(Featuring Temperance Matthews & Lily Michaels)
One of the questions I’m asked most often—at book signings, in emails, and even in casual conversations—is this: “How do you come up with the clues without giving everything away?”
It’s a great question, because cozy mysteries may be light on violence, but they’re rich with puzzles, secrets, and just enough red herrings to keep readers guessing until the end.
Whether I’m writing about Temperance Matthews, a former FBI analyst turned small-town baker or Lily Michaels, bookstore owner and witch, every cozy mystery I make a promise to the reader:
👉 You’ll get clues, memorable characters, a dash of humor, and the culprit is caught.
Join me as I take you into my world and how I craft a cozy mystery from the first clue… to the final culprit.
What Makes a Cozy Mystery Different?
At its heart, a cozy mystery isn’t about the crime—it’s about the small town and a community of friends and family.
Readers who love cozy mystery books are drawn to:
- Small-town charm
- Amateur sleuths they can relate to
- Clever clues and red herrings
- A comforting world they want to return to again and again
In my stories, that comfort might come from the smell of fresh cinnamon rolls cooling in a bakery… or the quiet magic humming through a bookstore filled with old spells and whispered secrets.
Starting With the Crime (But Not the Killer)
Every mystery begins with a crime, but in a cozy mystery, the focus isn’t on violence.
When I’m writing a story in the Temperance Matthews bakery cozy mystery series, I ask:
- How does this crime affect her bakery?
- Her friends?
- The small-town relationships she’s building after leaving the FBI and moving to Oak Hollow?
With the Lily Michaels paranormal bookstore cozy mystery series, the questions shift:
- Does the crime disrupt the balance between Lily and Gage?
- How can Lily dive into the puzzle and help solve the crime?
- What secrets must remain hidden in a town where there are non-magicals, too?
At this stage, I know what happened—but I don’t know whodunit. The fun part about writing a cozy mystery is that the culprit is revealed to me as the story unfolds. I do love a surprise!
Layering Clues Without Confusion But Using Misdirection
This is where the real fun begins.
A good cozy mystery always plays fair. That means:
- The clues are there
- The red herrings make sense
- The resolution makes sense
In a bakery cozy mystery like Just Desserts & Murder, clues often appear in everyday moments—overheard conversations, people acting out of character, or someone lingering where they shouldn’t be.
In a paranormal cozy mystery set in a bookstore, clues may be more magical in nature— a spell that goes awry, or a book of magic that seems to always have the answer if Lily would just read it.
The key is balance. I want readers thinking:
Did I miss something?
—not—
That came out of nowhere.
The Amateur Sleuth Makes All the Difference
Temperance Matthews and Lily Michaels couldn’t be more different on the surface—but they share one important trait:
They care deeply about the people around them and the towns they call home.
Temperance brings logic, pattern recognition, and a sharp analytical mind from her FBI days—but it’s her heart, her bakery, and the love for her new hometown that pull her into each mystery.
Lily, on the other hand, is bound to her town through magic, legacy, and responsibility. She doesn’t seek power—but as readers of the witchy paranormal cozy mystery series know, destiny has other plans.
In cozy mysteries, the sleuth isn’t a detective because it’s their job—they’re a detective because they can’t not get involved. Curiosity and justice drives them.
Small Town Secrets & Suspect Lists
If there’s one thing people in small towns are good at, it’s keeping secrets.
In both my small-town bakery mysteries and my paranormal bookstore cozy mysteries, nearly everyone has:
- A reason to lie
- Something to hide
- A personal stake in the outcome
Small towns work so well for cozy mysteries because everyone knows everyone… or thinks they do.
From Clues to Culprit: The Big Reveal
The final reveal in a cozy mystery isn’t about shock—it’s about satisfaction.
I want readers to reach the end and say:
Of course. It all makes sense now or I thought that’s who it was…
The best cozy mystery reveals: Tie back to clues scattered throughout the story and restores balance to the community
Whether Temperance is turning of her ovens for the night or Lily is closing the doors of her bookstore after a long day, there’s comfort in knowing the truth has come to light—and the town is safe again, until the next adventure.
Are You Ready to Start Sleuthing?
If you love cozy mysteries filled with clever clues, charming settings, and sleuths you’ll want to spend time with, you can start here:
- 🍰 Begin with Just Desserts & Murder in the Temperance Matthews Bakery Cozy Mystery Series
- 📚 Or step into magic with Books & Bribes featuring Lily Michaels in a Paranormal Witch Cozy Mystery
From cupcakes to covens, every story invites you to follow the clues—and uncover the truth.
💜
Stay tuned until next month when I share a few more behind-the-scenes secrets from my writing desk.
