Best cosy crime books of 2026

Reading lists

The best cosy crime books and mysteries to read in 2026

The Murder Mystery Mystery

The brand new hilarious instalment in the Pie & Mash Detective series, perfect for fans of Richard Thorogood, Janice Hallett and Richard Osman. 
 
'Splendid, laugh-out-loud mayhem' TOM MEAD 
'Who knew that murder could be such a hoot? Hilarious and ingenious' TOM HINDLE 
'A fantastic murder mystery' JONATHAN WHITELAW 
 
A murder mystery weekend is meant to be fiction. At Spencer Hall, it’s about to become very real . . . 
 
When the actor playing the Butler disappears mid-performance - just days after his predecessor died in a freak accident - the cast start whispering about a curse on the role: The Butler’s Curse. 
 
Luckily, The Pie & Mash Detective Agency are on the scene. 
 
With suspicious actors, clues that don’t add up, and dark secrets emerging from backstage, Jane Pye and Simon Mash can’t ignore that the show is going off script. 
 
Trapped in a crumbling country house, the detectives must work together to sneak behind the curtain and untangle fact from fantasy – without unravelling their partnership along the way. 
 
Will they crack the case of the 'curse'? Finish the murder mystery they paid several hundred pounds to play? And possibly even . . . solve their first murder? 
 
------ 
 
Praise for the Pie & Mash Mysteries: 
 
‘Clever, funny, and full of surprises’ Jonathan Ross 
 
'A mischievous delight' Kelly Mullen 
 
'A brilliant murder mystery that is as funny as it is tense. Pacy, gripping and wickedly funny' Jamie West 
 
‘Twisty and hilarious, the perfect blend of mystery and mischief!’ Sue Perkins 
 
'A clever cosy crime novel with a distinctive comedic edge' Veronika Dapunt 
 
'Wonderfully eccentric, chaotic murder-mystery fun!' Lucy Andrew 
 
‘A great read. Very very clever’ J.M. HALL 
 
‘Sharp, witty and wonderfully original' L T Shearer on The Pie & Mash Detective Agency

Who knew that murder could be such a hoot? Hilarious and ingenious in equal measure, the Pie and Mash Mysteries are a real treat. You're going to love them

Treat yourself to a second slice of splendid, laugh-out-loud mayhem. Beneath the crisp, murderous crust you'll find a rich filling of character, bold comedy and warmth. It's a joy

A brilliant murder mystery that is as funny as it is tense. Pacy, gripping and wickedly funny. I was unable to stop turning the pages as much as I unable to stop laughing.

A fantastic murder mystery, all within a murder mystery. Brilliantly good fun and written with such craft and warmth, you'll be hooked from the very start

Not your average cosy crime novel. A mischievous delight

Absolutely delightful! Fast, funny, mysterious and genuinely intriguing

A clever cosy crime novel with a distinctive and elegant comic edge, full of wit and a lot of heart. The two main characters have both depth and charm, and I loved the development of their relationship as they solved this imaginative mystery. Really looking forward to the next in the series!

Twisty and hilarious, the perfect blend of mystery and mischief!

Wonderfully eccentric, chaotic murder-mystery fun! I have the sudden urge to book onto a murder mystery weekend! A delightful serving of Pye and Mash with a dramatic dollop of amateur theatricals - it's the perfect combination!

J. D. Brinkworth is the alias of married writing duo Jo Dinkin and Catherine Brinkworth – creators of The Pie & Mash Mysteries. 
 
Catherine writes for BBC favourites including The News Quiz and Have I Got News For You. Jo writes an upsetting number of emails every day. Their short stories have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and received recognition from the Margery Allingham Society and the Crime Writers’ Association. 
 
They live in South West London and recently qualified as private detectives from a suspiciously cheap online course.

A murder mystery weekend is meant to be fiction. At Spencer Hall, it’s about to become very real . . . 
 
When the actor playing the butler disappears mid-performance - just days after his predecessor died in a freak accident - the cast start whispering about a curse on the role: The Butler’s Curse. 
 
Luckily, The Pie & Mash Detective Agency are on the scene. 
 
With suspicious actors, clues that don’t add up, and dark secrets emerging from backstage, Jane Pye and Simon Mash can’t ignore that the show is going off script. 
 
Trapped in a crumbling country house, the detectives must work together to sneak behind the curtain and untangle fact from fantasy – without unravelling their partnership along the way. 
 
Will they crack the case of the 'curse'? Finish the murder mystery they paid several hundred pounds to play? And possibly even . . . solve their first murder? 
 
 
------ 
 
Praise for the Pie & Mash Mysteries: 
 
Fans of Richard Osman will love it!' Jonathan Ross 
 
'Compelling and intriguing' J. M. Hall 
 
'Absolutely delightful!' Janice Hallett 
 
‘Sharp, witty and wonderfully original' L T Shearer 
 
‘A really funny read, with two very endearing detectives' Faith Martin

J.D. Brinkworth

Smart, funny and assured debut. Like the dish in the title, I devoured it in one sitting.

Absolutely delightful! Fast, funny, mysterious and genuinely intriguing, this is classic cosy crime with vivid characters and a baffling conundrum. A delicious debut!

Gripping and laugh out loud funny, fans of Richard Osman will love it!

Playful, affectionate and eerie take on cosy crime

Calling all cosy crime lovers: this one is for you

A blissfully cozy mystery packed with funny moments and delightful little pleasures on each page

A charming idea, packed with relatable characters, plenty of fun and enough twists to keep me guessing

A fun romp that sets off at a cracking pace and never lets up.

A really funny read, with two very endearing detectives

A charmingly quirky cosy mystery with warm humour

In this sparkling debut, as clever as it is comic, two literally clueless detectives-in-training take on a missing-person case as a class assignment - only to find themselves unravelling a decidedly weird 40-year-old mystery. A smart, funny and fresh take on the classic private eye novel, The Pie & Mash Detective Agency is a welcome addition to any mystery-lover’s bookshelf!

This quirky and witty series starter will be perfect for fans of Janice Hallett and cozy mystery readers looking for something new

This quirky, fun mystery will keep readers guessing while bringing a smile to their faces. The main characters are a hoot

A highly amusing debut featuring millennial romance and danger for a couple less clueless than they seem.

The perfect new read for cosy crime fans. Sharp and witty

A comedic debut with dry, contemporary British wit

Who is Nellie Thorne and why does she keep disappearing? Jane Pye and Simon Mash are on the case in this cosy crime mystery novel, perfect for fans of Janice Hallett and Robert Thorogood! 
 
 
'Fans of Richard Osman will love it!' Jonathan Ross 
'Like the dish in the title, I devoured it in one sitting' Sue Perkins---- 
 
Local schoolteacher Dev Hooper arrives home from work to find his girlfriend, Nellie Thorne, has vanished. 
 
But she's not the first Nellie Thorne to disappear. In fact, she's the fifth in fifty years. 
 
Enter Jane Pye and Simon Mash: a millennial couple who signed up for a private detective night class on a whim. When they're assigned Dev's case for their coursework, they quickly realise they’ve bitten off more than they can chew. 
 
Armed with just six weeks of notes, matching trench coats, and questionable detective skills, they set out to solve a case that has baffled Kent's police for decades. 
 
What links the missing Nellies? And why does everyone keep talking about ghosts!? 
 
Is it an open and shut case? Not on your Nellie… 
 
 
---- 
 
‘A blissfully cozy mystery packed with funny moments and delightful little pleasures on each page’ Kelly Mullen, author of This is Not a Game 
 
‘A really funny read, with two very endearing detectives' Faith Martin, bestselling author of the DI Hillary Greene series and the Ryder and Loveday mystery novels

J.D. Brinkworth

Books by J.D. Brinkworth

Series by J.D. Brinkworth

The Pie & Mash Mysteries

Articles featuring J.D. Brinkworth

The best cosy crime books and mysteries to read in 2026

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