This post was updated in June 2026.
I’ve shared cozy mystery series in the past that have stood the test of time—and today, I’m back with more delightful reads for fellow cozy mystery lovers. These six series combine suspense, charm, and amateur sleuthing to create stories perfect for seasoned mystery readers and newcomers to the genre. With intriguing plots, quirky characters, and a touch of nostalgia, these cozies are sure to keep you hooked.
Historical Mysteries
Many readers enjoy historical settings, such as the World Wars or Victorian England. My favorite historical mysteries are set in the 1920s and 1930s.
Ashley Weaver – Amory Ames Mysteries
Set in the 1930s in England, Amory is a wealthy young woman wed to Milo, a handsome and charming man struggling to abandon his playboy ways. In Murder at Brightwell (2014), the inaugural book, they travel to the Brightwell Hotel to assist an old friend of Amory’s. Despite her faltering marriage and Milo’s questionable past, Amory is determined to help her friend—until the investigation casts doubt on everyone, including Milo.
There are seven books in this mystery series, and all are intriguing and well-written. Both narrators for the audiobooks make these titles a delightful listen.
Anne Perry – Elena Standish series
Death in Focus (2019) unfolds in pre-World War II Europe, following Elena, a young photographer, who delivers her deceased lover’s final, earth-shaking message to the core of Berlin during Hitler’s rise to power. The story moves at a brisk pace and culminates in a well-executed twist—an essential ingredient in a good mystery. The various characters and their roles intertwine seamlessly throughout the story, apart from Elena’s sister, who is introduced early on but then vanishes without explanation.
The protagonist’s character isn’t as developed as I hoped in the first book, but with four more books to go, there is time for growth.
Modern Day Mysteries
Joanne Fluke – Hannah Swenson Series
You may know Hannah Swenson from the TV series, but the character was originally from the Joanne Fluke books.
Hannah is the owner of The Cookie Jar bakery in Lake Eden, Minnesota. In the opening book, Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery (2011), Hannah’s sleuthing days begin when her beloved delivery man from the local dairy is found murdered behind her bakery, with some of her famous Chocolate Chip Crunchies around him. She is determined to track down the killer to prevent her store’s reputation from being ruined.
From the start, Hannah’s mother is determined to set her up with the town’s new dentist, Norman. Thinking that Norman may be the one for her, she meets the town’s new detective, Mike Kingston. However, as a friendship develops, she has to decide whether she can trust him to help her solve the mystery.
This series gets off to a strong start, with the first 15 titles being the best. However, by the 19th title, the quality declines and doesn’t seem to improve. Despite this, I would still recommend it because the beginning of the series is good.
Kate Carlisle – Fixer Upper Mysteries
Shannon Hammer is a skilled contractor who leads a team dedicated to restoring Victorian homes in the charming seaside town of Lighthouse Cove, located in Northern California. In the first book titled A High-End Finish (2014), Shannon’s life takes an unexpected turn when her rejected blind date is found dead inside one of the houses she was renovating. With a new police chief in town, Shannon struggles to clear her name and prove her innocence.
The Fixer Upper Hallmark Mystery movies were inspired by the series, with the first movie based on the second book in the series, This Old Homicide (2015).
Kate Carlisle is best known for her Bibliophile series, which comprises 17 titles (2009-2023). Her Fixer Upper series had 11 books, the latest released October 2024.
Maggie Blackburn – Beach Reads Mysteries
In Little Bookshop of Murder (2020), Shakespearean scholar Summer Merriweather returns to her hometown on Bridgid’s Island, North Carolina, for the funeral of her mother, Hildy, who suffered a fatal heart attack. Hildy’s many friends circle around Summer and help her continue running her mother’s successful bookstore, Beach Reads. As Summer struggles with the decision to return from her sabbatical to her teaching position at a popular university, she begins to see holes in the story of her mother’s death. In the series’ first two books, Summer is pulled into solving the murder of two family members.
Christa Lewis is the narrator of the audiobook, and she is quite good at varying the voices of the different women characters.
Misha Popp – Pies Before Guys Mysteries
Magic Lies and Deadly Pies (2022), the first book in the series, will keep you absorbed until the end. Daisy and her special pies have become her special calling – one that helps other women in bad relationships. Little did she realize that one woman she wanted to help led her to part of her past she knew nothing about!
This title is considered a “magic realism” cozy mystery. Although I’m not into fantasy books, her wizardry is woven into the story to make it true to life. Tanya Eby is the narrator of the audiobook and the perfect voice for Daisy.
The second book in the series is A Good Day to Pie, and the third installment, The Last to Pie, was released May 2024—so this magical pie series is just getting warmed up.
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