Are you about to start writing a cozy mystery story? Do you need some tips? Scroll down to learn how to write a cozy mystery novel.
1. Craft your amateur sleuth
Why it helps
One of the key elements in a cozy mystery story is the character of the amateur sleuth. Rather than using a seasoned detective like you may find in the main mystery genre, often the protagonist of a cozy mystery story sees crime-solving as a hobby. This oftentimes keeps the main character relatable to the reader allowing them to engage more with the narrative.
How to use it
In order to create a compelling amateur sleuth character you’ll want to put a lot of thought into their development. For example, you could develop a distinct narrative voice for your amateur sleuth, making their thoughts, observations, and dialogue reflect their personality.
Alternatively, you could create a personal link between your amateur sleuth and the case at hand, helping to fuel their character growth through your story while also making the reader much more invested in their fate.
2. Create an ensemble of loveable yet quirky characters
Why it helps
While it’s great having an amateur sleuth as a protagonist, cozy mystery stories thrive off of the relationships and dynamics of other characters that make up the community where the story is taking place. With a diverse group of characters all with little quirks and interesting details, your reader can really feel like a part of the gang!
How to use it
There are multiple ways to build your ensemble of crime solvers, but here are some ideas to get you started. You could mix up their personalities, including introverts, extroverts, optimists, skeptics, and other personality types to create a dynamic and engaging group.
Or, you could develop a shared flaw or quirk that the entire group exhibits. This could be something like an obsession with conspiracy theories or an unusual club or hobby. Again though, this one is up to you to be creative with!
3. Think about the threat level
Why it helps
The whole point of a cozy mystery is in the name of the genre. The reader wants to feel warm and comforted by the story on the whole, rather than have it put chills up their spine. As a result, you want to aim to keep the threat level to your characters on the low side.
How to use it
While no one is saying that there won’t be any hint of danger in the story – after all, that would be pretty boring – you’ll need to consider carefully when in your story to employ this technique to stop it from being too much for the reader. For example, you could layer up the suspense as they are sleuthing at night time, or have everything come to a crescendo in the final chapters as your characters get closer to the killer.
Or, it could even be that the crime isn’t a murder at all, and a theft or disappearance has taken place that your characters need to investigate.
4. Small town surroundings
Why it helps
Rather than being set in a large city, cozy mystery fiction focuses on the action taking place in small communities, towns, and villages. This helps to add to the “cozy” factor of the narrative, but also creates a more intimate feel to things, meaning anyone and everyone could be a potential suspect.
How to use it
If you have ever grown up in a small town or vacationed in one a few times, then you can use this to your advantage by drawing on your own personal experiences of the place and the people. If this doesn’t apply to you though, don’t worry, as there are other options you can employ to craft your small-town setting.
For example, you could interview someone who has lived in a small-town environment, plan a trip to one, or even take inspiration from other cozy mystery novels that use a small community as their setting.
5. Don’t forget the red herrings
Why it helps
This stands for almost any mystery novel, but one thing that is vital to consider is to place various red herrings through your story that will catch your reader and your characters off guard. Creating red herrings also allows your readers to feel like they are part of the investigation, too!
How to use it
The red herrings that will work best will depend upon your plot, however, some good examples include placing suspicion on the partner of the victim, multiple potential murder weapons, or even just someone who is so horrid that everyone is convinced that they were the ones that did it!
6. Add some comedy
Why it helps
As cozy mysteries are often lighthearted affairs at their core, this means that they lend themselves well to humor and comedy being placed through the narrative. The juxtaposition of lighthearted humor with the intrigue of solving a mystery can create a unique and enjoyable reading experience.
How to use it
There are many ways to pull this off in your cozy mystery story, such as by creating fish-out-of-water scenarios for your characters which might cause them to make hilarious blunders, wordplay, puns, and even simple miscommunications.
The comedy factor can even be developed further by the inclusion of satire and parody of the crime and mystery genres, creating references for your readers that will help to increase their engagement with the story.
7. Consider your crime scene clues
Why it helps
It might seem silly, but crafting your crime scene is one of the most important things you can do in a cozy mystery novel. After all, most, if not all of the pivotal plot points will evolve around what is, or isn’t found there!
Not only that, but the crime scene is the main contrast between the idyllic cozy setting and the unsettling world of crime. By building it successfully, you will increase the level of intrigue felt by your readers and have them ready to begin investigating!
How to use it
There are multiple ways to create your crime scene, but some key points include the following. You can strategically place clues and evidence that the amateur sleuth will later discover, as well as describe any unusual or out-of-place details at the crime scene. These details might not initially seem relevant but could later prove crucial to solving the mystery.
However, the main thing to keep in mind is to frame the crime scene like a puzzle that needs solving. This can engage the readers’ curiosity and encourage them to speculate about how the crime occurred and who might be responsible, allowing them to resonate more with your amateur sleuth character.
8. Ramp up the cozy factor
Why it helps
Cozy mysteries provide readers with a sense of comfort and escape from the complexities and stresses of real life. The quiet and idyllic setting, relatable characters, and gentle tone offer a relaxing reading experience akin to curling up with a warm blanket and a cup of tea.
How to use it
If you are wondering how you start to increase the coziness in your story, one of the first places to start is the setting. You can place your story in charming and idyllic settings such as small towns, picturesque villages, bookshops, teahouses, and bed-and-breakfasts. These settings evoke feelings of nostalgia, safety, and familiarity.
Another way to do this is through your characters. By making them familiar faces to the reader through their personalities, such as a nosy neighbor, the busybody shopkeeper, or a doddering old lady everybody seems to love, there is a sense of coziness for the reader.
9. Don’t make things too graphic
Why it helps
Although we have already looked at the threat level within a cozy mystery, you also need to be aware not to make anything too graphic and gory. After all, the reason that the reader has chosen to pick up your story is for a more laid-back experience!
How to use it
Even though your story might begin with a murder scene, it’s worth only including what is needed for the crime to be solved, rather than focusing on gory details of the wounds and injuries sustained in great detail.
Additionally, any violence or graphic content that occurs during the course of the narrative itself is usually best handled “off-camera” and detailed by the characters after the fact rather than showing the reader exactly what is going on as it happens.
10. It’s all about community ethics
Why it helps
Cozy mysteries often revolve around restoring order and justice to a disrupted community. The resolution of the mystery provides a satisfying sense of closure and empowerment. The cohesive nature of the community contributes to the cozy atmosphere, usually because it relates in some way to the reader’s own values.
How to use it
Community ethics can help you to shape your narrative as well as any potential suspects for your crime. The people’s core principles can influence how characters judge and perceive one another, so someone who doesn’t adhere to community values might be regarded with suspicion or disdain, potentially making them a target for accusations which may even lead to be red herrings!
Not only that, but you can use the mystery as a way to subvert the entrenched beliefs of the community at large. Through solving the crime and learning about its true nature, the amateur sleuth and their friends can help to show others that perhaps their way of thinking was not as productive as it first seemed.