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Plot Cozy Mysteries Without Losing the Charm
A Simple Guide for Writers Who Love the Genre.
Keep Your Whodunit Warm and Full of Personality.
Cozy mysteries are small-town stories with quirky characters, warm settings, and a murder more puzzling than gruesome. Plotting them takes more than a clever twist.
Begin with something that matters to your sleuth. The victim was a friend, a neighbor, or someone tied to the community. If your amateur detective runs a bakery, the murder could happen at the farmers market.
Avoid starting with a generic crime scene. Tie the murder to a place or event your sleuth cares about.
Cozy mysteries thrive on character. Suspects should feel like they belong in the world. Give them routines, relationships, and secrets. A nosy librarian, a grumpy handyman, a cheerful florist.
Each suspect has a motive, even if it’s weak. Don’t forget red herrings. A suspect who looks guilty but isn’t adds tension without making the story dark.
Readers come to cozy mysteries for the puzzle, not the gore. Describe the scene, but avoid graphic details. Focus on what your sleuth sees and feels. The room is too quiet. There’s a broken teacup. The clues speak louder than the blood.
