3 things I don’t like in a cozy mystery 😀😀📚📚

What do you NOT like in your cozy mysteries?? Here are three things I would rather not see in my cozy stories.

[@MicroRPG]

I'm a bit late to the party, but here goes. As a reader and writer of cozies, one thing I can't stand is when the book focuses too much on the "cozy" element and skimps on the mystery. I've read three books in the last year where the whole book was just the characters eating tasty food and talking about their crafts/projects. The mystery didn't ever actually seem to pop up until the last few chapters! In some cases, no one died! No one died and the book had the word Murder in the title. I just can't stand that. I love, love, love the cozy elements and scenes, but it needs to be balanced by the excitement of the investigation . . . . otherwise, it is just boring.

[@kell_checks_in]

Isn't it a rule that, with rare exception, The Body (or missing person) shows up (or is missed) by the end of the first chapter?

[@tanyawillisanderson]

Some cozies annoy me and I stop reading when the main character/sleuth is over the top, too cocky, and/or just a cookie cutter type character. I don't have a problem with putting books down. lol

[@catreadsbooks]

I don't like love triangles in cozy mysteries. I'd rather the story focus on the mystery, not the love story. I like the connections that all the people in the town have and when the main sleuth has a best friend they confide in about the mystery. Even if the plot isn't that good if the characters are good that will still be worth a read for me. I also love a small town or country setting and when the protagonist has an animal companion. There's definitely much more that I love about cozy mysteries than dislike in them.

[@leijen208]

I agree with your likes. And your dislike. It is why I couldn't keep reading, I think it was the Hannah Swenson baking series. She was dating 2 guys at the same time ala Archie w/ Betty and Veronica. Basically like a teenager. It was very annoying, as much as I would like the mystery storyline

[@rebekahmackenzie]

One thing I don't like is when you read a sequel to a cozy and they say who the killer was in the previous book. I have only seen it in one series so far. Thankfully I read the first one already so it wasn't a spoiler, but for others who aren't lucky enough it is a big sppiler.

[@gabrielleangelica1977]

I don't like unnecessary, yawn inducing dialogue in a cozy mystery. Sometimes I drift off and never return...

[@cozymysteryteatime2916]

Agreed!

[@angelaspielbusch1237]

Completely agree!! Thank you 😊

[@thomasceneri867]

Bad writing- won’t continue- and there are a lot there. And there is most DEFINITELY badly written books. Just because they’re published, it doesn’t mean they’re good.

[@janeashastewart4241]

This was awesome! I am looking to start reading cozy mystery

[@auntiegliz737]

I have zero problem putting a book down and moving on. But I rarely pay money for a book, so that may be easier for me because of that. About cozy mysteries, my mother said something about them facetiously that I loved and thought actually summed up my attitude about mystery novels when she said, "I like cheerful murders."

[@lwong7673]

so clear, thanks!

[@laceyharrington2806]

Kids. It’s my escape time I don’t want kids in my reading time.

[@docal_7069]

right !!!! LOL !!! I agree

[@leijen208]

🤣 never thought of that. But I agree

[@maryskelton2562]

My youngest did not feel well either. He had a fever and tummy ache. I hope you all feel better soon. With a book I do not like, I normally quit reading it and read the plot online, so I discover the end.

[@docal_7069]

I totally agree, if there isn't some magic, or great friends or quirky towns people etc then i don't find it cozy and i don't continue reading. This has only happened to me twice.

[@lisaashby8930]

Enjoyed the video. I will DNF a book if I’m not connecting to it. I agreed with your points of your 3 things that you don’t like to see in cozy mysteries. I get disappointed if the protagonist is not a pleasant person. Right now I’m reading 2 cozies. I’m reading “Survival of the Fritters” a Deputy Donut Mystery and “A Crime of Passion Fruit” a Bakeshop Mystery.

[@kell_checks_in]

A new Do Not Want: dog owners doing selfish, cruel, dangerous and/or illegal things. Since the dog fad swelled during the worst of Covid (here's hoping it's waning), I've been seeing more and more horribly selfish, intrusive, clueless dog owners showing up as main characters in books. I love the Booktown Mysteries, but since Angelica's been carrying her dog around in her purse into places where dogs are specifically not allowed, I have to wonder if I should have bought the whole series... People have the right to NOT be around dogs and that's especially true anywhere where food is sold or consumed. And, some of us has been physically and mentally harmed by dog attacks. Even little dogs where they are not allowed can be terrifying because the owners are just as scary as the dogs! If someone's selfish and clueless enough to ignore rules, laws and common sense and have a dog eye (nose, snout) level with the table at a restaurant, what other clueless -- or DANGEROUS -- thing are they capable of? We know they don't honor other people's rights or wishes, so what stunt are they going to pull next? Even when we've been bitten outright, even when seniors and children are murdered by dogs, the owners still are oblivious and selfish to the point of being sociopaths. And, when a dog owner is selfish enough to FORCE their dog where it is not allowed, IRL or in fiction, all of that trauma resurfaces. Not exactly a recreational read. Add to that the fact that the writer is expecting me to hate the person saying "No dogs!" and identify with the selfish, potentially-dangerous JERK, and there goes my mood. There was another book (don't remember the title) that immediately went into my donate box because in the second chapter the dog nutter brought the dog into a BAKERY and made a point of saying the leashed dog was "well behaved" in line. WHO CARES? It's a dog, with all sorts of allergens and bacteria and parasites, in a BAKERY where dogs are not allowed by both law and common sense. Buh bye clueless book...

[@WhoPickedThisBook]

Yes! The MC needs to solve it! I don’t think I’ve read a Cozy when the MC doesn’t solve it lol Something I don’t like is sleuthing for sleuthing purposes or when the MC has no stake in finding who dun it but goes off sleuthing anyway because it’s a cozy mystery and it’s expected. Like I feel a person wouldn’t go off and try to find a murderer unless their livelihood or they were being blamed for the murder. I hope that makes sense lol Great video! ❤️Nicole

[@aslan9334]

they have to even explained WHY the have to get involved

[@kell_checks_in]

Rewatching in 2022. 2:39 I can say that weapons are very hard to write, also, because they pretty much dominate any situation. I read a SF years ago where everyone in a town was armed 24/7. It worked there because the whole story was about what happens, good and bad, when everyone has access to equal amount of power. In a realistic story, however, they suck all the air out of the plot. (Anybody watching Better Call Saul? When Lalo showed up with the gun & silencer? Yeah, like that.) So far, I've only had one weapon, a gun, in a story. I did one Chekovian reveal early in the story and then kept it concealed until the last possible moment.

[@StarsHollow214]

Depending on the book about weapons. Stephanie Plum mysteries have her carrying a taser and gun but it’s never charged and she never has bullets so I am ok with that. My least favorite part of a cozy is when they try too hard in the romance description. Now I’m not a prude but I like my cozy’s quirky and fun with just a hint of chemistry otherwise I would read a romance🤷🏼‍♀️😂 I am pretty easy to please but occasionally a character or setting just isn’t “fun” for me. And yes, I have stopped a book and not finished. If I am 50% through the story and it’s a struggle. I put it in the donate pile. Life is too short. However if I love a series, I am not stopping until the series has nothing left to read😂

[@InnerProp]

Plum is a bounty hunter, is that still cozy? It's in the realm of law enforcement. Is she the one who grows poison ivy in her window box to deter burglars?

[@ggjr61]

@@InnerProp no Stephanie doesn’t grow poison ivy. If she did she’d poison herself she’s too inept.

[@realetreasures6443]

The number one thing I don't like is an independent author who didn't have anyone proofreading their book let alone a beta reader. You DON'T have to have any editors if you publish independently. Just saying.

[@BookishIntrovert63]

I don’t like when the protagonist is a pushover.

[@cozymysteryteatime2916]

S LEW that’s so true! I don’t like whining in my kids or my cozy mystery characters 😂

[@StarViewer68]

Yes! I find it incredibly annoying that the protagonist can say "no" when it comes to making business decisions, but yet forget that very word when their especially pushy friend, family member, or co-worker convinces them to do something that the protagonist clearly doesn't want to do. You can still have a good story with an assertive protagonist.

[@wendywesley7423]

I like your videos. I need to disagree on your definition of a cozy a little bit. The mother of the Cozy genre was Agatha Christie and she had a detective as her main sleuth. There are cozy’s whose the main character is a detective or policeman. So I could see you may like cozy’s with amateur sleuth but is not a prerequisite for it to be a cozy.

[@cozymysteryteatime2916]

You’re right! Poirot is a great cozy character, but I consider him more of an exception rather than the rule when it comes to cozy main characters. You are right though. Thanks for sharing! 😀

[@InnerProp]

@@cozymysteryteatime2916 Poirot isn't a cozy sleuth any more than Sherlock Holmes IMHO. He's a professional detective.

[@cyana5867]

I never considered Poirot a cozy. The Cozies I consider that Christie wrote is the dashing boyfriend/girlfriend duo. Tommy and Tuppence.. And of course MISS MARPLE,!!

[@Emmyemmcee]

I don’t like the lust instituted into the story which is irrelevant to the story. It’s annoying hearing others lustful thoughts. I’m reading “Fall to Pieces” and it’s great! I never knew this was a genre … I’m a quilter and crafter and just discovered you. ❤

[@cozymysteryteatime2916]

Thanks for watching! I’ve seen Fall To Pieces. It looks cute! I will check it out.

[@StarViewer68]

Three things I am tired of seeing in cozy mysteries: 1. Love triangles: If written right, the love triangle can be an interesting element in a story. But most cozies have poorly written love triangles due to the following: the female protagonist is often written as a passive participant in her own relationships. Her love interests pursue her, ask her out, fight over her, change their future plans, and are willing to hang around until the protagonist finally decides what she wants. For some reason, the protagonist can show confident, single-minded determination in managing her (fill in the blank) dream job and confronting suspects and the actual murderer, but when it comes to thinking about her relationship goals, all of a sudden, she is rendered meek and helpless, putting any thoughts about her relationships on the back burner. 2. No real life consequences of being the town sleuth: While I am aware that cozies are the book equivalent of a Hallmark movie, its hard to believe that the protagonist doesn't suffer from PTSD from finding dead bodies and almost getting killed by the murderer several times over. Even more astounding is that the protagonist's family, friends, and/or neighbors encourage them to put themselves in danger once more...I mean, solve another case because no one else can like they do. I also find it interesting that the protagonist doesn't find themselves to be a social pariah after suspecting multiple citizens of the community throughout the book series. 3. Protagonist's friends are boring, one-dimensional or flat: I agree with you on your 3rd point about the importance of the protagonist's relationships with others in reading and enjoying a cozy mystery. I can forgive a book for having a boring protagonist as long as their friends are interesting, relatable and have a positive impact on their life. But after reading several books in a series and the most you know of the protagonist's best friend is she or he is "quirky," then after a while, you really don't care about that protagonist's closest friend. On a similar note, I don't like it when the author creates "token" characters (e.g. the black friend, the gay friend) and beyond that one descriptive trait, very little is known about them.

[@DeeBroughton]

Only just discovering your channel but have to disagree that there is no such thing as a badly written book these days. Nice of you to say, though. :) Mine is, at least, decent writing and editing. I will stop really quickly if the dialog is stilted or the writing awkward.

[@juliahebner5148]

I agree with you. Perhaps as a writer myself and member of a critique group, I am too easily drawn into looking for flaws in structure/dialogue/pace etc.. That aside, sometimes poorly written books (IMHO) are published and find an appreciative audience. After all, if an agent likes a manuscript, there are readers out there who will love the book, too.

[@clauddarps]

One thing I don’t really care for in a cozy mystery is when the culprit is too obvious. Sometimes, and even authors who typically have really well written and intricate stories are guilty of this, the author creates a story where the culprit becomes obvious after the first third of the book and that annoys me because when that happens I wonder what the point is of continuing to read it. Half the fun of the book for me is ruined at that point and it makes reading through the rest less enjoyable. The other main this I don’t like in a cozy has to do more with a series than a single book. It’s when time after time the detective character will accuse, suspect, or arrest the protagonist even though they’ve been wrong every time they’ve done so before. The situation happening in the first and/or second book is okay, and is kind of a trope in and of itself at this point, but when it happens repeatedly throughout the series, specifically if it’s done four timed in what is currently a five book series, it’s gets tedious and repetitive and it makes me skip every section with the detective character that I can.