*I wanted to added a note here.* This post is simply my own thoughts, convictions, and opinions. You can take them or leave them. I really don’t care.
What is a Cozy Mystery? After looking at several sources, the general consensus is that such a book is a murder mystery that focuses more on the solving of the case (by an average woman–gardener, baker, dog-walker, librarian), then the blood and guts of the crime. The woman usually seems to find the dead body and prevails where police fail.
Is it just me, or does the term Cozy Mysteries, sound like an oxymoron? I’m not sure there’s anything about murder that is cozy. But the powers that be issued the name and who am I to say it doesn’t make sense?
I don’t write Cozy Mystery books. And I don’t read them. But I got to thinking, why? What is it about this genre that turns me away? I’ve come up with 5 reasons.
1.) Murder is Murder To take a case like murder and turn it into a lighthearted, funny story, is awful. Murder is murder! Would you want to go to your coffee shop and find a dead body? Dead bodies, even ones that are not murdered, are not something that are easy to forget. These stories turn crime into something to joke about. If your friend or family member was murdered, would you think it was something to laugh about? Yes, I know these characters are fictional, but it doesn’t change the facts that these books can desensitize us to the actual horror of such crimes.
2.) Smarter than Police I’m not going to apologize for this, but when I read stories where the police or law enforcement are treated as dumb, or at least not as smart as some average person, it makes me upset. If it’s so easy to solve crimes, why bother having police at all? Why not just let the cake decorator, the dog walker, or the coffee shop owner solve all the cases? These books treat law enforcement with disrespect even if they don’t come right out and say it, and I will not add to that number by writing my own.
3.) Wonder Woman I have a hard time believing a normal, everyday person could honestly solve crimes like they can in many cozy mysteries. If these women are so smart, why don’t they become detectives, or join the police? Surely their talents are wasted walking dogs, or running a coffee shop.
4.) Not “Cozy” I don’t know about you, but if I were to find a dead body, I’d be having nightmares about it. And reading about such things, while they may not give me nightmares, paints too vivid of a scene in my mind. One that would certainly stick if I were writing such a book! I don’t find nightmares “cozy.”
5.) Not My style This is just simple fact. I don’t care to read about murder in such a light way. (Actually, I don’t really like reading about it at all.) It’s not my cup lemonade. (It’s too hot for coffee or hot chocolate) 🙂 I have a vivid imagination and want to fill my mind with what is true, right, lovely, and pure, not with dead bodies, super smart women, and dumb police.
I don’t think I’ve read many “cozy mysteries”, although I do like mysteries. These are definitely some good points. I appreciate the fact that you think about why you don’t write/read such books, and that you are willing to share, even though some people may not agree with you. Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome. I know not everyone will agree with me, and I won’t agree with everyone else. I do like mystery books, and I’ve even enjoyed books that did have murder in them, but it wasn’t treated as something light or casual.
Yes, exactly!
These are very good points! I agree completely.
Thanks for reading, Izzy.
Excellent post, summary, and reasons! I agree with all five of your reasons. 🙂 I’ve thought the same. And yes, isn’t “cozy mystery” an odd term? I’ll probably never write any sort of mystery myself, but I do enjoy reading the occasional well-written mystery that doesn’t involve murder or disrespect for authority. 🙂 It’s refreshing to read a well-written mystery that clearly honors God throughout the story instead of sticking to common tropes. And yes, in many of these I’ve read in that category, the main character does indeed become a detective/police officer. 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Erika! The well written mysteries that have respect for authority, don’t turn murder into something lighthearted, and that are well done are a pleasure to read. Well, usually. 😉
I agree, I don’t particularly appreciate books in which the police are either left out, treated as ignorant, or made the villain(s). “Cozy mystery” is an odd description of a murder, I must say. I thought it referred to stories about minor cases (such as petty theft) or mysteries in which there actually wasn’t a crime. I guess it includes murders, too … ?
CutePolarBear
Yeah, when I first heard the term I was picturing the same things. Something petty, small, and interesting. But as I read more and more descriptions, I realized just how wrong I was!
Glad to know someone else agrees about the police.
Good answer! I don’t read murder mysteries as a rule. And treating such a heavy, relevant topic so flippant is distasteful. And yes, policemen are so underrespected as it is! I like a good mystery but I want something clean and wholesome.
Yes. While someone may get killed in a book I’m reading, I don’t like to read a book where that is the main focus.
Exactly.
I really appreciate all the posts you’ve done in this “series” so far. Ver refreshing to hear your perspective. Murder is never something to treat lightly!
Thanks, Lauren.
I think we can desensitize ourselves with things like murder when we treat it lightly in fictional stories.
Absolutely! Which is a scary thing! 😉