Books
12 cosy mystery books for the ultimate comfort read
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…
The 12 best cosy mystery books
Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson
Everyone On This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson
Six crime writers board a train to a literary festival; one of them is murdered. Now, the remaining five writers turn detective, trying to solve the crime. But how can you catch a killer when all of your suspects know how to get away with murder?
This locked-room mystery is the latest from Benjamin Stevenson, author of the stand-out 2023 novel Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone. It’s witty, engaging, and will keep you guessing until the very end.
The Murder Game by Tom Hindle
The Murder Game by Tom Hindle
Nine guests assemble at Hamlet Hall for a murder mystery party. But before the game has even begun, the most influential player is murdered. In this small community, old rivalries run deep, and everyone has a motive.
Tom Hindle has earned a reputation as the “new heir to Agatha Christie,” and we can see why. The Murder Game is a brilliantly twisty novel; we also recommend Hindle’s first book, A Fatal Crossing, and his latest caper, Death in the Arctic.
The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz
The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz
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 detective Daniel Hawthorne is on the case, and he enlists the crime writer Anthony Horowitz (a fictionalised version of Horowitz himself) to help.
This unique page-turner blurs the line between fact and fiction and is impossible to put down. It’s the first in the Hawthorne and Horowitz series.
This Is Not a Game by Kelly Mullen
This is Not a Game by Kelly Mullen
Mimi and her granddaughter Addie haven’t always seen eye to eye. But when they attend an auction at a wealthy neighbour’s home, and their hostess is murdered, the pair become an unlikely detective duo. As they interrogate the suspects, and find secret rooms and puzzles within the house itself, the body count increases. Can they find the killer in time?
This refreshing crime caper feels like Knives Out meets Only Murders in the Building. It’s gripping, atmospheric, and you won’t want to put it down.
The Gardeners' Club by Marnie Riches
The Gardeners’ Club by Marnie Riches
Gill joins her local gardening club in Bromley and finds herself in the middle of a crime scene. While she and her club are preparing to compete in the National Gardening Club of the Year Award, a dead body turns up in their greenhouse. Then someone throws a brick through the window, with a note warning them to drop out of the competition. Is a rival club to blame, or could the truth be even more sinister?
This cosy mystery is full of humour and heart, as well as characters you can’t help but root for.
Knife Skills for Beginners by Orlando Murrin
Knife Skills for Beginners by Orlando Murrin
When chef Paul Delamare takes a job at an exclusive culinary school, the last thing he expects is to stumble across a dead body. Now, Paul is the prime suspect in the murder investigation. It’s up to him to find the real culprit, protect his students and save his reputation.
This charming novel is a brilliant blend of cookery and intrigue, and even includes culinary tips and recipes. It’s perfect for fans of Maigret and MasterChef alike.
Whose Body? by Dorothy L Sayers
Whose Body? by Dorothy L Sayers
Dorothy L Sayers was one of the most influential Golden Age crime writers. To quote P. D. James, “She brought to the detective novel originality, intelligence, energy and wit.” Her first novel Whose Body? is a great example of this.
It introduces Lord Peter Wimsey, an aristocrat who solves crime as a hobby, as he investigates a dead body found in a bathtub. Whose body is it, why was his face shaved after he died, and who killed him? This intricate mystery is 100 years old, but its humour and engaging characters make it timeless.
Miss Austen Investigates by Jessica Bull
Miss Austen Investigates by Jessica Bull
If you’re a fan of historical crime fiction with a warm tone, you’ll love Miss Austen Investigates. Set in Hampshire in 1795, it imagines Jane Austen attending a local ball, where the festivities are cut short when a body is found in the closet. Now, the inimitable writer must become a sleuth, as she uses her perceptive wit to find the killer and clear her brother’s name.
The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell
The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell
Six amateur bakers compete in a television show, each hoping to take home the coveted Golden Spoon. But things quickly go wrong as someone is sabotaging the contestants. It starts small: swapping sugar for salt and turning the hobs too high. But when a body is discovered, everyone becomes a suspect. Knives Out meets The Great British Bake-Off in this immersive whodunnit.
A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie
A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie
The villagers of Chipping Cleghorn are stunned by an announcement in their local paper: a murder will take place that Friday at 6.30 p.m. at a local venue. Is it a childish prank, or a threat for the proprietor Letitia Blacklock? Curious, a crowd gathers at the appointed time. Without warning, the lights go out – and then they hear a gunshot.
Beloved sleuth Miss Marple is on hand to untangle this complex mystery, in one of Agatha Christie’s finest works.
The Dogwalkers' Detective Agency by Michael Hogan
The Dogwalkers’ Detective Agency by Michael Hogan
While on a walk with his beloved Staffy in their sleepy coastal town, Charlie Boardman stumbles across a body in the woods: the pub landlord has been murdered, Charlie and his fellow dogwalkers are on the hunt for clues but the more they dig, the more they realise their idyllic community is home to some dark secrets. And then a second body turns up, and Charlie receives a note warning him off the case.
This is a fun, inventive mystery from a brilliant new voice in fiction. It’s perfect reading for fans of Agatha Christie and Richard Osman.
A Beginner's Guide to Breaking and Entering by Andrew Hunter Murray
A Beginner’s Guide to Breaking and Entering by Andrew Hunter Murray
This isn’t a typical cosy crime novel, but it is a comforting read. Al breaks into wealthy homes in nice neighbourhoods while the owners are away. It’s a simple, rent-free existence until he meets a gang of likeminded interlopers – and they stumble across a body. Now, Al must solve the mystery, avoid suspicion and stay one step ahead of the police.
Andrew Hunter Murray’s latest novel is a refreshing, witty whodunnit. We’d recommend pre-ordering it before its release on 25 April, 2024.
What’s your favourite cosy crime book? Let us know in the comments below…
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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