What Is a Cozy Mystery?
Cozy Mystery Definition, Genre Rules, Characters, and Settings
Cozy mystery books often have lighthearted, colorful covers featuring images of the sleuth, pets, hobbies, occupations, settings, and/or themes.
Cozy Mystery Definition
Cozy crime, also known as a cozy mystery, is a subgenre of crime fiction. Cozies have certain elements that make them “cozy.” For example, they often feature charming settings, fun hobbies, cute pets, descriptions of yummy food, and, most importantly, an amateur sleuth. They do not typically contain gruesome crime scenes, detailed forensic descriptions, psychopathic serial killers, or hard-boiled homicide detectives. Some well-known examples of cozy mysteries include the Lilian Jackson Braun’s Cat Who… books and Murder, She Wrote (both the television show and book series).
Cozy Crime Genre Rules
The genre rules for cozy crime are not set in stone. However, cozy mysteries tend to follow a few basic conventions or genre rules. Although these rules are sometimes bent, they are rarely thrown out the window entirely. Most cozy crime fiction has:
Little-to-no profanity
Closed-door romance (hanky panky beyond kissing is non-existent or occurs off-page)
No gore or graphic depictions of violence, abuse, or torture
One to two deaths that occur off the page
An amateur detective
Cozy crime that doesn’t follow these conventions may not appeal to certain cozy readers. There is also a chance that certain elements may lead readers, critics, or publishers to classify cozies that bend too many rules as a different sub-genre, such as hard-boiled, detective fiction, police procedural, romantic suspense, thriller, or psychological suspense.
While certain tropes and conventions are common among cozies, it's important to note that the cozy crime genre is always evolving. In recent years, modern cozy mysteries have been pushing the boundaries, introducing elements that were once considered taboo. For instance, you might stumble upon a cozy mystery with a few swear words or an occasional love scene that doesn’t fade to black after a date or kiss. Some cozy mysteries also incorporate dark social issues into storylines. However, these deviations are not excessive or unnecessary in most cases, thus maintaining the essence of the cozy genre.
The key takeaway here is that many cozies have things in common, but there is more than one way to define a cozy mystery. You will see many different definitions for cozy crime online. Writers and readers have differing views on what is cozy and what is not. Rules and conventions can also vary depending on the cozy subgenre.
Cozy Mystery Subgenres
Cozy crime is a subgenre of crime fiction. Multiple subgenres also exist within the cozy subgenre. Some examples include but are not limited to:
Paranormal cozies
Book-themed cozies
English village cozies
Occupation cozies
Hobby cozies
Travel cozies
Animal cozies
Additional categories exist within cozy mystery subgenres. For example, within the culinary cozy subgenre, you have tea shop cozies, coffeehouse cozies, bakery cozies, cookbook-themed cozies, etc.
Cozy Mystery Characters
The sleuth takes center stage in a cozy mystery, but they are rarely alone in their adventures. A typical cozy mystery features a cast of intriguing or unique characters who either support or challenge the sleuth. In a cozy mystery series, these characters often make recurring appearances, adding depth and familiarity to the narrative. While they may not appear in every book, their presence in the series is a comforting and familiar aspect for cozy mystery enthusiasts.
The most common characters in modern cozy crime fiction are:
Sleuth: Usually an amateur detective, but can even be a current or former private investigator or law enforcement officer.
Sidekick: Likable, relatable, or quirky friend or family member who can serve as a sounding board, moral support, or a helping hand.
Insider: Someone who can assist the sleuth with cases; this individual may be a member of law enforcement, work in the legal field or medical examiner’s office, or have helpful expertise.
Victim #1: The first person to be killed; their death serves as the inciting incident in the story.
Victim #2: The second person to be killed; usually, but not always, one of the suspects (not every cozy mystery has two victims; some have a single victim, and some even have three victims).
Killer: The person who commits the murder. They may be one of the main suspects or fly under the radar for almost the whole book.
Suspects: Four or five individuals who seem potentially guilty because they had the motive, means, or opportunity to commit the crime.
Antagonist: The sleuth’s nemesis could be an annoying colleague, someone who creates conflict in the sleuth’s personal life, or someone who tries to hinder the sleuth's investigation.
Love interest: The sleuth's current or former crush, significant other, or potential romantic partner. Not every cozy has (or needs) a love interest.
Pet: A cat, dog, bird, fish, reptile, horse, or some other type of pet that belongs to the sleuth or someone close to the sleuth. The pet may or may not assist in investigations.
Community: Quirky, memorable, or relatable characters who are part of the sleuth's community; this may include family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, club members, customers, etc.
Some of these character roles overlap. For example, the romantic interest may also be the sidekick or an insider (like a police officer).
Most cozy mystery sleuths have a pet. The pets sometimes help solve the mystery.
Cozy Mystery Sleuths
Cozy mystery sleuths are typically amateurs, distinguishing them from police officers or private detectives. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, Agatha Raisin, one of the most well-known sleuths in the cozy crime genre, began as an amateur sleuth and eventually established a private detective agency in book number fifteen (Agatha Raisin and the Deadly Dance by M.C. Beaton).
Most, but not all, cozy mystery sleuths are female. They may be young or old or any age in between. If they are in a paranormal cozy, they may be ghosts, zombies, or vampires and continue to solve crimes after they die.
Although some cozy sleuths are ladies of leisure, most have a hobby or occupation. It is often the hobby that “hooks” the reader and makes them choose one cozy mystery book or series over another. Details related to the hobby or occupation are woven into the story and commonly drive subplots. Series arcs often show the sleuth growing or evolving in their hobby or occupation.
Many cozy mystery sleuths also have a personality trait, exceptional skill, or specific technique that they use to solve mysteries. This aspect of the sleuth is often related to or honed through their hobby, occupation, or lifestyle.
Cozy Mystery Victims
Most cozy mysteries have at least one or two murder victims. Anyone can be a murder victim in a cozy mystery. However, most cozy crime readers will balk if the victim is a child or an animal. For this reason, victims are almost always adults.
It is very common for the victim to be flawed and unlikable. For example, the victim may be a bully or a fraudster. The unlikeable trait may not be immediately evident at the story's start, but the investigation eventually casts the victim in a bad light.
The sleuth, or someone close to the sleuth, is commonly a suspect in the crime or connected to the first victim in a coincidental or non-coincidental way. The reason for this is simple: sleuths are amateurs. They need a reason to get involved in the case and sustainable motivation to solve the mystery—even when the stakes increase and things get dangerous.
The victim may be the sleuth's friend, colleague, relative, lover, or enemy. Or, the sleuth may identify with the victim or have something to prove. If the victim is not connected to the sleuth, the suspect is usually connected to the sleuth.
Cozy Mystery Suspects
Most cozy mysteries are puzzle mysteries that almost always require the sleuth (and the reader) to figure out “whodunnit.” Usually, four or five suspects have the motive, means, or opportunity to commit the crime.
Cozy crime suspects typically have a relationship or connection to the victim(s). Although suspects can be strangers to the sleuth, at least one suspect is usually connected to the sleuth in some way (e.g., a friend, family member, potential love interest, neighbor, etc.). Types of cozy mystery suspects include (but are not limited to):
The obvious suspect (the most likely killer; often becomes the second victim)
The local suspect (from the community)
The outsider (not from the community)
The hidden suspect (doesn't initially seem connected to the victim)
The sleuth suspect (the sleuth rarely suspects herself, but the police may suspect the sleuth)
Although most cozy mysteries are whodunnits, some are more of a whydunnit, howdunnit, or howcatchem. In these cases, the sleuth and the reader may know who did it, and the goal is to figure out why they did it, how they did it, or how to catch them and prove they did it.
Cozy Mystery Killers
Cozy mystery killers are very rarely psychopaths or serial killers, and they do not kill randomly. They usually have a relationship with the victim, and they always have the means, motive, and opportunity to kill.
The killer may have one of the three stereotypical motivations for murder (greed, revenge, fear) but is not evil personified; instead, they have been pushed past their limit and made terrible choices as a result. The murder is not truly justifiable, but some reasons why a cozy killer might try to justify a crime include:
Revenge (the victim deserved it)
Vigilante justice (the criminal justice system didn't work)
Protecting a loved one (had no choice)
Righting a prior wrong (restoring order to the world)
Cozy mystery investigators usually have to determine who committed a crime and why.
Settings in Cozy Crime Fiction
Most cozy mysteries are set in a small town or village. Resort and vacation towns are typical because they provide many opportunities for new suspects, killers, and victims. If cozy mysteries occur in a larger setting, such as a city, they commonly occur within a smaller neighborhood or enclave. For example, a book may be set within an area of the Garden District in New Orleans.
The setting of a cozy mystery is just as important as the characters. It helps to establish the story's tone and influences who becomes involved in the plot and why. In cozies, the setting is almost always charming, idyllic, or engaging in some way and is often showcased in the opening to hook the reader.
Average Cozy Mystery Book Length
The number of words or pages in a cozy mystery book can vary depending on the publisher and the format. The average cozy mystery novel is 60,000 to 100,000 words, but it can be longer or shorter. Many large publishers, small presses, and literary agents ask cozy crime writers to aim for 70,000 words or more, but this can vary.
Does this mean that anything under 60,000 words is not a proper novel? No. There is no concrete universal rule when it comes to minimum length. However, if a cozy mystery is under 50,000 words, some publishers, readers, and reviewers might classify it as a novella, novelette, or short story.
Here are some typical word counts for cozy mystery books:
Cozy Flash Fiction: 1,000 words or less
Cozy Short Stories: 1,000 - 10,000 words
Cozy Novelette: 10,000 - 20,000 words
Cozy Novella: 20,000 - 50,000 words
Cozy Novel: 60,000 - 100,000 words
Note: If you want to write a cozy mystery, you should visit the websites of crime publishers you are interested in working with to see their current submission guidelines and target word counts (if any). Look at the print books, ebooks, and audiobooks they publish. How long are they? If you plan to pursue independent publishing (i.e., self-publish your book), look at books that may be comparable to yours to help you determine a target word count.
Cozy Mystery Audiobook Length
Cozy mystery audiobooks are usually five to ten hours long, with six to eight hours being the most common length. However, some books are longer, and others are shorter. For example, it is possible to find short, lighthearted audio mysteries designed for commuters. You can also find several mysteries, including mysteries written by M.C. Beaton and Dorothy Sayers that have been turned into BBC Radio Plays. These plays are adaptations of the original stories and are often much shorter than the originals.
Stand Alone vs. Series
Some cozy crime books are stand-alone novels. Others are part of an ongoing series. It is much more common to see a cozy mystery series than it is to see a stand-alone cozy mystery. Some cozy mystery series have spin-offs or additional stories available through novellas, anthologies, audiobooks, and mystery magazines.