Merriam Webster’s definition of the word “cozy”:
Enjoying or affording warmth and ease; marked by or providing contentment or
comfort; marked by the intimacy of the family or a close group.
When I decided to write Murder in the Museum, the first mystery in my Edmund DeCleryk
series, there was no question that it would be a Cozy. I had no idea what the market was for
this type of book even though my own reading preferences lean heavily to the genre, and then I
learned how large the market is. In addition to authors, there are bloggers, social media groups,
and of course thousands and thousands of readers.
Why do so many people like Cozies? I can’t speak for everyone, but here’s my observation: It’s
because they transport us to a gentler and more peaceful world where the characters are
polite, courtesy and civility reign, there is no graphic violence or profanity, and no explicit
intimate scenes. The victim’s death is usually quick and not visible to the reader, and the sleuth
always solves the crime. And there’s typically a diverse and close-knit group of quirky and
interesting characters who get together for meals, and for family and community gatherings.
Some of us Cozy fans may have grown up when life was simpler or, if we didn’t, we yearn for a
life that is. We are overwhelmed by the constant stream of news about a violent and unstable
world where something disastrous occurs every day. Cozies help us escape from not only a
fractured world, but sometimes our own worries, too, and transport us to a time and place
where certainly there’s good and evil, but good always prevails.
I’ve heard that Cozies are a women’s genre, that many men aren’t interested in them because
they don’t feature macho sleuths who frequently sacrifice personal relationships to get the job
done. In contrast, comfortable, companionable relationships abound in Cozies. What I’ve
learned is that many men do like Cozies, but they expect a plot that makes sense, well-
developed characters, and a somewhat realistic investigation. Don’t we all?
Since writing the books in my series, I’ve met many devoted Cozy readers. These are unfailingly
good-hearted and caring people who not only enjoy reading the genre but seem to live their
own lives treating others as they would like to be treated. When someone in the Cozy
community reaches out for moral and emotional support, it’s there, in spades.
So, what is it about Cozies that draw me and so many others to the genre? Just about
everything: fine writing; intriguing plot; great characters, for sure, but also a world where
people are kind, good prevails, and readers aren’t constantly assaulted with one disaster after
another. Escapism? Maybe. But what’s so bad about that?
Karen Shughart is the author of the Edmund DeCleryk cozy mystery series, published by Cozy Cat
Press. She has also co-written two additional mysteries with Cozy Cat authors, and two non-fiction books. A member of CWA, North America Chapter, and F.L.A.R.E., she lives with her
husband, Lyle, in Sodus Point, NY.