One of my favorite ways to unwind at the end of the day is with a good cozy mystery. Whether I’m turning pages or listening to an audiobook while walking, folding laundry, or working on a craft project, I enjoy stories that combine intriguing puzzles with memorable characters.
Discovering new authors and catching up with favorite sleuths is one of the joys of being a mystery reader. Today I’m sharing a few cozy mysteries I’ve enjoyed recently—some contemporary and others set in favorite historical periods.
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4 Historical Cozy Mysteries with New Releases
Homicide in the Indian Hills
Jane Wunderly Mystery #6
by Erica Ruth Neubauer
The Jane Wunderly mysteries follow American Jane Wunderly and her English husband, Redvers, as they travel to fascinating locations around the world during the 1920s.
In Homicide in the Indian Hills, Jane and Redvers travel to Ooty, a popular hill station in British India, for one of Redvers’s assignments. When a murder occurs at the resort town, Jane once again finds herself drawn into an investigation filled with secrets, politics, and danger.
➤ Latest Release, March 2026: “Vengeance in Venice”
Like many historical cozy mysteries, this series features a heroine with a bit more freedom and determination than was common for women of her era, which I like.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ = Really enjoyed it
Murder at Cottonwood Creek
Stella and Lyndy Mystery #7
by Clara McKenna
Set during the early twentieth century, this series blend historical fiction with traditional cozy mystery elements. Stella Kendrick and Viscount “Lyndy” Lyndhurst often find themselves involved in investigations in Stella’s new home of Britain.
In this newest installment, Stella and Lyndy travel to Montana to visit Stella’s mother and continue rebuilding their relationship after years apart. While there, an archaeological dig on the property becomes the center of attention when the night watchman is found dead. What first appears to be an accident soon begins to look much more sinister.
➤Released: November 2025
Newly married by this point in the series, Stella and Lyndy have settled into a sweet partnership. Although the books are set in the early 1900s, the author gives Stella an active role in the investigations, allowing her curiosity and determination to shine.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ = Really enjoyed it
Arsenic and Old Lies
Marius Quin Mystery #5
by Benedict Brown
Fans of Golden Age mysteries may enjoy Benedict Brown’s growing collection of interconnected detective series. Marius Quin first appeared in the Lord Edgington mysteries before receiving his own series.
Set in London in 1928, Arsenic and Old Lies finds mystery writer and amateur detective Marius Quin struggling with the aftermath of a friend’s murder. Unable to participate directly in that investigation, he turns his attention to another case involving a woman convicted of poisoning her husband. The more he uncovers, the more convinced he becomes that she may have been wrongly accused. How the two crimes intersect will keep the reader guessing.
➤ Latest Release—November 2025: “The Holly Village Murders #6”
There are a couple storylines that unfold, including the return of an old nemesis who continues to trouble Marius. I enjoyed trying to figure out how all the pieces fit together, and the answer wasn’t obvious right away.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ = Really enjoyed it
Murder on Harley Street
Cleopatra Fox Mystery #11
by C.J. Archer
These mysteries are set in London at the turn of the twentieth century and feature an enjoyable amateur sleuth in historical cozy fiction. Cleopatra Fox often finds herself assisting private investigator Harry Armitage while navigating high society, family obligations, and the changing world around her.
In Murder on Harley Street, a patient dies during an experimental medical treatment, casting suspicion on a respected physician. When Harry is hired to investigate, Cleopatra becomes personally invested because her aunt was also treated by the same doctor. As they dig deeper, they discover that several people may have had reason to seek revenge.
➤Latest Release—June 2026: “Murder and the Missing Treasure, #12”
This is one series where I think it’s worth starting at the beginning. Part of the fun is watching the relationship between Cleopatra and Harry unfold from book to book. Cleopatra is confident, curious, and never afraid to involve herself in an investigation, which makes her a fun and memorable heroine.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ = Really enjoyed it
3 Contemporary Cozy Mystery Series
The Little Black Book Killer
Village Detectives #3
by Fiona Walker
If you enjoy contemporary village mysteries with humor and friendship, this series may be worth exploring. Set in a small English village, the books follow widow Juno and mystery author Phoebe as they become amateur detectives.
In The Little Black Book Killer, Juno decides she’s finally ready to start dating again and signs up for a local dating app. However, romance quickly takes a back seat when one of the app’s founding investors is found dead. Juno and Phoebe soon see a pattern, and they search for answers before the next murder.
➤Released October 2025
What makes this series stand out is Phoebe’s role as a mystery author. Her understanding of plot twists, motives, and criminal behavior often helps move the investigation forward, while Juno always adds humor to the story. There is a little language here and there, but it isn’t anything that I found excessive or distracting from the story.
⭐⭐⭐ = Enjoyed it
The Widows’ Guide to Skulduggery
The Widow’s Guide Mystery #3
by Amanda Ashby
This contemporary cozy mystery series centers on widow Ginny Cole, a librarian who hoped for a fresh start after moving to a new village. Unfortunately for Ginny, trouble causes her to step out of her desired, quiet life.
In this third installment, preparations are underway for a wedding between two people whose families have a long history of conflict. When a twenty-year-old skull is discovered, old secrets begin resurfacing and threaten to derail more than just the wedding plans.
➤Latest Release—April 2026: “The Widows’ Guide to Last Orders, #4”
Part of the appeal of this series is watching Ginny settle into life with a new circle of friends who are also widowed. Their relationships continue to develop from book to book, adding warmth and humor alongside the mystery.
⭐⭐⭐ = Enjoyed it
The Series I’m Reading Right Now
Seeds of Murder
The Gardener Mysteries #1
by Rosie Sandler
In Seeds of Murder, Steph lands what seems like the perfect job as a gardener in an exclusive, elite community. She’s hoping for an escape and a chance to focus on the work she loves. Instead, she becomes entangled in secrets, suspicions, and eventually a crime she didn’t commit. To clear her name and protect her future, Steph must uncover the truth herself.
➤ There are 4 books so far in this series, with the latest released November 2025
Having just finished the first book, I’m looking forward to continuing the series. The residents of the community are eccentric, secretive, and clearly hiding more than what was discovered during Stephanie’s sleuthing. With her Ex now missing and several questions still unanswered, there seems to be plenty of material for future mysteries.
⭐⭐⭐ = Enjoyed it
I'd love to hear what you think!