Category: Contemporary Setting
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One Author, Two Cozy Mystery Series I’m Loving Now

Author Debra Sennefelder’s two series, which feature a food blogger and a consignment store owner, are a well-written respite from the daily barrage of horrendous news out of our nation’s capital. Learn to rest, not quit.
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Family Matters: A Veteran Author Pens a Cozy with Heart

This fun read pairs a fiery grandmother with her wayward granddaughter as they hunt a killer — and a tortoise — in a blazing hot retirement community. Along the way, some family secrets are laid bare.
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An Archaeologist Contends With An Unbelievable Discovery in this Fast-Moving Tale

Ancient stories and modern politics mix in this series debut about a Pakistani archaeologist faced with the find of a lifetime. But how it is related to her missing niece?
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My Favorite Mysteries Set in National Parks and Wild Places

It’s the time of year when I’m dreaming of adventures in national parks. Here are four books that transport you to these beautiful spaces, via park rangers, a senior sleuth and a rank amateur, with the added spice of murder.
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Edgar Awards 2025: What Mystery Writers Selected as The Best

This year’s winners include a final outing for PI Maisie Dobbs and the story of an aspiring writer who finds her literary idol murdered the day after she gives him her manuscript.
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Agatha Award Winners 2025: Celebrating Traditional Mysteries

This year’s winners include an historical cozy featuring the intrepid sister of the Wright Brothers and a thriller about a Vietnamese-American artist whose picture-perfect life is starting to unravel.
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Humor Helps Our Sleuth Solve More than One Murder in San Francisco

At 49, Capricorn “Capri” Sanzio’s life has been defined by her grandfather’s long-ago conviction as the serial killer “Overkill Bill.” Now she’s got the chance to solve a pair of copycat killings — and clear his name.
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A Monster Hunter Searches for Loch Ness and More in this Entertaining Series

Meet Morgan Carter, quirky bookstore owner and cryptozoologist. Her passion for monster hunting has her seeking Bigfoot and other cryptids, all while fleeing her own parents’ killer.
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Left Coast Crime Awards 2025: One Female Sleuth Winner

Immediately added to my TBR list: A former reporter must investigate a murder with the detective who broke her heart in their native Hawaii in the Best Debut Mystery Novel winner.
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An Amateur Sleuth’s Adventures in Academia Provide a Cozy Diversion

In troubled times, a well-written cozy offers welcome respite from the day’s news. Cynthia Kuhn’s series features a sharp protagonist, a look at life on campus from someone who’s been there, and a lively sense of humor.
