What is a Cozy Mystery?

**This post, originally posted in November 2021, has been added to and updated as of August 2026.

Amanda Flower, one of my favorite cozy mystery writers, describes cozies this way: “An amateur sleuth, an unsuspecting victim, a quirky supporting cast, and trail of clues and red herrings ….”

What I love about cozies is that usually, the amateur sleuth is a smart woman who accidentally takes on solving a crime. And the quirky part? This introduces humor to the story – another signpost of cozies. Often readers find lots of animals as sidekicks!

The hard part is following the clues and avoiding the red herrings.

Cozies are also clean, and the “gore” happens off-stage. Those are big wins for me!

Sound fun to you? Then you’ll probably love cozy mysteries.

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Cozy mystery sleuths

Remember Jessica Fletcher on Murder She Wrote? She’s a great example of a cozy sleuth. As a writer herself, she often “stumbled” upon mysteries that begged to be solved.

Cozy mystery sleuths are usually women who run a business or have a unique quirk or hobby. They aren’t normally involved in solving crimes. They might even be “plain old” housewives (no insult intended!), or in the case of my cozies, an empty nester!

Often, the amateur sleuth connects with someone in law enforcement – a friend, former partner, or family member.

What is a cozy mystery sidekick(s)?

Cats, dogs, rabbits, and more have appeared as sidekicks in many cozies. Cats seem to be the most popular. My cozy has a Weimaraner and a parakeet! Many authors use animals in their novels because…it’s fun! Animals provide a sidekick, but they can also offer humor in a serious situation. Sometimes, as a writer, I can get information across by having my character talk to the animal.

Other sidekicks might be a best friend or someone who sticks their nose in the sleuth’s business. Sidekicks can take a lot of forms.

Settings

Cozy mysteries are usually set in small towns or villages. A place where everyone knows everyone – a close-knit community. But communities can also be found within a larger setting. For instance, an apartment complex, neighborhood, or an assisted living building.

Don’t forget the hobbies

Cozy sleuths often have some kind of hobby or job – writing, teaching, knitting, bird watching, librarian, etc. One series I enjoy has a main character who is a forensic accountant. Cozy Mystery Cat even has hobbies in cozies listed alphabetically!

Themes in cozies

A theme connects a cozy mystery series, which attracts readers who also love that subject or hobby. And there are sooo many themes in cozies! Cozy Mystery has a list of them separated in all kinds of ways!

The “bad” stuff happens, but not on the page

One of my favorite things about cozies is that, for the most part, they are clean. No graphic sex, violence, or harsh language.

The best part of cozies

“The cozy lesson is an average person can make a difference,” Amanda Flowers. I love this! I love that ordinary people like you and me can make a difference.

So what is a cozy mystery to you?

What do you think of when you hear the term cozy mystery? I’d love to hear your favorite theme, author, and series in the comments!

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Hi, I’m Jen! I’ve been married for over 40 years, have 5 amazing kids, and have 3 adorable grandkids. I homeschooled our three youngest children and used to blog about homeschooling. I also taught Oral Communication as an adjunct instructor for over 5 years.

Jen Dodrill Writes is born of a passion of mine – to write a novel! My cozy mystery series – The Empty Nesters Cozy Mysteries – is now complete! My romantic suspense novella, SeaBreeze Obsession in Trinity Sands Beach Club, released June 17, 2025! And finally, my first women’s fiction, Finding Ginny, released April 7, 2026!

When I’m not working, you’ll find me writing, spending time with my family, or curled up on the couch reading and drinking a mug of dark roast coffee. (Don’t forget to check out my mug shop – JDMugs!)