cozy mysteries
A Celebration of Reporters in Cozy Mysteries
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When I was eight, I read a book that would dictate the course of my life. That book was Harriet the Spy. As a kid in suburban California, I was endlessly curious. About ancient Egypt, about animals, and about my neighbors. Suburbia, as we’ve read in countless domestic thrillers, is a place of secrets. I…
In These Novels, Friends Become the Family of Our Hearts
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It never dawned on me how much I use ‘friends as family’ as a trope in what I write. Hindsight is a funny thing. From that first book I wrote thirty novels ago to Death at a Scottish Wedding (Lucy Connelly), coming out in January, friends play an essential role in developing my main characters…
Cats and Cozies, Cozies and Cats
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Cats and cozies go together like Romeo and Juliet. Mac and cheese. Ernie and Bert. The term cozies was coined in the 1990’s for mysteries that take place in a small town setting where everyone knows everybody and the murders, which occur offsite, are solved by an amateur sleuth. Agatha Christie is often heralded as…
7 Great Cozy Mysteries Set in the Fall
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There are so many reasons to love fall, from the splendor of the changing leaves to settling back into a comfortable routine after a hectic summer. Cooler temperatures and fewer insect pests encourage us to spend more time in nature which has been proven to have numerous mental health benefits. And of course, there’s the…
Romance and Love Triangles in Cozy Mysteries
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When it comes to romance in cozy mysteries, readers range in their preferences from, “I’m more about the mystery,” to “Gimme all the romance.” While writing my cozy mystery, A Nutcracker Nightmare, I toyed with how much romance to include. In the end, I kept it on the lighter side for twin sister sleuths, Alex…
8 Cozy Mysteries Featuring BFFs and Women Supporting Women
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So often in books and movies, women are put against one another. There is some sort of competitive spirit or revived childhood rivalry over social status, a job promotion, or even a love interest. The stereotypical “mean girl” of the cast brings out a malicious and spiteful side to the main character when they interact. …
The Sleuthing Spinster: Why Single Women Rule Cozy Fiction
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When people talk about great fictional detectives, there are classic names that come to mind: Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot; Sam Spade; Phillip Marlowe; and Columbo trip easily off the tongue. In the modern era there’s even Batman, whose cool gadgets are second only to his skill as a deductive genius (he did debut in Detective…
Cozy Mysteries with Furry Sidekicks
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I have a confession to make. I have a mad crush on my neighbor. Whenever I see him sprinting in my direction, my heart swells and I can’t hold back a smile. His eyes are as blue as a cloudless day, and his gleaming coat…Oh—did I neglect to mention something? My neighbor, Benzo, is a…
The Writer as Magpie
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I am not the kind of writer who finds every plot twist, detail of setting, and character description in my imagination. I am like a magpie when it comes to developing a story, shamelessly borrowing from and building on whatever I see and hear. Here’s an example. As I was beginning to work on the…