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Cozy Mystery Authors

A Cozy Mystery usually takes place in a benign universe, in a small town setting. They usually involve a domestic crime, one without violence or bloodshed, committed with a blunt instrument or poison. Cozies are most often solved by gifted amateur detectives, and involve solving some form of a puzzle through observation, deduction and the keen understanding of human nature. There is no graphic violence or use of strong language.

(New additions denoted with an * )

• Author. Series Characters, Character's Profession, and Character's Hometown
• Abbott, Jeff Jordan Poteet, Librarian, Mirabeau, Texas

• *Adams, Harold Carl Wilcox, Ex-Convict Sign-Painter, 1930s South Dakota

• Aird, Catherine Christopher "Seedy" Sloan, Inspector, West Calleshire, England
• Albert, Susan Wittig China Bales, Herb Shop owner, Texas
• Allingham, Margery Albert Campion, Sleuth, London
• Atherton, Nancy Aunt Dimity, Romantic English Ghost, England
• Barnard, Robert Charlie Peace, Detective, Scotland Yard, London
• Barnard, Robert Oddie, Inner city school teacher, London
• Barnard, Robert Perry Trethowan, Inspector, Scotland Yard, London

• *Barron, Stephanie Jane Austen, author, 19C England

• Beaton, M.C. Agatha Raisin, Advertising retiree, Cotswolds, England
• Beaton, M.C. Hamish Macbeth, Police constable, Scotland

• *Beck, K.K. Iris Cooper, Flapper, 1920s Portland Ore.

• *Berenson, Laurien Melanie Travis, Special Ed teacher, Connecticut

• Bishop, Claudia Sarah and Meg Quilliam, Bed & Breakfast owners, New York
• Blake, Nicholas Nigel Strangeways, Amateur sleuth, England

• *Bowen, Rhys Evan Evans, Village Constable, Wales

• *Bowen, Rhys Molly Murphy, Irish Immigrant, Early 1900s New York City

• Boylan, Eleanor Clara Gamadge, Widow of forgery expert, New York City
• Brand, Christianna Inspector Cockrill, Constable, Kent County, England
• Braun, Lilian Jackson Jim Qwilleran and cats Koko & Yum Yum, Ex-police reporter, Midwest
• Breen, Jon Jerry Brogan, Track announcer at Surfside Meadows, California
• Breen, Jon Rachel Hennings, Bookstore owner, Los Angeles
• Brett, Simon Charles Paris, Alcoholic actor, England
• Brett, Simon Melita Pargeter, Widow of a thief, England
• Brightwell, Emily Inspector Witherspoon and housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries, England

• *Brown, Lizbie Elizabeth Blair, American Quilt Shop Owner, Bath England

• Bruce, Leo Sgt. Beef, Village constable, England
• Bruce, Leo Carolus Deene, Master in a boy's school, England
• Burley, W.J. Charles Wycliffe, CID Superintendent, West Country, England

• *Cameron, Dana Emma Fielding, Archaeologist, Various Locations

• Cannell, Dorothy Ellie & Ben Haskell, Interior decorator & writer/chef, England
• Carr, John Dickson (also Dickson, Carter) Dr. Gideon Fell, England

• *Carvic, Heron/Crane,Hamilton Miss Emily D. Seeton, Retired Art Teacher, England

• Caudwell, Sarah Hilary Tamar, Professor of Medieval law, Oxford, England

• *Charles, Nora Kate Kennedy, Senior Citizen, Florida

• *Chesney, Marion Captain Harry Cartwright and Lady Rose Summer, Edwardian England

• Chesterton, G.K. Father Brown, England

• *Childs, Laura Theodosia Browning, Tea Shop Owner, Charleston, South Carolina

• *Childs, Laura Carmela Bertrand, Scrapbooking Shop Owner, New Orleans

• Christie, Agatha Hercules Poirot, Belgian cop-turned private detective, London
• Christie, Agatha Miss Jane Marple, Spinster, St. Mary's Mead, England
• Christie, Agatha Tuppence & Tommy Beresford, Adventurers for hire/intelligence agents, England

• *Christmas, Joyce Betty Trenka, Retired Office Manager, Connecticut

• *Christmas, Joyce Lady Margaret Priam, New York City

• Churchill, Jill Jane Jeffry, Suburban single mother, Chicago
• Cleeves, Ann George & Molly Palmer-Jones, Ex-Home official/Bird-watcher & wife, Surrey, England
• Clinton-Baddeley, V.C. Dr. R.V. Davie, Professor, Cambridge, England
• Comfort, B. Tish McWhinney, 70ish artist, Vermont
• Conant, Susan Holly Winter, Dog trainer, Cambridge, Massachusetts

• *Corwin, C.R. Maddy Sprowls, 60+ Newspaper Librarian, Ohio City

• *Coyle, Cleo Clare Cosi, Coffee House Manager, Greenwich Village

• *Craig, Philip J. W. Jackson, Ex-Boston Cop, Martha’s Vineyard,

• Crispin, Edmund Gervase Fen, Oxford professor of English, England
• Cross, Amanda Kate Fansler, English professor, New York City

• *Daheim, Mary Emma Lord, Newspaper Owner, Alpine, Washington

• *Daheim, Mary Judith McMonigle Flynn, B & B Owner, Seattle

• Daly, Elizabeth Henry Gamadge, Author & bibliophile, New York City

• *Dams, Jeanne Dorothy Martin, Retired American schoolteacher, England

• *Dams, Jeanne Hilda Johansson, Swedish Immigrant Servant, South Bend, Indiana

• Davidson, Diane Mott Goldy Bear, Caterer & single mom, Aspen Meadow, Colorado
• Dean, S.F.X. Professor Kelly, College professor, New England

• *Deere, Dicey Torrey Tunet, Translator, Irish Village

• *Dobson, Joanne Karen Pelletier, English Professor, Massachusetts

• Dunn, Carola Daisy Dalrymple, Aristocrat, Chelsea, England
• Elkins, Aaron Chris Norgren, Art museum curator, Seattle, Washington
• Elkins, Aaron Gideon Oliver, Anthropology professor, Port Angeles, Washington

• *Farmer, Jerrilyn Madeline Bean, Caterer, Hollywood

• Ferrars, E.X. Andrew Basnett, Botany professor, England
• Ferrars, E.X. Supt. Ditteridge, Police superintendent, England
• Ferrars, E.X. Toby Dyke, Amateur sleuth, England
• Ferrars, E.X. Virginia & Felix Freer, Physiotherapist & businessman, England

• *Fluke, Joanne Hannah Swensen, Diner Manager, Lake Eden, Minnesota

• *Fowler, Elaine Benni Harper, Folk Art Museum Curator, California

• Fraser, Antonia Jemima Shore, Television interviewer, England
• Frazer, Margaret Sr. Frevisse, Medieval nun, Oxford, England

• *George, Anne Mouse Hollowell, Retired English Teacher, Sister Crane, Bar Owner, Alabama

• *Graham, Caroline Tom Barnaby, Chief Inspector, Midsommer, England

• Gray, Gallagher Theodore S. Hubbard & Auntie Lil, elderly personnel manager and dress designer, New York
• Greenwood, John Inspector Mosley, Yorkshire, England

• *Greenwood, Kerry Phryne Fisher, 1920s Melbourne, Australia

• Grimes, Martha Richard Jury, Investigator, Scotland Yard, England
• Hammond, Gerald John Cunningham, War hero & hunting-dog trainer, Scotland
• Hammond, Gerald Keith Calder, Gunsmith & sport shooter, Newton Lauder, Scotland
• Hardwick, Mollie Doran Fairweather, Antiques dealer, Kent, England
• Hart, Carolyn Annie Laurance & Max Darling, Bookstore owner & investigator, South Carolina
• Hart, Carolyn Henrietta O'Dwyer Collins, 70ish reporter, South Carolina

• *Haywood, Gar Anthony Joe Dottie Loudermilk, Retired, Traveling in the USA

• *Henry, Sue Maxie McNab, Widow, Traveling in the USA

• Hess, Joan Arly Hanks, Police chief, Maggody, Arkansas
• Hess, Joan Claire Malloy, Bookstore owner, Farberville, Arkansas
• Heyer, Georgette Superintendent Hannasyde, Police superintendent, England
• Holt, Hazel Sheila Malory, Literary magazine writer, Devon, England
• Holtzer, Susan Anneke Haagen, Computer consultant, Michigan

• *Hunter, Maddy Emily Andrew, Tour Guide, Various Locations

• Innes, Michael George Appleby, Aristocratic inspector, England
• Kallen, Lucille Maggie Rome & C.B. Greenfield, Reporter & editor/publisher, Connecticut

• *Kingsbury, Kate Cecily Sinclair, Hotel Owner, Edwardian England

• *Kingsbury, Kate Lady Elizabeth Hartleigh Compton, WWII England

• Knight, Kathryn Lasky Calista Jacobs, Children's book illustrator, Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Langton, Jane Homer Kelly, Harvard professor & retired detective, Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Lathen, Emma John Putnam Thatcher, Wall Street financial whiz, New York City

• *Laurence, Janet Darina Lisle, Caterer, West Country, England

• Lemarchand, Elizabeth Tom Pollard & Gregory Toye, Scotland Yard detectives, England

• *Linscott, Gillian Nell Bray, Suffragette, England

• Lockridge, Frances and Richard Inspector Merton Heimrich, State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, NYC
• Lockridge, Frances and Richard Pam & Jerry North, Book publisher & wife, New York City

• *Lutz, Lisa Isabele “Izzy” Spellman, 28-Year Old Private Eye, San Francisco

• McCrumb, Sharyn Elizabeth MacPherson, Forensic anthropologist, Southern U.S.
• McCrumb, Sharyn Dr. James Owens Mega, College professor & science-fiction author
• McCrumb, Sharyn Spencer Arrowood, Sheriff, Appalachia

• *McKevett, G.A Savannah Reid, Private Eye, Southern California

• MacLeod, Charlotte Peter Shandy & Helen Marsh Shandy, Botany professor & librarian, Massachusetts
• MacLeod, Charlotte Sarah Kelling & Max Bittersohn, Investigators, Boston

• *MacPherson, Rett Victoria O’Shea, Genealogist, Missouri Small Town

• *Maffini, Mary Jane Fiona Silk, Romance Writer, Quebec

• *Maffini, Mary Jane Camilla MacPhee, Violent Crime Victim Advocate, Ottawa

• Marsh, Ngaio Roderick Alleyn, Inspector son of a baron, London

• *Martin, Nancy Nora, Emma, and Libby Blackbird, Heiresses, Philadelphia

• *Meier, Leslie Lucy Stone, Wife and Mother, Maine Small Town

• Monfredo, Miriam Grace Glynis Tryon, Librarian and suffragette, Seneca Falls, NY
• Morice, Anne Tessa Crichton, Actress sleuth, England

• *Mortimer, John Horace Rumpole, Barrister, London

• Murphy, Haughton Reuben Frost, Retired Wall Street attorney, New York City

• *Myers, Tamar Abigail Timberlake, Antique Shop Owner, Charlotte, North Carolina

• *Myers, Tamar Magdalena Yoder, Mennonite Inn Owner, Pennsylvania

• Page, Katherine Hall Faith Sibley Fairchild, Minister's wife/culinary artist, Massachusetts
• Paige, Robin Kathryn Ardleigh, American author, Victorian Dedham, England

• *Penny, Louise Armand Gamache, Chief Inspector, Québec

• Peters, Elizabeth Amelia Peabody, Victorian feminist archaeologist, Kent, England
• Peters, Elizabeth Jacqueline Kirby, Librarian romance writer, New York
• Peters, Elizabeth Vicky Bliss, Art historian, Bavaria, Germany
• Peters, Ellis Brother Cadfael, Medieval monk & herbalist, Shrewsbury, England
• Peters, Ellis George, Bunty & Dominic Felse, Family of detectives, Comersford, Shropshire, England
• Pickard, Nancy Jenny Cain, Foundation director, Port Frederick, Massachusetts
• Pulver, Mary Monica Peter & Kori Price Brichter, Police detective & horse breeder, Illinois
• Rich, Virginia Eugenia Potter, Widowed chef, Maine & Arizona

• *Roberts, Gillian Amanda Pepper, Private Prep School Teacher, Philadelphia

• *Rowe, Jennifer Birdie Birdwood, TV Researcher, Australia

• Rowlands, Betty Melissa Craig, Mystery writer, Cotswolds, England
• Sayers, Dorothy L. Lord Peter Wimsey, Pianist, bibliophile & criminologist, London

• *Scoppettone, Sandra Faye Quick, Private Eye, 1940s New York City

• *Scoppettone, Sandra Lauren Laurano, Lesbian Private Eye, Manhattan

• Sherwood, John Celia Grant, Widowed owner of a horticultural business, England

• *Simpson, Dorothy Luke Thanet, Police Inspector, England

• *Smith, Alexander McCall Isabel Dalhousie, Amateur Philosopher, Edinburgh

• *Smith, Alexander McCall Mma Precious Ramotswe, Private Eye, Botswana

• Sprinkle, Patricia Sheila Travis, Public relations executive, Atlanta

• *Strohmeyer, Sarah Bubbles Yablonsky, Hairdresser and Journalist, Lehigh, Pennsylvania

• Taylor, Phoebe Atwood Asey Mayo, Sailor & auto racer, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
• Tey, Josephine Alan Grant, Inspector, Scotland Yard, England

• *Thompson, Victoria Sarah Brandt, Midwife, 1890s New York City

• Trocheck, Kathy Hogan Callahan Garrity, Cleaning service operator, Atlanta

• *Viets, Elaine Francesca Vierling, Journalist, St. Louis

• *Viets, Elaine Helen Hawthorne, Minimum-Wage Worker, Florida

• *Viets, Elaine Josie Marcus, Undercover Store Spy,  St. Louis

• Walsh, Jill Paton Imogene Quy, School nurse, Cambridge, England
• Watson, Colin Walter Purbright, Inspector, Flaxborough, England
• Wentworth, Patricia Ernest Lamb, Police inspector, London
• Wentworth, Patricia Miss Maud Silver, Retired governess & spinster P.I., London

• *Winspear, Jacquelin Maisie Dobbs, Psychologist and Private Eye, 1920s – 30s London

• *Wolzien, Valerie Josie Pigeon, All-Woman Construction Firm Owner, Northeast USA

  *Wolzien, Valerie Susan Henshaw, Suburban Housewife, Connecticut

Based on a list created by Helene Androski, Reference Librarian at UW-Madison Memorial Library (updated 1/2009)