48 Cold-Weather Novels for Thrills and Chills

For fans of cozy mysteries starring a bookstore owner!

Samantha Washington runs a bookstore in Michigan and has just published a historical mystery, which she is on a book tour promoting. That’s where she witnesses Judith Hunter, a bestselling author, get accused of plagiarism and fighting with other authors. So when a publicist is poisoned, Sam thinks maybe the intended victim was Judith. She’ll need to prove her theory correct and get help from some friends at the Shady Acres Retirement Village.

Want to start at the beginning? Pick up The Plot is Murder!

For fans of murder mysteries, past and present storylines, and a main character that can’t remember the night in question!

Max has been having a bit of a rough time recently since transitioning: one parent is supportive and loving, and the other is not; his recent ex has become his bully. So when Gloss, a new girl in town who’s instantly the cool girl, takes him under her wing, he’s delighted. But they’re complete opposites on the surface: Gloss is rich, outgoing, and rule-breaking; Max is not wealthy, a musician lost in his lyrics, and trying to get by.

Then a party ends in murder, and Max is the main suspect until someone else confesses, throwing everything Max knows into turmoil, especially since his memory of that night isn’t coming back… (You find out very early on who was murdered and who confesses, but since the summary didn’t list it, I thought I’d not “spoil” it.)

Told in the past (Max meeting Gloss through the night of the party) and present (Max being questioned by police through the point of him remembering the night of the party), both narratives careen towards each other, giving you plenty of chance to try to figure out what did actually happen that night.

(TW alcoholic parent, child abuse/ misgendering, transphobia / mentions past suicidal ideation)