Sometimes you want a murder mystery without all the darkness and doom. Give me a charming little town, a suspicious death, an amateur detective who has absolutely no business investigating, and maybe a cute bookstore or bakery thrown in for good measure, and I’m happy…
This post may include affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you click on the link and/or purchase from that site. I use that money to keep this blog running. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
And that’s exactly why I love cozy mysteries. They still give you the fun of trying to figure out “whodunit”, but they tend to come with a lighter atmosphere, quirky characters, and settings that make you want to move there… even if there does seem to be a suspicious number of murders happening in such a small town.
And cozy mysteries are perfect for audiobooks because you can settle into the story while you’re driving, cooking, cleaning, or (if you’re like me) working on a DIY project and completely lose track of time.
I’ve listened to quite a few over the years, and these are some of my favorite cozy mystery audiobooks WITH NO SPOILERS. And PS: Some of these titles may be exclusive to an Audible subscription, which I find definitely worth my while. If you’re interested in checking out Audible, you can use this link for a free 30-day trial.
Looking for more warm-and-fuzzy audiobooks to add to your queue? Check out My Top 10 Best Cozy Fantasy Audiobooks. Plus, you can find all of my audiobook favorites here.
1. Mistletoe Murders by Ken Cuperus
Let’s start things off strong with probably my favorite cozy mystery audiobook series, Mistletoe Murders. And as the name suggests, it’s also the perfect holiday season listen (as long as you’re okay with a little murder with your eggnog). This series is the perfect blend of hard-to-solve mysteries, quaint small town characters, and lots of humor mixed in. It’s a full cast production led by the excellent Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother), and it’s been adapted into a Hallmark series, which I highly recommend! They change the mysteries for the TV show, so even if you’ve listened to the audiobooks, you’ll still be surprised. This is an Audible Original, so it’s available for free with an Audible subscription.
PS: If you’re looking for more holiday listens, check out My Top 10 Best Christmas and Holiday Season Audiobooks.
2. Middlebridge Mysteries by Ken Cuperus
Speaking of Mistletoe Murders, let’s talk about its spinoff, Middlebridge Mysteries! This series follows the daughter of one of the main Mistletoe characters, Violet (voiced by Anna Cathcart of XO Kitty), as she makes her way to university to study criminology. And, of course, the murders keep on coming, and it’s up to her to solve them. This Audible Original series isn’t set at Christmastime, so it has more of an autumnal dark-ish academia feel, but it’s still cozy and fun. And Violet’s grumpy professor? Voiced by Eric McCormack (Will & Grace).
PS: If you like the idea of this genre, check out My Top 10 Best Dark Academia Audiobooks.
3. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
If you love cozy mysteries and haven’t read The Thursday Murder Club series, what are you waiting for? It’s one of those series that feels like hanging out with a group of friends… if that group of friends also happened to live in a retirement community and spend their free time solving murders. I love the combination of humor, clever clues, and lovable characters… and the fact that it’s very hard to guess whodunit. I also love Lesley Manville’s narration for the first couple audiobooks in the series. She makes everything feel so light and fun, even with murder afoot.
4. We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
If you like The Thursday Murder Club books, did you know that the author Richard Osman has a new series out called We Solve Murders? The story follows a former police officer, his daughter-in-law, and a retired TV star as they get pulled into a murder investigation that quickly becomes much bigger than any of them expected. I loved the unlikely team at the center of this one, and it has that same lighthearted feel, but with a globe-trotting adventure that keeps the story moving. Plus, the mix of ages and clash of backgrounds makes their dynamic very entertaining.
5. Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Sutanto
In Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, the titular character is a 60-year-old tea shop owner who discovers a dead man in her shop one morning. And instead of simply waiting for the police to solve the case, she decides she might be better at it herself. She’s nosy, determined, and completely convinced that she knows what everyone needs, whether they ask for her advice or not. If you like cozy mysteries with quirky characters, humor, and a lot of personality, this one is a fun listen.
6. The Armchair Detectives by Matt Dunn
If you’re thinking to yourself, “Wow, there sure are a lot of cozy mysteries about amateur elderly detectives out there!”… you’re absolutely right. And The Armchair Detectives is a great addition to that tradition. The series follows a retired government operative named Martin and his former nemesis turned sidekick Albie as they solve murders in idyllic English and exotic locations. Humorous, lots of heart, and surprising twists!
7. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Okay, let’s mix up the ages a bit! The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie follows 11-year-old Flavia de Luce, a brilliant and mischievous girl with a fascination for chemistry and an even bigger fascination with murder. When a mysterious death happens at her family’s home, Flavia decides to investigate it herself. I loved the combination of the English countryside setting and Flavia’s quirky personality. It’s a great audiobook if you want something that feels light and whimsical but still gives you a real mystery to solve, and it’s the first of a dozen books, so you’ll have plenty to binge listen.
8. The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood
Alright, let’s head back to the winning formula with The Marlow Murder Club series! Judith Potts is a 77-year-old crossword creator living a quiet life in the English town of Marlow, until she witnesses a murder from her window. When the police don’t seem convinced by her theory, Judith decides to investigate for herself, recruiting two unlikely friends to help. What makes this one so enjoyable is the trio at the center of it. They’re smart, nosy, completely different from one another, and surprisingly effective as amateur detectives. And it’s been adapted into a TV show of the same name! You can find it in the US on PBS.
9. The Maid by Nita Prose
In The Maid, Molly Gray works as a maid at a fancy hotel and takes a lot of pride in doing her job perfectly, but everything changes when she discovers one of the hotel’s wealthy guests dead in his room. Suddenly, Molly finds herself at the center of a murder investigation, and not everyone is convinced she’s innocent. This is one of those stories that goes beyond the cozy mystery genre and brings in more complexity and layers, and the narration is excellent.
10. The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie
And of course we have to finish this list with one of the most famous cozy mystery series of all, Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple books. The Murder at the Vicarage is the first in the famous detective’s series, and I particularly love this production because it brings the story to life with a full cast of characters led by the wonderful Toni Collette (Hereditary) as Miss Marple alongside Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) as the Vicar. This is an Audible Original, so it’s available to listen for free with an Audible subscription.
I hope this list helps you find your next favorite cozy mystery audiobook! And if you’re looking for more mysteries and don’t mind a darker turn, check out My Top 10 Best Mystery Audiobooks, or find all of my favorite audiobooks here.
