• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Albion Gould

Albion Gould

makes & travels

  • make
  • travel
  • stitch
  • live
  • eat
  • wear

Six First Books that will have you Hooked on Cozy Mysteries

June 20, 2016 by Albion

I’m a huge fan of cozy mysteries. You know I love a good mystery and cozy mysteries are so easy to get hooked on. I define cozy mysteries as mysteries that take place in towns we could live in with people who could be our friends. They can center around a knitting circle, a bookshop, or a hobby. The murders don’t tend to be gory and they always get solved. You really get to know the characters over the course of the series. Sometimes the book includes recipes or patterns. I turn to them when I need some light reading and with summer coming, I’m imagining sitting in the yard in the sunshine with a good book while the girls run around. I thought it would be fun to share six first books that will have you hooked on cozy mysteries. I’ve read many of the books in these series and can’t wait to get caught up on the latest!

Six first books that will have you hooked on Cozy Mysteries

This post contains affiliate links.

One of my all-time favorite cozy mystery series is the Knitting Mystery series by Maggie Sefton. They center around Kelly Flynn and the House of Lambspun. Kelly flies out to Colorado for her aunt’s funeral and discovers that her death was a deliberate murder. She spends much of her time getting to know the regulars at the new House of Lambspun, and with their help, solves her aunt’s murder. I adore this series. I love the description of the cottage, yarn shop, and town. I actually found myself jealous of the knitting circle! The descriptions of yarn and how Sefton weaves projects with the mystery are just fantastic. She creates a lifestyle that I can only dream of. Read the first book and you’ll be hooked!

Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton

Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton

I was so excited to find a cozy mystery series that centered around needlework! Betsy Devonshire has no idea how to thread a needle, but when her sister is murdered in her needlework shop, Betsy takes over. She learns how to stitch, run a shop, and solve a murder at the same time. I’ve idly thought about attempting a craft store and I love this take on throwing someone who didn’t necessarily want to be there into the thick of running an already successful shop. Ferris includes patterns in her books.

Crewel World by Monica Ferris

Crewel World by Monica Ferris

Boooooks! It was really fun to discover a cozy mystery series that centered around books themselves! Brooklyn Wainwright is a rare book expert living in San Francisco. She discovers her dying mentor and finds herself accused of murder and theft, all while trying to figure out what he meant by the cryptic message he gave her with his final breath. These books are a fun peek into the book restoration world and it’s neat to recognize the places in Wainwright’s adventures.

Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle

Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle

Have I mentioned that I would love to run a bookshop one day? Penelope Thornton-McClure does just that. When a best-selling author dies at a book signing in the store, McClure discovers that her shop is haunted by a private investigator who was murdered there 50 years ago–who just so happens to be the inspiration behind the murdered author’s book. It’s an unusual crime-solving duo, but they make a great team! These books are cozy mysteries at their finest.

The Ghost and Mrs. McClure by Alice Kimberly

The Ghost and Mrs. McClure by Alice Kimberly

If you’re looking for a scrapbook murder, this series is for you! Carmela Bertrand runs a scrapbooking shop and is known in New Orleans for her fantastic layouts. She’s enjoying Mardi Gras with her friends when a float comes to a stop in front of them with a dead man on top. Bertrand’s ex-husband is accused of the murder  and even through they’re estranged, she doesn’t believe he did it. These books go into detail about life in New Orleans and there are a lot of great scrapbooking tips.

Keepsake Crimes by Laura Childs

Keepsake Crimes by Laura Childs

My introduction to cozy mysteries was with this book. Goldy Bear is a caterer living in Chicago. She’s hired to cater a wake but when her ex father-in-law drinks from a poisoned cup, she finds herself being shut down by the police. Goldy sets out to clear her name and get her business reopened. These books include recipes, and yes, I’ve made some of them!

Catering to Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson

Catering to Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson

Cozy mysteries are my favorite for a relaxing day at the beach, reading on a flight, or just hanging out at home after a long day. They don’t take a lot of energy and are a lot of fun. With recipes and projects to try in a lot of them, your enjoyment can continue after you’ve solved the mystery! These six first books will have you hooked on cozy mysteries!

Related Posts:

  • Fun Mystery Series to Listen to on Audible
    Fun Mystery Series to Listen to on Audible
  • Fascinating Historical Fiction Books for your Kids to Read
    Fascinating Historical Fiction Books for your Kids to Read
  • Clever Ways to Use Baskets Around the Home
    Clever Ways to Use Baskets Around the Home
  • How to Perform a Spa Quality Facial at Home
    How to Perform a Spa Quality Facial at Home
  • The Accusing Parlor
    The Accusing Parlor
  • New on Disney Plus: What You Should Watch Right Now
    New on Disney Plus: What You Should Watch Right Now
  • The Living Room: a Work in Progress
    The Living Room: a Work in Progress
  • How to Have a Beautiful Flower Garden
    How to Have a Beautiful Flower Garden
Category: liveTag: Barnes and Noble, books, cozy mystery, craft mystery, mystery

About Albion

I’ve wanted to be an archaeologist, in theatre, a judge and to run a museum. I’m now in my mid-30s and have no idea what I want to be when I grow up.

Previous Post:Finding Dory Hoop Art
Next Post:Patriotic Heart HeadbandsPatriotic Heart Headbands

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Show more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sidebar

Welcome

about me

I’ve wanted to be an archaeologist, in theatre, a judge, and to run a museum. While I try to decide what I want to be when I grow up, I spend my time crafting and exploring the world. Read More…

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

Copyright © 2023 · Albion Gould · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT