The best cosy crime books and mysteries to read in 2026
We love a heart-pounding thriller, but sometimes we’re in the mood for something gentler. And that’s when we turn to cosy crime.
What makes a cosy mystery? These are intricate crime novels, featuring an amateur sleuth, a close-knit community, and an eclectic cast of characters – think Agatha Christie or, more recently, the TV show Only Murders in the Building. There’s something oddly comforting about these whodunnits – even if they do contain murder.
We’ve rounded up the best cosy crime books, both old and new. So, whether you want a Golden Age crime caper or a a new murder mystery, there’s something for everyone on our list below…
Top cosy mystery novels
A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie (1950)
Best for: an intricate mystery you won’t be able to solve on your own.
Agatha Christie has had the biggest influence on the cosy crime subgenre – and, some would say, on crime fiction as a whole. Her novels feature intricate plot twists, scenic settings, and an unassuming amateur detective – Miss Marple being our favourite. A Murder is Announced is one of the most complex and unguessable Miss Marple mysteries. An announcement in a village newspaper claims that a murder will take place at 6.30pm at the local pub – and then it does. Miss Marple untangles the complex crime.
Cosy setting: the quiet, fictional village of Chipping Cleghorn.
Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M. C. Beaton (1992)
Best for: an uncharacteristically brash but hilarious main character who gives Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher a run for their money.
If you have a dry sense of humour, you’ll enjoy M. C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin series. The Quiche of Death introduces Agatha, who leaves her high-flying career in advertising to take an early retirement in the Cotswolds. But village life isn’t quite what she expected and she’s finding it hard to fit in. Then, to make matters worse, the quiche she enters into a local baking competition (which she secretly bought from a shop) poisons one of the locals. Agatha Raisin has her first mystery to solve…
Cosy setting: a small village in the Cotswolds.
New cosy crime books this year
Frequently asked questions
What makes a mystery ‘cosy’?
A cosy mystery has a light-hearted tone, often with a witty narrator. Its common tropes include: an amateur sleuth, often retired or working in an unrelated profession; a small-town setting where everyone knows everyone; a lack of violence or graphic content (the murder is usually committed ‘off-stage’); a quirky set of side characters that the sleuth meets during their investigation; and a satisfying resolution, where the culprit is caught in the end.
Are cosy mysteries violent?
No, cosy mysteries are not violent. Unlike psychological thrillers or suspense novels, cosy crime books focus on the act of solving the crime, as opposed to graphic descriptions of violence or murder. They’re like the literary equivalent of a crossword puzzle – the focus is on solving the riddle, not on the violence of the crime itself.
Which cosy crime books are like Agatha Christie?
If you enjoy Agatha Christie’s books, you’ll love the riddle-like premise of Anthony Horowitz’s The Word is Murder (and the rest of the Hawthorne and Horowitz series) and the cosy Cotswolds setting of M. C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin series.
What are the funniest cosy mysteries?
If you’re looking for a cosy crime book that will make you laugh, we recommend The Pie & Mash Detective Agency by J. D. Brinkworth, which is unsurprisingly hilarious given it was written by a pair of comedic writers. We also suggest Shrink Solves Murder by Philippa Perry for its funny protagonist, and Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson for its witty and light-hearted tone.