From the First Draft Friday podcast archives
Cozy mysteries come in all shapes and sizes—Southern, historical, animal-centered, culinary, paranormal, humorous, and delightfully pun-filled.
In 2025, crime and mystery fiction — including thrillers and cozy mysteries — remained one of the strongest performing fiction categories in the global book market:
- Across global book sales of about $142.7 billion in 2025, mystery/thriller/crime fiction held a significant slice of the fiction market. Romance remained the largest selling genre, but crime and mystery continued to stand out among top sellers. – Source
- In the U.S. alone, the mystery/crime fiction segment generated approximately $1.2 billion in annual revenue in 2025, showing sustained commercial power within adult fiction.-Source
- Broader reports indicate the mystery genre overall — encompassing crime, thrillers, and related subgenres — contributed substantially to fiction sales and has grown steadily over recent years. –Source
Subgenres Within Crime & Mystery (Updated Definitions)
Detective Novels
Follows a detective — amateur or professional — unraveling clues and exposing the truth. Classic structure and logical deduction are key here.
Cozy Mystery
Features an amateur sleuth (often in small towns or quirky communities). No graphic violence, explicit sex, or strong profanity; charm and character relationships are central.
Police Procedural
Centers on law enforcement professionals doing the day-to-day work of solving crimes, with authentic procedures and often multiple viewpoints.
Caper Stories
Usually told from the criminals’ perspective and often lighter or humorous in tone — think elaborate thefts or schemes with clever twists.
These subgenres might sound similar, but if you read popular novels in each of them, you’ll quickly learn the styles and norms of each. In this 2020 First Draft Friday, Alessandra Torre invited two USA Today bestselling Cozy Mystery authors to share a behind-the-scenes look at the Cozy Mystery subgenre and how that subgenre dictates the author’s choices in plot, characters, settings, and storytelling.
They had a fascinating chat — check it our fun 30-minute chat below!
Among the topics we touched on:
- The elements a Cozy Mystery cannot have
- How setting is often a character in itself
- How plot arcs unfold over several books
- The ways an amateur sleuth can continually find mysteries to solve
- How to plant clues without giving things away
- The different elements of a Cozy Mystery cover
Plus, we answered live questions from the audience. If you enjoyed the chat, please be sure to visit our First Draft Friday archives or join our Facebook group for authors. And, if you’re now craving a good mystery, read samples and explore Sara and Tanya’s books here:
Sara Rosett’s novels (on Amazon, Kobo, Apple Books and Nook)
Tonya Kappes’s novels (on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited)
Explore Marlowe (Your ethical AI fiction-savvy critique partner): authors.ai/marlowe
FULL TRANSCRIPT (EDITED FOR READABILITY)
Alessandra Torre:
All right, we’re live! Hello everyone — I’m Alessandra Torre with Authors AI. Welcome to First Draft Friday. Today I’m joined by Sara Rosette and Tonya Kappes, and we’re talking about the mystery genre, genre expectations, and what those expectations mean for cozy mysteries and mystery writing overall. We’re so excited to have you both here. I’ll pass the mic so you can introduce yourselves. Tonya, do you want to go first?
Introductions
Tonya Kappes:
Sure. Thanks for having me. I love being here, and I love being a member of Authors AI. It’s a great organization, and I’m excited to see where it goes this year.
I’m a cozy mystery author and have been writing cozy mysteries for over ten years. I originally thought I was writing romance, but one of my girlfriends said, “There’s a dead body — are you sure you don’t write mystery?” And I realized she was right. There was no hand-holding, no kissing — nothing like that.
I didn’t really know what cozy mystery was until I was introduced to the genre, and then I realized that’s exactly what I had written. I’ve been self-published this entire time, though one of my self-published series was picked up by HarperCollins, along with deals from two other traditional publishing houses. I started out writing paranormal cozies with witches, but as I got older, I found that I really preferred writing traditional, contemporary cozy mysteries. So now I’m straight cozy.
Alessandra:
Perfect. We’ll talk about what all those different subgenres mean. Sara, do you want to go ahead?
Sara Rosette:
Sure. I’ve always loved mysteries. I’ve always wanted to write books, and I knew that if I did, they would be mysteries. My first book came out in 2006, and it was a cozy mystery.
That first series, about a military spouse, has ten books and was traditionally published. Since then, I’ve done more indie publishing and have written several cozy series. I’ve also moved into historical mysteries, which are very close to cozies, but some readers only want contemporary settings. They’re not interested in going back to 1923, which I don’t really understand, but that’s okay.
I love cozy mysteries because of the puzzle aspect, and I also love getting to know the characters really well and returning to the same characters again and again.
What is a Cozy Mystery?
Alessandra:
I’m primarily a romance author, and I also write suspense, so I’m not as familiar with cozy mysteries versus other types of mystery. For those watching, can you explain what a cozy mystery is and how it differs from other mystery subgenres?
Tonya:
Since I write contemporary cozy mysteries, mine are set in small towns, and all of mine have a Southern flavor. There’s always an amateur sleuth — think Miss Marple or Agatha Christie, or something like Murder, She Wrote.
My current sleuth owns a campground in the Daniel Boone National Forest. A lot of cozy sleuths own bakeries, craft shops, or other small businesses. For me, the setting is huge. The town is just as much a character as the people in it. I always include quirky characters, and that small-town atmosphere is really what defines a cozy mystery for me.
Sara:
I think what really sets cozies apart is the closed setting. You’ve got a small group of suspects, a murder happens, and it has to be one of those people. It’s very Agatha Christie in that way.
The tone is also very important. Cozies are light and often humorous. There’s no emphasis on the violence or the gore. It’s more about the puzzle — figuring out who did it — not about how gruesome the crime was.
Tonya:
Right, you don’t show it on the page.
Sara:
Exactly. Cozy readers don’t want graphic violence, explicit sex, or strong profanity. They’re clean books, and readers have very clear expectations.
Genre Expectations & Reader Trust
Alessandra:
That leads perfectly into genre expectations. Readers open a book with certain expectations based on the packaging — the cover, the title, the blurb. If it looks like a cozy mystery, they expect a cozy mystery. So have we covered most of the genre expectations?
Sara:
I think so. Readers want the relationships in the small town, but they also want a real mystery. You have to give them the clues.
Tonya:
I’d add that there’s usually a romance element, but it’s subtle and mostly off the page. Maybe the sleuth is dating the local sheriff or someone who helps with the investigation. You might see a sweet dinner scene, but nothing explicit.
Also, the sleuth has to be likable. Cozy sleuths are often nosy, but readers need a reason to root for them.
Sara:
And readers expect a fair mystery. If you don’t give them the clues and just reveal the killer at the end, they’ll be upset.
Tonya:
Every mystery also has to be solved within that book. You can carry relationship arcs through the series, but the murder itself must be resolved.
Plotting, Clues, and Red Herrings
Alessandra:
We had a great audience question: do you outline, and do you know who the killer is before you start writing?
Tonya:
You really have to plot backward. I always know who died, why they were killed, and who the killer is. I also know my midpoint and where my clues need to go, but beyond that I don’t do a heavy outline.
Sara:
I’m similar. I need to know the victim, the murderer, and the suspects. I outline the major beats — when the body is discovered, when suspects are cleared — but it’s a loose structure.
Alessandra:
What about red herrings?
Tonya:
Yes, absolutely. Sometimes I think of a red herring while I’m writing and then go back and plant it earlier. You want multiple believable suspects.
Sara:
I think of them as false trails — ways to pull the reader in the wrong direction.
Alessandra:
What are your favorite ways to hide clues?
Sara:
Early in the book. Readers forget early details. Lists are also great — hide the important clue among several ordinary details.
Tonya:
I like planting clues in passing before the murder even happens. Then at the end, the sleuth remembers, and the reader has that “I should have known!” moment.
Length, Timeline, and Cast Size
Alessandra:
What’s the typical length of a cozy mystery?
Sara:
Mine usually run between 55,000 and 70,000 words. Traditionally published cozies can be longer, but I prefer tighter pacing.
Tonya:
My sweet spot is 50,000 to 55,000 words. HarperCollins wanted 50,000 exactly. Longer books often feel like fluff to my readers.
Alessandra:
And the timeline of the story?
Sara:
Usually a few days to a week.
Tonya:
Mine often take place over three days — fast-paced and immersive.
Managing Deaths in a Small Town
Alessandra:
How do you handle multiple murders in a small town without it becoming unbelievable?
Tonya:
I give myself room. My sleuth owns a campground, so new people are always coming in. I also use trips, reenactments, treasure hunts, and festivals to introduce new characters and situations.
Sara:
I do the same. I keep a core cast, but bring in new people or send characters traveling. You need flexibility.
Tonya:
And cozies are series, so you really need to think at least three books ahead. Publishers usually buy in threes, and your sleuth needs room to grow.
Sara:
That’s how I do it too.
Plot-Driven or Character-Driven?
Alessandra:
Are your books more plot-driven or character-driven?
Sara:
I started out plot-driven, but over time I realized readers come back for the characters. There’s a balance, but character has become more important for me.
Tonya:
Mine are very character-driven. The Southern voice, the town, the setting — all of that is just as important as the mystery itself.
Does a Cozy Always Need a Murder?
Alessandra:
Do cozy mysteries always need a murder?
Tonya:
I almost always include one, though I’ve done special novellas without a murder.
Sara:
I usually include one too. A murder gives the strongest motivation, especially if someone close to the sleuth is accused.
Covers & Visual Expectations
Alessandra:
Before we wrap up, let’s talk about covers. What signals “cozy mystery” to readers?
Tonya:
Bright colors, illustrated or cartoon-style covers, comforting imagery. Animals are very popular, and holiday themes do extremely well.
Sara:
Traditional covers used to focus on bookstore shelves, but now indie covers need to work as thumbnails. Bold images, bright colors, and animals really resonate with cozy readers.
Alessandra:
And titles?
Sara:
Puns. Lots of puns.
Wrap-Up
Alessandra:
I feel inspired to write a cozy now — even though genre hopping isn’t always wise. Thank you both for sharing so much insight.
This has been First Draft Friday, brought to you by Authors AI. If you’re watching on YouTube, Facebook, or listening on the podcast, please like, share, and follow us.
We’ll be back in two weeks with Penny Reid, talking about self-editing for authors. Before we go, where should readers start with your books?
Sara:
For cozies, start with Murder on Location. My website is sararosett.com.
Tonya:
I recommend the Camper and Criminal Cozy Mystery series. My website is tonyakappes.com.
Alessandra:
Perfect. Thank you both, and thank you to everyone who joined us. Happy Friday!
Sara:
Thank you.
Tonya:
Bye.
