Best Cozy Mysteries with Male Protagonists

Chief Inspector Gamache by Louise Penny — Perhaps the finest mystery series being written today. Armand Gamache leads the Sûreté du Québec's homicide division, but the stories are set in the tiny, enchanting village of Three Pines, where every resident has secrets. Gamache is wise, kind, and deeply moral — a detective you'd want as a friend. Start with "Still Life."

Hercule Poirot by Agatha Christie — The fastidious Belgian detective with the magnificent moustaches and the "little grey cells." Poirot is the gold standard for gentleman detectives: brilliant, eccentric, and endlessly entertaining. Start with "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" or dive into "Murder on the Orient Express."

The Cat Who... by Lilian Jackson Braun — Journalist Jim Qwilleran and his two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, solve mysteries in the fictional Moose County. The cats are as much the detectives as Jim is, and the cozy small-town setting is pure comfort reading. 29 books in the series.

Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman — While it's an ensemble cast, the men bring wonderful energy to this beloved series about retirees who investigate cold cases at their village. Ron Ritchie is a headstrong former trade union firebrand who distrusts everyone, while Ibrahim Arif is the thoughtful, soft-spoken psychiatrist — and the ex-spy Elizabeth keeps them all on their toes.

Hamish Macbeth by M.C. Beaton — Constable Hamish Macbeth polices the fictional Scottish Highland village of Lochdubh, where he's happier fishing than filing paperwork. He's a reluctant detective who keeps turning down promotions because he loves his village too much. Charming, funny, and quintessentially cozy.

Inspector Barnaby by Caroline Graham — Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby investigates murders in idyllic English villages where the murder rate rivals a small war. Graham's novels are the basis for the long-running TV series "Midsomer Murders" — the books are darker than the show but still firmly cozy territory. Start with "The Killings at Badger's Drift."

Grantchester by James Runcie — Clergyman Sidney Chambers solves crimes in 1950s Cambridgeshire, navigating murder, morality, and matters of the heart. Atmospheric, thoughtful, and gently paced.

Bibliophile Mysteries by Kate Carlisle — Bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright restores rare books in San Francisco, and her love interest Derek Stone — a wry British security expert — is a male lead worth mentioning. The world of rare books and bookbinding provides a fascinating backdrop.

Nero Wolfe by Rex Stout — The brilliant, orchid-growing, beer-drinking armchair detective who never leaves his brownstone, sending his assistant Archie Goodwin to do the legwork. These classic whodunits are witty, clever, and deeply satisfying.

Flavia de Luce by Alan Bradley — While Flavia herself is female, her world is populated by wonderful male characters, and the series' appeal crosses all gender lines. If you love clever British mysteries with eccentric characters, don't miss this series.