The CozyMystery.com Top Ten
First Books in a Series of 2022
When you’re starting a cozy mystery series, book 1 has to do a lot of work. You’re discovering the location, the protagonist, and the surrounding characters. They don’t have to share all their secrets in the first book, but you need enough to know you want to keep reading.
At times this can cause a book to bog down. Better authors know how much they should show, and how much to hold back for later books in the series. We’ve chosen books we think have gotten that balance just right.
The qualification for this list is simple: be the first book in a series which started in 2022.
A list like this is subjective. You might not like some of these choices, and in fact on another day we might make different choices. These are what we came up with when we made the list. Remember, these are in no particular order, either.
Seeds of Suspicion
Book 1 of the Lack of Luxury series by Hope Callaghan
One of the problems with an author like Hope Callaghan is her enormous popularity in the cozy mystery world. Then there’s the problem of a series which is a spin-off of another already popular series. But it really adds up to an experienced author with established characters, and that makes for an excellent start to a new series.
Liz and Floyd buy a house in the country, and find themselves in for a lot more than they planned. When a death comes along, they’re not only renovating but trying to solve a mystery. Fortunately the Garden Girls are there to help.
Welcome Home to Murder
Book 1 of the Hometown Mysteries by Rosalie Spielman
A tradition in cozy mysteries is the person returning home after many years, only to find themselves thrust straight into the middle of a murder mystery. This is exactly what we get here, and even the series title tells us that.
Rosalie Spielman has done a wonderful job of bringing us into this trope, subverting it in just the right way to make it interesting. Such a well-written mystery deserves more, and the second book will be out by the time you read this.
The Man Who Vanished
Book 1 of the Gemini Sister Sleuths series by Amorette Anderson
Among our rules for a book to qualify as a cozy mystery is one which says the story must be told from a single point of view. Rules are meant to be broken, and so we let this book in, because in this case two halves make a whole. Twins, to be clear.
An intriguing premise of twins Belinda and Maggie being so very different, but together working well. Experienced cozy author Amorette Anderson has done a great job of weaving the storyline, and mixing in witches and magic. It all adds up to a very nice start to the series.
Murder at the Wedding
Book 1 of the Modern Midwife Mysteries by Christine Knapp
Something which causes frustration when reading cozies is the knowledge of the author. The slight slip when someone is writing about something they’ve read about can take you out of the story. Example: someone in Italy paying with pounds (an English currency) instead of Euros.
Christine Knapp doesn’t have this problem, because she’s been doing the job she portrays – midwife – for many years. The book is factual (as far as I can tell, I suppose I should say), as well as engaging. For a debut novel she’s done an excellent job and I’m looking forward to more.
Peony Dreadful
Book 1 of the Village Flower Shop Mysteries by Nancy Warren
Paranormal mysteries have their own set of rules, but the fun begins when you mix a little of this and a little of that. In this case, the protagonist is a witch who owns a shop, but she’s barely hanging on to everything when she has to deal with a mystery too.
Details about the flower shop simply add to the atmosphere in the fast-paced story, which is over almost too quickly. Fortunately there are already more books in the series to enjoy.
Ain’t Nothin’ but a… Murder
Book 1 of the Rita’s Pitas mysteries by Summer Prescott
Well-known cozy author Summer Prescott has set another series in the town of Calgon, Florida, and in many ways it feels like a return home for both writer and reader. There’s a lot to say about a familiar place bringing you straight into a story.
In this case Rita has taken over a cafe when a death happens, and she begins to look into it. She’s a little impetuous as she goes about looking for clues, and that just seems to drag her further in as the stakes rise. It all ends with a satisfying conclusion to what will hopefully become another long series.
Fox Cubs & Felonies
Book 1 of the Mystic Mountain Wildlife Rescue Mysteries by Rune Stroud
The thing which is often forgotten in paranormal cozy mysteries is the familiar. Oh, they’re there, but they’re mostly just decorative, with little to do with the mystery. It often feels like they were added at the end to check a paranormal box.
In this book the raven familiar, Simon, does a lot of getting in the way, but also a lot of work helping to solve the puzzle. I don’t know if it was the author’s intent, but for me Simon was the star, and the best reason to keep reading this series.
Mad Hats and Trouble
Book 1 of the Fade Island Mysteries by Claire Robyns
Another paranormal, which is part of an interesting trend. Paranormal mysteries have really taken off in the last few years. It would be a wild guess without checking, but they might be a quarter or more of cozies we have from last year. Great for witchy fans.
In this case Senna is arriving on a tropical island while trying to discover where her witchcraft comes from. When murders happen she is the natural suspect, and now she has to clear her name while figuring out her origins.
Death and Donuts
Book 1 of the Bee’s Bakery Mysteries by Rosie A. Point
I love a culinary mystery, mostly because I love thinking about the various foods people make, and imagining making and especially eating them myself. I’m fortunate there are some local cafes which do a great job of many of the kinds of foods I like to read about and eat.
Bee’s Bakery is a new series, but it’s mostly a follow-on from the Bite-Sized Bakery series, with the same characters in the same town. But they’re enjoyable and fun, and most importantly they open with donuts, which everyone can agree is the best food of all.
Herbs and Homicide
Book 1 of the Heywood Herbalist Mysteries by Carly Winter
Earlier we talked about cozy tropes, and this book seems full of them. Someone moves in to a small town, starts working in a local store, and gets accused of murder. We’ve seen it a hundred times.
What makes this one stand out is the unique way the author puts their own twist on things. Everything is just slightly off expectations, and it makes for a fun ride with interesting characters. The series has quickly continued and I’m looking forward to more of it.
Do you have anything to say about this article? Agree or disagree with what we have to say? Let us know in the comments below.
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