Hi Cozy Mystery Site Readers!
I just received a question from a site reader who also writes mysteries. So far, she has published short stories and is working on a cozy mystery. She would really appreciate our help. Here is her question:
“Do cozies need dead bodies? Are the stories more exciting when they do have dead bodies or have you never really noticed?
I know there are a couple of cozies that come to mind that don’t have a dead body (there are some in the series, but not necessarily in every book.) Sometimes that works for me, sometimes, not. Usually it seems to have more to do with how entertaining the characters and story are overall.
Anyway, I was hoping you’d have an opinion–or maybe even knew of some additional cozies without dead bodies that I could read for reference!!!
If you have any insight, I’d love to hear it!!!
Thanks!“
I must tell you all, as a follow-up with the above author, she said:
“Now just know–there’s a character in my book… her LIFE depends on the answer we get!!!!!“
How is that for motivation?!?
So, please don’t be shy. If you have an opinion, a recommendation, or a thought on this particular query, we’d love to hear from you!
Jeannie says
Since I don’t want to make an assumption, I’m going to ask a question back first: If there isn’t a body, is there at least some sort of mystery for me to puzzle out while I’m reading? If yes, then no, I don’t “need” a body. If no, then yes I do because otherwise I’m just reading a novel. Not a bad thing of course, but not the reason I gravitate toward the mystery section of a bookstore versus the fiction section.
The non-murder mystery has to be compelling too. Perhaps it’s even harder to write. Put a body in the library, even one of a despicable person, and I’m going to want to know who killed him/her and why. Pretty much a situation of if you have A, then B is likely to follow. With a non-murder book, I would think it might be harder to set up. I’m not necessarily going to care who ate the last piece of Grandma Edna’s famous apple pie, but I will care who stole the Faberge egg that supposedly holds a clue to where the rest of the Russian crown jewels are. So not only do I want a mystery, I want an interesting one as well.
I don’t envy a cozy writer’s job. On the one hand the mystery, whatever it may be, has to be compelling. On the other hand, a compelling mystery with bad characters will not bring me back to the series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Wow, Jeannie, I absolutely could NOT have said it better!!!
I totally agree with everything you posted… right down to the Faberge egg with the clue VS Grandma Edna’s famous apple pie.
Laura says
Very well said Jeannie! Character development is high on my list of importance. There does not necessarily have to be a dead body. I think my favorite Sherlock Holmes story is “The Blue Carbuncle”. That had to do with a theft of a precious gem and an innocent man being imprisoned for it. It was important that the real thief be found and the convoluted path to finding him was interesting.
Dru says
I’m trying to recall all the cozy mysteries that I read and I think all if not most have a dead body. I like that fact that the amauteur sleuth is trying to solve the crimes when they feel the police are doing enough.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I also had a difficult time remembering a cozy without a body, Dru.
Laura, I totally forgot about The Blue Carbuncle >>> great story without a body.
Maria BearMountainBooks says
Good answers! Does anyone remember whether Janet Evanovich’s first (One for the Money) had a dead body? I don’t think it did…not even sure the second or third one did. I know there were bodies cropping up later, but it’s been a long time since I read the beginning of the series!
Jeannie says
Thanks everyone.
I, too, had forgotten about the Blue Carbuncle. That was a great story.
I’m having a hard time remembering a cozy that doesn’t have a body as well so I’m going to throw something else out: Anybody remember a story that has 2 mysteries going on? Say a murder plus a missing whatever? Would the book have worked just as well with only the missing whatever?
I’m thinking particularly of Rett MacPherson’s Tory O’Shea mysteries. There’s always something in a family’s history that Tory needs to figure out. Because I like Tory and the characters that surround her, I’d be happy if Rett wrote a story simply around a family mystery in which nobody died. (I have absolutely no idea what the mystery could be, but I’d be interested in it.)
Tori Lennox says
I was going to say yes but then I remembered the “Spirit” series by Alice Duncan. They have a mystery to solve but nobody dies as far as I can remember.
Donna Lea Simpson says
What about the 1st Ladies Detective series… is there always a body? I seem to remember at least one that didn’t? Not sure, though.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hi Donna,
I think you’re right about these “mysteries.” Right now I am listening to Tea Time for the Traditionally Built, which has, as its “mystery” the perpetual losing streak of a soccer team.
Maria BearMountainBooks says
Okay, this is pretty far off the beaten path–but there was NO dead body and I loved the book anyway!
Big Hair and Flying Cows by Dolores J. Wilson
The mystery is mostly about mysterious threatening letters. The book centers on the adventures/capers of Bertie, a lady that drives a tow-truck in a small town…it’s quite funny (though at times a little too sappy) and I enjoyed it!