COZY UP TO: Cozy Mysteries by Black Authors ✨

[@dustdaughter]

Thank you for this list. Black authors do not get the same amount of publicity that mainstream authors do, especially if they have the gall to center Black main characters. So sadly, we still need lists of recommendations like this. PS: I was a big fan of the HBO series too. Such a great show!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Totally agree. I hope we keep momentum with calling out awareness!

[@vamps_rock]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for posting this. It is SO important for people to read fiction by black authors that is not just struggle porn. All POCs, including black people, are subject to overt and covert racism so very often, but we also live, love, work and play just like everyone else. Cozies are not a big genre for me, but I've read and enjoyed some in the past, including the Sophie Katz Series which I really enjoyed. I've been collecting the Gethsemane Brown Series since I first came across it and have also had my eye on The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (which is by a white male author) primarily because it's set in Botswana, and how often do we get straight forward genre fiction set on the continent?. Did you know there was a TV adaptation for it? Anyway, TFS :)

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Yes, I loved the mini series! Definitely didn't realize it wasn't by a black author, but Jill Scott did such a great job I added it to this list without even confirming (that's my bad)!

[@happinesss2]

omg "struggle porn" lmao I never heard that phrase before but it's perfect! I'm so happy to have learned of it now, so thanks! I agree... I have that same issue with some lgbtq romance stories where I understand that they have their own set of struggles and it's important to understand that but I also want to see them enjoy fun, playful love, too! bc they definitely do! I see that as side stories on TV but let's get some cute rom-coms too!

[@graftondaniels8442]

You may enjoy the Blanche White mysteries (pun intended) by Barbara Neely. It's a 4-book series set in the 80s or 90s, I think. www.amazon.com/Blanche-Lam-White-Book-ebook/dp/B00KBCHOQ0/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=blanche+on+the+lam&qid=1591918035&sr=8-1

[@TaraSwiger1]

I had to do some digging to find the AL Herbert (of the Soul Food series) is actually a white guy (he hides it by using his characters illustration as his profile photo). I’ll be checking out these others! Thank you so much for the list!

[@BookishIntrovert63]

Wow...I didn’t know this. Now that you posted this I did some research myself and you’re correct. I’m sure this is why he stated in an book club interview he doesn’t do face to face book club meetings or Skype...his reasoning was he’s an introvert. OK...side eye given here.

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Nice investigative work! I had no idea either, though I've heard about many of his series before.

[@TaraSwiger1]

S LEW gotta give credit where credit is due - the Goodreads reviewers called it out in the characterization. I scanned lots of book reviews, paying attention to those written by black women, and many of them said “this was obviously written by a white guy” then I googled until I found a photo of him.

[@doreydavidson]

@@TaraSwiger1 That's where I found out as well.

[@benatural1306]

I’ve just recently gotten into Cozy Mysteries, thanks to VM Burns and I’m hooked! I’ve been on the hunt for Black cozy writers, so thank you for the video!

[@kh9993]

I love Tyora Moody's Eugeena Patterson's series. Be ready to crave soul food while you are reading!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Haha yes! I always brace myself when reading books with food involved! 🙈

[@remarkablylisa]

I should do a reading challenge where I try cozy mysteries!!!!! 😁

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Yessss!!

[@QuestLegacy]

A cozy mystery within a cozy mystery -- That sounds so fun!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Cozy mystery inception 🤣

[@breehill9042]

I knew I’d see titles that I had no idea were written by a black author! I’ve seen that series by VM Burns!

[@GwendolynKensinger]

Cozy Mysteries are not something I ever read but I am ALWAYS intrigued by them. I've heard they can be quite addictive once you start. Thanks for these recommendations because they sound like so much fun!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Yes they CAN be addictive! Especially once you find an author or theme that you enjoy. :) I hope you give them a try!

[@deccaissa8425]

One year later and this is the series I needed today☺️

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Yay! So happy to hear (read). I hope you find something you like!

[@TheJazzdevotee]

Love your videos. I did not know about Claudia Mair Burney. Will definitely add her to my list of authors to check out. Love the energy and joy you bring to your videos.

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Thank you so much, Curtis!!

[@remarkablylisa]

You're so correct about diverse books being swept under the rug if we don't talk about them

[@2noelle]

Thanks for covering this genre and letting us know that there are cozy mystery writers of color. So, have you heard of A. L. Herbert’s A Mahalia Watkins Mystery? It’s a cozy centered around a soul food restaurant. Recipes included.

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Glad you found this list helpful! I've heard of A.L. Herbert's cozy series, but I haven't read them. One of the commenters pointed out that the author is a white male (not discouraging anyone from reading his books, but I wanted to mention it).

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you for the recommendations. I also love books about books, bookish people, and writers.

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Happy to see I’m not the only one! I have an episode out bookish cozies if you want some recommendations!

[@breehill9042]

Why is everywhere in your house aesthetically perfect!? You could film anywhere and it would look so cozy!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Thanks Bree! It’s the right shots that make it seem deceiving. 😉

[@PlannersPursesBooksAndSuch]

Thanks for this. Super fan of No. 1 ladies detective agency. And I watch the series as much as I can. Love it. Have read of few of the other books and have added the rest to my TBR list. Thanks again.

[@IntentionallyBookish]

sweet! glad you enjoyed! ☺

[@BookishIntrovert63]

What a fun video. I live for cozy mysteries!!! Thanks for sharing!! FYI Alexander McCall Smith isn't a Black author, however the female protagonist is. I love the first in the series, but never continued with it. I'll have to fixed that. Tyora Moody's Eugeena Patterson mystery series is really good. Here are a few more: A.L. Herbert's Mahalia Watkins Soul Food Mystery series(female sleuth owns a soul food restaurant and I absolutely love this series), Barbara Neely's Blanche White mystery series (housekeeper...only read the first book and enjoyed it), Kellye Garrett's Detective by Day Mystery series (Detective by Day/Broke Actress....enjoyed the first in the series), Nora DeLoach's Mama mystery series, read the first in the series years ago...Claudia Mair Burney's The Amanda Bell Brown mysteries, actually she's the author that got me started in reading cozy mysteries back in 2008. I'm sure there's more but that's all I've read.

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Yikes! That’s my bad. I definitely was thinking of the main character when I included them on the list! Thanks for the info!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Also, thanks for the additional recommendations! I'm going to add these to the description for others to see. ♥️

[@patricecaudle7284]

I loved the Blanche White series. I haven't seen a new one released in a while.

[@BookishIntrovert63]

Although this video was 4 years ago…..I also must say that A.L. Herbert isn’t a Black author. There is some controversy about this author and mixed reviews about the series

[@heabooktubes]

I would LOVE if you listed the books mentioned in the description. I just aaaaaaalways find that so helpful because I can’t remember the title names at all lol. I think I like the sound of the copy cat killer one. ♥️🌿

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Excellent suggestion! I'll add them in!

[@heabooktubes]

Intentionally Bookish yaaaaaaaaaaasssss.

[@firstintheseriescozymyster9013]

Such a great video! I love #1 Ladies Detective Agency series. Precious is an incredibly dynamic character.

[@rei_monreal83]

I have alot of cozy mystery books i love the covers and the story of a small town mystery and the characters😍

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Yes to all this! The small towns and covers are so fun!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Yes to all this! The small towns and covers are so fun!

[@MsAwesomeSaucey]

I love cozy mysteries as well! And book shop? Sign me up! Thanks for all these recommendations, the one by VM Burns sounds right up my alley.

[@catreadsbooks]

These all sound like cozies that I would love. I've had The Plot is Murder on my TBR for a while. I also love bookish themed cozies. I need to read this soon. V.M. Burns also has a dog-themed cozy that I've also had on my TBR for a while. Thank you for the recommendations!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

I’ll have to check the dog-themed on out!

[@oleanapark373]

oh my goodness i’m so excited i ADORE cozy mysteries. i’m so glad this was recommended to me

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Yay! I hope you enjoy and find some books you like! :)

[@TyoraMoody]

Thank you for featuring the Eugeena Patterson Mysteries! I just came across your channel and instantly subscribed.

[@IntentionallyBookish]

thank you so much! and welcome! :)

[@the_dancerjen1773]

I know you posted this a year ago, but I just found your channel when I was looking for cozies to switch things up from my usual horror / post apocalyptic reads as I'm feeling a need for more more wholesome / coziness in my life right now. And THEN I found this great round up of black authors. Representation and diversity is so important! Thank you for a great recommendations / round up! I love your channel and your positive light.

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Thank you so much for the kind words! Hope you got some recommendations you enjoy from it! 😀

[@the_dancerjen1773]

@@IntentionallyBookish Infact, I just read (and loved) Spell For Trouble. 📚✨

[@jashanae09]

A year late to this video but added many of these books to my TBR. Thank you for this video 😊

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Never too late! 🤍 hope you enjoy!

[@JillMaurer]

I'm having so much fun binging on your videos, but you are definitely costing me lady! My Amazon bill is going up and up!! xoxo

[@IntentionallyBookish]

LOL whoops :)

[@alkensmith]

I'm so happy I stumbled upon your channel! You have such a charming disposition and I've enjoyed all of your videos so far. I read A Deadly Inside Scoop last week and just adored it. I highly recommend it and I can't wait for the next book in the series!

[@fionnvance4798]

Oh my days. How have I just found this channel. Just getting back into reading now my babies are a bit older, I started with Agatha Christie as I find that style easy to read and keeps me wanting to read. I’ve been looking for more books similar and have just discovered cozy mystery is a whole genre in its own. I am Mixed heritage and so wanted to diversify my list more. So excited to stumble across this video😆

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Oh yay! So glad to have you around. Hope you find some books you enjoy! :)

[@lorenhackney9981]

Love Precious!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

😇

[@NakiasHideaway]

Great list! I love a cozy mystery!!! I'm really excited about A Spell For Trouble and Sex, Lies and a Double Latte! 🖤

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Woohoo!! Both really good choices!

[@knotsnotbots]

Thank you for this list! I have not seen a cozy mystery list anywhere!!!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Yay! Glad you found it helpful!

[@fancifulimpression]

Great suggestions ✅ added to my lIbrary TBR for when they open again (temporarily closed due to a Covid freeze).

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Here's hoping our libraries open back up soon!

[@fancifulimpression]

@@IntentionallyBookish definitely hopeful. Our libraries haven’t been fully open since the beginning of COVID but they have been doing book pick up appointments you can set up online for holds which has been super convenient. My county saw an increase in cases though so they are fully closed temporarily and not doing these appointments which is totally understandable albeit a bit of a bummer. That said I want the librarians to stay safe and it is giving me a bit longer to work on the movies and books I snagged my last appointment as the return box is also closed until they resume services.

[@InLoveAndWords]

The artificial light looks great! THANK YOU for this list!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Thanks! I ended up not hating it, but let's see if it was a fluke LOL :)

[@saranewell8264]

Thanks for this I actually started looking for cozies by black authors years ago and was disappointed by how few I've found. You've added quite a few to my list!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

I'm so glad you found some new recommendations! I hope you enjoy them :)

[@ryansmith7721]

Billy Blessings is a really really good one!!!

[@lisaashby8930]

Thank you so much for the suggestions! I really appreciate your adding to the conversation of diversity, and helping readers become more aware of some diverse cozies 😊📖📚💖

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Glad you found them helpful! I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for new authors and releases as well!

[@stace_d]

I love this. Love when my favorite genres and my culture can harmoniously hold hands ❤

[@prideandpaperback]

Thank you for sharing this, sister! Just discovered booktube (where have I been, I know) and I'm so glad I was led to your channel. You're such a light. Keep it up!

[@leoraaileen]

This video is EXACTLY what I was looking for!!! Tysm!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

I'm so glad!

[@danielleroberts9910]

Thank you for this I just order books 📚 never ever knew about these authors so thank you

[@IntentionallyBookish]

so glad you found it helpful! hope you like them!

[@gracerracer3405]

Thank you for making this list! I've added most to my wishlist and will purchase This Plot is Murder first.

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Happy reading!

[@MLLatUtube]

Thank you for adding to my TBR - I already had a few of these on my Kindle but definitely added some more

[@lorenhackney9981]

Now I see it!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Glad you found it! ☺️ I need to do a part 2!

[@irhonda31]

This was a great idea for a video! Thank you!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Thanks for watching!

[@bookswithamymarie]

Thank you so much for posting this! I'm looking to find more great cozy mystery series and also to expand the authors I read. Thank you for listing the titles in the description too. I like to listen to KZbin videos while doing busy work and having the correct spellings for everything in the description is incredibly helpful. Really excited to read some of these!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Thank you! Glad you found the recs helpful! 😊

[@deedradeterville2989]

OMG! Thank you for this video! I've been on the search for mystery novels by POC! I will check out some these names!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Thank you so much. Hope you enjoy it!

[@jolynnwhite7946]

I agree 👌🏾🙍🏽🌷💕

[@brieanacalvert5629]

Check out “Glory Be” by Danielle Arceneaux Cozy mystery and soooo good

[@britainonabudget]

Murder in G major is one of my favorite books!!! The whole series is fantastic and I LOVE Gethsemane 🙂

[@IntentionallyBookish]

I'm so glad to hear that! This series really sounds fantastic! :)

[@EmmaOrgandie]

Thank you for these recommendations- I'll definitely be adding these to my cozy list.

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Glad you found them helpful! 😊

[@kathleenmixon5897]

Thank you for this list. I will definitely add them to my tbr.

[@Comet330]

Thank you! This is a great list and I actually have the VM Burns book on my shelf. Pulling it up the list and adding several you mention. I found you with your Murder She Wrote video and have been loving your content!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Thank you so much! Always happy to chat Murder, She Wrote 😉

[@victoriahamel567]

Thank for these recommendations :-)

[@sunnyb7274]

I never heard of these black mystery authors, I just bought 6 mystery books from Thriftbooks after watching this! Thanks

[@IntentionallyBookish]

That’s fantastic! I hope you enjoy them! 🤗

[@SarahAsYouWish]

Thanks for the recommendations, I’m going to check some of these out. I was going to recommend A Deadly Inside Scoop because it is set in a neighboring town, and that cover is gorgeous!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Yes, the cover is SO good!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Yes, the cover is SO good!

[@michelleneal2023]

Thank you for this list. Great video!!!

[@aleksandrarahmanovic4229]

Great recommendations. Ladie's first...is one of my most favorite series ever. I also like V.M.Burns. Elizabeth Spann Craig is not a black author but she has an elderly sleuth Miss Myrthle that you mentioned you like, it's set in the south and she is like sassy Miss Marple. Thought you might enjoy it. I just want ro mention that I really like your comtent, you are so eloquent, you make interesting videos and you like cozies which is my favorite genre.

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Thank you so much, Aleksandra! 🧡 I’ll have to check out Ms Craig’s books - thanks for the suggestion!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Thank you so much, Aleksandra! 🧡 I’ll have to check out Ms Craig’s books - thanks for the suggestion!

[@merelmountain]

Thank you!! I have been looking for specifically this. This helps me so much!💕

[@genresandjournals]

Yay! Love your cozy up series! Thanks for all these recs. ❤️

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Thanks, Tia! Hope you find some recs you enjoy! :)

[@brandihuffer4725]

I just found you and I'm so happy I did!! I am loving this channel.

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Yay! Thank you so much, Brandi!! And welcome 🥰

[@SummerShine4488]

Been waiting for this list!! Thanks so much.

[@ABookCircus]

I’ve been waiting for this list, thank you. So excited to read all of these.

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Long overdue, but better late than never! 💜

[@Maddymommy12]

Thank you!!! I love it!!!

[@theliterarywitch]

I recently found out that A.L. Herbert is a white or latino man. Thanks for the recommendations. They are so hard to find. I also read v.m. burns into the dog house. It wasn't that good but I'll give her another try.

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Yes, he is, though I hear the series is still worth checking out!

[@patricecaudle7284]

Yay! Cozy mysteries are my fav & I'm on the hunt for cozies written by black authors. They're so hard to find! A lot of white authors write as a black person & hide that fact. You have to do your research to not be fooled

[@aishalee5924]

Hi can someone PLEASE answer this question for me?? I’ve been looking for cozy mysteries that have black or biracial black main female characters and I wanted to know is VM Burns main character Sam (the plot is murder) black, and is Esma Allison’s character Alex (a spell for trouble), black?? I’m all for black authors but I want to read black characters getting to do cozy adventures and mysteries too.

[@karinabarbee8049]

It's not a cozy but it's still semi light hearted....you should check out The Midnight Plans of the Repo Man. Its a book that has a dead person trying to clear their name too.

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Ooh, sounds interesting! Thanks for the rec!

[@kimaleshabrown474]

I just discovered R. Franklin James! Check her out!

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Will do!

[@lmac3869]

The no.1 Ladies Detective series is written by a white man. Great series though.

[@IntentionallyBookish]

Yep! I realized my mistake after posting this video, so I made sure to mention it in the video description! Good looking out 👍🏽