We are, of course, talking about the phenomenon that is cozy crime novels and not committing crimes. In cozy crime novels, everyday investigators solve crimes set in smaller communities. The story focuses on the intricacies of the investigation rather than the details of the crime.
When looking at cozy crime for the best private investigator UK readers would most often think of Sherlock Holmes or Miss Marple. However, although there are some classic investigators that have stood the test of time, there has been a significant increase in the number of cozy crime and cozy mystery series that are now available to read.
From this genre, others are branching off with a new hybrid of cozy fantasy that is becoming increasingly popular. Below, we have given our thoughts on why these genres are popular and where you can find some great series to read.
Why are Cozy Crime Novels Popular?
The main draw, for a lot of readers, with cozy crime and cozy mystery novels is that all of the 'action' takes place off the page. You will never read the details of how the main crime or mystery has happened, although there may be other lesser crimes you will read as they happen.
Cozy crime books do not contain violence, gore, or horror that a lot of mainstream crime and thriller books contain. You really can imagine you are reading from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or Agatha Christie when reading cozy crime.
Another reason why cozy crime has increased in popularity, we think, is that they are shorter books, so they can be read quickly and easily during relaxation time or on holiday.
Cozy crime novels, as mentioned above, are often set in smaller communities or towns and often center on a small business owner or someone local to the community. There is usually a small cast of core characters who form the investigative group either alongside or in spite of the police.
Where to Find Cozy Crime Novels
Cozy crime is an emerging genre, so you may not see it listed if you are looking for it in your local bookstore or library. However, do not be dismayed if this is a genre you think will be interesting for you; there are thousands of books out there for you to enjoy.
The best thing about this genre is that most of the series are extensive rather than stand-alone novels. Some of the most popular cozy crime series have over twenty books in the series, meaning you can spend lots of time with your favorite characters.
It is easy to find cozy crime novels online; you can complete an internet search to bring up a list of series. Alternatively, you can use a website such as Goodreads, which will give lists of books by genre and suggest books based on your friends' reading habits.
Other websites, such as The Storygraph or the library app Libby, will provide you with suggestions based on your reading habits and tastes. So, if you begin to read cozy crime books, you will be suggested more based on what you have read.