Who says a murder mystery can't be fun? Cozy fans know that even the most puzzling of crimes can be exciting and even bizarrely uplifting instead of dark and violent. Cozy mysteries earned their fitting moniker as most of the violence happens off the page, keeping the focus squarely on solving the case. Harkening back to the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, cozies tend to revolve around perplexing murders and unconventional investigations.
Cozy mysteries are also unique in that they’re typically helmed by amateur sleuths—people who aren't connected to law enforcement or professionally tied to solving crimes, and have far more intriguing stakes in the mysteries. These everyday detectives also offer listeners the opportunity to be a part of the chase, viewing each mystery as a puzzle they can help piece together. Another hallmark of cozies is that they almost always take place in small towns, with the culprit often someone known in the community.
Unlike the grim worlds of many edge-of-your-seat thrillers, cozies capture the feel of a murder mystery dinner party with friends. They are exhilarating, gratifying, and full of warmth. Whether you're new to the genre or an avid fan, here are 20 of the best cozy mystery audiobooks you'll want to give a listen—from cute and quirky genre gems to fan-fave bestsellers.
The Thursday Murder Club is the first installment in a delightful cozy mystery series that's perfect for fans of the hit television series Only Murders in the Building. (Oh, and speaking of the screen, this listen is soon to be a major motion picture from none other than Steven Spielberg!) The titular club is comprised of four septuagenarians who live together in a retirement home and focus on solving cold cases for fun. But when the friends stumble upon the murder of a property developer, they find themselves confronting a killer who's still actively wreaking havoc.
While amateur sleuths and cozy mysteries go hand in hand, there's something extra special about Vera Wong. She might appear to be a helpless little old lady tea shop owner, but she's much more resourceful than meets the eye. Nothing in her 60 years of life could have prepared her for finding a man dead in her tea shop—still, she knows she can handle this case better than the police. So, it's up to Vera to track down the killer. Narrator Eunice Wong adds even more life, humor, and bite to this lovable character.
Welcome to quaint Miracle Springs, where you can enjoy a fresh-baked scone from the Gingerbread House bakery before perusing the selection over at Miracle Books. Bookshop owner Nora Pennington has a knack for finding the perfect book to cure whatever ails you. When a visiting businessman seeks out her guidance, she's happy to help—even after he turns up dead on the train tracks before arriving at their appointment. Nora won't be at ease again until she can figure out what happened to the man she never met, so she forms a secret society to get to the bottom of his mysterious death. Unravel the clues along with the book and scone crew throughout the six-audiobook series, narrated by award-winning storyteller Cris Dukehart.
Acclaimed actress Lisa Reneé Pitts narrates this charming series of cozy mysteries starring Blanche White, a Black middle-aged woman who is "on the lam," hiding out as a housekeeper for a wealthy family. But her cover is blown when she becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation. Now she must rely on her wits and her network of domestic workers to find out what really happened—or else, her neck is on the line.
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie introduces cozy mystery fans to an exciting new heroine—11-year-old aspiring chemist Flavia de Luce. Flavia lives with her family in a decaying mansion called Buckshaw. In the summer of 1950, when Flavia sees a man die in the family's cucumber patch, she seizes on a murder investigation as the perfect opportunity to put her scientific skills to the test. Audible listeners have praised how “fun” and “fascinating” this audiobook is—in no small part due to the dynamic narration from Jayne Entwistle, who voices Flavia throughout the entire series.
Lady Emily Hardcastle is a retired widow hiding a secret. In 1908, she leaves London for a quieter life in the country with her maid, Florence, who happens to be an expert in martial arts. When a dead body is found in the woods, Lady Hardcastle soon realizes that the police aren't getting the case right. Naturally, she takes matters into her own hands. Multiple Audie Award winner Elizabeth Knowelden narrates A Quiet Life in the Country and every book in this enthralling series. And the 11th audiobook is out this year, so there's no better time to catch up on the sleuthing adventures of Lady Hardcastle and Flo.
Her Royal Spyness is the first in a captivating cozy series from Agatha Award-winning author Rhys Bowen. Set in 1930s London, this story follows Lady Victoria "Georgie" Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, who is 34th in line for the throne. Despite her royal lineage, Georgie barely has a penny to her name—oh, and she's just discovered a dead body in her bathtub. The first 11 installments of Bowen's Royal Spyness series are performed by the late Katherine Kellgren, a remarkably gifted narrator who joined the Audible Hall of Fame in 2017. Bowen's characters are so compelling, and they are made even more so through Kellgren's varied voices and inflections, distinguishing each one. For the later books in the series, including 2023's Book 17, Jasmine Blackborow brings a host of talents all her own.
If you love the idea of a cozy mystery featuring adorable pets (who can talk), make Wish You Were Here your next listen. Mrs. Murphy is a tiger cat who lives in the small town of Crozet, Virginia, with her human companion, Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen, and a Welsh Corgi named Tucker. When people in Crozet start turning up murdered, Harry remembers a suspicious postcard that might be a clue, and Tucker and Mrs. Murphy are right by her side to help solve the case. Start with the first book in the series, and then take your pick from over 30 more animal-filled cozies, all narrated by the always fabulous Kate Forbes.
Agatha Christie's Miss Marple Mystery series is the perhaps the quintessential classic cozy, and it all begins with The Murder at the Vicarage. In the sleepy village of St. Mary Mead, local magistrate Colonel Protheroe is shot in the head in a clergyman’s study. So many villagers had reasons to want the man dead. But only sweet Miss Marple—an elderly spinster with an eye for investigation—will be able to weed out the suspects to discover who committed the crime. Richard E. Grant's narration captures the intrigue, suspense, and humor in this unforgettable classic.
After pastry chef Kate McGuire loses her restaurant job in Manhattan and breaks up with her fiancé, she decides to start over in the small town of Coral Cay, Florida, settling into the sweet routine of work at the Cookie House. But escaping the city doesn't mean escaping the drama. Soon after Kate arrives, real estate developer Stewart Lord shows up at the shop to cause trouble for owner Sam Hepplewhite. When Stewart turns up dead after eating Sam's cinnamon rolls, Kate takes on the task of proving that her new boss is not a murderer. This heartwarming cozy mystery series is narrated by Christa Lewis, who brings a unique voice and energy to every character in Coral Cay.
Audible fan favorite Katherine Kellgren also leant her voice to A Rather Lovely Inheritance, a cozy mystery kicking off a series that follows historical researcher Penny Nichols. Penny is in the middle of working on a big-budget film in the south of France when she gets a call that an eccentric aunt she barely knew has died. Returning to London for the reading of the will, Penny is shocked to learn that she is the sole heiress to a fortune. What's even more shocking are the revelations into Aunt Penelope's mysterious past. When Penny sets out to apply her research skills, she isn't prepared for what she finds—secret histories, double lives, a second will, and romance.
When Carragh Ryan is hired to take inventory of the Gallagher family's historic library in Deeprath Castle, nestled in the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland, it seems like an easy enough job. But then she meets Aidan, the current Viscount Gallagher, and learns about his tragic past. Aidan's parents were murdered 20 years ago, and the case was never solved. What's more, this isn't the first mysterious death to occur at Deeprath. Locals whisper about the Darkling Bride, an angry ghost who haunts the castle's halls. But what's really going on with the Gallagher family? And as Carragh gets closer to solving the case, could she be the next victim? The Darkling Bride is narrated engagingly by Earphones Award winner Sarah-Jane Drummey.
The Windsor Knot is the first book in a unique cozy mystery series that reimagines the life of Queen Elizabeth II as a clandestine sleuth who juggles solving crimes with carrying out her royal duties. It all starts in the spring of 2016 when the Queen is preparing to celebrate her 90th birthday, and a Russian pianist is found strangled in a bedroom at Windsor Castle. At first, everyone assumes the pianist killed himself, but the Queen is not so sure. And so, with the help of her Assistant Private Secretary, Rozie Oshodi, the Queen secretly begins her own investigation. The late Queen is a voice and figure well-known to contemporary readers, but SJ Bennett, with the help of narrator Jane Copland, brings new life to her Majesty.
Come for the A+ performance from Lauren Ambrose, star of Six Feet Under, Servant, and Yellowjackets. Stay for Nita Prose's unputdownable mystery, featuring an amateur sleuth who will tug at your heartstrings. 25-year-old Molly Gray used to have her Gran to help her navigate the world. But now Gran has died, and Molly finds herself alone and a little confused by a lot of things. Despite her struggles with reading social cues and understanding others' intentions, Molly finds her way to a job as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, where cleanliness and routine bring some much-needed order to her life. That's abruptly upended when Molly enters a suite to discover the infamous and wealthy Mr. Charles Black dead. Right away, the police suspect she's involved. Fortunately, her new friends at the hotel are there to help Molly prove her innocence.
Looking for a cozy mystery series with plenty of cuddly critters? Jennifer J. Chow's Sassy Cat Mystery series delivers. This listen introduces Mimi Lee, her Los Angeles pet grooming shop, Hollywoof, and her talking cat, Marshmallow. When local breeder Russ Nolan goes missing, police suspect Mimi Lee immediately. Why? Just the day before, she'd gotten into a shouting match with Nolan about his mistreatment of Chihuahuas. Now, along with saving a whole bunch of little pups, Mimi Lee has to save herself from being charged with murder. Thankfully, she has Marshmallow by her side and a handsome neighbor to lend a hand. Narrator Natalie Naudus brings her fun and energetic storytelling skills to every book in the series.
Food anthropologist Miriam Quiñones-Smith decided to take a break from her academic career in New York to spend more time with her young son in Coral Shores, Miami, but she still wants to do something interesting. Happily, she lands a job as a Caribbean cooking expert on a Spanish-language TV morning show. As her new life starts to take off, she attends a Women's Club luncheon where a socialite drops dead at her table. When another woman dies soon after, suspicion turns to a Cuban herbalist. Police need someone with eyes and ears inside the local Spanish-speaking community of socialites and foodies. Miriam's life is about to get a lot more interesting—and dangerous. Narrator Frankie Corzo infuses this cozy culinary trilogy with authenticity and just the right amount of spice.
If you're a fan of cozy culinary mysteries, Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series is a must-listen. The full series is narrated by actress Danice Cabanela, who makes the diverse cast of characters come alive in a way that's genuine and entertaining. In Arsenic and Adobo, Lila Macapagal has just survived a rough breakup and moved back home to help save her Tita Rosie's struggling restaurant, while contending with matchmaking aunties who won't leave her alone. Oh, and her ex also happens to be a notorious food critic. Of course, with her luck, he shows up at the restaurant, and they get into a fight. The next thing Lila knows, her ex is dead, and she's the prime suspect. Thankfully, Lila has a whole team of meddling aunties on her side.
This cozy magical mystery duology, narrated by the talented Emily Durante, is set in the small town of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina—a place Aleksandra Daniels has avoided since her mother's tragic death 20 years ago. Still, when her estranged aunt and cousins invite her to help them run the family business, an herbal apothecary, Alex decides it's time to return. She isn't prepared for a homecoming to rumors about her relatives—according to talk around the town, her family is full of magical healers descended from mermaids. Nonsense, right? That's what Alex thinks. But when someone is poisoned, and her Aunt Lidia is arrested, Alex starts to take the gossip seriously. After all, if she can't find out the truth about her family, how can she begin to prove her aunt's innocence?
Have you ever dreamed of opening up your own mystery bookshop? Samantha Washington is living that dream, getting ready for the opening of her mystery bookstore while also penning her own cozy mystery. Suddenly, the mystery leaps off the page and into real life when a realtor turns up dead in Samantha's backyard, and she becomes a person of interest. Will Samantha be able to close the case before her bookstore opens? Fortunately, she knows a lot about solving murder mysteries, and she has her feisty grandmother and friends to pitch in. Audie Award winner Kate Rudd performs The Plot Is Murder to a T.
The Finlay Donovan mystery series is so hilarious, and narrator Angela Dawe's delivery just adds to the humor. Single mom and author, Finlay Donovan is not a contract killer. But when someone overhears Finlay discussing the plot of her novel with her agent over lunch, mistakes are made. Before she knows what hit her, Finlay has somehow accepted a hit job. Writing about crime in her novels isn't an easy job, but what about tackling crime in real life? Yeah, that's a lot more challenging.
