If you love curling up with a cozy mystery, there’s nothing better than one set in a quaint, book-filled shop. Bookshop-themed cozies combine the joy of reading with the thrill of sleuthing—what could be more perfect? Whether it’s a quiet village bookstore with a mysterious past or a bustling shop brimming with secrets, these stories deliver page-turning puzzles and charming settings. Today, I’m sharing five cozy mysteries set in bookshops that are ideal companions for late summer reading.

Trouble on the Books by Essie LangRookie bookseller Shelby Cox inherits half of a charming bookshop in upstate New York’s Thousand Islands—only to find herself entangled in a modern-day murder with ties to Prohibition-era smugglers. As Shelby races to clear the name of a suspect and unmask the real killer, she must navigate small-town secrets, a handsome Coast Guard agent, and her own instincts to solve the crime before it’s too late.

The Broken Spine by Dorothy St. JamesWhen Tru Becket’s beloved library in Cypress, South Carolina, goes bookless, she and her friends secretly salvage hundreds of discarded books—only to become suspects when the town manager turns up dead. With her alibi tied to the hidden bookroom and her old high school crush leading the investigation, Tru must outwit a killer to protect her literary sanctuary and clear her name. With the help of her quirky crew and a clever stray cat, Tru races to uncover the truth before her story ends in disaster.

A Limited Edition Murder by Lauren ElliottAddie—visiting West Yorkshire’s Second Chance Books—finds herself entangled in a storm of secrets when a stolen book and a shocking murder disrupt a joyful engagement party at Milton Manor. As suspicion falls on her dear friend Tony, Addie races to uncover the truth, navigating treacherous moors and hidden motives before the killer strikes again. With her loyal Yorkipoo, Pippi, by her side, she must untangle a web of deceit to clear Tony’s name and restore peace to the estate

Written In Stone by Paige SheltonWhen Delaney wins a coveted invitation to reclusive artist Ryory Bennigan’s studio, she stumbles into a world of ancient Pictish mysteries—and a deadly scheme involving a controversial artifact and the suspicious death of Dr. Adam Pace, a paleontologist with a history of forgery. As Edinburgh’s police stall, Delaney dives into Pace’s shadowy past, uncovering a trail of fakes, 3D-printed fraud, and dangerous secrets tied to the Picts’ lost language. With the killer still at large, she must piece together the truth before she becomes the next victim in this high-stakes game of deception.

The Plot Is Murder by V.M. BurnsAs Samantha Washington prepares to open her dream mystery bookstore in North Harbor, her excitement turns to dread when a shady realtor is found dead in her backyard—and she becomes the prime suspect in what feels like a plot ripped from her own cozy novels. Juggling her debut mystery manuscript (featuring the sharp-witted Lady Penelope Marsh solving a maze murder in 1920s England) with a real-life whodunit, Samantha teams up with her spunky grandmother and a band of quirky retirees to clear her name. But with the killer rewriting the script, Samantha must outsmart them before her story—and her life—get a fatal final twist.Whether you’re curled up in your favorite reading nook, browsing the shelves of your local bookshop, or dreaming of opening one of your own, these charming cozy mysteries set in bookstores are the perfect escape for any book lover. With their blend of small-town quirks, clever amateur sleuths, and a dash of literary intrigue, each story invites you to solve a puzzle between the pages—just like the protagonists do. I hope you discover a new favorite among these delightful reads—happy sleuthing, and may your next chapter be filled with adventure! Let's Stay In Touch

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