Cozy Mystery Book Publishers
Large and Small Cozy Mystery Publishers
Authors seeking a cozy mystery publisher have lots of options—from small digital-first operations to some of the largest publishers in the world. You can determine the best match for your cozy mystery novel by checking out their recent, current, and upcoming titles; looking at their submission guidelines; and finding out what they're seeking now. Doing thorough research will help you feel confident and prepared when approaching publishers.
The following list of cozy mystery publishers is not exhaustive, but it is a good starting point for research. Do lots of research to understand the options and terms available to you.
Make sure you feel confident, secure, and in control of your choices before signing anything. Consider getting an attorney or an experienced industry professional to look over publishing contracts and help you navigate terms you do not fully understand. Be especially cautious of scams and bad publishing deals.
And remember, self-publishing is always an option, especially in the cozy mystery genre. Considering alternative publishing avenues can help you feel hopeful and open-minded about your options.
Cozy Mystery Book Publishers
Berkley
Berkley is a large publisher with thousands of titles in every genre. Many of their cozy mystery books are part of long-running series. Some examples are:
Coffeehouse Mysteries by Cleo Coyle
Cat in the Stacks Mysteries by Miranda James
Tea Shop Mysteries by Laura Childs
Library Lover's Mysteries by Jenn McKinlay
Bookouture
Bookouture is a digital publisher and a division of Hachette UK. They publish bestselling commercial fiction, including cozy mystery books. Their books have international appeal and are often part of a series. Examples of Bookouture cozy mystery series include:
Lady Eleanor Swift Mysteries by Verity Bright
Miss Underhay Mysteries by Helena Dixon
Mercy McCarthy Mysteries by Lucy Connelly
Eve Mallow Mysteries by Clare Chase
Crooked Lane Books
Founded in 2015, Crooked Lane is a large crime fiction publisher with print and online editions. They publish standalone mystery and suspense novels and cozy mystery series. Examples of Crooked Lane cozy mysteries include:
Key West Food Critic Mysteries by Lucy Burdette
Lighthouse Library Mysteries by Eva Gates
Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries by Jaqueline Frost
Food Truck Mysteries by Carmela Dutra
Gemma Halliday Publishing
Gemma Halliday Publishing is a boutique, series-driven cozy mystery publisher that works with many debut authors. The company, founded in 2013 by award-winning, bestselling author Gemma Halliday, publishes cozy mysteries and humorous romance mysteries. Some examples of cozy mysteries from Gemma Halliday Publishing include:
Merry Wrath Mysteries by Leslie Langtry
Northwoods Mysteries by Annie McEwen
Cookies and Chance Mysteries by Catherine Bruns
Modern Midwife Mysteries by Christine Knapp
Kensington Publishing Corp.
Kensington Publishing Corp. is an independent, family-owned book publisher founded in 1974. They have several imprints, including the Kensington Cozies imprint, which was launched in January 2002. Kensington is one of the largest and best-known cozy mystery publishers. They publish around 300 books per year (not all of them are cozies). Kensington cozy mysteries include:
Amish Candy Shop Mysteries by Amanda Flower
Gilded Newport Mysteries by Alyssa Maxwell
Domestic Diva Mysteries by Krista Davis
Irish Village Mysteries by Carlene O'Connor
Joffe Books
Joffe Books is one of the largest independent publishers in the UK. They acquired several imprints since their founding in 2014, including Severn House Imprint in 2026. Examples of cozy mysteries published through Joffe Books and its imprint Severn House include:
Vintage Cookbook Mysteries by Ellen Byron
Antique Shop Mysteries by Judith Butler
Charity Shop Detective Agency Mysteries by Peter Boland
Enchanted Bay Mysteries by Esme Addison
Level Best Books
Founded in 2003, Level Best Books is a small independent press that publishes cozy mysteries and other crime novels and anthologies. They have published several award-nominated and award-winning cozy mystery books. Examples of their cozy mystery series include:
Rare Books Cozy Mysteries by Daphne Silver
Trending Topics Mysteries by Sarah E. Burr
Zen Goat Mysteries by Janna Rollins
Babs Norman Golden Age of Hollywood Mysteries by Elizabeth Crowens
Minotaur Books
Minotaur Books is an imprint of St. Martin's Publishing Group, which is part of Macmillan, one of the Big Five publishers (the largest and most influential publishers). They publish crime fiction books, including cozy mystery books. Some examples of Minotaur series include:
Deep Dish Mysteries by Mindy Quigley
Meg Lanslow Mysteries by Donna Andrews
Sarah Booth Delaney Mysteries by Carolyn Haines
Noodle Shop Mysteries by Vivien Chien
Poisoned Pen Press
Poisoned Pen Press is the mystery imprint of Sourcebooks. They publish cozy mysteries, traditional mysteries, and thrillers. Examples of Poisoned Pen Press cozy mysteries include:
Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood
The Grilled Cheese Mysteries by Linda Reilly
Seaside Café Mysteries by Bree Baker
Farm to Table Mysteries by Amanda Flower
Storm Publishing
Storm Publishing releases books in a variety of genres. They pride themselves on paying industry-leading rates and guaranteeing marketing and publicity for every new release. Some of the cozy mysteries published by Storm include:
The Secret Bookcase Mysteries by Ellie Alexander
English Village Mysteries by Louise Marley
Highland Bookshop Murders by Jackie Baldwin
Widows' Detective Club Mysteries by Amanda Ashby
Tule Publishing
Tule Publishing is another cozy mystery publisher that publishes a range of commercial fiction. This small press focuses primarily on e-publishing. Their books are available in print from major retailers. Cozy mystery series from Tule Publishing include:
Shepherd Sisters Mysteries by Tracy Gardner
Purr-fect Relic Mysteries by Deanna Drake
Wren Winters Mysteries by Shelly Jones
Elmo Simpson Mysteries by J.C. Kenney