2025 was a stellar year for cozy mysteries. Beloved series delivered some of their best installments yet, exciting debuts introduced fresh voices to the genre, and the category continued its surge in popularity with readers seeking comfort, cleverness, and charm. Here are our picks for the best cozy mystery books of 2025.
Best Continuing Series
The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman (Thursday Murder Club #5) — The beloved retirement village sleuths return for another case involving a best man in peril, a suspicious storage business, and a fortune in cryptocurrency. Osman continues to deliver his signature blend of warmth, wit, and surprisingly twisty plotting. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim feel like old friends at this point.
Joy to the Bones by Carolyn Haines (Sarah Booth Delaney #30) — Thirty books in and Haines still keeps the Mississippi Delta mysteries fresh. Sarah Booth's loyal hound Sweetie Pie and cat Pluto remain scene-stealers, and the Southern setting is as atmospheric as ever.
The Case of the Christie Conspiracy by Kelly Oliver — A literary mystery that imagines what happens when the world of Agatha Christie's fiction collides with a modern murder investigation. Cleverly plotted with plenty of Easter eggs for Christie fans.
Numb Were the Beadsman's Fingers by Alan Bradley (Flavia de Luce) — The precocious young chemist returns for another mystery in the English countryside. Bradley's writing is as sharp and charming as ever, and Flavia remains one of the genre's most original protagonists.
Best Culinary Cozies
A Fashionably French Murder by Colleen Cambridge — Set in 1950s Paris, tabletop detective Tabitha Knight teams up with none other than Julia Child to solve a murder in the haute couture world. The food descriptions alone are worth the price of admission.
Blueberry Blunder by Amanda Flower (Amish Candy Shop #8) — Bailey King is back in Harvest, Ohio, where the candy is sweet and the suspects are sour. Flower perfectly balances the Amish setting, the romance with Deputy Aiden, and a genuinely puzzling mystery.
Kamogawa Food Detectives: The Reunion by Hisashi Kashiwai — The third installment of this Japanese sensation, where a father-daughter duo solve emotional mysteries by recreating meaningful dishes. Heartwarming, unique, and beautifully translated.
Best Paranormal & Witchy Cozies
Garters, Ghosts and Wedding Toasts by Angie Fox (Southern Ghost Hunter #15) — Verity Long plans her sister's wedding while dealing with ghostly complications. Fox keeps the series fresh with humor, heart, and a ghost named Frankie who steals every scene.
Every Spell You Break by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson (Witches of Holiday Hills) — The witchy women of Holiday Hills face their most challenging case yet. Aspenson's growing series continues to blend paranormal elements with small-town cozy charm.
Best Debuts & New Series
The Bookshop Mysteries: A Bitter Pill by S.A. Reeves — A small-town bookshop owner stumbles into murder in this promising debut. Classic cozy mystery elements — charming setting, likeable protagonist, clever puzzle — executed with confidence.
Murder at the Wham Bam Club by Carolyn Marie Wilkins — A psychic in 1922 Harlem investigates a murder at a jazz club. Historical setting, supernatural elements, and a strong sense of community make this a standout debut.
The Golden Girls Cozy Mystery Series — Dorothy's disastrous date ends up dead, and the Girls band together to solve the case. A fun, nostalgic debut that captures the spirit of the beloved TV show.
Best British & Historical Cozies
The Only Way is Burglary by various authors — A humorous British cozy set in the world of antiques and village life. Dry wit, eccentric characters, and a plot that keeps you guessing.
The Marlow Murder Club novels by Robert Thorogood — Following the success of the TV adaptation, the books in this series gained renewed popularity in 2025. Judith Potts and her unlikely detective trio are irresistible.
Murder in the Wardrobe Department by D.A.E. Jackson — A 1920s Hollywood cozy that combines the glamour of early cinema with a locked-room mystery. Atmospheric and clever.
Readers' Choice: Most-Loved Series of 2025
Based on reader reviews, bestseller lists, and popularity on our site, these established series had the most devoted following in 2025:
Louise Penny (Chief Inspector Gamache) · Joanne Fluke (Hannah Swensen) · Donna Andrews (Meg Langslow) · Rhys Bowen (Royal Spyness / Molly Murphy) · Elizabeth Craig (Southern Quilting / Myrtle Clover) · Jenn McKinlay (Library Lover's / Cupcake Bakery) · M.C. Beaton (Agatha Raisin / Hamish Macbeth, continued posthumously)
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