Ten British Cozy Mystery Series You Need to Read
British cozy mystery series are always high on my list to read. As an Anglophile and an avid reader of mysteries, I absolutely love these British cozy mystery series I’m recommending in this post. Some of these series fall into the historical fiction category and others are set in contemporary times. All feature female lead characters who always find a way to solve the murder and save the day. The best part is the majority of these series have loads of books in them, so you keep your reading list full! I hope you’ll find a new favorite series here.
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The Sparks and Bainbridge Mysteries by Allison Montclair
A war widow and a former spy form an unlikely partnership in a new business. Together they open The Right Sort Marriage Bureau in London after World War II. In the course of matching up potential couples, they find themselves in the middle of murders.
Why I love it: The interesting back stories of both the main characters keep you reading in this series to find out how they turn out.
Honeychurch Hall Mysteries by Hannah Dennison
This charming series is set in contemporary times in a quaint village called Honeychurch. After an unfortunate personal incident, Kat Stanford finds herself moving to the Honeychurch Hall estate with her mother. This series combines murder mysteries, personal mysteries, and a little romance for a fun read.
Why I love it: The cast of charming and eccentric characters living in the Hall and on the estate keep you laughing throughout the series.
The Stella and Lyndy Mysteries by Clara McKenna
Stella Kendrick is a modern young woman who is less than thrilled about being married off to the son of an Earl. Her father is a wealthy and ambitious man who forces her to leave her home in Kentucky and her beloved horse farm. She and her fiance discover they might just get along after all once they get embroiled in a murder investigation.
Why I love it: Stella is a very strong and intelligent main character. Her spunk and love of horses won me over!
Her Royal Spyness Mysteries by Rhys Bowen
Despite being a minor member of the British Royal Family, Lady Georgiana is absolutely broke and must make her own way in the world. Set in the time leading up to World War II, each book centers around a mystery that the resourceful Georgie solves along with the help of her love interest Darcy, son of a poor Irish lord.
Why I love it: Georgie’s sister-in-law Fig and the incompetent but loveable lady’s maid Queenie are just two of the recurring characters who will make you laugh out loud. The charming romance that blossoms throughout the series between Georgie and Darcy is also fun to follow.
The Ellie Kent Mysteries by Alice K. Boatwright
Ellie Kent gives up her life and college teaching career in California to move to a small English village to marry a handsome widowed vicar. She assumes the hardest part of her new life will be learning how to fit in and drive on the wrong side of the road. Life gets even more complicated when she happens upon dead bodies.
Why I love it: It is fun to escape to the Cotswolds and tag along with Ellie as she starts a completely different life across the pond.
The Posie Parker Mystery Series by L. B. Hathaway
Set in the 1920’s, this series is centered on a private detective who happens to be female. Posie Parker is an independent career woman in a time when it wasn’t acceptable. These mysteries are clever and full of twists and turns. There is also an element of romance as Posie navigates her love life in the midst of solving crimes.
Why I love it: These remind me of Agatha Christie novels which were my first foray into British mystery series.
The Kate Shackleton Mystery Series by Frances Brody
Similar to the Posie Parker mysteries, Kate Shackleton is another modern and independent woman. Widowed during World War I, she discovers she has a real talent for finding people. She sets herself up in business as a detective with the help of her resourceful housekeeper.
Why I love it: How Kate goes against the societal norm during this time period makes her a complex main character. Her backstory that comes out slowly throughout the series only adds to her complexity.
The Scottish Bookshop Mysteries by Paige Shelton
Delaney Nichols finds herself moving from Kansas for a new job in Edinburgh. She goes to work for a mysterious bookshop owner. Tasked with curating his secret collection, Delaney also becomes involved in solving murders. There is also a fun romance throughout the series with a handsome Scottish fellow.
Why I love it: The supporting characters alone make this series worth reading. I also enjoy living vicariously through Delaney as she creates a new life in Edinburgh.
The Maggie Hope Mysteries by Susan Elia MacNeal
Maggie Hope is an incredibly intelligent young woman who lands a job as one of Winston Churchill’s secretaries during World War 2. That is the jumping off point to her career as a spy. She meets many of history’s most important figures along the way.
Why I love it: The way that major events in history are woven into this series makes it stand out for me.
The Lady Emily Mysteries by Tasha Alexander
Lady Emily accepts the proposal of a viscount per her mother’s wishes. She finds herself a widow shortly after her wedding. Then she discovers that her husband was not at all who she thought he was. As she works to discover the truth, she finds herself an investigative career and a new love.
Why I love it: Lady Emily is a fascinating protagonist, and I love how she is her own woman during Victorian times.
British Cozy Mysteries Are the Perfect Escape
Ever since I discovered Agatha Christie in junior high, I have been a huge fan of British mysteries. I love the chance to travel across the pond via the various characters in these series. And I love revisiting what feels like old friends when I read the latest release in one of these mystery series.
If you have a favorite British cozy mystery series you enjoy, please share by leaving a comment or emailing me at kristin@whatagoodday.com. I’m always on the lookout for something new to read!
If you love reading as much as I do, then please visit our Book Reviews to discover your next read. We have lots of great suggestions in a wide variety of genres.
Have a good day ~ Kristin
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