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Writing the Cozy Mystery
Do you want to write a cozy mystery but don't have a clue where to start? Or maybe you've begun a story but are stuck on the plot? Perhaps you're already writing a series, and you need tips on keeping your material fresh? Writing the Cozy Mystery will help you develop your characters, establish the setting, plot the story, add suspense, plant clues and sustain your series.
This Second Edition contains more examples; additional writing exercises; expanded sections; and seven new chapters including The Muddle in the Middle, Romance and Murder, Special Considerations for Cozy Writers, Keeping a Series Fresh, Writing the Smart Synopsis, Mystery Movies, and Marketing Tips. You'll find everything you need to know in an easy-to-read, clear manner to write your own mystery and maintain a long-running series. Recommended for cozy writers, mystery fans, and creative writing classes.
This Second Edition contains more examples; additional writing exercises; expanded sections; and seven new chapters including The Muddle in the Middle, Romance and Murder, Special Considerations for Cozy Writers, Keeping a Series Fresh, Writing the Smart Synopsis, Mystery Movies, and Marketing Tips. You'll find everything you need to know in an easy-to-read, clear manner to write your own mystery and maintain a long-running series. Recommended for cozy writers, mystery fans, and creative writing classes.
128 pages, Paperback
Published November 12, 2018
335 people are currently reading
671 people want to read
About the author
Nancy J. Cohen
40 books667 followersNancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail. Titles in this series have been named Best Cozy Mystery by Suspense Magazine, won the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards and the RONE Award, placed first in the Chanticleer International Book Awards and third in the Arizona Literary Awards. Her nonfiction titles, Writing the Cozy Mystery and A Bad Hair Day Cookbook, have won the FAPA President’s Book Award, the Royal Palm Literary Award, and IAN Book of the Year. Nancy’s imaginative romances have proven popular with fans as well. These books have won the HOLT Medallion and Best Book in Romantic SciFi/Fantasy at The Romance Reviews. Active in the writing community, Nancy is a past president of Florida Romance Writers and Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. When not busy writing, she enjoys reading, fine dining, cruising, and visiting Disney World. Visit her at NancyJCohen.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
April 17, 2023
I have never been a mystery reader or writer, but different genres and how writers create them have always fascinated me. I’ve reviewed general books regarding the process of novel writing, but this is the very first time I’ve delved into mystery.
My mother is a massive fan of mysteries, and especially cozy mysteries. And although I don’t read them, I’m interested in learning about something that my mom loves. I’ve seen the covers of many of the books that my mom reads and their often hokey titles always made me roll my eyes. But after reading Cohen’s “Writing the Cozy Mystery” I now understand why!
Nancy J. Cohen reveals all of the ins and outs of cozy mysteries, explaining what readers of this particular genre are looking for: light, feel-good reading with minimal death (despite the fact that there is always a body), no gore or F-bombs, and especially a number of red herrings that appear in the novel.
The author also explains why writers of this genre are often undervalued. People (like me!) roll their eyes. But Cohen points out—and rightly so—that people are actively looking for a dive into a mystery that is clean; something that they know that they can read without becoming too emotionally involved in and where the bad guy is always caught. I think that by pointing this out, Cohen really drove home just how important these books are to a large segment of the population.
I really enjoyed reading this how-to book. It provided a lot of insight into what makes readers of this genre tick, and I have a new respect for both the writers and readers of cozy mysteries after learning about and what it truly is.
My mother is a massive fan of mysteries, and especially cozy mysteries. And although I don’t read them, I’m interested in learning about something that my mom loves. I’ve seen the covers of many of the books that my mom reads and their often hokey titles always made me roll my eyes. But after reading Cohen’s “Writing the Cozy Mystery” I now understand why!
Nancy J. Cohen reveals all of the ins and outs of cozy mysteries, explaining what readers of this particular genre are looking for: light, feel-good reading with minimal death (despite the fact that there is always a body), no gore or F-bombs, and especially a number of red herrings that appear in the novel.
The author also explains why writers of this genre are often undervalued. People (like me!) roll their eyes. But Cohen points out—and rightly so—that people are actively looking for a dive into a mystery that is clean; something that they know that they can read without becoming too emotionally involved in and where the bad guy is always caught. I think that by pointing this out, Cohen really drove home just how important these books are to a large segment of the population.
I really enjoyed reading this how-to book. It provided a lot of insight into what makes readers of this genre tick, and I have a new respect for both the writers and readers of cozy mysteries after learning about and what it truly is.
May 2, 2023
A wonderful doorway into the world of cozy writing
My wife and I have been reading "cozies" and enjoying cozy mystery series on TV for many decades. Together, we've easily enjoyed well over 1,000 novels and we've spent ... oh, my goodness, I don't even want to calculate how many hours we've spent watching cozies on TV. In short: We love cozies. And that's one reason, as co-founder of a publishing house myself, which mainly has focused on non-fiction for 15 years, I've always hoped we might establish a cozy imprint. And, finally, a year or so ago, we found our first author who will debut later this year with volume 1 in her cozy series. We plan to add more.
For these reasons, I've also read countless magazine, newspaper and journal articles about the creative artistry of this genre. Great articles about the cozy (or "cosy" if you're reading this in the UK) are everywhere from Publishers Weekly to the Atlantic to the New York Times to ... well, again you get the idea. Great cozy tips abound online.
For a while, now, I've also been looking for more of a book-length summary of the cozy concept—or really a welcoming introduction to the cozy world—to recommend to prospective cozy authors. And I'm so glad that a Goodreads friend suggested I check out Nancy J. Cohen's "Writing the Cozy Mystery." I bought a copy from Amazon of her "expanded 2nd edition."
I can't say there's any secret in this book that I hadn't heard elsewhere from the authors we work with, other cozy fans or my reading of newspaper and magazine articles about the genre. But what makes Nancy's book so charming is the way she organizes all the wisdom into this little paperback that you can read in an evening.
Do I agree with every single thing Nancy writes in this book? No, but then no author or editor would 100 percent agree with another author/editor's book about how to do things. But Nancy really does know her stuff and presents it in a very readable, well organized way. What I can say is: If you are planning on writing a cozy, you should have your own response to all the issues she raises in this book. You don't have to check every box she suggests, but you will encounter these issues in the dark and thorny wood that is mystery publishing.
Thanks, Nancy, for such a useful book!
My wife and I have been reading "cozies" and enjoying cozy mystery series on TV for many decades. Together, we've easily enjoyed well over 1,000 novels and we've spent ... oh, my goodness, I don't even want to calculate how many hours we've spent watching cozies on TV. In short: We love cozies. And that's one reason, as co-founder of a publishing house myself, which mainly has focused on non-fiction for 15 years, I've always hoped we might establish a cozy imprint. And, finally, a year or so ago, we found our first author who will debut later this year with volume 1 in her cozy series. We plan to add more.
For these reasons, I've also read countless magazine, newspaper and journal articles about the creative artistry of this genre. Great articles about the cozy (or "cosy" if you're reading this in the UK) are everywhere from Publishers Weekly to the Atlantic to the New York Times to ... well, again you get the idea. Great cozy tips abound online.
For a while, now, I've also been looking for more of a book-length summary of the cozy concept—or really a welcoming introduction to the cozy world—to recommend to prospective cozy authors. And I'm so glad that a Goodreads friend suggested I check out Nancy J. Cohen's "Writing the Cozy Mystery." I bought a copy from Amazon of her "expanded 2nd edition."
I can't say there's any secret in this book that I hadn't heard elsewhere from the authors we work with, other cozy fans or my reading of newspaper and magazine articles about the genre. But what makes Nancy's book so charming is the way she organizes all the wisdom into this little paperback that you can read in an evening.
Do I agree with every single thing Nancy writes in this book? No, but then no author or editor would 100 percent agree with another author/editor's book about how to do things. But Nancy really does know her stuff and presents it in a very readable, well organized way. What I can say is: If you are planning on writing a cozy, you should have your own response to all the issues she raises in this book. You don't have to check every box she suggests, but you will encounter these issues in the dark and thorny wood that is mystery publishing.
Thanks, Nancy, for such a useful book!
November 13, 2018
Author Nancy J. Cohen has done what I have wanted to do for a long time. Using words I could never find (She is a wonderful writer after all), she explains what a true cozy mystery should be. This one sentence says it perfectly. “These stories contain no explicit sex, violence, or bad language.” She also goes on to mention “. . . they are clean books that can be read by all ages.”
WRITING THE COZY MYSTERY goes beyond explaining what a cozy mystery is and/or should be. Ms. Cohen lays the ground work for any aspiring writer to create their own cozy mystery. By following her suggestions, I can see a batch of future cozy mysteries by new authors showing up on the scene within the next few years.
A book that as a blogger/reviewer I will turn to again and again, WRITING THE COZY MYSTERY is the perfect resource for what I consider the best (sub) genre there is.
Already have, WRITING THE COZY MYSTERY? Well, it’s time to update. This is the Expanded Second Edition!
WRITING THE COZY MYSTERY goes beyond explaining what a cozy mystery is and/or should be. Ms. Cohen lays the ground work for any aspiring writer to create their own cozy mystery. By following her suggestions, I can see a batch of future cozy mysteries by new authors showing up on the scene within the next few years.
A book that as a blogger/reviewer I will turn to again and again, WRITING THE COZY MYSTERY is the perfect resource for what I consider the best (sub) genre there is.
Already have, WRITING THE COZY MYSTERY? Well, it’s time to update. This is the Expanded Second Edition!
November 15, 2018
If you have ever thought about writing a cozy mystery, you need to read this book. Everything you need to know about the genre is in these pages. The author gives you a wonderful definition of the cozy mystery genre. There is definitely a difference between a cozy and a traditional mystery. This is the place to learn about it.
Nancy J. Cohen has a true knack for providing aspiring authors with the tools they need to accomplish their goal of writing their own cozy mystery books. It felt as if she was in the room with me explaining it all in an easy to understand method. It’s, also, a great idea having a book dedicated to writing one specific genre. Every genre has their own nuances.
This is a quick read and the perfect guide to assist in your writing. It’s like having a writing course at your fingertips whenever you want it. Now I need to put my knowledge to use and write my own cozy mystery :)
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Nancy J. Cohen has a true knack for providing aspiring authors with the tools they need to accomplish their goal of writing their own cozy mystery books. It felt as if she was in the room with me explaining it all in an easy to understand method. It’s, also, a great idea having a book dedicated to writing one specific genre. Every genre has their own nuances.
This is a quick read and the perfect guide to assist in your writing. It’s like having a writing course at your fingertips whenever you want it. Now I need to put my knowledge to use and write my own cozy mystery :)
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 6, 2017
Nancy J. Cohen wrote a MARVELLOUS 'Guide to Murder' when she wrote Writing the Cozy Mystery. It is well organized, making it extremely easy to follow. She really puts herself into this book, as she uses her own personal writing as examples in regards to what makes for good writing/reading. I look forward to following her advice when I write my own cozy mystery series. Thank you Nancy.
October 1, 2016
Overall, I thought this book contained good basic tips all in one place. Also, links to writers clubs and meetings, etc at the end of the book are a bonus. The only problem I had with the book is that I would have liked to see more examples of her advice. For example, several times in the book she says "Show, don't tell" and "Add conflict to every scene". How do you mean you show, don't tell? And add conflict to every scene? Really? Every one? Maybe a second edition is warranted to add some of that additional information.
November 1, 2025
Do you love reading cozy mysteries? Have you considered writing your own? You definitely want to read this updated version of Writing the Cozy Mystery by Nancy J. Cohen.
The author gives an excellent description of what a cozy mystery is and the different sub genres. This book is a great step-by-step guide on everything involved in creating your own book and/or series from planning to marketing and all the steps in between.
This book is like having your own personal writing course. It opens your eyes to all the nuances involved in the writing process. It’s a great motivator to inspire the reader to write their own book.
Writing the Cozy Mystery is the type of book you will want to keep by your side as you take your own writing journey. I had the audiobook for this and listening to the words, advice and recommendations is a huge help in understanding what is involved.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free audio of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
The author gives an excellent description of what a cozy mystery is and the different sub genres. This book is a great step-by-step guide on everything involved in creating your own book and/or series from planning to marketing and all the steps in between.
This book is like having your own personal writing course. It opens your eyes to all the nuances involved in the writing process. It’s a great motivator to inspire the reader to write their own book.
Writing the Cozy Mystery is the type of book you will want to keep by your side as you take your own writing journey. I had the audiobook for this and listening to the words, advice and recommendations is a huge help in understanding what is involved.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free audio of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 8, 2014
Succinct and informative
I learned of this "How-to" book from a close friend of mine, and I'm so glad I downloaded Writing the Cozy Mystery by Nancy J. Cohen. I was in the midst of creating my very own "Cozy" when this appeared on my kindle. I have always been a huge fan of murder mysteries, but was not entirely sure how to attack my own series. WtCM helped gather my scattered thoughts and put them into order. This book, while only 50 pages or so, uses its brief word count to its fullest potential. No words are wasted, and all bases (or clues) are covered. highly recommended for the budding Cozy author.
I learned of this "How-to" book from a close friend of mine, and I'm so glad I downloaded Writing the Cozy Mystery by Nancy J. Cohen. I was in the midst of creating my very own "Cozy" when this appeared on my kindle. I have always been a huge fan of murder mysteries, but was not entirely sure how to attack my own series. WtCM helped gather my scattered thoughts and put them into order. This book, while only 50 pages or so, uses its brief word count to its fullest potential. No words are wasted, and all bases (or clues) are covered. highly recommended for the budding Cozy author.
September 10, 2018
This is my book. The first edition of Writing the Cozy Mystery
has over 190 reviews with a 4.5 average rating. This Second Edition contains more examples; additional writing exercises; expanded sections; and seven new chapters including The Muddle in the Middle, Romance and Murder, Special Considerations for Cozy Writers, Keeping a Series Fresh, Writing the Smart Synopsis, Mystery Movies, and Marketing Tips. You'll find everything you need to know in an easy-to-read, clear manner to write your own mystery and maintain a long-running series.
has over 190 reviews with a 4.5 average rating. This Second Edition contains more examples; additional writing exercises; expanded sections; and seven new chapters including The Muddle in the Middle, Romance and Murder, Special Considerations for Cozy Writers, Keeping a Series Fresh, Writing the Smart Synopsis, Mystery Movies, and Marketing Tips. You'll find everything you need to know in an easy-to-read, clear manner to write your own mystery and maintain a long-running series.
November 13, 2022
If someone is brand new to writing and need all angles of help, this book covers a lot of the main aspects.
It is filled with questions to help brainstorm and discusses the characters, plot points, as well as publishing considerations.
It was a good read.
It is filled with questions to help brainstorm and discusses the characters, plot points, as well as publishing considerations.
It was a good read.
April 3, 2015
Really informative and it helped me so much!!! It's 44 pages long but it got through everything very neatly. It's only a dollar for Kindle so if you need something like this go get it. :)
July 8, 2015
Writing the Cozy Mystery is quick and concise, but packed with information. None of the "this is how you write" nonsense, Nancy Cohen gets straight to the point and outlines precisely what goes into writing a good cozy mystery. (She even defines the genre itself, which is marvelous.) I especially enjoyed her tips and examples of outlining and keeping character information in one place. I try to be an organized writer, but struggle with ways to outline and organize effectively. I'm going to give Cohen's suggestions a try (especially the poster board and sticky note method) and see how it goes.
October 28, 2015
Until last night, I didn't even realize that cozies were a sub-genre of the mystery genre. Between this little book (quite short, I read it in half an hour) and some additional online research, I feel equipped to tackle my very first mystery story (for NaNoWriMo). Cohen did a nice job of pointing out the kinds of writing tools that are critical to nailing this particular genre, especially cozies, which require a deft touch with the usual mystery suspects of murder, sex, and violence. She provided several lists of details to think about when crafting a setting and a plot, and I will be jotting those down in my notes and referring to them regularly. Thanks for arming me with a toolbox, Cohen!
February 7, 2014
A must for aspiring and published mystery writers alike! This guide covers each step of plotting a cozy mystery from start to finish, including developing characters, setting, clues, motives, red herrings, etc., in a way that's clear and easy to follow. There are also tips on organizational tools for keeping track of your progress so that no thread is left hanging. Takes the mystery out of writing mysteries!
February 9, 2018
This was a very helpful, clearly written manual. She pointed out a number of things that I didn't realize were ever-present characteristics of cozies until she said it, but then I said "Oh, that's true!" and realized I needed to find ways to work them into my own writing. The book was short, but well done and full of great information!
*5 Stars
*5 Stars
February 23, 2014
This is a useful little reference book to keep close by if you're writing a mystery. Nancy Cohen provides all the tools needed for writing a best selling Whodunit. I'll be rereading the easy-to-follow examples as I write. Thanks, Nancy!
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March 19, 2017Story guide on writing cozy mysteries
This short book is packed full of information on someone who wants to write a cozy (or even traditional) murder mystery. It is very easy to follow and covers a lot of the basics.
This short book is packed full of information on someone who wants to write a cozy (or even traditional) murder mystery. It is very easy to follow and covers a lot of the basics.
April 27, 2022
I over complicate everything in my life so it's a gift when I find something that keeps me from splintering into a thousand different directions. I'm reminded of the very old (very useful!) saying, 'Keep it Simple.'
Thanks to Ms. Cohen for being willing to share her writing process.
Thanks to Ms. Cohen for being willing to share her writing process.
August 1, 2019
If you ever want to learn how to write a cozy mystery, search no more. Get this book now!
November 16, 2018
I've been teaching writing craft for over 25 years and I love recommending books that I know will really help writers. Nancy J. Cohen is an experienced writer of cozies (Bad Hair Day series) and she has packed this book with information on virtually every aspect of writing a cozy. She defines the genre clearly, explaining its conventions, she covers everything from plot to character to marketing and much, much more. She also delves into how to create a series and keep it fresh. I will recommend this one to all my students who are working on mysteries.
February 13, 2014
The title of this book is pretty self-explanatory. The author, who has written many (totally awesome, IMHO) cozy mysteries herself (as well as books in other genres) shares tips for how to write a cozy mystery. Within recent years, I have read several books on writing and have honestly found this to be the most useful and meaningful resource in terms of the actual writing process to me thus far. I really appreciated how Ms. Cohen took some of the intimidation out of the process by sharing many useful tools, tips, and resources. For the first time since owning a Kindle, I found myself highlighting passages in a book. And, they weren't necessarily the instructional "how to" parts, either; instead, they were gems of wisdom that spoke to me. I found the sections regarding character growth to be quite enlightening. I'll definitely be re-reading this book many times over. I've no doubt I'll continue to learn from it. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with us, Ms. Cohen. It is very much appreciated!
February 10, 2014
A great primer for the beginning writer and a great reminder for those of us in the business. Cohen takes you through the framework of a cozy, defining the genre and the amateur sleuth. She delves into characterization and community, into setting to establish mood, and into the value of a good secret for each suspect, among other aspects.
I found this short book to be easy to read and chock full of useful information.
I found this short book to be easy to read and chock full of useful information.
March 23, 2014
This is a wonderful, concise, detailed book on the elements of crafting a good cozy mystery. Not a lto of new information. Meaning once you've read several how to write books the same information is in all of them, but this one was tailored to details in cozy mysteries and was well written. Well worth the price.
March 30, 2015
Fantastic Resource! Many of us have aspirations of writing a book, and may even have the loose elements of a story rattling around in our head, but this is a great book to answer the question, "How do I get started?" The resources are timely and relevant, and the author's advice to other authors and aspiring to write in this genre is very practical and useful.
May 8, 2017
This is the second time I 'vs read this book and it won't be the last
I've written six hard-boiled Private Eye mystery thrillers and I recommend Nancy Cohen's book to any writer of any skill level. I am about one quarter of the way through the first draft of my seventh novel and this book gave me an idea to improve the plot. Well done, Nancy! Thank you for writing this book.☺
I've written six hard-boiled Private Eye mystery thrillers and I recommend Nancy Cohen's book to any writer of any skill level. I am about one quarter of the way through the first draft of my seventh novel and this book gave me an idea to improve the plot. Well done, Nancy! Thank you for writing this book.☺
February 13, 2014
Some common sense but well organized and to the point.
September 8, 2016
Loved it! Very helpful and concise. Need to pull this out every time I start a new project.
June 26, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this how-to book on writing cozy mysteries. It's concise and to the point - no fluff. Perfect resource for anyone thinking about writing a cozy mystery!
December 16, 2015
This book is short but included a lot of practical tips and examples for writing a cozy mystery. It also gives writers resources.
June 22, 2018
If you want to learn how to write a cozy mystery, this book is for you. Nancy provides outstanding instructions and examples to illustrate key points in writing for this genre!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews