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I talk about this all the time on the blog, but I am literally one heartbeat away from being spooked out of my entire lifespan.
I get scared so easily, which is why I stayed away from thriller books for a very long time.
It all started because the first full-length novel I ever read was Tell Me Your Dreams by Sidney Sheldon—and to this day, I still have nightmares about it.
So, I avoided the genre for years.
It wasn’t until adulthood that I slowly started reading mystery and thriller books again.
Even then, they were still a bit hard to get through—until I discovered cozy mystery books.
Cozy mysteries walk the line between a full-blown mystery and a lighthearted, feel-good story.
Think chick lit meets murder mystery—something fun, charming, and not too intense.
These books are usually set in small towns, and the investigator is often an amateur sleuth who, more often than not, has no idea what they’re doing.
In this post, I’ve compiled the best cozy mysteries that are perfect for summer!
Many of these books take place during the season, and beyond that, they have all the feel-good, happy, and beautiful vibes that make summer so special.
So, if you’ve been wondering what cozy mystery books to read this season, these are the ones you absolutely need to check out!
Booked for Death by Victoria Gilbert
A cozy bookish retreat turns deadly when a rare book dealer is found murdered at Chapters Bed-and-Breakfast.
Charlotte Reed, the B&B owner, is stunned when the victim’s daughter accuses her great-aunt of building the inn on stolen books.
Determined to clear both her name and her aunt’s legacy, Charlotte teams up with her lively neighbor and a local book club to solve the mystery.
But the killer is still lurking, and Charlotte will have to stay sharp—or she might just end up as the next tragic chapter.
A B&B for book lovers? Sounds like a dream—well, minus the murder part.
I love that Charlotte is determined to protect her aunt’s name. And a book club helping solve the mystery? Even better!
Open for Murder by Mary Angela
Zo Jones is excited to welcome summer shoppers and reunite with her childhood friend, Beth, who’s reopening her family’s hotel.
But the grand opening turns into a nightmare when a rival hotel owner is found dead on the property—and Beth is the prime suspect.
With the help of a grumpy (but possibly charming?) forest ranger, Zo jumps into action to clear her friend’s name.
The more she digs, the more suspects she finds and if she’s not careful, she might be the next guest to check out—permanently.
A gift shop, a small-town hotel, and a best-friend-in-trouble plot? I’m already hooked!
And I love that Zo is a former journalist—she’s got the perfect skills for some small-town sleuthing!
Lemon Meringue Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
Hannah Swensen is happy baking cookies and dreaming of the perfect life—until her maybe-boyfriend, Norman, announces he’s bought a house to tear down for their future dream home.
But when they find a dead body inside, everything changes. The victim’s last meal? One of Hannah’s famous lemon meringue pies.
Now, Hannah has to figure out who wanted the victim gone before she ends up baking behind bars.
Okay, Norman, maybe talk to Hannah before making life-altering decisions? That aside, I love that this mystery ties into Hannah’s bakery.
And a lemon meringue pie at the crime scene? Sounds deliciously suspicious!
A Catered Fourth of July by Isis Crawford
Sisters Bernie and Libby are catering a Fourth of July event when a historical reenactment turns deadly—literally.
A local playboy is shot for real during the fake battle, and Bernie’s boyfriend is accused of pulling the trigger.
With a town full of people who had reasons to dislike the victim, Bernie and Libby have their work cut out for them.
Can they serve up justice before the killer strikes again?
Catering mysteries always make me hungry, and this one sounds like the perfect mix of food, fireworks, and fun—except for the murder part.
But at least we get recipes at the end!
Tea & Treachery by Vicki Delany
Lily Roberts runs a charming tearoom on Cape Cod, while her feisty grandmother, Rose, owns the neighboring Victorian B&B.
But when a pushy real estate developer is found dead on their property, Rose becomes suspect number one.
Lily knows her grandmother might be stubborn, but she’s not a killer.
As she follows the trail of clues, she discovers that plenty of people had a reason to want the victim gone.
Now, she just has to find the real culprit before the family business crumbles.
A cozy tearoom, a seaside B&B, and a feisty grandma? This sounds like the coziest mystery ever!
I can already picture sipping tea while flipping through the pages.
A Deadly Bone to Pick by Peggy Rothschild
Molly Madison is trying to start fresh in a beachside town with her loyal golden retriever, Harlow.
But her peaceful new life takes a dark turn when another dog digs up a severed hand on the beach.
Suddenly, Molly finds herself a suspect, and her detective instincts kick in.
With a town full of secrets, a slobbery Saint Berdoodle sidekick, and her own past haunting her, Molly must sniff out the truth—before the killer comes for her next.
A mystery-solving ex-cop and adorable dogs? This sounds like the perfect mix of cozy and thrilling!
I just know Harlow and Noodle are going to steal the show.
A Fatal Finale by Kathleen Marple Kalb
It’s 1899 in New York City, and opera singer Ella Shane is used to drama but not the deadly kind.
When a co-star drinks real poison instead of stage prop poison, Ella is shaken.
The police rule it an accident, but a mysterious English duke insists it was murder.
Drawn into a web of secrets, Ella must uncover the truth before the killer takes another bow.
I love the idea of a historical mystery with an opera star as the detective!
And a dashing duke getting involved? This sounds like it has all the flair of a great performance!
Under the Cover of Murder by Lauren Elliott
Bookshop owner Addie Greyborne is supposed to be celebrating her best friend’s wedding on a luxury yacht.
But when a body washes up on shore with a book page in his pocket, Addie is pulled into a chilling mystery.
The next morning, another body appears and it’s clear the two deaths are connected.
With all the wedding guests trapped on the yacht and a murderer among them, Addie must uncover the truth before she becomes the next victim.
A wedding, a yacht, and a book-related mystery? This one is so up my alley!
And the Agatha Christie reference? I love when mysteries pay homage to the classics!
Sour Cherry Turnover by P.D. Workman
Erin thought her biggest problem was a rival bakery opening in town.
But when a brutal murder puts her in the spotlight—as the prime suspect—she realizes she’s got much bigger issues.
With a murder weapon in her hand (oops) and a list of suspects that keeps growing, Erin must solve the mystery before her bakery’s reputation crumbles.
I love that this has a bakery rivalry mixed with a murder mystery! And with secret tunnels and treasure seekers thrown in?
This sounds like such a fun twist on a classic cozy mystery!
Bikinis in Paradise by Kathi Daley
Tj Jensen is juggling a bikini contest, a BBQ cook-off, and a missing model at her family’s lakeside resort.
But when a chaperone is found dead, things go from chaotic to downright dangerous.
With the local deputy on vacation, Tj steps up to uncover what’s really going on before another contestant ends up missing or worse.
A summer resort mystery with a BBQ cook-off and a missing model? This sounds like peak summer cozy fun!
Plus, I love when the amateur sleuth has to take matters into their own hands!
Murder Mystery Book Club by Danielle Collins
Eva Stewart loves nothing more than running her cozy bed and breakfast in the Florida Keys, chatting with her parrot, and diving into a good murder mystery book.
But when a real dead body turns up near her B&B, suddenly, she’s living one of those stories instead of just reading them!
With the police suspicious of one of her guests, Eva puts her book smarts to the test to find the real culprit before her little sleuthing hobby gets her into big trouble.
A murder mystery book club and a real murder? That’s the kind of twisty fun I love!
Eva sounds like a character I’d adore—clever, determined, and probably just a little too nosy for her own good.
Cherry Cake and a Cadaver by Susan Boles
Lily Gayle is all set to enjoy the grand opening of a charming new bed and breakfast in town.
But when the beloved local baker is found dead, everything crumbles.
As Lily digs into the case, she stumbles upon a tangled web of secrets that stretch all the way back to a World War II refugee camp.
And the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she gets to being the killer’s next victim.
A small-town mystery with history woven in? Yes, please!
I love when cozy mysteries have deep roots, and this one sounds like it’s packed with secrets just waiting to be uncovered.
Bed and Breakfast and Murder by Patti Larsen
Fiona Fleming’s life has been a mess—no job, no boyfriend, and no idea what to do next.
But inheriting her grandmother’s bed and breakfast seems like the perfect fresh start until she finds herself the main suspect in a murder investigation.
The property she thought was hers might not be, and now, she’s stuck solving a mystery in the middle of the cutest town in America.
Fiona’s humor and bad luck make her instantly lovable!
A murder mystery with small-town charm and B&B drama? I can already tell this will be an entertaining ride.
Oh Say Can You Fudge by Nancy Coco
Allie McMurphy is gearing up for the Fourth of July celebrations at her family’s hotel and fudge shop.
But things take a dark turn when she finds the fireworks expert dead—covered in fireworks, no less!
With a warehouse of pyrotechnics going up in flames and a long list of suspects, Allie and her fluffy bichonpoo sidekick, Mal, have to piece together the clues before the killer strikes again.
Fudge, fireworks, and murder? That’s a mix I didn’t know I needed!
Plus, I love a cozy mystery with a cute pet helping out.
Live and Let Chai by Bree Baker
Everly Swan is excited to start fresh in her seaside hometown, running a charming iced tea café on the beach.
But her dream quickly sours when a difficult customer is found dead, and all the evidence points to her tea shop.
As the town turns against her and mysterious threats pile up, Everly has to solve the mystery before her café—and her future—are ruined for good.
A beachside tea shop and a murder mystery? This sounds like the ultimate cozy summer read!
I’m already rooting for Everly to clear her name and save her business.
How the Murder Crumbles by Debra Sennefelder
Mallory Monroe’s life is already a mess—her employees are disasters in the kitchen, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now she’s being accused of murder.
A food blogger who accused her of stealing a cookie recipe is found dead in her bakery, and all eyes are on Mallory.
With sales plummeting and a killer on the loose, she has no choice but to start investigating before she’s next on the menu.
A cookie shop, small-town drama, and a murder to solve?
I love cozy mysteries with food, and the idea of a crime scene dusted in flour is oddly fitting.
Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack
Eleanor Dash just wanted to finish her book tour in Italy and kill off her fictional con man character—simple, right?
But when someone actually tries to kill the real-life version of her character (yes, he exists, and yes, he’s very annoying), Eleanor is pulled into a mystery straight out of her own books.
With rivals, exes, and fans all tangled up in the case, Eleanor has to figure out whodunit before she becomes the next plot twist.
A murder mystery wrapped in a book tour? This sounds like an absolute blast!
Eleanor’s sarcastic charm and the Italian setting make it even better.
To Brew or Not to Brew by Joyce Tremel
Maxine “Max” O’Hara is about to open her dream craft brew pub when disaster strikes—her assistant brewmaster is found murdered inside one of the vats.
As Max tries to salvage her business and find a new chef (who just so happens to be a charming ex-hockey player), she realizes someone is determined to sabotage her new pub.
With a detective dad and a nosy streak of her own, Max takes matters into her own hands before her dreams—and her life—are ruined.
A brewery mystery with a stray cat named Hops? I love the setting!
Plus, a touch of romance and sabotage makes this even more fun.
Read to Death at the Lakeside Library by Holly Danvers
Rain Wilmot is thrilled to restart her mother’s summer book club at the Lakeside Library, but things take a deadly turn when one of the members is found murdered and the crime seems eerily inspired by the book they just read.
With old secrets, priceless manuscripts, and hidden motives swirling around, Rain and her friends decide to take a page from Agatha Christie and host a reenactment to catch the killer.
A lakeside library and a book-themed murder mystery? It’s like this book was made for readers who love mysteries (me included)!
A Dish Best Served Cold by Rosie Genova
Victoria’s family restaurant is celebrating its 75th anniversary, but the party takes a dark turn when a family friend is found dead in the middle of a storm.
Everyone assumes it was an accident—except Victoria, who remembers that Pete knew something important before he died.
As she investigates, she uncovers hidden family secrets, a missing relative, and connections to old crimes that someone clearly does not want revealed.
A family-run restaurant, a mysterious death, and old secrets bubbling up?
This has all the ingredients for a deliciously twisty mystery!
If you want to read even more cozy mystery books, here are some posts you’ll love:
And if you’re looking for more summer reading recommendations, check out these posts:
