Cozy Mysteries discussion

Anyone jump in with ideas...Wakar gave a website on a different thread that gives a great definition of what a cozy mystery is http://www.cozy-mystery.com/. In general, most cozy mysteries are set in small towns and involve a sleuth who is not involved in a profession related to crime solving. Generally the sleuth stumbles into the crime and is somehow drawn into helping solve the mystery. Cozy's general don't describe the crime/murder in graphic details and adult scenes are kept behind closed doors, so to speak.

i agree with that definition of a cozy mystery, esp in that the characters are not in law enforcement and are "regular" people.

To me, cozy means minimal references to sex, violence, foul language, drug usage, etc. so they are books you could recommend to your grandmother to read while she sits next to a pot of tea being kept warm under the tea cozy. Usually cozies are also "amateur sleuth" stories, where a non-professional solves the crime, so forensics and lab science are not the means to solving the crime, but deduction and human psychology are.

I agree with Beth. A cozy is something that you could pass on to your mother-in-law or granddmother. Laura Childs, Jo Dereske, Lillian Jackson Braun, Jill Churchill...
I love them but not one after another. I need something else. Chick-lit or someone like Janet Evanovich (my mil found them offensive).
Diane

Thanks thie helped a lot.

I'd love to see more people weigh in and give us their definition of what a "cozy" mystery is to them.

For me, it's like watching an episode of Murder, She Wrote. Yes, someone died, but it's not bloody or gorey. It's more about solving the mystery by following the clues, and frequently set in small towns where everyone knows everyone. Something you can curl up and read with a cup of cocoa. Cozies are the opposite of thrillers. They aren't meant to scare anyone, but to peacefully entertain.

Makes me think for scooby doo lol

I know that cozies are supposed to be an amateur sleuth, but I consider a book "cozyish" even if it's a police detective as long as it meets the other requirements of a cozy... not a lot of profanity, no graphic descriptions of sex and violence, etc. Especially if it's British or set in a small town.

Shay wrote: "I know that cozies are supposed to be an amateur sleuth, but I consider a book "cozyish" even if it's a police detective as long as it meets the other requirements of a cozy... not a lot of profani..."

Me too Shay. I'm not particularly into the current crop of cozies, which are generally women who are doing something else (baking, crafting, running a coffee or tea shop, etc.) & get sucked into solving a murder. Imho, most of those amateurs are TSTL & the plots are almost cookie cutter.

I like the old style English cozies: Miss Marple, Miss Silver, Mr. Moseley, etc. But I do see that the new versions of cozies are enormously popular, so I'm in the minority once again. (shrugs)

Beth wrote: "To me, cozy means minimal references to sex, violence, foul language, drug usage, etc. so they are books you could recommend to your grandmother to read while she sits next to a pot of tea being ke..."

I agree with this description by Beth. :)
The first cozy that I read was by Monica Ferris, and I have enjoyed reading several of her books ( they are set in a Needlecraft Store setting ).
I also enjoy all different kinds of cozy series written by: Joanne Fluke, Joann Carl, Miranda Bliss and many more!

Kate wrote: "Shay wrote: "I know that cozies are supposed to be an amateur sleuth, but I consider a book "cozyish" even if it's a police detective as long as it meets the other requirements of a cozy... not a l..."
I like the old English style mysteries, too. I guess it's because I read so many Agatha Christies back in the day. I like a cozy that has some clues (that actually make sense) so you can see where the detective is going with his/her investigation. I thought being kind of meh about a lot of the newer cozies was just me. The ones that really drive me nuts are the one where the suspect/culprit comes out of left field, and there's little or nothing in the way of clues that leads anyone to think that person was the one who did it.

I'm one who doesn't like the old English cozies. I'm one of the only people I know who can be completely bored to tears by Miss Marple or Poirot. I'd rather watch TV!

The best definition of the cozy (also called traditional) mystery genre is the one provided on the Malice Domestic website (http://malicedomestic.org/agathaaward...

"books best typified by the works of Agatha Christie as well as others. For our purposes, the genre is loosely defined as mysteries that:

* contain no explicit sex
* contain no excessive gore or gratuitous violence"

And yes, I would classify the Scooby Doo shows as cozy mysteries. ;-)

I think my first exposure to "cozy mysteries" were the Nancy Drew books I read as a girl and then Agatha Christie.

Now I enjoy the cozy mysteries with a chic-lit feel. One of my fav series is the Dead End Jobs Mysteries by Elaine Viets.

I have to jump in and add tongue in cheek that the sleuth in a cozy has to own a cat. We would joke about how many had cats it in a group I used to belong to.

I love crafts but I don't care for the hobby cozies much either. There is too much about the hobby and not enough detail to the mystery. I also find that the same descriptions of the hobby tend to be repeated over and over.

I do like Elaine Viets Dead End Jobs and Mystery Shopper series. The jobs change and keep the stories interesting. I also liked Maddie Hunter's Passport to Peril series. The seniors in her tour group and her ex are a riot.

Shay wrote: "I know that cozies are supposed to be an amateur sleuth, but I consider a book "cozyish" even if it's a police detective as long as it meets the other requirements of a cozy... not a lot of profani..."

I completely agree,especially about the British mysteries. For me, cozy mysteries lack the "grit." Somehow there is always a layer of protection between the reader and the evil. The heroine will escape, no matter how dire the circumstances. There will be deaths, but you won't generally see them happen, and if you do, it will be a non-bloody murder. They are light, fun reads. Of course, I get a kick out of figuring out who will be dead and who will be the murderer. In closed neighborhood series (which a lot are) cherchez the outsider!

Joelle wrote: "This is such an interesting discussion. Sandra, I thought I was the only one who NEEDED clues:) I always feel cheated when the person who done it comes out of left field. I'm not a fan of all Bri..."

I agree, Joelle, I think it's entirely subjective based on each individual. Clicked on your profile and your forthcoming book sounds like it might be a good one. I'll have to see if the library has it on their list yet. I've found all the flurry of new "cozy" authors interesting the past few months. Weeding out the good from the bad has been an enjoyable task!

I've just discovered cozies, so I can't give too much of an opinion. I do like ones that have more substance, a hint of romance, a little more believable and less goofy. I certainly could not read them back-to-back.

I've read Rita Mae Brown, early Lillian Jackson Braun, Sarah Strohmeyer's Bubbles, Janet Evanovich, and Lorna Barrett, so far. I just picked up a Murder She Wrote last night (love that show and we have two seasons on the DVD).

I really prefer cozies to thrillers. I'm not a big fan of blood and gore. And I like all the different characters and their businesses, hobbies, families, and friends which makes them feel much more real. But a cozy is a mystery, so I feel there should be some sort of set of clues that lead to a solution.

Joelle wrote: "This is such an interesting discussion. Sandra, I thought I was the only one who NEEDED clues:) I always feel cheated when the person who done it comes out of left field. I'm not a fan of all Bri..."

Who could resist a camel named Elwood? Not me, so I put your book on my wish list.

Sandra J wrote: "I really prefer cozies to thrillers. I'm not a big fan of blood and gore ..."

I always figure I can get all the blood & gore I want from reading the paper or watching the nightly news. I ready mysteries for entertainment & escape, not to be pounded over the head by more reality. Like Kait said: "there is always a layer of protection between the reader and the evil. ... There will be deaths, but you won't generally see them happen, and if you do, it will be a non-bloody murder. They are light, fun reads. Of course, I get a kick out of figuring out who will be dead and who will be the murderer."

On reflecting about this, I think my particular requirement is a good plot & good writing. I prefer heroes/heroines who are not messing about with a possible love interest -- those are the sort that are TSTL & ALWAYS need rescuing by the PLI, even though PLI warned them not to do such a stupid, life-threatening thing. PLI always forgives them, as they ALWAYS say how sorry they are & they'll never ever never do it again ... but of course they do, in the very next book.

Give me Agatha Christie, Patricia Wentworth, Caroline Graham, Aaron Elkins etc. every time!

I've always considered a cozy mystery to simply fit in the guidelines of non-violent. For example, Miss Marple mysteries are cozies, obviously, but I've also considered Hercule Poirot to be a cozy, even though he IS a detective.

I do enjoy thrillers, but I really dislike the gore. If I can find thrillers that at the very least keep them to a minimum, I go for it. Usually, though, I just keep that for movies and stick to cozies for my books.

Kate wrote: I'm not particularly into the current crop of cozies, which are generally women who are doing something else (baking, crafting, running a coffee or tea shop, etc.) & get sucked into solving a murder. Imho, most of those amateurs are TSTL & the plots are almost cookie cutter.

I've been thinking about what you said and I think that what specifically bugs me about that current crop of cozies is that they are using it as a shortcut to creating a real character. They are making the character memorable because you go, "Oh yeah, the book with the lady who runs a blueberry farm." They are relying on caricature and shtick instead of solid writing. It's just lazy. (Note: I'm not saying this about all of this genre of cozy, just the bad, run of the mill ones.)

Shay wrote: "Kate wrote: I'm not particularly into the current crop of cozies, which are generally women who are doing something else (baking, crafting, running a coffee or tea shop, etc.) & get sucked into sol..."

Shay and Kate, I agree with both of you. I think this crafting genre of the cozy mystery is getting out of hand. Every single new one is about the craft/food/store they make or run and it's short on character development. It's actually getting harder and harder to remember the books that are out there because so many of the books are the same. If this trend continues then I am going to have to think about which series I want to invest my time and money into reading.

I used to buy a lot of cozies, but now I check the library to see if there's at least one of the author's books in so I can check out the series. That way if I don't like the series, I haven't wasted my money. If I like it, I'm much more inclined to go to the bookstore to buy more. One thing I'm not too fond of is first person POV. I'm more inclined to check out a series with first person POV in the library first. I've bought a few series with first person, but it's not my favorite.

Let me know what you think once you start to read them. Who is actually writing them?

Deborah wrote: "Let me know what you think once you start to read them. Who is actually writing them?"

What books are you referring to??

Kelley wrote: "Shay wrote: "Kate wrote: I'm not particularly into the current crop of cozies, which are generally women who are doing something else (baking, crafting, running a coffee or tea shop, etc.) & get su..."

I'm going to blame over-zealous marketing on this one. It's an obsession with platform and niche. So maybe if your book involves a tarot-reading rodeo clown who solves crimes, then you can hit not only the mystery market, but the clown and rodeo and rodeo clown and paranormal markets too.

No offense to anyone with a rodeo clown series. That was just one I haven't run across yet.

I consider the Hamish Macbeth books by MC Beaton cozies even though he's a cop. He's really just the village constable. He's not like a inner city homicide detective.

I like cozies and I like the more series hard boiled mystery/thrillers. Just depends on my mood. One thing I like about cozies is that they tend to be short. I like that I can read one in a day.

Joelle wrote: As an author, I've been a bit confused as to where I fit in the mystery world."

Me and you both. My publisher (Poisoned Pen) has a list of "don't" themes: incest, child abuse, mafia, drugs, serial killers. I like their books because I can eat lunch and read one at the same time.

My book fits some cozy guidelines but breaks others: amateur sleuth with new job -- check
gay best friend -- check
small town -- nope
crime-solving significant other -- sorta
cute animal -- nope
play-fair clues -- check
clean language -- #$%@! no

I have no camel, so I'm picking up
Skating Around the Law: A Mystery to fill that emptiness in my life. But my current WIP featured a reticulated python -- I don't suppose that counts as a cute pet?

I write what I call cozies with a real estate agent protagonist. What I've heard is you need a body in the first chapter, a resolution at the end, an amateur sleuth...Regan McHenry...with a law enforcement connection...Dave, a police ombudsman..., a small community...Santa Cruz and the real estate community. Sex and violence take place mostly off the pages, language is mild. Oh, and sometimes my books have cats...Harry and Cinco...in them, but not as lead characters.

Mary wrote: "I consider the Hamish Macbeth books by MC Beaton cozies even though he's a cop. He's really just the village constable. He's not like a inner city homicide detective.

I agree, that MC Beaton's Hamish is a cozy. Also, her Agatha Raisin series. In the later books she opens a detective agency.

Would Tony Hillerman's Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn stories qualify as cozy? They are tribal police officers. The focus of the stories are Navajo culture.

I wouldn't consider Hillerman's series a cozy. They're more like procedurals with a cozy slant.

I think it is getting harder and harder to define a cozy. I've recently read quite a few books that were more like romance novels with a mystery subplot. For me, a cozy means great, quirky characters that are a bit out-of-step with the rest of the world and see things a bit differently. That describes everyone from Miss Marple to V.I. Warshawski, doesn't it! I'm a fan of a wide range of cozy authors and have been reading this genre for about 40 years now. In my real life, I'm a medical writer so I always appreciate well-crafted stories like those of David Handler, Sue Grafton and Ellen Hart

Kalena wrote: "I think it is getting harder and harder to define a cozy. I've recently read quite a few books that were more like romance novels with a mystery subplot. For me, a cozy means great, quirky charact..."

You make a good point, but I never thought of V.I. as cozy!

I didn't either at first but then started to realize that the relationship V.I. has with her landlord is indeed "cozy-ish!"

Shay and Kate - I've started paying very close attention to the author instead of being fooled by books that are similar to more established series that I like. I usually find that I like the first generation best. For example, I bought a book thinking it was a new one featuring the TenHuis chocolate shop but it was another, very similar new series that just left me confused. I also can't tell the knitting shop mysteries apart. And I wish Josie Toadfern and Mandy Dyer would just open a business together!

Kalena wrote: "Shay and Kate - I've started paying very close attention to the author instead of being fooled by books that are similar to more established series that I like. I usually find that I like the first..."

I liked the Mandy Dyer series since it was set here in Denver. I like being able to identify places. Unfortunately there won't be anymore as Dolores Johnson passed away earlier this year. She was a really nice lady.

Barb wrote: "Anyone jump in with ideas...Wakar gave a website on a different thread that gives a great definition of what a cozy mystery is http://www.cozy-mystery.com/. In general, most cozy mysteries are set ..."

I write a cozy mystery series and the points you make are good. I would throw in that cozy mysteries are G-Rated, in other words, I tell people that you can set down any one of my novels, wherever you like and never be concerned about whom might pick it up. No graphic language, gore, horror or sex. In addition, the focus is always on the "mystery", readers discover and solve the mystery in 'real time' with the sleuth. Secondary to the mystery would be undercurrents involving the lead character's life... this is where elements of romance, paranormal or other sub-genres can add or detract from the story.

Elizabeth Eagan-Cox
www.ElizabethEaganCox.net

Kate wrote: "Joelle wrote: "This is such an interesting discussion. Sandra, I thought I was the only one who NEEDED clues:) I always feel cheated when the person who done it comes out of left field. I'm not a..."

does Elwood solve the mysteries? ;)

This is an interesting discussion to me because it's one I had recently with my editor. The first book in my new series for Midnight Ink comes out in Jan. In the MI winter catalog it's listed as a cozy, but to me it's more amateur sleuth. I'd describe my writing as more in the vein of Janet Evanovich than Agatha Christie. My editor said the lines have been blurring so much that cozy no longer has the traditional restrictions it once did. So even though my books don't take place in a quaint village setting and my characters occasionally use situation appropriate colorful language, the book is considered a cozy. I guess it's just another example of how publishing changes with the times.
Lois Winston
www.loiswinston.com

Kari wrote: "I love the cheesy gothic mysteries that were popular in the 60s and 70s. I never thought of them as cozies but they do have a lot of cozy aspects. I read a lot them when younger so they make me fee..."

Have you ever read "classic" gothic novels? I'm reading The Mysteries of Udolpho right now. (It's considered the archetypal gothic novel. I'm planning to also read The Castle of Otranto which is considered the first gothic novel.

Kari wrote: "Yes I have read both of those and many of the other classic gothics. They are a lot of fun."

What are your favorites? What should I read after those? Just starting to read the gothic genre with those two.

Kari wrote: "I love the cheesy gothic mysteries that were popular in the 60s and 70s. I never thought of them as cozies but they do have a lot of cozy aspects. I read a lot them when younger so they make me fee..."

I LOVED the "gothics" from the late 60s, early 70s that were based on the old Dark Shadows TV show. I read them all as a kid and put together a set on eBay a few years ago. They actually fit the gothic mystery genre quite well....with a vampire thrown in, of course!

I used to practically devour Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt's books. Another classic that definitely has gothic overtones is Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier.

Kari wrote: "I liked both of two you are reading now. Anything by the Brontes, Northanger Abbey by Austen for early ones.

Louise May Alcott Long Fatal Chase, Elizabeth Gaskell for Victorian authors.

Ambr..."
I am so glad you mentioned A Long Fatal Love Chase. This is one of my all time favorite books! Not sure if I would classify it as a Cozy, but it is a great book!

Thank you, Kari, for the list. Starting with Elizabeth Gaskell (North and South) and Marjorie Bowen (Black Magic and The Viper of Milan) because I found a lot of their stuff for free online. I had a few of the Bronte's as well.

Lois wrote: "

This is an interesting discussion to me because it's one I had recently with my editor. The first book in my new series for Midnight Ink comes ou..."

I disagree vehemently with your editor, Lois! At least in my little world, I want cozies defined as taking place in quaint village settings, and the "mystery solver" to be someone like Miss Marple or Miss Silver. I'm probably hopelessly outdated (as usual), but I think cozies are different than amateur sleuths, and I would prefer to have the distinction remain in place so I can chose a book by its label rather than having to look at the entire description & read part of it to make sure I'm getting what I want.

Kate wrote: "Lois wrote: "

This is an interesting discussion to me because it's one I had recently with my editor. The first book in my new series for Midnight..."

I agree with you Kate, I don't want to read "colorful language" in a cozy. Not at all! That's one of the things I like about cozies. You don't have to put up with that and I hate to think this is where editors are going with the genre just to pander to the current societal trends. It's bad enough we've become "dumbed down" and now we are becoming "coarsened down". Okay, climbing down from my soapbox now.