Cozy Mystery Genre - Writing Research

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Within the Mystery Genre, there are many sub-genre, including Cozy Mystery. The term, Cozy Mystery (or Cozies) was first coined in the late 20th century, to describe a lighter type of mystery. A cozy mystery usually does not involve graphic sex or violence. Murders usually happen off-stage and to unlikable characters. 

Cozy Mysteries often take place in a small town or tight-knit community, where most of the characters all know each other. The main character (usually a woman) is a clever amateur sleuth, who is able to solve the mystery by using common sense and logic. The main character often has friends who assist them. 

The villain is usually a normal person, who is motivated by greed, jealousy or revenge.  The reader is given all the clues to be able to follow the sleuth along and make their own predictions. At the end of the story, the main character solves the crime and can clearly explain how the crime happened and why. 

Cozy mysteries have a much higher emphasis on plot and character development, especially when they are a part of a series. 

Cozy Mystery Book Reviews:

• Her Royal Spyness Solves her First Case by Rhys Bowen
• Reviewed August 2019
• Book 1 of A Royal Spyness series

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