This is another in my series on Genre Writing Tips. I hadn’t really thought about cozy mysteries as I worked through from Children’s Books to Steampunk. A member of my critique group reminded me because that’s what she writes. Cozy mysteries, in the style of Murder She Wrote–tricky but non-gory plots with eminantly cheerful characters that you’d like for a best friend.
That’s about all I knew about them, so I polled my PLN and Tweeple and anyone I could find about what the characteristics of ‘cozy mysteries’ were. Here’s what I got:
- The mystery is not bloody or ghoulish. It’s softened, the gory parts alluded to rather than spelled out.
- The lead character is likely to be an amateur detective, akin to Murder She Wrote, rather than seasoned as you’d find in a detective mystery.
- The reader likely will identify with the main character so s/he can be flawed but in a human way. For example, a Backstrom-like character (a cigar-smoking alcoholic with a knack for solving crimes)–or Dexter (a likeable serial killer)–would never lead a cozy mystery. Agatha Christie’s Ms. Marple would (although, not the Ms. Marple starring Joan Hickson. Of course, I’ve only watched one so far, may not watch the rest).
- Since the main character is NOT a detective, rather an amateur, s/he often has a good friend/mate/confidante who is knowledgeable and can pass along important information to her.
- Character development of the lead character is important. S/he is robustly fleshed out so the reader thoroughly understands their motivation, weaknesses and strengths.
- While most novels require growth in the characters, that’s not so important in cozy mysteries. Often, the mystery has thrown our beloved main character out of sorts. and the goal is to return her/him to normal by solving the mystery. The need that s/he experience personal growth is secondary.
- The feeling of the book is ‘fun’, not stressful. Often, this is because the main character is bumbling through an important job s/he’s an amateur at, but it could be generated by the other characters, setting, or plot points.
- The setting is likely to be a small, picturesque town or village.
- Very little sex is included. If there is any, it’s subtle and dealt with invisibly.
- Lots of these novels have long-term love interests, but not all.
- There is little or no profanity or violence.
- The story has a happy ending–the criminal is brought to justice and balance is restored.
- Right and wrong are clearly defined; there’s no moral dithering. Murder is wrong and catching the guilty returns society to its rightful balance.
If you want more on cozy mysteries, read this very thorough guide to cozy mysteries (it has just about everything) and MysteryCozy.com has a series of fascinating articles on this genre.
More characteristics of writing genres:
14 Tips for Young Adult Writers
10 Tips for Picture Book Writers
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is the author/editor of dozens of books on integrating tech into education, webmaster for six blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, adjunct professor of technology in education, a columnist for TeachHUB, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. You can find her book at her publisher’s website, Structured Learning.
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Great post! You got it 100% right!
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Thanks, Karen. When you’re ready for your new book’s blog hop, we could discuss your tips for cozy mystery stories. I find myself gravitating to them lately.
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If you’ll excuse the BSP, if you’re looking for cozies to read, my publisher, Cozy Cat Press, has nothing but cozy series with a wide variety of protagonists (some male) and settings. And we have a group novel due soon, “Chasing the Codex,” in which 24 authors each wrote one chapter. http://cozycatpress.com/
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Oooh, I didn’t know that, Sally. I wish I’d met them when I was writing this. I spent a lot of time simply identifying cozy mysteries.
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Thanks for this. I’m not a reader of cozy mysteries, but I do enjoy them on tv 🙂
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I do like reading them though they aren’t my first choice, which means I don’t often work my way to them on my TBR list.
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Reblogged this on Pursuing Perfect Prose and commented:
This is a great little guide if you are thinking of dabbling into cozy, classic crime writing. One thing that I would emphasise is that it helps to read some cozy crime novels first to get the feel of how it is done badly and how it is done well. I recommend trying out a few Agatha Christie novels along with some Dorothy L. Sayers, Margery Allingham and Georges Simenon. As an extra I would also recommend trying out a few books from the range of British Library Crime Classics.
https://www.waterstones.com/books/search/term/british+library
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Thanks for the reblog!
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How many times have I mentioned wanting to write a cozy? I cringe when I think about it. My latest work and the one I’ve been pitching is the closest I’ve gotten so far. This post was a gift. Thanks so much for the help. 😉
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My pleasure. I’ve never considered writing one, but after chatting with one of the writers in my critique group, I’m rethinking that. I love mysteries, and the focus on ‘amateur’ puts it within my reach.
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Reblogged this on quirkywritingcorner.
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Thanks for the reblog.
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I’ve always enjoyed cozy mysteries more than the gory ones. I like more human interest and clever resolutions than detailed forensics and bloody victims. Of course, dead is dead.
I wish I was smart enough to figure out hoe to plot any kind of mystery, but being a person who can hardly put together a model with the instructions – not my forte. I’ll continue to enjoy the cozies written by others.
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Yes, like all mysteries, they require clever thinking, clues, and critical analysis. Not always easy to come by.
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“Cozy Mystery” is certainly a new genre for me.
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I don’t think it’s appeal is broad, rather for a specific reading style. Although, Agatha Christie is much more far-reaching than most of its authors.
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Good old Murder She Wrote, I was a fan it did have a certain kind of coziness to it.
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Me too. I liked that she was an everyday person. I wish they’d remake that one.
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Now that would be cool Jacqui, the stories were always good.
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I’d never heard of the term before but it suits this genre so well. As a child I was a great fan of Nancy Drew mysteries and later Agatha Christie and such like. I am now racking my brain trying to think of current successful writers in this genre. Any ideas? Am I missing the obvious? I would love to revisit it. There are many TV shows in the UK like this but books…hmm…
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It does fit, doesn’t it? Intelligent, clever, but everyday-person, G rated. I love them.
Other cozy mysteries–Ellie Griffith is quite popular. And one of my favorites–the #1 Ladies Detective Series. Quirky and fun, with an African setting.
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Of course!! How could I forget Precious Ramotswe and her friends. I have read all the books and wait impatiently for the next. Alexander McCall Smith is quite a writer. Did you see the TV adaption of the books – I was wary before viewing but needn’t have been, very well done indeed.
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That’s how I first met the group. The TV show is so unusual, I almost didn’t continue and then found I couldn’t stop–one of those. Then I watched all of them. Too bad they stopped.
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Reblogged this on georgeforfun.
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Thanks–again–for the reblog, George!
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my pleasure, Jacqui, ❤ (๑̀ ͜ʖ๑́) ❤
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I was thinking of Poirot while reading this list, Jacqui. He and Ms Marple cover it all. I love watching the Poirot series and we always joke that we’d never go on holidays with him or Ms. Marple. If we arrived in a hotel and they were there, we’d check out immediately lol 😀
Great list. I always bookmark your pages.
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I was so sad when PBS ended the Poirot series. It took me a few to get used to the character, and then I was addicted. Now, I’ve gone cold turkey.
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Looks like you pretty much covered it all.
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I try to. And what I miss, my readers pitch in. This is a great group over here, innit?
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I love cozy mysteries. Reading those tips makes me want to write one! 😀
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I wonder if cozy mysteries could overlap with fantasy? Hmmm….
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I also write a crime series, though it’s more romantic thriller I guess. And I enjoy writing those, so it might not be a stretch to try something new. I seem to have an addiction to exploring new genres at the moment! 😀
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BTW, love the new avatar. When I clicked on it, I couldn’t believe how many blogs you have!
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Thanks 🙂 I’ve been thinking about reducing the number. They’re getting harder to manage!
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I dropped one of my blogs–well, I wasn’t that brave. I put it on hiatus. I haven’t missed it for over a year now. I also just stopped writing for one of the groups I usually post to weekly. There wasn’t enough return for the effort. I’d rather spend the time on getting to know my readers better.
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I’d never heard the term “cozy mystery” prior to attending a writing group. Thanks for completely explaining the genre, Jackqui. It’s comforting to know “Cozy” applies to the mystery and not the murder . . .
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Make you think of Karen’s story, Deadly in White’, doesn’t it?
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I’ve read cozy mysteries and thoroughly enjoyed them. They’re fun, light reading and turn the reader into an amateur detective as he or she read the same as any mystery but with a bit of bumbling along the way. Easy to yell at the ‘detective’ to not go there, or do this instead of that. 😀 😀 😀
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Absolutely. I can almost (not quite though) step into the main character’s shoes when they’re done well.
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You’re right…
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You got it. When I think of the mysteries I like to read or watch on TV, they all have the qualities you mention.
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The only one that I stopped watching was PBS’s Miss Marple. It should have been great, but somehow missed the mark.
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Yes, that one missed it for me too. Lately my wife and I have been hooked on Midsomer Murders (watching on NetFlix). That one meets all your guidelines and we’ve been loving it.
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I’ve never heard of Midsummer Murders. Is that a Brit show? I’ll have to check on it.
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I’ve read a few cozy mysteries and enjoy the amateur detectives and quaint settings. Wonderful list.
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Exactly the right characteristics. When you read these, you feel like they could be your next-door neighbor solving crime. I’ve read quite a few and always come away feeling good about the story.
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Reblogged this on Charles Ray's Ramblings.
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Thanks for the reblog, Charles!
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