What Are the Best Cozy Mystery Books to Read Right Now?

The best cozy mystery books to read right now include the Bob and Shirley series, M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin books, Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club, and Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. If you want funny, feel-good murder mystery books that won't keep you up in a cold sweat, you are in very, very good company.

My Top Cozy Mystery Books Right Now

I am SO delighted you asked this, lovely readers, because cozy mystery books are basically my entire personality.

I write them. I read them. I think about them while eating biscuits and pretending to listen to conversations about insurance.

The good news? There are SO many brilliant cozy mystery books available on Kindle Unlimited right now, so you can basically read forever without spending a fortune. And if you're looking for book club books that everyone will actually enjoy, cozy mysteries are perfect. Nobody falls asleep and nobody argues (much).

Bob and Shirley: My Own Cozy Mystery Series

Let's start with the obvious recommendation, which is my own series, and I won't even apologise for the shamelessness.

Bob and Shirley are pub landlords in the fictional English village of Great Oakley, and they solve murders. The books are written in dual first-person - so you get Bob's voice and Shirley's voice alternating, which is a very, very fun way to read.

All the Bob and Shirley cozy mystery books are free on Kindle Unlimited, so you can binge the whole lot without spending a penny.

Bob is well-meaning but spectacularly tactless. Shirley is organised and sharp and regularly horrified by Bob. Together they are absolute chaos, and the village of Great Oakley has a frankly unreasonable murder rate for a small English community.

If you love book club books with lots to talk about, the relationship between Bob and Shirley gives you SO much material.

[ADD BOOK COVER HERE - alt text: Bob and Shirley cozy mystery series by Suzy K Quinn]

M.C. Beaton - Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin

M.C. Beaton is the queen of British cozy mystery books, full stop.

Hamish Macbeth is a gentle, clever Scottish police constable who solves murders in the Highlands while trying very hard not to get promoted. Agatha Raisin is a retired PR executive who moves to the Cotswolds and immediately starts finding bodies.

Both series are brilliant murder mystery books for Kindle Unlimited readers, and both are perfect book club books because there is SO much to discuss about the characters.

[ADD BOOK COVER HERE - alt text: Agatha Raisin cozy mystery series by M.C. Beaton]

Richard Osman - The Thursday Murder Club

If you haven't read The Thursday Murder Club yet, I am very, very envious that you get to experience it for the first time.

Four retirees in a posh care home solve cold cases and then - inevitably - some rather warm ones. Richard Osman's writing is funny, clever, and completely warm-hearted. These are perfect cozy mystery books for book clubs, and the series has got even better with each instalment.

[ADD BOOK COVER HERE - alt text: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman]

Janet Evanovich - The Stephanie Plum Series

For something a bit more chaotic and American, Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books are SO good.

Stephanie is a New Jersey bounty hunter who has absolutely no idea what she's doing. The books are hilarious, fast-paced, and completely addictive. Great Kindle Unlimited books and brilliant murder mystery books if you want something lighter and funnier.

[ADD BOOK COVER HERE - alt text: Stephanie Plum cozy mystery series by Janet Evanovich]

Where to Find Cozy Mystery Books on Kindle Unlimited

Most of the cozy mystery books I've mentioned are available free on Kindle Unlimited - including all my Bob and Shirley books. If you're looking for Kindle Unlimited books to keep you going for weeks, the cozy mystery genre is a very, very good place to start.

FAQ: Cozy Mystery Books

What makes a book a cozy mystery?

A cozy mystery is a murder mystery book where the crime is solved by an amateur detective, usually in a small community. The tone is warm and funny rather than dark or violent. There's usually no graphic gore, and the focus is on characters, community, and clever plotting. Cozy mystery books are perfect for readers who love a good puzzle without the nightmares.

Are cozy mystery books good for book clubs?

They are SO good for book clubs. Cozy mystery books are full of strong characters, funny situations, and plenty to discuss. The Bob and Shirley series is especially popular for book clubs because readers love debating which one of them is actually right about things (Shirley, obviously, but don't tell Bob).

Where can I find cozy mystery books free on Kindle Unlimited?

Lots of cozy mystery books are available free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription, including the whole Bob and Shirley series by me (Suzy K Quinn). M.C. Beaton's books and many Janet Evanovich titles are also available. It's a very, very good way to try a new series without committing your whole book budget.

What's the difference between cozy mysteries and crime thrillers?

Cozy mystery books are warm, funny, and community-focused. Crime thrillers tend to be darker, faster-paced, and often told from the detective's or killer's perspective. If you want murder mystery books that won't give you anxiety, cozy mysteries are your answer. Think cups of tea rather than police procedurals at 2am.

I hope this helps you find your next cozy mystery obsession, lovely readers. Whether you start with Bob and Shirley, M.C. Beaton, Richard Osman, or Janet Evanovich, you are in for a very, very good time.

Happy reading.

Suzy xx