There's nothing quite like curling up with a cozy mystery during the cold winter months. A crackling fire, a warm cup of tea, and a puzzle to solve—these books deliver all the satisfaction of a mystery without the graphic violence or disturbing content that can sometimes make the genre feel too heavy. Cozy mysteries are the comfort food of the literary world, and these series are perfect for your winter reading list.
What defines a cozy mystery? These are typically set in small, close-knit communities where the amateur detective protagonist knows everyone—and everyone might be a suspect. Violence happens off-page, the stakes are personal rather than world-ending, and there's often a satisfying element of justice at the end. Many cozy mysteries also feature charming settings, beloved pets, and enough food descriptions to make you hungry.
Bookshop Mysteries
A Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery by Lauren Elliott
For book lovers, there's something extra appealing about mysteries set in bookshops and libraries. Lauren Elliott's series follows Addie Greyborne, who inherits a bookstore and a Victorian house from her aunt—along with a knack for stumbling upon mysteries. The combination of rare books, small-town drama, and cozy New England settings makes this series perfect for winter reading.
Each book in the series incorporates real bibliophile knowledge, from first editions to book restoration, giving readers a peek into the world of rare and antiquarian books. It's education wrapped in entertainment, served with a side of murder most bookish.
Reading Order: Murder by the Book → Prologue to Murder → Murder in the First Edition → A Page Marked for Murder → Escape Down the Rabbit Hole
The Bibliophile Mystery Series by Kate Carlisle
Brooklyn Wainwright is a book restoration expert whose profession leads her into surprisingly dangerous situations. These books combine the cozy mystery format with fascinating details about bookbinding, paper restoration, and the rare book trade. Carlisle's research shines through, making each mystery both entertaining and educational.
What makes this series particularly satisfying is Brooklyn's expertise—she's not just a random amateur stumbling into investigations, but someone whose specialized knowledge actually helps solve the cases. It's competence porn wrapped in cozy mystery packaging.
Start with: Homicide in Hardcover
Culinary Cozies
A Bakeshop Mystery by Ellie Alexander
Set in the charming town of Ashland, Oregon (home of the famous Shakespeare Festival), these mysteries follow pastry chef Jules Capshaw as she returns home to help run her family's bakery. Each book features mouth-watering descriptions of baked goods alongside clever mysteries—and yes, recipes are included.
Alexander captures the rhythm of small-town life beautifully, with its mix of locals, tourists, and theater folk creating a vibrant community. The Shakespeare Festival setting adds a unique cultural element, and Jules's journey of self-discovery gives the series emotional depth beyond its mystery plots.
Reading Order: Meet Your Baker → A Batter of Life and Death → On Thin Icing → Caught Bread Handed → Fudge and Jury → A Crime of Passion Fruit
A Piece of Cake Mystery by Jacklyn Brady
Rita Lucero runs a cake shop in New Orleans, and the Big Easy provides a colorful, atmospheric backdrop for these culinary cozies. The combination of Southern charm, Mardi Gras culture, and delicious cake descriptions makes this series irresistible. Brady balances the mystery elements with rich setting details and a cast of memorable supporting characters.
Start with: A Sheetcake Named Desire
Cat and Dog Companions
The Cat Who... Series by Lilian Jackson Braun
This beloved long-running series features journalist Jim Qwilleran and his remarkable Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum. Koko, in particular, has an uncanny ability to point his owner toward clues—whether by knocking books off shelves or engaging in other feline behaviors that somehow relate to the mystery at hand.
Braun's series spans nearly 30 books, creating a wonderfully lived-in world centered on the fictional Moose County. Readers return again and again not just for the mysteries but for the comfort of visiting familiar characters in a place that feels like home.
Start with: The Cat Who Could Read Backwards
Building Your Cozy Reading Stack
The beauty of cozy mystery series is their length—many run to dozens of books, giving you months of reading pleasure once you find a series you love. Start with the first book to meet the characters, understand the setting, and establish the relationships that will develop throughout the series.
Consider keeping a cozy mystery rotation, reading one between heavier books to maintain your reading momentum without burning out. Many readers find that cozies make perfect bedtime reading—engaging enough to hold attention but not so intense they keep you awake with nightmares.
Whatever series you choose, make sure to have your reading snacks ready. Between the bakeshop settings and recipe appendixes, cozy mysteries have a way of making readers very, very hungry.