In times of turmoil, losing yourself in a good book has never been more appealing.
And cosy crime offers comfortable light relief like few other genres.
Cosy crime books are just the kind of novels to curl up with on a cold winter's evening. They typically feature a cast of quirky, interesting characters, a crime (or two) that isn't described in stomach-churning detail, and a clever but unorthodox sleuth professional or amateur - who is trying to solve the case.
Thanks in part to a number of recent high-profile successes in the genre (
But there's another reason for its popularity, too.
'Covid, climate crisis - readers today feel that their world is in turmoil,' he says, 'and for many of us life is challenging enough without being challenged by the next novel we pick up.'
People are looking for things, he says, that feel 'comfortable'. 'Cosy crime fiction fits the bill,' says Webster. 'There's a sense of mystery and a touch of peril, but there's an order to things. There will be an investigation and there will be a fair outcome, which people aren't seeing in everyday life at the moment.'
The appeal of cosy crime to writers
For novelists, it's hard to resist the allure of a good 'whodunnit' that keeps their audience guessing - and for some writers, cosy crime is the perfect vehicle. 'I love putting in red herrings,' says author
'I write my first draft in one long stretch. When I start editing, part of that process is adding in more false trails that people will pick up on very readily if they're in the habit of reading mystery stories.'
For Young, writing cosy crime is a rewarding way for her to explore her cast of characters' backstories and motivations. Her books also enable her to take readers to a cosy small village in the Cotswolds - a place that Young has called home for more than 30 years.
Putting characters inside a metaphorical 'walled garden' is a common feature of cosy crime books. Frenzied violence, however, is not.
'I have neat and tidy murders - such as somebody falling down a well,' Young says.
Sometimes, she adds, she doesn't even let the would-be murderer complete his or her task. 'I don't like killing people!' she laughs.
As for why cosy crime is proving so popular right now, Young agrees with Webster's idea that it provides a counterbalance to the harsh realities of life. 'Cosy crime stories restore your faith in human kindness and justice,' she says.
There's also the 'cerebral workout' that comes with reading cosy crime books. 'It's the same kind of appeal as crosswords and brain teasers,' says Young. 'Everybody likes to pit their wits against a puzzle, and I think solving a mystery is a kind of game, too.'
But from where has cosy crime emerged Despite some headlines that indicate the genre was invented by
The celebrated British author's
More recently,
For many cosy crime fans,
'Readers today still love the whole concept of
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