Historical Cozy Mysteries
Historical cozy mysteries are a sub-genre of cozy mysteries with plots and characters set in the past. These cozies are a great way to explore another era while solving a fun puzzle mystery. You can find historical mysteries set in lots of different time periods. All of the historical mystery books on this page have amateur sleuths, clever plots, and positive reader reviews. You can find more historical cozy mysteries in the Cozy Crime Reads Amazon Bookstore.
Historical cozy mysteries whisk you away to another era and show you what it was like to live in another time. Here are 10 Must-Read Historical Mysteries to help you explore this cozy mystery sub-genre.
Victorian Era Cozy Mysteries feature amateur sleuths, page-turning historical intrigue, and clever puzzles set in atmospheric settings like gaslit London streets and rolling country estates.
The UFO Frenzy by Abigail Scott is a delightfully unique 1980s cozy mystery about a no-nonsense Korean housewife determined to uncover what is really behind the supposed alien abductions in her UFO-obsessed town.
A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder is a delightful historical cozy mystery brimming with period detail, clever wit, and charming characters. The amateur sleuth, Frances, is sensible, resourceful, and keenly observant.
Murder at Rosecliff by Alyssa Maxwell is a Gilded Age mystery featuring a female newspaper editor who must help a society reporter after a party crasher is found dead in a fountain during an elegant soiree in Newport, Rhode Island.
The Bravest Hour by Anna Lee Huber is an action-packed historical mystery about a sharp-witted British Intelligence agent who finds herself incarcerated in Ireland as the war between the Irish Republican Army and the British intensifies.
Tanked by Bessie Barr is a charming frontier-era historical cozy mystery with a farmwife sleuth who serves up justice with the help of her knitting circle after a New Year's Day murder takes place in their small town.
The Belgravia Phantom is a brilliant closed-circle mystery with a perfect blend of intrigue, heart, and clever detection. Ellis Blackwood has created an absolute gem of a story for anyone who loves immersive historical fiction.
Murder in Manhattan is a witty historical tale set against a sparkling city backdrop. Julie Mulhern's charming characters and talent for crafting engaging mysteries make the story fun and suspenseful.
Death Wasn't Invited takes readers on an adventurous investigation through 1920s Paris. It’s easy to root for the feisty heroine while puzzling out the high-society intrigue and Christie-style murder mystery.
A Botanist's Guide to Tradition and Treachery is a smart and sophisticated historical mystery that perfectly blends botanical knowledge, 1920s atmosphere, and compelling characters into a page-turning adventure.
The Abduction of Rosalind Thorne is a Jane Austen-inspired Regency-era mystery with a well-matched crime-solving duo. Author Darcie Wilde expertly blends charm, romance, suspense, and intrigue that build to a big ending.
Death on the Lanai feels like a Golden Girls TV episode in book form. The best part is the opportunity to hang out with Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia, but this closed-circle mystery also has more than enough twists and laughs to ensure a rollicking good time.
Murder By Cheesecake is a fun, laugh-out-loud cozy mystery featuring Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia, the four Golden Girls we all fell in love with during their TV run from 1985 to 1992. In many ways, it reads like a script from the TV show—and that’s a good thing!
In the Spirit of French Murder puts a delicious twist on the standard historical cozy mystery. The sharp-as-a-kitchen-knife amateur sleuth and her friend, fellow expat and Cordon Bleu student Julia Child, are fun sleuthing partners.
Blood in the Parchment is a medieval mystery with enough intrigue to keep you flipping the pages and enough history to make you feel like you've learned something interesting. The slow-burn sleuthing partnership is a delight.
Secrets of the Maison Fournier is a gripping historical mystery brimming with captivating period detail, bookish intrigue, and engaging storytelling. The slow-burn romance and found-family elements make the story extra cozy.
Eleanor and the South Beach Murders is a blend of history and suspense against the glamorous backdrop of 1950s Miami. With high-stakes danger, fascinating real-life figures, and a smart heroine, this historical mystery is an irresistible read.
Vengeance in Venice combines a magnificent setting with engaging historical details, shocking twists, and unforgettable characters. The result is a fantastic historical mystery that feels like an adventurous and intriguing vacation in Venice.
Arsenic, Old Lace, and Murder takes place in a fun era (the 1990s) in a charming rural Midwest setting and boasts a very creative premise. The mystery is tangled and twisty, with just the right amount of tension to make it suspenseful yet cozy.
Not They Who Soar is a shining example of how good historical mysteries can be. This award-winning mystery is impeccably researched and peppered with real-life historical figures and events that you'll want to learn more about.
The Case of the Christie Wedding Affair has an atmospheric setting and a gothic feel with an opposites-attract romance. The mystery has a layered plot with lots of suspects, twists, and turns.
The Red House Mystery is an engaging and accessible Golden Age locked-room mystery by A.A. Milne, the author of Winnie the Pooh. The plot is well-crafted, and the everyman sleuth is easy to root for.
Murder at Gulls Nest is an extraordinary historical cozy mystery with a seaside setting, a fascinating protagonist, and dynamite storytelling. This whodunit will stick with you long after you close the book.
The Deep End is a genre-blending novel that masterfully blends cozy mystery and women's fiction with 1970s nostalgia. The result is a humorous, engaging whodunit with a unique heroine.
Bad Blood is an entertaining and satisfying read that skillfully balances humor, suspense, and period details. The heroine is smart and sassy with dry wit and a complicated social life that creates intrigue all on its own.
Danger at Darkmoor Park is an intoxicating blend of romance, yuletide spirit, and clever sleuthing. It's the kind of holiday mystery that makes you want to sip cocoa and solve crimes by the fire.
Murder Under a Mystic Moon is a richly atmospheric 1930s cozy mystery that strikes the perfect balance between glamour, history, and intrigue. Real historical figures are woven into the narrative in ways that feel fun and organic.
Misery Hates Company is a good match for readers who like rich, witty prose and gothic mysteries. The amateur sleuth, Miss Marigold Manners, is also easy to admire. She is a strong and determined New Woman who plans "to do what she was meant to do and let the world learn to catch up."
Murder at Donwell Abbey is an extraordinarily entertaining historical cozy mystery featuring Jane Austen’s clever Emma Knightley as an amateur sleuth. The story's grand estate setting and extravagant betrothal ball provide the perfect backdrop for a Regency-era mystery.
The Drury Lane Murders is an immersive and thrilling story with richly-drawn characters, atmospheric settings, and impeccably researched historical details. A triumph in the historical cozy mystery genre.
The Frost Fair Murders delivers a richly atmospheric and engrossing historical mystery. The vivid details transport readers to a different time and place that is equal parts revelry and peril.
The Brampton Ghost Murders is a delightful fusion of historical authenticity, cozy suspense and sharp-witted sleuthing. Ellis Blackwood has created a story that is brilliantly atmospheric and stays with you long after the final page.
The Crown Jewels Murders is a gem of a historical mystery. The richly drawn setting, the vibrant descriptions, and the fantastically crafted plot combine to create a divine reading experience. A superb entry in a superb series.
Jacob's Last Standish is a fantastic finale and the perfect wrap-up to a brilliant cozy mystery series. Author Ellis Blackwood once again delivers the perfect blend of historical immersion and expertly crafted mystery.
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