Reading 3 Halloween Cozy Mystery Books!

[@colormegeeky]

Just wanted to say, I am so happy your still making videos Jesse. I miss a lot of booktubers last decade and recently learned a lot of them aren't making videos much anymore on here. 🥺 but so happy your still making videos. Sending positive vibes Jesse.

[@clockworkvfx]

i agree with this too, jesse is who taught me to read, and i'm so happy he's still making content

[@JuffrouwJanssen]

I adore the 'Shady Hollow' series by Juneau Black. A series with woodland creatures, but not paranormal. 'Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers' is also a nice cozy mystery read.

[@annikaharms8379]

I loved Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murders! It's coming out with a second book soon!

[@JuffrouwJanssen]

​@@annikaharms8379 I know!! 😍 I've already pre-ordered it.

[@isabellavalentine7268]

The Shady Hollow series is so cute!

[@ross_go]

Definitely continue with the Thursday Murder Club series!! 3 more books so far and worth the hype. What you loved about the first one continues and develops in the others 😊

[@hannahhaasen7284]

If you want another cozy mystery tv show, I highly recommend Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. It is set in the 1920s and it is super cozy with a wonderful main character!

[@linamekawatches214]

Yes, seconded! This is SUCH a comfort show for me! And the settings and aesthetics and fashion? To die for! Plus Phryne is simply THE BEST.

[@ailuharas3667]

Thank you so much for recommending that show, I hadn't heard of it before and am having a blast watching it right now 🥰

[@eddiethedm]

Omg so Hannah Swensen Series by Joanne Fluke This one is a good Series that has a loooooot of books in it, so it'll keep you going for a while!! I also saw someone recommend the shady hollow series and that one is one of my top favorites!!

[@eht367]

Had I known you were making this, I would have told you about the Murder She Wrote books!!!! They're different mysteries than what are in the show so no repeats, plus the books have all the same cozy campy vibes as the show. There's a Halloween one called "Trick or Treachery" and highly recommend for your October reading! Also, absolutely living for that pumpkin shirt at the beginning of the video!

[@estack24]

I just recently saw that there are Murder She Wrote books. There are so many!!

[@eht367]

​@estack24 So many! I own 7, but would love to have the full collection some day

[@sapphirepenguin]

Magical Bakery Mysteries- Bailey Cates (series of 11 books so far…) Katie Lightfoot opened a busy bakery in Savannah serving up sweet treats-with a little spellwork on the side-she’s always on the go and solving small town murder mysteries with her newly created coven.

[@andrewbunda1323]

The 'Magic Lies and Deadly Pies' series by Misha Popp, it's only three books right now, but its about this girl who can bake pies with magical intentions imbued into them, and she had a side job where she uses the magic pies to kill abusive men. All the books are so fun and cozy but they don't feel too cheesy and the stakes and characters just feel so real!!

[@shelbprestidge]

This isn’t a long series, but In the Company of Witches and its sequel are soooo cozy

[@panicatthebts7434]

I just finished the first Lady Hardcastle book (A Quiet Life in the Country) and loved it! There are currently 11 books in the series and at least the first was definitely a cozy mystery. I loved the characters and the banter. The audiobook was great as well. Highly recommend!

[@katieseehusen5897]

I second this! I have read all the books in the series and they just get better and better. The characters are super fun and the mysteries are interesting. I also highly recommend the audiobooks. There is also a spin off series that is very good.

[@VeraFran]

I was about to mention this one! Think Christie + Murder, She Wrote combined!

[@CherryCheetah]

Books Agatha Christie wrote at the start of her career have this cozy vibe for me - not all and not all are good. My picks would be: The Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, The Seven Dials Mystery, Partners in Crime (especially funny), The Murder at the Vicarage, Peril at End House, The Thirteen Problems and Evil under the Sun. These I feel are the cozy-est. You can also try Flavia de Luce Mystery series.

[@SandandInk]

Love the Flavian de Luce stories - the audible narrator is great so I recommend that format for those books

[@maddy.c3534]

"In The Company of Witches" is a super cozy fall paranormal murder mystery :) It's set at a B&B run by a family of witches.

[@serafinamesfin]

💕💕💕Came here to comment this!!! 🎀

[@kimberlylopez3230]

Came to the comments to say this 😂 both 1st & 2nd books are really good and I am desperate for the 3rd book 😢 based on the cliffhanger ending of the 2nd

[@astoldbykat]

Replying just to stay be careful recommending this; the author has stated that right now the series can't continue, because Penguin doesn't want to publish mass market paperbacks anymore. She's trying to work with her agent and the company to find other ways to bring us more of the series, but so far no luck

[@Darrkness]

Thanks for the recommendation. Sounds great.

[@AnEmbarrassmentofBooks]

My favorite cozy mystery series is by Laura Childs - A Tea Shop Mystery series. I don’t even drink tea very often, I just love the characters. Death By Darjeeling is the first book. They take place in Charleston NC

[@BookishlyFab]

I think you’d like the Family Skeleton Mysteries by Leigh Perry. Some supernatural elements and really fun characters.

[@farbeneath6581]

My go to cozy mystery series in the Richard Jury series. Jury is a detective but he goes to small towns to solve cases and it really gives me the cozy vibes

[@booksbykimi]

The Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths for sure! Think Bones with an archaeologist helping a grumpy detective but a cozy British small town version - with the BEST quirky characters ❤

[@sashaa_pp]

The dales detective serie is so so underrated !! the characters are really lovable, and the stories are good too, it's funny, you have everything you want in a cozy mystery

[@kateeverling3730]

Definitely read the Thursday next series by jasper fforde!!! Cozy mystery with magical elements✨✨

[@manyabansal5717]

Loving your exploration of sub-genres!❤

[@wordstowordlessthings]

you'd love Brokenwood Mysteries, it's a show from New Zealand and it's got all these amazing townies who keep turning up in every case

[@linamekawatches214]

Frodo and Jared are the best, such fun caharacters!

[@natalieclaire6047]

I have heard Joanne Fluke’s “Hannah Swensen” series is good! I’ve always seen it in the library and was interested.

[@Funsizechibi07]

I have a few of her books and I love them. ❤

[@natalieclaire6047]

@@Funsizechibi07 oh good! I need to pick them up next time I go

[@TheArtfulBrittani]

The books that got me into cozy mystery is the Mrs. Murphy series by Rita Mae Brown...mostly because it had a cat and corgi trying to also solve the mystery with their owner. I also started somewhere mid series and it was fine. For summertime cozy I highly recommend the Southern Beach Mysteries, it is indie published and starts with "The Manatee Did it". Those you probably have to read in order, but they are short and only a few are out. Based on a real Island, but names are changed. :)

[@jaimehernandez3104]

The Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander is fun and there are several seasonal/holiday stories in the series. 😊

[@kendylldrilling]

Highly recommend the Veronica Speedwell cozy mystery series! They’re so good!

[@flipfloppoet4377]

I was scrolling through the comments to see if somebody recommended the Veronica Speedwell series. Thank you. For me, this is the ultimate cozy mystery series.

[@janicehernandez7907]

If you love cozy mystery books you HAVE to read The Southern Sisters Mysteries!! They are the definition of a cozy mystery and the author has won several awards for this series. It's very similar to Murder, She Wrote where these two elderly sisters solve murders around their hometown. They are hilarious with the dialogue between them and the mysteries are so good they keep you guessing.

[@SuperStrangSshadow]

I watched Murder She Wrote about 30 years ago when it aired on tv.

[@kim_20236]

The coffeehouse mysteries! ❤ love the coffee recipes too!

[@SandandInk]

Also the Miss Julia series - prim proper older southern woman who finds out her newly deceased overbearing husband had a young mistress and illegitimate child - then the adventures and her self growth begin The audible books are great for those too

[@Shelf_Improvement]

Looking forward to to seeing the cozy mystery series people recommend. I've heard the Noodle shop mysteries are good. I think the first one is called Death By Dumpling. Also I just started the first Sookie Stackhouse mystery, which is cozy (so far) and supernatural

[@lauren5673]

I love your videos and I also love fall. So this video? perfection ✨

[@candacecelestine2662]

Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue is my current cozy mystery. It has the 5 things I love the most, a witch with a magical power, a small town, a cat, a mystery, and a tea shop/book shop. My overall favorite cozy mystery series is the Library Lover's Mystery series by Jenn McKinlay

[@kaitlynshuler4092]

The Murder in the Mix series by Addison Moore has a small town, a bakery, and ghost animals. There's a book for every month of the year. There's something like 50 books in the series though

[@linamekawatches214]

Murder She Wrote kept me sane at the height of the panini! I love Jessica Fletcher 💜 I'm a librarian and I love cozy mysteries too! I love them even though I know they can be a smidge cheesy, so my go-to reccs for cozies with a bit more substance to dig into are the A Cat in the Stacks series by Miranda James and the Armond Gamache series by Louise Penny (definite Murder She Wrote vibes!) Happy Reading!

[@amandabeard6573]

I was going to suggest my favorite Cozy Mystery series to you, and then you said you wanted a supernatural element, which meant I really needed to tell you about this series... The Aunt Dimity series by Nancy Atherton. The Supernatural element. you ask? Aunt Dimity dies before the 1st book (in fact book 1 is called Aunt Dimity's Death), but she is a main character.

[@paperpagespossibilities]

I grew up watching Murder She Wrote. Such nostalgia!

[@patgazza]

I fell in love with cozy mysteries after reading The Thursday Murder Club 🤍 I have a recommendation, although not Halloweed themed: The cat saw murder, by Dolores Hitchens. I read it earlier this year and had such a great time with it, and hope you enjoy it as well if you decide to pick it up one day 🙂

[@PeaceofthePlans]

I highly recommend The Mystery Bookshop series by VM Burns. I stumbled upon #8 (Bookclubbed to Death) in the ten part series because the audiobook was available from my Hoopla app and I was hooked! VM Burns has a intelligent and entertaining writing style that absolutely reminds me of Murder She Wrote. There are some grandma characters in the books that are humorous and endearing (like the Golden Girls) and the story line is hearty and engaging. I may have started with #8 but I am definitely going back to the very first book to see how this whole adventure began. I hope you find a series that resonates with you and your reading tastes.

[@jessethereader]

ty for the rec!! sounds so fun!

[@stargater2892]

Loved this episode. My recommendation: Traci Hall's Scottish Series -' the characters are likeable, there is the cozy town, Cashmere knitting is the back drop, and there is a family much loved dog.

[@lost.in.prose.]

That coloring is so peaceful❤

[@PumkyTheChunky]

Omg I recommend A Library Lover's Mystery cozy series by Jenn McKinlay. It popped in my head when you mentioned you wanted a series that would be your go-to series when you are in the mood for the genre. For me, it's anything by Jenn McKinlay

[@Anberel]

My first cozy mystery series was Nancy Atherton’s Aunt Dimity series. Lots of books, great writing, highly recommend.

[@GothamCitySiren4]

A little late, but I would HIGHLY recommend the Hannah Swenson Mysteries. They’re cozy murder mystery books set in Minnesota, fallowing a baker called Hannah Swenson

[@RadioFreeKitmo]

So it might not technically meet all the requirements of cozy mystery (it is set in a city, not a small town), but you might really like Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest. A psychic travel agent helps a detective solve a cold case. It has a supernatural element and some cozy vibes, but also some intense moments.

[@eht367]

First time leaving a second comment on the same video, but thought I'd recommend the Chef Maurice Cotswold Mysteries by J.A.Lang to anyone like me browsing the comments for cozy mystery suggestions! The first one is Chef Maurice and a Spot of Truffle --- only 3 books in the series, but they're full of lovable characters and great humour!

[@booksandlifewithlaura2143]

Angela M. Sanders' paranormal Cozy mystery series is my recommendation. The main character is a witch with a cat companion and she works in a library. The murder mysteries are great 😊

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

I haven’t read a cozy mystery yet - but this video is making me interested 👀

[@maisiethesloth8405]

It might be too young for you or not cosy enough but i adore the wells and wong mystery series by robin stevens. it has like 11 books in the series and i love it.

[@alyssabrauning1096]

Beechwood harbor magic mystery series by Danielle Garrett is so fun! Super long series with 2 spinoff series and it’s about supernatural characters. Really loved this one. 😊

[@rede4trip365]

Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell. A witch living in San Francisco running a secondhand vintage shop and solving mysteries/murders. She always asks for magic advice from her crazy Abuela. Super cute and charming.

[@SarahHulse314]

What's your favorite book this year you've read?

[@jessethereader]

this is such a hard question to answer 😭

[@ashm4738]

It's not a super long series (only 5 books so far and I'm not sure if there will be others), but I really enjoyed the Skeleton in the Family series by Leigh Perry. It's kind of parent-humour, a little goofy, but it's very fun for me. The concept is that there is literally a living skeleton in this particular family that helps the main character, Georgia, solve murder mysteries that she ends up stumbling into. (I also really liked Under Lock & Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian - it's the first in a series, but there are only two books currently out).

[@poalover437]

The Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley is my favorite cozy mystery series! An 11 year old sleuth solving various murders than happen in her small village in England through her love and fascination with poisons and chemistry. Also includes interesting family dynamics and a dash of superstitions. I cannot recommend it enough! :)

[@CanadianChipmunk]

Hi! I have a suggestion for you, i recently got these books called the Beaufort Scales Cozy Mysteriesnby Kim M. Watt. I havent read them yet but the criteria is in the title so maybe youll dive into them for both of us lol

[@teddylikesrabbits]

i'm so happy something like cosy mystery/thriller/horror exists, because i love all these genres but there are often to graphical for me :(

[@alexia0707]

Veronica Speedwell cozy mystery series! It’s 9 books long so far so not crazy big but soo good 😄

[@socialbianca]

I LOVE cozy mysteries ❤

[@amandawarren9941]

I really like Tiger's Eye Mystery series by Alyssa Day. It's an urban fantasy cozy mystery series. From the first book Dead Eye on Goodreads: "This novel is a paranormal mystery with magic, shape shifters, humor, vampires, a taxidermied alligator, witches, gunshots, bad singing, Crazy Hormonal Town, terrible parking, the FBI, swamp commandos, tigers, special agents, flirting, belly laughs, comedy, humor, and a pawn shop." Which I think sums it up nicely. I read them all on my kindle but I believe there are paperback versions, too. I'm a huge fan of urban fantasy/paranormal books though so they may not be for everyone.

[@bookishpower]

The vampire knitting club is 15 books long? I think? By Nancy Warren. Easy reading and very very cozy. The books are relatively short, and you don’t have to read them back to back to keep up with things. Highly recommend. I use them for palate cleansers between my heavier horror/thriller reads

[@jay_cadiramen]

I love love love a cosy mystery. I reckon the entire miss Marple series of books by Agatha Christie would be eligible if you're looking for an extensive seriesstart with Hallowe'en Party

[@ninarasm]

With cozies you will always have moments where you shout “what are you doing?!” at the main character 😂 They make stupid decisions sometimes. But that just shows that I would be a boring main character in a cozy! 😆 You should check out animal companion cozies. I think you would love it. Sometimes they even help solving the mystery. One of my fave things on cozies (or in any book really) is sassy older people 😂 2 cozy series with supernatural elements I’ve read: The Family Skeleton by Leigh Perry and Magical Bakery Mystery by Bailey Cates.

[@xanoxgamb]

Hi, hello there! I guess this wouldn't be considered a mystery series, but it checks the cosy, fun and supernatural, fred the vampire accountant, a 9 book series that I just flew through and had a blast!

[@readknitwithcheryl]

Okay, so if you like Murder, she wrote, check out the book series based on the show! Most of them were written by Donald Bain, but he sadly has passed away so they have another author now. They have the same characters as the tv show, but are not the same stories as the show. Also, I would recommend Donna Andrews' series called Meg Langslow mysteries. They're funny and have a lot of animals and is a long series. Another cozy mystery author I love that has the Magical Cats Series and the Second Chance Cat mystery series' is Sofie Ryan / Sofie Kelly (pseudonyms).

[@franbaity1631]

I highly recommend the witchy cozy mystery series Wishcraft by Heather Blake. The first book is called It Takes a Witch and there are 9 in the series and they were all really good. Enjoy your new genre!

[@sarahmontuori6164]

I love your pumpkin shirt.

[@jessethereader]

thank you!

[@plumpi680]

Got the thursday murder club from my local library because of your review and I'm excited to read it

[@Cartasha92]

I loved state of the onion is like 10 or 11 books that follow the white house chef. Other good one are the Chocoholic Mystery it has 18 books

[@ShelbyAleaseSmith]

Omg you should read the Aunt Dimity's death series by Nancy Atherton. It's a fantastic and long cozy mystery series with a hint of paranormal in the best way. Happy reading 🎉

[@BuntinCozymysterylover]

The ”jessethereader × Cozy Mystery” video finally came to the world! One of my dreams came true!😭✨lol I was so happy to see you enjoy Halloween Cozy Mysteries, Jesse! 💓 A series with supernatural elements rec: the “Family Skeleton Mystery” series by Leigh Perry. (I am sure you will want to be friends with Skeleton Sid!) A rather long series rec: “Agatha Raisin” series by M.C. Beaton (It's set in the Cotswolds in England! The protagonist is really charming and the story is well-paced!)

[@jenniferclark677]

There's a cozy mystery series that has a dog in every book it's called Partners In Crime Melanie Travis Mysteries by Lauren Berenson

[@hannahhaasen7284]

If you want a cozy fantasy mystery, Murder at Spindle Manor by Morgan Stang is so fun and it's a Self Published book that won the SPFBO competition last year.

[@renmochizuki464]

You should check out the Beechwood Harbor series. The Author has one about a ghost hunter and one about a witch that all happen in the same town. It’s so cozy and I love the series about the ghost hunter.

[@michellehanson984]

The Cat Who series by Lilian Jackson Braun, and The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith are my go-to long series. Whenever I'm in a reading slump I can pick up one of those

[@beckylovesbooks]

I just started The Vampire Knitting Club series and am finding it to be a fun silly paranormal cozy mystery series. They're free for audible members

[@staceymccullough3671]

The Ghost Hunter series by Victoria Laurie. The cast is so cute and fun. The paranormal investigations are very upscale Scooby Doo vibes lol and though the series ended a few years back on book 10, a new one just came out! I'd say kinda creepy but also very cozy and a mystery in each book.

[@pennedbymaria]

In the company of witches is my favorite cozy mystery. Its like if Gilmore girls was witchy

[@deermangivefast]

Not a cozy rec but OMG I just finished Wolf at Number Four and it was WILD!!! I think you'd really enjoy it, it's weird and creepy and you never fully know what's up, and it's a short read (novella) that takes place in Ghana

[@annikaharms8379]

I don't know if it counts as Cozy Mystery but my favorite mystery series is the Everyone in my family has killed someone by Benjamin Stevenson. It's about to be a 3 book series this month and they are fantastic! Feels like Knives out. Another good one that's more Cozy could be "Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murders by Jesse Q Sutanto.

[@SandandInk]

I thought about that one too but wasn’t sure if it fell under cozy - but soooo recommend that series! I did it as an audible book and it was great

[@leannj.3706]

The few cozy mysteries ive tried out have been hit or miss for me EXCEPT the cozy mystery series that starts with the first book The Plot Is Murder by VM Burns, so thats my recommendation

[@daniellewilliams1459]

Hey Jesse, and lovely people in the comments I finished The Mary Shelly Club I enjoyed it for the most part I gave it a 4 stars now I’m currently do a reread of The Goosebump books because I love them so much ❤

[@FromGrimmTales]

I recommend Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sandars it's the first book in the Witch Way Librarian Mysteries siereis.

[@belamaesano]

Not me listening to this video like a podcast while i walk to uni

[@FoolishConsistency]

Also the Conductors by Nicole Glover. The Murder and magic series

[@elizabethcastro4158]

I highly recommend the "Cat Who" series by Lillian Jackson Braun!

[@hidingzeus4306]

You had me at Murder She Wrote!

[@goldengalsclazy]

I like your shirt! Where'd you buy it? If you can please let me know, then that would be great! :)

[@nikkimiascott9950]

I enjoyed the Aurora Teagarden books by Charlene Harris. They are set a while ago go but I enjoyed them. And she’s a librarian, lol. No supernatural aspects though.

[@emmal7510]

I think all the cozy mysteries I've read are part of the "and their cat" subsub genre.

[@barbaralin3053]

my top mystery is Sabastian St Cyr by C S Harris. It is a historical mystery but quite cozy.

[@alaenamarie8702]

I recently discovered a cozy mystery series called “The Coffeehouse Mysteries”. They’re okay so far but I think you might like them! You can read them in any order 😊

[@kingboogy7706]

I think you would love Grimoire Noir! It's kind of a cozy mystery with a dash of magic and supernatural. It is a graphic novel, so it's an easy, quick read! Edit: fixed a typo

[@astoldbykat]

It's not a cozy mystery series, but I do recommend "The Invisible Library" series by Genevieve Cogman. It's a fantasy/scifi/mystery kind of series, that does involve a detective and some pretty interesting worldbuilding. For actual cozy mysteries....really, just pick up those Nancy Drew books you've been reading XD Especially the Nancy Drew Files. Wish I could recommend more, but living overseas isn't conducive to reading cozy mysteries. Also, not a book, when if you haven't watched "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries," YOU SHOULD. It's fun, heartwarming, interesting, and has the best slow-burn romance EVER. It's inspired by an Australian book series, but I don't recommend the books as much because they're not as cozy or fun.

[@SandandInk]

Has anyone read the “Aunt Dimity” series - those are good - involves the spirit of a deceased eldery aunt housed in a childhood toy that communicates through writing in journal

[@tonyadull]

Try Kitchen Witch Mysteries by Lynn Cahoon

[@MidloLiz]

I've liked the Three Pines series by Louise Penny

[@n.brrr.7743]

Veronica Speedwell series! ❤

[@Jupitertx79]

Hey Jesse check out the coffeehouse mysteries by Cleo coyle and the first witchcraft mystery by heather blake😊 read series for you

[@Bucky749]

The cat who series by Lillian Jackson Braun

[@FoolishConsistency]

Cash bear series by Marcie R Redon (paranormal element)

[@annag2711]

I enjoy the Haunting Danielle series by Bobbi Holmes

[@FoolishConsistency]

Veronica speedwell mystery series