The weather is finally cooler and we’re spending more time at home with our heaters. Grab a blanket, a nice cup of tea or hot chocolate, and curl up with a good book. Jessica Fletcher may have coined the term, but TikTok made them 21st century famous. Here are our five top cosy murder mystery novel recommendations.
1. Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien
When a local food critic is found dead in her family’s Chinese restaurant, Lana Lee takes it on herself to solve the mystery. She uncovers culinary secrets, hidden rivalries, and the realisation that solving a murder isn’t as easy as it looks.
2. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
It’s England in the 19050s and Flavia de Luce is an 11-year-old aspiring chemist who has a passion for solving mysteries. When a stranger is found dead in her family’s cucumber patch, Flavia uses her intelligence and scientific curiosity to solve the mystery. Little does she know that she is about to face hidden family secrets and larger mysteries.
3. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Hercule Poirot, a famous Belgian detective, finds himself on the Orient Express. A wealthy American named Ratchett is murdered during the journey and Poirot is asked to solve the case. The detective interviews passengers and unravels tangled webs of motives and suspects. Is it possible that all the passengers are related to the crime?
4. Aunt Dimity’s Death by Nancy Atherton
Lori Sheperd’s Aunt Dimity passes away, leaving a journal behind for Lori to communicate with. As Lori begins to read, Aunt Dimity helps her solve a mystery involving family secrets and hidden treasures. Lori embarks on a journey that doesn’t only give her answers to clues, but valuable lessons and a newfound connection to her late aunt.
5. The Cat Who Could Read Backwards by Lilian Jackson Braun
Journalist Jim Qwilleran and his siamese cat Koko are recovering from a rough patch and move to the small town of Pickax to start over. He discovers a talent for solving crimes when he is assigned to cover the art scene. When a local artist is found dead, the pair take it upon themselves to embark on an charming investigation that involves small-town dynamics and feline intuition.
