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A Hygge House Cozy Mystery #1
Hygge and Homicide
Bookfest 2026 award-winning cozy mystery! A grand old house, a killer on the loose, and the coziest second act you didn't see coming.
I came back to Lakewood to breathe again. Smaller apartment, slower pace, my mother's Nordic home goods shop, and pine-scented nature trails. Everything I'd lost in a decade of city living.
Then I found a dead body in the breakfast nook on the morning of my grand opening. Someone had stabbed a young man through the chest and left him on my floor, and Detective Whitford made it abundantly clear that amateur sleuths were not welcome.
I'm a Nordic Canadian interior designer with a menopausal brain and a Mini Goldendoodle named Hugo Dogberg. I'm not a detective. But I have a very good visual memory, a best friend with a clipboard, and a growing suspicion that the most respected woman in town is hiding a criminal empire behind her bookshelves.
Find out what happens in Hygge and Homicide, a warm and quietly witty cozy mystery featuring midlife reinvention and a small town packed with secrets bigger than its cobblestone streets.
Grab your copy and settle in. The cardamom buns are fresh.
Perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton, The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams and anyone who loves a mystery wrapped in hygge warmth.
ADVANCED
"Hygge and Homicide is a delightful blend of small-town charm and sharp wit. A. L. Jensen perfectly captures the essence of hygge—warmth, comfort, and connection—while weaving a mystery that will keep you guessing until the final page. Grab a cardamom bun, wrap yourself in your favorite throw, and settle in. This is a debut that feels like coming home." ACF Bookens, author of the St. Marin's Cozy Mystery Series
"There's not much better for a book lover than to get in on an excellent new mystery series! Hygge and Homicide is the just such a book, in what promises to be a wonderful new cozy mystery series by author A. L. Jensen. Set in a small town in northern Ontario, this Scandinavian-inspired cozy mystery has all of the elements that will draw cozy fans in - well-rounded and relatable characters, vividly described settings, a complex mystery, plenty of suspects, and enough red herrings to keep you turning the pages to the very end. I particularly enjoyed the insight into Finish Canadian culture, something unique that I have not come across before in the many cozies that I have read. In particular, the core concept of hygge, which at its heart embodies coziness, is brought to life in this tale of friends and family coming together to support the main characters Minna and Christie as they work to bring their dream of Hygge House, a place for hosting events and eventually a B&B, to fruition despite the murder that mars opening day. Jensen has written a fascinating and enjoyable book with suspense, mystery, humour, and a hint of romance that is sure to keep readers coming back for more.Thank you to the author for the ARC of this excellent book." ~ Kelly Young, author of the Travel Writer Cozy Mystery Series
"I can think of no better way to spend a winter evening than cozying up by the fire with a warm cup of chai and a compelling read, Hygge Homicide." -- Holly Gutwillinger, author of North of A Furever Home
I came back to Lakewood to breathe again. Smaller apartment, slower pace, my mother's Nordic home goods shop, and pine-scented nature trails. Everything I'd lost in a decade of city living.
Then I found a dead body in the breakfast nook on the morning of my grand opening. Someone had stabbed a young man through the chest and left him on my floor, and Detective Whitford made it abundantly clear that amateur sleuths were not welcome.
I'm a Nordic Canadian interior designer with a menopausal brain and a Mini Goldendoodle named Hugo Dogberg. I'm not a detective. But I have a very good visual memory, a best friend with a clipboard, and a growing suspicion that the most respected woman in town is hiding a criminal empire behind her bookshelves.
Find out what happens in Hygge and Homicide, a warm and quietly witty cozy mystery featuring midlife reinvention and a small town packed with secrets bigger than its cobblestone streets.
Grab your copy and settle in. The cardamom buns are fresh.
Perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton, The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams and anyone who loves a mystery wrapped in hygge warmth.
ADVANCED
"Hygge and Homicide is a delightful blend of small-town charm and sharp wit. A. L. Jensen perfectly captures the essence of hygge—warmth, comfort, and connection—while weaving a mystery that will keep you guessing until the final page. Grab a cardamom bun, wrap yourself in your favorite throw, and settle in. This is a debut that feels like coming home." ACF Bookens, author of the St. Marin's Cozy Mystery Series
"There's not much better for a book lover than to get in on an excellent new mystery series! Hygge and Homicide is the just such a book, in what promises to be a wonderful new cozy mystery series by author A. L. Jensen. Set in a small town in northern Ontario, this Scandinavian-inspired cozy mystery has all of the elements that will draw cozy fans in - well-rounded and relatable characters, vividly described settings, a complex mystery, plenty of suspects, and enough red herrings to keep you turning the pages to the very end. I particularly enjoyed the insight into Finish Canadian culture, something unique that I have not come across before in the many cozies that I have read. In particular, the core concept of hygge, which at its heart embodies coziness, is brought to life in this tale of friends and family coming together to support the main characters Minna and Christie as they work to bring their dream of Hygge House, a place for hosting events and eventually a B&B, to fruition despite the murder that mars opening day. Jensen has written a fascinating and enjoyable book with suspense, mystery, humour, and a hint of romance that is sure to keep readers coming back for more.Thank you to the author for the ARC of this excellent book." ~ Kelly Young, author of the Travel Writer Cozy Mystery Series
"I can think of no better way to spend a winter evening than cozying up by the fire with a warm cup of chai and a compelling read, Hygge Homicide." -- Holly Gutwillinger, author of North of A Furever Home
230 pages, Paperback
Published March 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 28, 2026
The Review
This was the perfect cozy mystery read. The author did a wonderful job of leaning into and exploring Scandinavian culture, three of these characters, and the setting. The balance, the Author found in humor, heartfelt and emotional storytelling, and shocking murder mystery made this an astonishing first entry in a new series.
The heart of the narrative, of course, was in the character development, which is always essential for a good cozy mystery series. There is always a bit of fun and whimsy when readers get to see a protagonist in a specific field use their skills in a murder investigation. It is one of the reasons why I loved the show Castle for so many years. Minna is a very relatable, fun, and emotionally engaging character, not only driving the premise of this novel forward at a steady pace but also keeping the reader invested as the author builds this world around the protagonist.
The Verdict
Heartfelt, mysterious, and cozy, yet enthralling, Author A.L. Jensen’s “Hygge and Homicide” is a must-read cozy mystery novel, and a great entry in a new series. The twists and turns the story takes, the relatable and engaging cast of characters, and the inviting nature of this world the author has created made this a memorable early read of 2026.
This was the perfect cozy mystery read. The author did a wonderful job of leaning into and exploring Scandinavian culture, three of these characters, and the setting. The balance, the Author found in humor, heartfelt and emotional storytelling, and shocking murder mystery made this an astonishing first entry in a new series.
The heart of the narrative, of course, was in the character development, which is always essential for a good cozy mystery series. There is always a bit of fun and whimsy when readers get to see a protagonist in a specific field use their skills in a murder investigation. It is one of the reasons why I loved the show Castle for so many years. Minna is a very relatable, fun, and emotionally engaging character, not only driving the premise of this novel forward at a steady pace but also keeping the reader invested as the author builds this world around the protagonist.
The Verdict
Heartfelt, mysterious, and cozy, yet enthralling, Author A.L. Jensen’s “Hygge and Homicide” is a must-read cozy mystery novel, and a great entry in a new series. The twists and turns the story takes, the relatable and engaging cast of characters, and the inviting nature of this world the author has created made this a memorable early read of 2026.
June 22, 2026
I am new to the cozy mystery genre and I have to admit, it’s so refreshing! I love mystery thriller books, but this cozy mystery is nice because it’s not graphic or violent, but it’s still mysterious and interesting. I was so invested in the characters, the setting, and finding out who the killer was, that I actually read this book when I should have been doing other things like marking! I am excited to read the second one in this series now. Once again, this author has written an excellent book!!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews