2025 was an incredible year for cozy mysteries, and this list of the best cozy mysteries of 2025 reflects just how much joy this genre brought me. I read well over a hundred cozies this year and discovered so many wonderful small-town stories, new sleuths, charming pets, magical twists, delicious foodie mysteries, and comforting series that reminded me why cozy mysteries are truly my happy place.
This list is a curated, personal selection of the very best cozy mysteries of 2025 — the books that stayed with me, the ones I kept thinking about long after I finished them, and the ones I would gladly hand to a fellow cozy reader without hesitation.
If you’re looking for warm, heart-soothing mysteries that balance lovable characters with fun, low-stress puzzles, this year delivered some real gems. These are the cozies that defined 2025 for me.
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My Top Cozy Mystery Picks of 2025
Below are my top overall reads of the year — the ones that delivered charm, comfort, clever mystery, and memorable characters.
1.
Sprinkle with Murder by Jenn McKinlay
Cupcake Bakery Mystery Book 1
Sweet, funny, and instantly charming, this series starter was the beginning of a cozy mystery world I completely fell in love with. Between the bakery setting, warm friendships, and an engaging mystery, it struck the perfect balance of comfort and intrigue — the kind of first book that makes you excited knowing there’s so much more to come.
2.
Silent Nights Are Murder by Libby Klein
A Poppy McAllister Mystery Book 9
Festive, heartfelt, and full of familiar charm, this Christmas cozy felt like a rewarding moment in one of my favorite series. It blended holiday atmosphere with humor, warmth, and the kind of character moments that make long-running series so satisfying — plus, any book with Aunt Ginny is always a treat.
3.
For Batter or Worse by Jenn McKinlay
Cupcake Bakery Mystery Book 13
This installment felt extra special, combining cozy mystery comfort with a milestone moment for characters I’ve grown deeply attached to. It delivered the same warmth, humor, and bakery-centered charm the series does so well, while also feeling celebratory and emotionally rewarding for longtime readers.
4.
Wedding Cake Crumble by Jenn McKinlay
Cupcake Bakery Mystery Book 10
Full of energy, high stakes, and heartfelt moments, this book stood out as a pivotal point in the series. With wedding excitement, community chaos, and the familiar warmth of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes crew, it captured everything I love about returning to this cozy world again and again.
5.
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
A Hercule Poirot Mystery Book 10
Elegant, clever, and endlessly fascinating, this classic mystery remains unforgettable for a reason. The setting, the ensemble cast, and the intricate puzzle made it a standout read — proof that even decades later, a brilliantly constructed mystery can still feel fresh and deeply satisfying.
Best Cozy Mysteries of 2025 Categories
Explore the standout cozy mystery categories that defined 2025, from charming small-town sleuthing to delicious culinary capers and whimsical paranormal escapes. These categories highlight the themes, settings, and styles that made this year’s cozies unforgettable, helping you find exactly the type of mystery you’re in the mood for.
Discoveries & Standout Series
(Best Cozy Mysteries of 2025)
One of my favorite parts of reading cozy mysteries is discovering new authors, new series, and new fictional worlds that instantly feel like home. These picks celebrate the discoveries that made 2025 especially exciting — the ones that pulled me in early and kept me happily turning pages.
Best New-to-Me Authors
Jenn McKinlay — Cupcake Bakery Mysteries
K.E. O'Connor — Holly Holmes Culinary Mystery Series
Peggy Ehrhart — Knit & Nibble Mysteries
Ellie Alexander — A Secret Bookcase Mystery Series
Laura Levine — Jaine Austen Mysteries
M.C. Beaton — Agatha Raisin Mysteries
Best First-in-Series
Sprinkle with Murder — Jenn McKinlay
Cookie Crumble and Murder — K.E. O'Connor
Murder on Cape Cod — Maddie Day
Murder, She Knit — Peggy Ehrhart
Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop — Darci Hannah
This Pen For Hire — Laura Levine
A Deadly Inside Scoop — Abby Collette
A Christmas Candy Killing — Christina Romeril
The Quiche of Death — M.C. Beaton
Most Bingeable Series Discovery
Cupcake Bakery Mysteries — Jenn McKinlay
Knit & Nibble Mysteries — Peggy Ehrhart
Jaine Austen Mysteries — Laura Levine
Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries — Maddie Day
A Georgia Peach Mystery — Susan Furlong
These discoveries shaped much of my reading year and gave me several series I’m excited to continue well beyond 2025.
Seasonal & Atmospheric Cozy Favorites
(Best Cozy Mysteries of 2025)
For me, cozy mysteries are deeply tied to mood and season. These picks stood out for how perfectly they captured a specific time of year or wrapped me in comfort when I needed it most.
Fall Cozy Pick
Knit of the Living Dead — Peggy Ehrhart
Christmas Cozy Pick
Silent Nights Are Murder — Libby Klein
Winter Cozy Pick (Non-Christmas)
A Victim at Valentine's — Ellie Alexander
Spring Cozy Pick
Caramel Pecan Roll Murder — Joanne Fluke
Summer Cozy Pick
The Quiche of Death — M.C. Beaton
Best Coziest Atmosphere
Knit & Nibble Mysteries — Peggy Ehrhart
Best Comfort Reads
In Peppermint Peril - Joy Avon
Murder, She Knit - Peggy Ehrhart
Peaches and Scream - Susan Furlong
A Christmas Candy Killing - Christina Romer
These were the books that felt perfectly timed — the kind you reach for when you want the atmosphere to do just as much work as the mystery.
Setting & Subgenre Highlights
(Best Cozy Mysteries of 2025)
Setting and subgenre play a huge role in how a cozy mystery feels. Whether it’s a small Southern town, a bustling bakery, a beloved bookshop, or a touch of gentle paranormal charm, these stories delivered settings I loved spending time in.
Best Southern Cozy Mystery
Murder at Golden Cove Forest - Cathy Pickens
Best Small-Town Cozy
Mistletoe, Maine - Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries - Jacqueline Frost
Best Culinary Cozy
Hannah Swensen Mysteries - Joanne Fluke
Best Bookshop or Library Cozy
A Murder for the Books - Victoria Gilbert
Best Light Paranormal Cozy (No Witchcraft)
Peppermint Cookie Murder - Trixie Silvertale
Each of these cozies reminded me just how much the right setting can elevate a story and make a mystery feel especially immersive.
Characters, Charm & Cozy Joy
(Best Cozy Mysteries of 2025)
Some cozy mysteries stand out not just for their plots, but for the characters who bring warmth, humor, and heart to every page. These picks highlight the sleuths, side characters, romances, and animal companions that made me smile the most this year.
Best Cozy Mystery Animal Sidekick
Artikoa — Christmas Catastrophe Mysteries — Trixie Silvertale
Funniest Cozy Character
Some years, one character doesn’t just win a category — they run away with it. Aunt Ginny from The Poppy McAllister Mysteries by Libby Klein was that character for me in 2025. Scene-stealing, delightfully unpredictable, and endlessly entertaining, she brought humor and heart to every appearance, providing the kind of cozy comic relief that lingers long after the chapter ends. She was so memorable that she’s even inspiring elements of a cozy mystery series I’m currently working on — proof that the funniest characters don’t just make us laugh, they stay with us.
Coziest Romance Subplot I Read
Cupcake Bakery Mysteries — Jenn McKinlay
These characters didn’t just support the story — they were the reason I wanted to keep coming back.
Plot & Story Standouts
(Best Cozy Mysteries of 2025)
Even in a comfort-first genre, a well-crafted plot can still surprise you. These cozy mysteries stood out for their clever storytelling, memorable reveals, and moments that made me pause and rethink everything I thought I knew.
Most Surprising Plot Twists
- A Study in Scarlet — Arthur Conan Doyle - For a classic mystery, this one still packs an unexpected punch. Even knowing the legacy of Sherlock Holmes, there were elements of the story that genuinely surprised me and reminded me why these mysteries have endured for so long.
- Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop— Darci Hannah - As a cozy series starter, this book delivered more than I anticipated. Just when I thought I had a comfortable handle on the story, it took a turn that caught me off guard — in a way that felt clever, satisfying, and perfectly suited to the cozy genre.
Most Fun Festival or Event I Read
Old Town Zombie Walk - Dark Chocolate Demise - Jenn McKinlay
These stories proved that cozy mysteries can be both comforting and cleverly constructed — a combination I’ll never tire of.
Best Cozy Mystery Covers of 2025
These are some of my favorite covers from the books I read this year, in no particular order — and I have a feeling you can guess my favorite season!
O, Deadly Night - Vicki Delany
Silent Nights Are Murder - Libby Klein
Twelve Slays of Christmas - Jacqueline Frost
Christmas, Criminals, and Campers - Tonya Kappes
Sugar Plum Poisoned - Jenn McKinlay
The Coziest Reading Moments of the Year
Although I read a lot throughout the month — and often move through cozy mysteries faster than most — my coziest reading moments this year were never about finishing a book quickly. They were about how a story fit into my days and moods, and the comfort it brought along the way.
- Nighttime Kindle reading under the covers became my favorite ritual. Ending the day tucked in, quietly turning pages, made even familiar cozy tropes feel especially comforting.
- Christmas cozies were my reliable mood-lifters. Stories filled with holiday charm, childhood nostalgia, gentle humor, sweet animal companions, and warm community moments always helped me reset and enjoy reading more.
- The Poppy McAllister Mysteries by Libby Klein was the series I couldn’t stop thinking — and talking — about. Finishing the final book this year felt like saying goodbye to a cozy friend I’d grown genuinely attached to.
- A few reads even sparked my creative imagination. The Poppy McAllister Mysteries, Espresso Shots & Murder Plots by Audrey Alden, and the Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series by Tonya Kappes included moments that made me pause and think, I’d love to write a cozy like this someday — planting ideas I may return to later.
These moments are what made my reading year feel warm and memorable — not rushed, not measured by speed, but defined by comfort, atmosphere, and joy.
2025 Cozy Reading Stats
- Total cozies read: 161
- New-to-me authors: 34
- New series started: 42
- Series completed: 15
- Series binged: 12
- Most-read subgenre: Culinary / Baking / Food-themed Cozies
- Most common setting I read: Small-town communities, with a strong coastal and tourist-town influence
- Favorite seasonal reading month: December
- Most surprising genre I enjoyed: British Cozy
- Standalone vs series ratio: 0.6% vs 99.4%
- Most common sleuth profession: Bakery or food-shop owner
- Most frequent animal sidekick: Cats
- Month(s) I read the most cozies: July, September & December
- Month(s) I read the least cozies: January
- Average rating given: 4.8 stars
My Personal Cozy Favorites
(No Rankings)
(Best Cozy Mysteries of 2025)
Not every favorite can be ranked — and this year, I didn’t want to force a single “best” cozy mystery. These are the books that felt especially comforting, memorable, or perfectly timed while I was reading them. Some made me smile, some pulled me deeper into a familiar world, and others simply felt right in the moment.
This list isn’t about polish or perfection. It’s about connection. Each of these cozies left a warm impression on me in its own way, whether through atmosphere, characters, humor, or that hard-to-define cozy feeling that stays with you long after the final page.
My personal cozy favorites of 2025 include:
- Peaches and Scream - Susan Furlong
- Death and Groom's Cake - Nova Walsh
- Cookie Crumble and Murder - K.E. O'Connor
- 'Twas the Knife Before Christmas - Jacqueline Frost
- Gingerbread Cookie Murder - Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine, Leslie Meier
- Candy Cane Murder - Laura Levine, Joanne Fluke, Leslie Meier
- Christmas Sweets - Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine, Leslie Meier
- A Caribbean Mystery - Agatha Christie
- Scone Cold Dead - Maddie Day
- A Christmas Candy Killing - Christina Romeril
- Peppermint Cookie Murder - Trixie Silvertale
- Fireworks & Felons - B I Skinner
- In Peppermint Peril - Joy Avon
- Essentials of Murder - Kim Davis
- Portside Peril - Hope Callaghan
This list may change as memories settle and favorites resurface — and that’s part of the joy of cozy reading.
My DNF Reflection
(Did-Not-Finish…Almost)
While I didn’t officially DNF any cozy mysteries this year, there were a few moments when I had to pause and ask myself whether a book or series was truly the right fit for me.
In a couple of cases, I finished a book — one on audio and one in print — mainly to confirm that the series wasn’t for me. In others, a story didn’t immediately click, but I’m glad I kept going, because the charm, characters, or rhythm eventually won me over.
This reflection reminds me that not every cozy mystery needs to be an instant favorite. Sometimes it’s about mood, format, timing, or expectations — and sometimes a slower start leads to a surprisingly cozy payoff.
For me, this section isn’t about giving up on books. It’s about learning what I enjoy most as a cozy reader, trusting my instincts, and giving stories the space to grow on me.
My Cozy Reading Goals for 2026
My cozy reading goals for 2026 are a mix of personal challenges and cozy curiosities — shaped by the series I love, the recommendations I keep seeing, and the joy of tracking my reading here on Cozy Corner. This list is my roadmap for a year of comfort reads, new adventures, and plenty of cozy moments.
☕ My Cozy Reading Goals for 2026
- Try at least 12 new series
- Finish 6 series I already started
- Read more summer, spring, and classic cozies
- Try 1 new subgenre
- Create fun, seasonal reading lists
- Track all my reads on Cozy Mystery Corner
- Read at least 1 cozy mystery set in a brand-new setting I haven’t visited before
- Explore international cozy mysteries outside my usual picks
- Read a cozy mystery published in 2026 the month it releases
- Try at least 1 author debut in the cozy mystery genre
- Revisit a cozy mystery series I loved but haven’t read in years
- Read a cozy mystery set during each season in real time
- Read at least 1 cozy mystery set around a new festival or community event
- Read a new series featuring an older sleuth (50+)
- Read a cozy mystery with a male amateur sleuth
- Try a cozy mystery written by an author I’ve never read before but have seen recommended often
- Read a cozy mystery set in a bookshop, library, or publishing world
- Read a cozy mystery featuring a found-family town cast
- Read at least 1 cozy mystery inspired by history or heritage
- Read a cozy mystery with a non-traditional profession for the sleuth
- Read a cozy mystery recommended by another cozy reader
- End the year with a comfort reread perfect for the season
Want More Cozy Mystery Recommendations?
- Cozy Corner
- All the Cozy Mysteries I Read in 2025
- Best Cozy Mysteries for Beginners
- Cozy Mysteries With Animal Sidekicks
- Southern Cozy Mysteries
- Cozy Mystery Series You Can Binge
- Seasonal Cozy Mysteries (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall)
- New Cozy Mystery Releases
Final Thoughts on the Best Cozy Mysteries of 2025
2025 was such a joyful reading year for me. I discovered new authors, fell deeper in love with the cozy genre, and found so many stories that made me smile, laugh, and relax. Cozy mysteries remind us that kindness, community, warmth, and curiosity are powerful — and these books were the ones that brought me the most comfort and happiness this year.
I hope this list helps you find a few new favorites to curl up with.
Here’s to many, MANY more cozy reads in the year ahead.
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