Top 8+ Cozy Mystery Books For 2023 (Witchy, Paranormal, Fantasy and Murder Mysteries)

6 min readJun 30

Cozy mysteries where comfort meets chilling intrigue, and the paranormal becomes everyday.

Sometimes, a thrilling suspense with sky-high tension might tickle your fancy, and other times, you might crave a soothing narrative filled with whispers of the extraordinary.

Often, a full-throttle adrenaline-fueled thrill isn’t what you’re seeking but a tantalizing mystery that unfurls gently with every plot twist and turn.

In recent times, paranormal cozy mystery books have established their own unique space, standing shoulder to shoulder with popular murder mysteries. They blend the charm of cozy mysteries with elements of the supernatural. Easy to digest, and characterized by their light tone, they focus not only on the mystery or crime at hand but also on the characters, often with enchanting abilities.

If you’re looking for a lighthearted read that offers unexpected twists and turns, I highly recommend checking out my top picks for cozy mystery books of the year.

What Are The Best Cozy Mystery Books?

Familiar Troubles, by Karen McSpade (2023)

Familiar Troubles by Karen McSpade is one of the top supernatural mystery and fantasy releases this year, offering a collection of paranormal cozy mysteries that will captivate your imagination. Join Sidney Grace, a quirky journalist with extraordinary psychic witch abilities, as she embarks on a thrilling journey filled with talking cats, magical discoveries, ghostly encounters, and a race against time to uncover the truth.

With its blend of quirky witches, talking cats, fun magic, ghosts, mystery, and suspense, Familiar Troubles offers charming characters and unique plot twists that keep readers eagerly turning the pages.

Meet Sidney Grace, a journalist with an unexpected gift. She possesses remarkable psychic witch abilities, enabling her to communicate with the dead and engage in intriguing conversations with her cat companion, Mojo. As Sidney’s grandmother faces an unjust accusation of murdering a resident at her retirement center, Sidney must rely on her powers to unravel the mystery and prove her grandmother’s innocence.

From the bustling city of Boston to the enchanting beach town of Crystal Beach, Florida, Familiar Troubles transports readers to picturesque locations while Sidney navigates a web of secrets and unexpected twists. As she delves deeper into the investigation, she uncovers hidden truths, unearths family secrets, and unravels a dangerous plot that threatens the lives of those around her.

Immerse yourself in the world of Familiar Troubles through the captivating audiobook version, allowing listeners to experience the magic through engaging narration.

If you’re a fan of paranormal cozy mysteries and enjoy stories with quirky witches, talking cats, fun magic, ghosts, mystery, and suspense, Familiar Troubles is a must-read. Embark with Sidney Grace on her remarkable journeys as she reveals the truth, captivating you until the final page.

Murder is a Piece of Cake, by Valerie Burns (2023)

Octavia, who used to organize the annual Spring Baking Festival in New Bison, is no longer around. Her niece Maddy took over and must continue the legacy. She knows what responsibility means. She must get the main prize and turn the little bakery “Baby Cakes” into the top rated unit in the community.

Unfortunately for Maddy, she doesn’t have the same abilities as her aunt. She has no kitchen skills whatsoever, which is causing the bakery to struggle. Everyone is posting pictures of failed cakes, while one-star reviews keep building up.

To make things even worse, unscrupulous businessman CJ Davenport decides to open a local bakery and starts sabotaging her. It looks like Baby Cakes is quickly going down, but one day, a murder shakes the local community.

CJ Davenport is found dead with a Baby Cakes knife stuck in the back. Everyone is looking at Maddy, whose life turned upside down. She has got so much on her mind now, but she also needs to prove her innocence.

And as if all these were not enough, she knows that a killer is out there and might be coming for her next.

Get ready for a cozy thriller with many clues everywhere, twists that will confuse you with every page you turn, and just when you believe you have discovered the mystery, your mind will be blown away.

Nonna Maria and the Case of the Stolen Necklace, by Lorenzo Carcaterra (2023)

Lorenzo Carcaterra has managed to create one of the most charming characters in cozy mystery books with Nonna Maria. It’s by far one of the most intriguing books in this genre, and only because it pushes you in different directions.

Nonna Maria has plenty to worry about. The small community on the island of Ischia has been severely shaken by two crimes, and no one knows what exactly is happening, yet some of the locals have already started pointing fingers.

First, there’s a robbery. A wealthy woman on the island claims that her necklace has been stolen from a hotel room. The necklace is not just extremely expensive, but it has also been in the family for generations.

She’s positive that one of the two young women cleaning the room is responsible as she points her finger at them. Now, the problem is one of these women is Nonna Maria’s goddaughter. And while everyone agrees with the wealthy woman, the young cleaner decides to prove her innocence.

Things go even worse when a dead body is found on a road. No one knows who she is. No one has seen her before, and she doesn’t have any ID on herself. One of Nonna Maria’s friends was driving in the area the night before, and she did hit something, but she couldn’t tell if it was a pothole or an animal.

Now, Nonna Maria must solve two cases that apparently have nothing in common. She needs to find clues and connections, but also prove her goddaughter’s innocence. And deep down inside her, she knows that her friend is not guilty for killing the unidentified woman.

Fateful Words, by Paige Shelton (2023)

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery books, maybe because the action takes place in Scotland, one of the wildest places in the world if you ask me.

Sure, there’s the big cities and everything, but there’s something special about this place. Whenever you see it portrayed in movies, it is always about wild lands, plenty of grass, and beautiful views, and don’t get me started on the accent.

Anyway, let me get back to the action. Edwin runs the Cracked Spine bookstore and needs to leave Edinburgh with some business. No one knows anything about it, though. Meanwhile, Delaney, who works at the bookstore, ends up responsible for hosting the annual literary tour of the city.

The tour group decides to check into a local inn, and that’s when the unexpected happens. The inn manager falls from the roof and dies. Soon after that, one of the tour members disappears, causing even more drama.

Delaney needs to solve the mystery now, running around Edinburgh in an attempt to get to the bottom of the problem. Clues everywhere, as well as things that don’t necessarily make sense at first, that’s what you’ll get from this incredible story.