Cozy mysteries, sometimes referred to as cozies, are some of my favorite fun reads. If you aren’t familiar with this type of mystery novel, let me introduce you. Cozy mysteries are more light-hearted and playful than their more serious murder mystery or hard-boiled detective cousins. They center around solving some murder or other crime. Graphic violence with its accompanying blood and gore are usually reserved for off-stage. Usually, there are no explicit sex scenes or profanity. The protagonist, normally a woman, whose quirky nature adds to the character’s likeability is an amateur sleuth. The mystery is generally set in a small community where most folks know each other.
Most readers of cozies are drawn to this sub-genre of mystery story because of the intellectual chase where clues provided throughout the work may help or hinder the solving of the case. Some cozies are more challenging than others. Some readers find satisfaction with cozies if they have correctly solved the mystery by the end of the book. Other readers like to be surprised by the ending when they failed to figure out the villain of the piece. Many cozy mysteries are part of a series which center around our sleuth and his/her circle of friends and acquaintances.
One of my earliest favorite cozy mystery series was the Death on Demand series by Carolyn G. Hart. These novels feature mystery bookstore owner Annie Laurance from Broward’s Rock Island, South Carolina. Annie, along with her wealthy and handsome fiancé, Max Darling, often find themselves in serious trouble as they try to solve the many mysterious deaths that seem to be a commonplace occurrence on their island home.
Since the origins of cozies are often attributed to Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple series of mystery novels, I thought it might be interesting to read one of the series which follow the unassuming character of Miss Jane Marple as she solves murder cases in her small English village. In the last Miss Marple novel, Sleeping Murder, Gwenda Reed, a newlywed, is looking for a house where she and her husband, Giles, may settle down. In the small seaside resort village of Dillmouth, England, Gwenda feels a sudden strange affinity toward a small white Victorian villa. She is so drawn to the house that she purchases it.
Gwenda keeps remembering details about the house that makes her think she has an intimate connection with the house but leaves her puzzled. How could she know about a house in England when she grew up in New Zealand and had never been to England before now? Gwenda begins to believe that either the house is haunted, or she is going insane. It is at this low point that Gwenda is introduced to Miss Jane Marple. Together they set out to uncover the secrets, including a potential murder, hiding in Gwenda’s house.
Sleeping Murder is an example of a model cozy mystery, giving the reader all the expected tropes: plenty of suspects, abundant motives, alibis, unexpected twists and turns, and a satisfying conclusion. The friendship that develops between the Reeds and Miss Marple draws the reader in and makes us care about these characters. The action is sometimes a bit too melodramatic for my taste, but it is a quick read. I did suspect the killer, but I was not sure of my selection until I neared the end of the book.
Although the mystery was somewhat predictable and followed a familiar plot pattern, I still enjoyed reading it. It might prove too old-fashioned for some younger readers, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t enjoy reading cozy mysteries as well. There are many variations on a theme in this genre, so there is a cozy mystery for everyone. Take note that some of today’s cozies do not follow the strict prohibition concerning graphic violence, explicit sex, and adult language. Some of today’s contemporary writers have included more scenes of murder and sex within the pages of today’s cozies. Other authors use more adult language even if they stick to traditional cozy tones regarding sex and violence.
Although I have seen many of the movie adaptions of Agatha Christie’s mysteries, I don’t recall ever reading a Jane Marple mystery before. Based on my experience with Sleeping Murder, I plan on reading more Miss Marple mysteries very soon. I hope you will join me.
Jeannie Byrd’s reviews reflect her personal opinions and not necessarily those of the library or university
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