5 Cozy Mystery Series to Read

Cozy mysteries are some of our favorite stories to read. You get to dive into a mystery filled with clues and mischief, but these stories aren’t as suspenseful as a thriller. We love how cozy mysteries focus on the characters and their life while also giving us puzzles and intrigue. Check out five cozy mystery series that we’ve enjoyed reading. 

1. A Tourist Trap Mystery Series by Lynn Cahoon 

The Tourist Trap Mystery series follows bookstore/coffee shop owner, Jill Gardner.  The books are set in picturesque South Cove, California. This small beach town becomes the center of several murders and mysteries that Jill can’t seem to stay away from. The stories are filled with intriguing mysteries, fun characters, humor, and a touch of romance. Cahoon’s series begins with Guidebook to Murder where Jill finds herself involved in a murder mystery when her friend Miss Emily is found dead. 

2. Key West Food Critic Mystery Series by Lucy Burdette

The Key West Food Critic Mystery series is perfect for those who love a good mystery and can’t resist a tasty treat. The series follows Hayley Snow and her adventures in Key West, Florida. Hayley is a food critic for a style magazine. She ends up involved in various mysteries alongside her elderly friend, Miss Gloria. Burdette weaves descriptions of the vibrant island life and food into the storylines. The series begins with An Appetite for Murder where Hayley has to fight to clear her name when her ex-boyfriend’s girlfriend is murdered. 

3. The Haunted Library Mysteries Series by Allison Brook 

If you like your mysteries to include paranormal elements, The Haunted Library Mysteries series should be added to your TBR pile. Carrie Singleton works at the library in Clover Ridge, Connecticut. Carrie’s adventures begin in Death Overdue when a man dies at one of the library’s events. Carrie dives into the case with the help of Evelyn, the library’s ghost that only Carrie can see. The library setting feels like home to bookworms, making it the perfect backdrop to these mysteries. 

4. Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery Series by Vicki Delany

The Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series does a great job of paying tribute to one of the most popular detectives in literature, Sherlock Holmes. Gemma Doyle moves from England to West London on Cape Cod to help her Great Uncle Arthur run his Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium. Gemma is extremely observant, seeing things that others don’t. This comes in handy during her unofficial investigations. These books give a glimpse into Sherlock’s brain and provide many nods to the original Sherlock stories. If you’re a fan of Holmes, you’ll likely enjoy the adventures of Gemma and the quirky cast of characters. The game is afoot in the first book of the series Elementary, She Read. 

5. A Lighthouse Library Mystery Series by Eva Gates

As the name suggests, the Lighthouse Library Mystery series also has a backdrop of a library. Lucy Richardson works for a library that is housed in the Bodie Island Lighthouse in the Outer Banks. She hosts a monthly book club and each read corresponds with the mystery she is entangled in. In the first book in the series, By Book or By Crook, Lucy has to deal with a murder and a stolen first edition Jane Austen novel. With the help of the library cat Charles, Lucy tries to track down the missing book and the murderer. 

Cozy mysteries are a fun read and great for those who love a mystery without the suspense of a thriller. While trying to solve the mystery alongside the main character, you also get to explore their personal lives. With charming settings, quirky characters, and puzzling mysteries, it’s great to escape into these books.