Starting a new cozy mystery series is one of life's great pleasures — but with thousands of options, how do you choose? We've rounded up the very best series across every subgenre, with a short guide to reading order for each one.
Best Overall Cozy Mystery Series
The Thursday Murder Club — Richard Osman
Four retirees living in a luxury retirement village meet weekly to solve cold cases — until real murders start happening on their doorstep. Osman's series is witty, warm, and genuinely clever, with four of the most loveable protagonists in modern fiction. Perfect for readers who want their mysteries with a large dose of humour and heart.
Start with: The Thursday Murder Club (Book 1) · Reading order: Must be read in order
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Chief Inspector Gamache — Louise Penny
Set in the fictional Québec village of Three Pines, Louise Penny's series follows the humane and thoughtful Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. These books are richer, deeper, and more literary than typical cozies — but they're often considered the gold standard of the genre for good reason. The village and its eccentric residents become as real as any place you've ever been.
Start with: Still Life (Book 1) · Reading order: Essential — there is significant character development throughout
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Miss Fortune Mysteries — Jana DeLeon
CIA assassin Fortune Redding goes undercover in tiny Sinful, Louisiana, where she can't reveal her real identity or skills — but somehow keeps getting dragged into murder investigations anyway. Wildly funny, fast-paced, and set in the most entertainingly chaotic small town in fiction. Once you start, you won't want to stop.
Start with: Louisiana Longshot (Book 1) · Reading order: Should be read in order
Find this series →Best British Cozy Mystery Series
Agatha Raisin Mysteries — M.C. Beaton
Abrasive London PR executive Agatha Raisin takes early retirement to a picture-perfect Cotswolds village — and promptly lands in the middle of a murder after entering a store-bought quiche in the local baking competition. Sharp, funny, and full of village intrigue, Agatha is one of the genre's most enduringly popular (and gloriously prickly) heroines, now also a hit TV series.
Start with: The Quiche of Death (Book 1) · Reading order: Can be read in any order, but order adds depth
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The Veronica Speedwell Mysteries — Deanna Raybourn
Victorian adventuress and butterfly hunter Veronica Speedwell investigates murders with the infuriating and brilliant natural historian Stoker. Set in 1880s London, these books crackle with wit, chemistry, and beautifully rendered historical detail. Think Indiana Jones meets Miss Marple, with magnificent banter throughout.
Start with: A Curious Beginning (Book 1) · Reading order: Strongly recommended in order
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DCI Ryan Mysteries — L.J. Ross
DCI Ryan investigates murders across the stunning landscapes of Northumberland, England. L.J. Ross is one of the most successful independently published authors in the UK, and her series shows why — atmospheric settings, satisfying mysteries, and a detective whose personal life is just as compelling as the cases he solves.
Start with: Holy Island (Book 1) · Reading order: Can be read standalone, but order adds depth
Find this series →Best Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series
Witch P.I. Mysteries — Adele Abbott
Jill Gooder discovers she's a witch and sets up as a private investigator in the magical city of Washbridge — where witches, vampires, and werewolves live alongside ordinary humans. Adele Abbott has built one of the most beloved paranormal cozy series in the genre, with a recurring cast of hilariously eccentric characters and a cat companion (called Winky) who steals every scene.
Start with: Witch Is When It All Began (Book 1) · Reading order: Essential — 50+ books with ongoing arcs
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Magical Bakery Mysteries — Bailey Cates
Katie Lightfoot moves to Savannah to help her aunt and uncle open the Honeybee Bakery — and discovers that her family's "secret ingredient" is real magic, and that she's a witch herself. When a customer turns up murdered and her uncle is the prime suspect, Katie's spellwork gets a workout. A warm, witchy series that doubles as a culinary cozy, complete with recipes.
Start with: Brownies and Broomsticks (Book 1) · Reading order: Best read in order
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Pampered Pets Mysteries — Sparkle Abbey
Twin cousins Caro and Mel live in the dog-obsessed community of Laguna Beach, California, where pet accessories are a serious business and murder follows them everywhere. These warm, funny mysteries have a unique dual-protagonist structure and the best pet-focused humour in the genre.
Start with: Desperate Housedogs (Book 1) · Reading order: Can be read in any order
Find this series →Best Culinary Cozy Mystery Series
Cheese Shop Mysteries — Avery Aames
Charlotte Bessette runs a charming fromagerie in the picture-perfect Ohio town of Providence, where the cheese is excellent and the murders are surprisingly frequent. Each book features cheese-themed recipes and the kind of warm, food-focused cozy atmosphere that makes you want to immediately start a shop of your own. Avery Aames is the pen name of Agatha Award winner Daryl Wood Gerber.
Start with: The Long Quiche Goodbye (Book 1) · Reading order: Standalone-friendly
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Hannah Swensen Mysteries — Joanne Fluke
Hannah Swensen runs The Cookie Jar bakery in Lake Eden, Minnesota, where she bakes irresistible treats, fends off her mother's matchmaking, and keeps stumbling onto murders. Each book is named after a dessert and comes packed with real recipes. One of the longest-running and best-loved culinary cozy series — and the basis for the Hallmark "Murder, She Baked" films.
Start with: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Book 1) · Reading order: Standalone-friendly, but order adds depth
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Coffeehouse Mysteries — Cleo Coyle
Clare Cosi manages the Village Blend, a historic coffeehouse in New York's Greenwich Village that attracts a surprising amount of murder. Rich in coffee lore, NYC atmosphere, and recipes, the series pairs a sharp, no-nonsense heroine with a cast of characters — including her exasperating ex-husband — that readers return to book after book.
Start with: On What Grounds (Book 1) · Reading order: Standalone-friendly, but order adds depth
Find this series →Find all these series and hundreds more in our searchable database
Browse All Cozy Mysteries →How to Choose the Right Series for You
The best cozy mystery series is the one that matches your interests. Here's a quick guide:
- You love British settings → Agatha Raisin, Veronica Speedwell, or the DCI Ryan Mysteries — and Thursday Murder Club for a contemporary English village
- You want something funny → Agatha Raisin, Miss Fortune Mysteries, or Witch P.I. Mysteries
- You love food → Any culinary cozy — Cheese Shop Mysteries, Hannah Swensen, or the Coffeehouse Mysteries
- You want magic and supernatural elements → Paranormal cozies like Witch P.I. or the Magical Bakery Mysteries
- You prefer literary, atmospheric fiction → Chief Inspector Gamache is unmatched
- You want something quick and fun → Miss Fortune or any standalone-friendly series