cast of characters – think Agatha Christie or, more recently, the TV show Only Murders in the Building. There’s something oddly comforting about these whodunnits – even if they do contain murder.
We’ve rounded up the best cosy crime books, both old and new. So, whether you want a Golden Age crime caper or a new murder mystery, there’s something for everyone on our list below…
Top cosy mystery novels
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (2020)
Best for: unlikely amateur detectives with brilliant chemistry.
The first book in Richard Osman’s bestselling series sold over a million copies in the UK alone, was adapted into a star-studded Netflix film, and sparked the revival of the cosy crime genre. The Thursday Murder Club has been so popular because of its witty writing style, surprising plot twists and, most importantly, its loveable cast of underdogs. The story follows four friends in a retirement village who enjoy solving cold cases. But when someone is killed on their doorstep, they race to solve the crime before the police.
Cosy setting: a fictional town in the Kent countryside.
A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie (1950)
Best for: an intricate mystery you won’t be able to solve on your own.
Agatha Christie has had the biggest influence on the cosy crime subgenre – and, some would say, on crime fiction as a whole. Her novels feature intricate plot twists, scenic settings, and an unassuming amateur detective – Miss Marple being our favourite. A Murder is Announced is one of the most complex and unguessable Miss Marple mysteries. An announcement in a village newspaper claims that a murder will take place at 6.30pm at the local pub – and then it does. Miss Marple untangles the complex crime.
Cosy setting: the quiet, fictional village of Chipping Cleghorn.
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson (2022)
Best for: a modern, funny take on Golden Age crime novels.
Benjamin Stevenson’s debut novel introduces the funny, down-to-earth narrator of Ernest “Ernie” Cunningham as he reluctantly attends a family reunion at a ski resort. All families have their own unique baggage, but everyone in Ernie’s family has killed someone. So, when a body is found in the snow, Ernie is forced to suspect those closest to him. This is a fresh take on the ‘unlikely detective’ trope (how much more unlikely can you get than a former killer?) and is clever, funny, and hugely enjoyable.
We can’t wait to see the TV adaptation (HBO has acquired the rights) but for the meantime, we’ll enjoy the rest of Benjamin Stevenson’s inventive series.
Cosy setting: a secluded, snow-covered ski resort.
Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M. C. Beaton (1992)
Best for: an uncharacteristically brash but hilarious main character who gives Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher a run for their money.
If you have a dry sense of humour, you’ll enjoy M. C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin series. The Quiche of Death introduces Agatha, who leaves her high-flying career in advertising to take an early retirement in the Cotswolds. But village life isn’t quite what she expected and she’s finding it hard to fit in. Then, to make matters worse, the quiche she enters into a local baking competition (which she secretly bought from a shop) poisons one of the locals. Agatha Raisin has her first mystery to solve…
Cosy setting: a small village in the Cotswolds.
The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz (2017)
Best for: an unusual premise with a brilliant detective duo that feel like a modern-day Sherlock Holmes and Watson.
This murder mystery feels particularly inventive because of its riddle-like plot and its inclusion of the author as a main character. The premise also feels like something out of an Agatha Christie novel: six hours after organising her own funeral, a woman is strangled in her home. Did she know she was going to die, and did she know her killer? The perceptive, Holmes-like detective Daniel Hawthorne is on the case, and he enlists the help of crime writer Anthony Horowitz (a fictionalised version of Horowitz himself) in his investigation.
Cosy setting: Contemporary London, and a town in Kent.
New cosy crime books this year
Shrink Solves Murder by Philippa Perry (2026)
Best for: a quirky murder mystery introducing a no-nonsense amateur sleuth.
This witty novel from a new voice in crime fiction features an eclectic group of characters in a small village, including the brash local psychotherapist Patricia “Pat” Phillips. When Pat’s client is found dead, the police rule it a suicide. However, Pat believes they’ve got it wrong, so she teams up with her close friend, the well-meaning but clueless Prichard, to investigate. This is a highly entertaining read with plenty of misdirection and an unconventional main character you’ll root for throughout.
Cosy setting: a small coastal village in East Sussex.
This Is Not a Game by Kelly Mullen (2025)
Best for: a locked-room murder mystery with witty dialogue and plenty of plot twists.
This refreshing crime caper feels like Knives Out meets Only Murders in the Building: it’s gripping, atmospheric, and balances cosy vibes with surprising plot twists. Septuagenarian Mimi and her granddaughter Addie have a tense relationship at the best of times. But when they attend a party and their host is murdered, the pair put aside their differences to become an unlikely detective duo. Their dynamic is the emotional core of the novel (and their sparring matches are hilarious), but the book’s plot twists will keep you reading until the final page.
Cosy setting: a locked mansion complete with secret passageways.
The Pie & Mash Detective Agency by J. D. Brinkworth (2026)
Best for: a wholesome, light-hearted mystery with two funny main characters.
If you’re looking for a character-driven detective story featuring funny protagonists and witty banter, we recommend this new novel from J. D. Brinkworth (the pen name for comedy writing duo Jo Dinkin and Catherine Brinkworth). The quirky story revolves around a millennial couple, Jane Pye and Simon Mash, who sign up for a private detective night class to keep their spark alive. Their first case? A woman called Nellie Thorne has disappeared, and she’s the fifth Nellie Thorne in 50 years to do so.
Cosy setting: the streets of London and the southeast of England.
Death at the Dog Hotel by Michael Hogan (2026)
Best for: a whodunnit featuring dogs and underestimated detectives.
In this sequel to last year’s cosy mystery The Dogwalkers’ Detective Agency, Charlie Boardman and his fellow dogwalkers-turned-detectives are back. This time, the group has been invited to a dog-friendly boutique in the seaside town of Framstone just before Christmas. While there, a fellow guest is found dead in their room, and it falls to Charlie and his friends (and their four-legged companions) to solve the case. This is a fun, refreshing mystery for dog-lovers and crime fiction fans alike.
Cosy setting: a boutique hotel in a seaside town.
Pride, Prejudice & Peril by Jessica Bull (2026)
Best for: a historical mystery that’s immersive and well-plotted.
This is the latest book in Jessica Bull’s Miss Austen Investigates series, which reimagines author Jane Austen as an amateur sleuth. In Pride, Prejudice & Peril, you can expect another cast of colourful characters alongside shocking plot twists and fascinating historical detail. Jane Austen and her sister Cassandra are staying with relatives in Bath but instead of worrying about the marriage market, the pair have their hands full trying to track down a serial killer.
Cosy setting: Bath in the 18th Century.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a mystery ‘cosy’?
A cosy mystery has a light-hearted tone, often with a witty narrator. Its common tropes include: an amateur sleuth, often retired or working in an unrelated profession; a small-town setting where everyone knows everyone; a lack of violence or graphic content (the murder is usually committed ‘off-stage’); a quirky set of side characters that the sleuth meets during their investigation; and a satisfying resolution, where the culprit is caught in the end.
Are cosy mysteries violent?
No, cosy mysteries are not violent. Unlike psychological thrillers or suspense novels, cosy crime books focus on the act of solving the crime, as opposed to graphic descriptions of violence or murder. They’re like the literary equivalent of a crossword puzzle – the focus is on solving the riddle, not on the violence of the crime itself.
Which cosy crime books are like Agatha Christie?
If you enjoy Agatha Christie’s books, you’ll love the riddle-like premise of Anthony Horowitz’s The Word is Murder (and the rest of the Hawthorne and Horowitz series), the eclectic characters of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club, and the cosy Cotswolds setting of M. C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin series.
What are the funniest cosy mysteries?
If you’re looking for a cosy crime book that will make you laugh, we recommend The Pie & Mash Detective Agency by J. D. Brinkworth, which is unsurprisingly hilarious given it was written by a pair of comedic writers. We also suggest Shrink Solves Murder by Philippa Perry for its funny protagonist, and Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson for its witty and light-hearted tone.
What’s your favourite cosy crime book? Let us know in the comments below…
I love Judith Cutler’s Antique Shop Mysteries, and Peter Boland’s Charity Shop Detectives.
Glenda Young’s recent Helen Dexter B&B landlady series set in Scarborough is very good. First book is Murder at the Seaview Hotel
Fiona Leitch Nosey Parker stories