Cozy Mysteries Are Really Taking Off!

More and more authors are jumping into the Cozy Mystery arena today. It seems like readership is up for this subgenre of the mystery genre. Why is that?Cozy Mystery ReadersIt is my opinion that the Cozy Mystery reader is someone who is fed up with all of the graphic sex, violence, and language that has become common place in today's society. Enough already!Do we need the owner of a cafe swearing profusely when she stubs her toe? Do we need the "play-by-play" descriptions of a one-night stand? Do we need the forensic pathologist's detailed description of her findings, including the size of the pot she needed to use to boil down (or off?) certain... well, I won't get that graphic!The Cozy Mystery reader wants the facts of the crime, just not the gruesome details. The Cozy Mystery reader is able to imagine the pain the cafe owner experienced upon stubbing her toe without the expletives. The Cozy Mystery reader can figure out the "in between time" of a couple who has a wonderful
time until 12:00 am and then is next seen sharing the first cups of coffee before heading out to work. We get it! No need for titillating details! Just the facts, ma'am!Cozy Mystery SleuthThe Cozy Mystery genre has, as its crime solver, an amateur sleuth. She is someone who has a profession outside of law enforcement. Someone who spends her day performing another job. Perhaps she is a: veterinarian, home-maker, shop owner, caterer, bed and breakfast owner, gardener, or even a nun! She has innate skills which enable her to piece together crimes so that she can solve them. She blends in and is able to talk freely to other people in her small setting. (Many times the amateur sleuth has a friend in the law enforcement field... maybe a boyfriend in the police force, or a best friend who is a lawyer, etc. Of course, this helps her immensely!)Why am I saying "she" in the above paragraph rather than "he?" Because, in the majority of cases, the amateur sleuth is a woman. Of course, t
here are exceptions to every rule: enter Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot! Hercule is a man, and a private detective at that!Setting of a Cozy MysteryMost Cozy Mysteries take place in "confined areas." Years ago, they almost always took place in a small town or village. The settings in today's Cozy Mysteries have expanded to businesses and social organizations.The Cozy Mystery settings have to be small enough to provide a place where everyone knows each other. And, since everyone knows each other, they are able to mingle and talk freely amongst themselves. This way, they are able to observe each other and comment on the things that they observed.Likeable CharactersSince the Cozy Mystery takes place in a small setting, it is important that the cast of characters is a likeable cast. If the reader doesn't enjoy the characters, why would he/she choose to go back to that particular location?Twist, Turns, and Red HerringsThe Cozy Mystery author knows that his/her audience expects
twist and turns, as well as red herrings. The amateur sleuth AND the reader should be able to maneuver their ways through the twists and turns, and they should be able to decide which of the tidbits of information are real clues and which of them are red herrings to discard.Cozy Mysteries: Brains over BrawnTraditional Cozy Mysteries are not full of action sequences with violence and gore. They also don't contain superfluous sex and language. The really good Cozy Mysteries rely on character development as well as smart story lines.

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