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Bestie's Blog

Why We Love Amateur Sleuths

2/14/2025

12 Comments

 
There’s a lot to love about cozy mysteries. Almost always, they begin in a picturesque small town filled with quirky characters we can easily imagine as our neighbors and friends.
 
While a thriller might keep us on the edge of our seats, a cozy mystery pulls us into our favorite reading chair with a cup of hot coffee or tea. Even the covers of cozies are warm and fuzzy, with bright colors and pun-filled titles.
 
Once we have selected our book, we can settle in for a fun read, where the language is clean and the murder takes place off-screen. Within the first chapters, we get acquainted with the village, find our way to the local library, and pick up a little gossip along the way.
 
The conclusion of a cozy must be as satisfying as playing an old-fashioned game of Clue, where the crime fits nicely into a logical outcome. “Naturally, Col. Mustard committed the murder with a candlestick in the kitchen,” we will announce to ourselves when the book ends. “That is exactly what I predicted.”
 
All of these aspects of a cozy mystery make us feel as comfortable as when we’re padding around in our pajamas at home. But the undisputed star of the cozy mystery is the amateur sleuth. She (because most are women) stumbles into a murder scene and quickly realizes she must solve the crime. No one else is as capable as she, for this dangerous task.
 
When others question the sleuth’s reasoning, she adeptly argues her point with one of several reasonable explanations:
 
“The murder occurred on my property.”
“I knew the victim.”
Or, “I’m on the suspect list and must clear my name.”
 
Without hesitation, she throws herself wholeheartedly into the search for the killer. As readers, we abandon all logic to support her zeal. In fact, we fall in love with her enthusiasm.
 
We adore the amateur sleuth because she is an ordinary person, placed into an extraordinary situation. We understand her, and admire her. Like us, she’s an everyday woman, taking on the world to get the job done in her own community. Before we know it, we have pledged our allegiance to her cause and are determined to help her identify the murderer and bring him to justice.
 
Never mind that the professionals want her to quit meddling in their case, the amateur sleuth cannot be stopped. Whether she is a bookstore owner, a nosy senior citizen, or an inquisitive news reporter, our main character is always a few steps ahead of the real detectives. We love to root for the underdog, and the amateur sleuth gives us plenty of opportunity.
 
She is generally likeable and well intentioned, even when she puts herself in harm’s way. She has no real training for the task, though she’s pretty good at solving puzzles, or dabbling in research on the Internet. Whatever her background, she is confident of her ability to be of assistance. Naturally, we are drawn to her: we see ourselves, in her adventures.
 
In some cases, the amateur sleuth has “super powers” that contribute to her success—ESP, or a connection to a well-informed ghost, perhaps. While cozy mysteries with a hint of the supernatural are fun to read, my favorites are still the ones that feature a smart, loveable, imperfect woman who solves the case with nothing but her wits, hard work, and a little help from her friends.
 
Inevitably, the cozy mystery plot is filled with twists and turns that keep our amateur sleuth guessing until the end of the story. Despite all the setbacks, the amateur keeps going. She surprises us with her resourcefulness, driving around all the obstacles until she finds her way to the end. And we, her loyal companions, are happy to be along for the ride.
 
Anna St. John writes cozy mysteries featuring a mature yet feisty former crime reporter, Josie Posey, as the amateur sleuth. Her debut novel, DOOMED BY BLOOMS, was released by Level Best Books in February 2023, followed by CLOCKED OUT in 2024. DOLLED UP FOR MURDER is the third book in the Josie Posey Mystery Series. Anna is a former journalist, award-winning advertising copywriter, and ad agency owner. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the Kansas Authors Club. 




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12 Comments
Jennifer
3/28/2025 10:14:17 pm

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5/20/2025 08:04:03 pm

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Mavis Wanczyk
5/26/2025 08:01:34 am

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5/27/2025 07:04:52 pm

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6/20/2025 10:46:40 am

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6/26/2025 03:38:24 pm

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7/1/2025 10:27:47 pm

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Jeffery Vargas
7/9/2025 12:01:05 am

Hello to everyone, I'm Jefferey Vargas from Malta. My girlfriend ended our relationship for seemingly no reason and I came to understand that my financial struggles may have contributed to this as a healthy relationship is difficult without money and aside from God, having more money is often seen as vital. For spellcasting, Lord Meduza is the right person to turn to. My girlfriend left me for another man due to my financial situation, but after connecting with Lord Meduza, he created a spell that not only brought my girlfriend back but also made me a lottery winner of €116 million by providing me with the 6 lucky numbers. Everything feels almost unreal but I assure you this is genuine and it's occurring. My life is incredibly beautiful and I owe my deepest appreciation to Lord Meduza as his efforts are the epitome of excellence. I strongly encourage everyone that needs help to reach him via email: [email protected] or you WhatsApp this number +1 (807) 907-2687.

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7/11/2025 04:11:12 pm

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Justin Simporios
7/11/2025 06:14:58 pm

Good Morning!! I'm Justin Simporios by name from the Philippines but based in Canada. My daughter was unable to walk for several months after an accident that required her to have surgery. Because I haven't won the Lotto I've been playing for so long, I haven't been able to pay for the surgery. A friend online recommended Lord Meduza to me and he deserves a really, really big THANK YOU. This man chose to help me with a lottery spell and he gave me the precise numbers to play the Canada Lotto Max Lottery. After two weeks, I was proclaimed the winner of $80 MILLION DOLLARS. Now, my daughter will be able to walk once more after so much time as her surgery is now completely funded. My victory marks the biggest win for a single ticket in Lotto Max history in Canada. I still can't believe it, Indeed there's none like Lord Meduza. Contact him now if you need his assistance.

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Ferdinand Witter
7/13/2025 04:10:45 pm

The marital crisis I was going through came to and end when Dr Isikolo got involved. Just like every other couples out there, we had our differences and I ensure I did my best to lead her right, provide for her and my kids and also protected them. We both made sacrifices to ensure we survived the union until she started acting up and deliberately had so many fights with me. The home became unpleasant for everyone else including my children. She was being manipulated by a friend who had been divorced and wanted to also ruin my marriage. I had to contact Dr Isikolo and he responded and did his best to end the issues.  He restored the love and connection between us and I can tell now that whatever illusion my wife was under has been taking away and she is a better woman now. The result of what Dr Isikolo did for me that manifested after two days was what amazed me. I and my household remain grateful.  I appeal to anyone who needs help to fix their relationships and marital problems to contact Dr Isikolo because the solution is sure. Text him on WhatsApp him +2348133261196 or review his page: https://isikolo-temple.com

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