There’s nothing more comforting on a chilly evening than settling in by the fire with a cozy mystery—stories filled with quirky sleuths, close-knit communities, and charming settings where danger is mild and the tea is always hot. These five cozies deliver warmth, wit, and wonderfully twisty puzzles without ever getting too dark.

5 Cozy Mysteries To Read By The Fire

1. A Quiet Life in the Country by T E Kinsey

Follow Lady Hardcastle and her capable maid, Florence Armstrong, as they trade London bustle for countryside calm—only to stumble into murder in their very first week.

2. The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams

A small-town bookseller with a gift for bibliotherapy teams up with a group of women to uncover the truth behind a mysterious death in their quiet North Carolina village.

3. Asiago and the Accomplice by Judy Volhart

When bistro owner Amalia Kis discovers a body hanging in her new cheese-and-wine shop—and another soon after—she’s forced to juggle nosy parents, dwindling customers, and a dangerously handsome PI as she dives headfirst into a delightfully cheesy murder investigation.

4. Bookmarked for Murder by V.M. Burns

When a snowstorm strands a group of mystery lovers in a charming Michigan inn, a murder turns their cozy retreat into a clue-filled whodunit.

5. Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien

Lana Lee navigates family expectations, restaurant rivalries, and plenty of dim sum when a murder strikes her family’s noodle shop in Cleveland’s Asia Village.

Visit our Reading Essentials section to discover the best bookshelves, reading chairs, book lights for reading at night, and more!

Receive top book recommendations directly in your inbox.