Cozy Crime Mystery Newsletter

Hello Cozy Crime Fan!

Ah, August – the month where time stretches like a cat in the sun, ice lollies count as a legitimate food group, and the air smells faintly of BBQ and freshly cut grass.

It’s nearing the tail-end of summer, but don’t be fooled, there’s still plenty of time for a good shady mystery. Maybe you’re at the beach trying to read around a rogue gust of sand, or perhaps you’ve retreated indoors because everything outside feels like it’s been slow-cooked. Either way, this is classic cozy crime territory.

Think: a suspicious disappearance during a village flower show. A vicar’s prize marrow gone missing under strange circumstances. Or a local historian turning up dead with a bookmark wedged in Chapter 3. You know, the usual.

This month’s newsletter is packed with juicy stuff – late-summer book releases that’ll pair nicely with an iced tea or three, a look at which TV sleuths are making a comeback, and a guide to the best whodunits for those long, golden evenings.

Plus, don’t miss our new Agatha Christie quiz that checks how well you know your places, poisons, and plots!

So loosen your waistband, dodge that wasp, and get comfy.

Because while the summer may be fading... suspicious behavior is just getting started.

Happy sleuthing!

Matlock Season 3 - Katy Bates Is Coming Back This Fall:

Court is back in session - Kathy Bates returns as the indomitable Madeline Matlock for Season 2 of CBS’s hit reimagining of Matlock! Get ready for more razor-sharp courtroom drama, eccentric whodunits, and Bates’s irresistible wit as Matlock tackles tricky cases with her signature flair.

The legal legends and quirky colleagues of New York’s hottest law firm are back for another season of surprising twists, clever banter, and cozy comfort viewing. Dust off your briefcase, Matlock is ready to object again in 2025!

We’re Getting Grantchester Season 11 - But Is It The End?

The rumors are true - Grantchester is returning for an 11th season! After a decade of dreamy village intrigue, quirky vicars, and Geordie’s steadfast sleuthing, MASTERPIECE and ITV have announced new episodes are officially on the way.

Filming has just begun, with Robson Green, Rishi Nair, and all your favorite cast members back for another summer in Cambridgeshire’s most crime-prone village. Set during the sun-soaked days of 1963, Season 11 promises big emotions, intriguing cases, and plenty of surprises, including changes ahead for Alphy and some major decisions for Geordie.

What does the future hold for Grantchester’s beloved residents? Click to find out what’s next for this cozy classic!

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Has A Release Date So Get Those Diaries Out!

Sharpen your wits - Detective Benoit Blanc is back! Netflix has just announced that Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the third film in Rian Johnson’s twisty whodunit saga, premieres worldwide later in 2025.

Daniel Craig returns as the unforgettable sleuth, with a show-stopping new cast and a mystery billed as his most dangerous case yet. Start the countdown for high-style, mind-bending puzzles, and jaw-dropping twists. This is the cozy crime caper everyone will be talking about this winter!

The Murder at World’s End: One Of The Best Mystery Books of 2025

Step into 1910 Cornwall for a dazzling locked-room mystery! In Ross Montgomery’s Murder at World’s End, the Viscount of Tithe Hall seals his manor against Halley’s Comet, only to end up dead in his bolted study, killed by his own crossbow.

Enter under-butler Stephen Pike (fresh out of borstal and wrongly accused) and the irrepressible 80-year-old Miss Decima Stockingham. Together, this unlikely duo must unlock a tangled web of secrets, suspects, and mayhem.

Sharp, witty, and packed with golden-age atmosphere. It’s an absolute 5-star treat, so don’t miss this irresistible new cozy mystery!

Murder on an Italian Island by TA Williams - Dan Armstrong and Oscar are Back!

Escape to sun-drenched Tuscany for the ultimate armchair adventure! In T.A. Williams’s Murder on an Italian Island, retired DCI Dan Armstrong is ready for a relaxing getaway with his lovable Labrador, Oscar, but paradise takes a deadly turn when a shocking murder shatters the island's calm.

As Dan and Oscar dig into a tangled web of secrets and suspects, each clue brings them closer to danger and intrigue. With charming locals, twisty puzzles, and Mediterranean magic, this cozy caper is pure escapism for mystery lovers.

The Secret Investigator of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill – Piper Sail’s Long-awaited Second Mystery 

Enter the glittering world of 1920s Chicago with Stephanie Morrill’s The Secret Investigator of Astor Street! Fresh out of high school and haunted by her best friend’s murder, aspiring sleuth Piper Sail is ready for her next big case.

When a desperate girl begs Piper to prove her brother’s death wasn’t suicide, she’s drawn into a web of secrets, mobsters, and forbidden speakeasies. Packed with twists, period glamour, and a bold heroine, this jazz-age cozy is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and daring detectives.

• Richard Cole’s Murder Before Evensong Gets Its Own TV Show on Acorn 

• August 2025: Top 10 Mystery & Thriller Must-Reads Coming Out This Month  

• Next Marlow Murder Club Book – What Is It & When Is It Out? 

Agatha Christie Quiz: How Well Do You Know Your Places, Poisons and Plots? Take The Quiz!

Calling all Christie connoisseurs! Ready to pit your wits against the Queen of Crime? From the shadowy streets of St. Mary Mead to deadly doses and devious whodunits, this quiz will test your memory for iconic settings, Christie's favorite toxins, and plot twists worthy of Poirot himself. Perfect for lifelong fans and budding sleuths alike, see how you score and challenge your fellow cozy mystery lovers!

Darby and Joan AND Whistable Pearl DVD Boxsets Now Available!

Two screen icons - Greta Scacchi and Bryan Brown - reunite in the irresistibly entertaining second series of Darby and Joan. This warm, witty, and thrilling mystery drama once again sees our unlikely duo hit the open road for more crime-solving adventures in the heart of Australia. Darby and Joan Series 2 arrives on DVD and digital on 28 July, alongside the bumper Series 1 & 2 Box Set, courtesy of Acorn Media International.

Seaside suspense returns to the stunning Kent coast in Whitstable Pearl Series 3 as Kerry Godliman reprises her role as the big-hearted Pearl Nolan, a restaurateur, sharp private detective, and unrelenting truth-seeker. Whitstable Pearl Series 3 is set to arrive on DVD and digital alongside Whitstable Pearl Series 1 – 3 Box Set on 4 August 2025, courtesy of Acorn Media International.

Pocket-Sized Calm: Discover the Anxiety Mini Bookshelf!

Need a little comfort between cases? Meet the Anxiety Mini Bookshelf, the adorable desk accessory that’s a hug for your nerves! Shaped like a tiny bookshelf, it holds a selection of cute, tiny books, and you get to arrange them any way you like!

Perfect for cozy mystery lovers who like their clues with a side of mindfulness, it’s ideal for gifting or keeping by your reading nook. Beat the sleuthing jitters and bring a touch of charming calm to your day!

Phyllis Dorothy James, aka PD James

PD James, the reigning queen of the modern detective novel, brought elegance, depth, and spine-tingling suspense to crime fiction. Best known for her brilliant sleuth Adam Dalgliesh, James’s mysteries are beautifully crafted, packed with atmospheric settings, gripping plots, and unforgettable characters.

Her novels blend classic whodunit intricacy with literary flair, making them essentials for every cozy crime lover. Whether you’re revisiting an old favorite or cracking open a new case, PD James’s work promises sophistication, surprises, and pure, page-turning pleasure.

It’s a wrap…

And that’s a wrap on our August round-up - sun-soaked, plot-twisted, and just the right amount of suspicious.

Whether you’re heading off on a late holiday with a mystery tucked into your suitcase, or simply enjoying one last lazy afternoon in the garden before the kids go back and the nights start creeping in, we hope this month’s picks have added a little extra mischief to your summer reading.

We’ll be back next month with cooler evenings, cosier jumpers, and even more curious cases. Until then, keep an eye on the jam jars, trust no one at the village raffle, and never underestimate the local postmistress.

Enjoy every last drop of sunshine, and every shocking twist.

As always, we’d love to hear from you - whether it’s about your latest favorite book, a character you’re rooting for (or suspecting!), or just to say hello. You can always email us or find us on socials for a good old-fashioned chat.

See you in September, sleuths! 🕵️‍♂️📖🌷

Thanks for reading! Let’s catch up again next month.
Regards
Agatha Marplewood