If you love curling up with a cozy mystery, there’s nothing better than one set in a quaint, book-filled shop. Bookshop-themed cozies combine the joy of reading with the thrill of sleuthing—what could be more perfect? Whether it’s a quiet village bookstore with a mysterious past or a bustling shop brimming with secrets, these stories deliver page-turning puzzles and charming settings. Today, I’m sharing five cozy mysteries set in bookshops that are ideal companions for late summer reading.
Trouble on the Books by Essie Lang
Rookie bookseller Shelby Cox inherits half of a charming bookshop in upstate New York’s Thousand Islands—only to find herself entangled in a modern-day murder with ties to Prohibition-era smugglers. As Shelby races to clear the name of a suspect and unmask the real killer, she must navigate small-town secrets, a handsome Coast Guard agent, and her own instincts to solve the crime before it’s too late.
The Broken Spine by Dorothy St. James
When Tru Becket’s beloved library in Cypress, South Carolina, goes bookless, she and her friends secretly salvage hundreds of discarded books—only to become suspects when the town manager turns up dead. With her alibi tied to the hidden bookroom and her old high school crush leading the investigation, Tru must outwit a killer to protect her literary sanctuary and clear her name. With the help of her quirky crew and a clever stray cat, Tru races to uncover the truth before her story ends in disaster.
A Limited Edition Murder by Lauren Elliott
Addie—visiting West Yorkshire’s Second Chance Books—finds herself entangled in a storm of secrets when a stolen book and a shocking murder disrupt a joyful engagement party at Milton Manor. As suspicion falls on her dear friend Tony, Addie races to uncover the truth, navigating treacherous moors and hidden motives before the killer strikes again. With her loyal Yorkipoo, Pippi, by her side, she must untangle a web of deceit to clear Tony’s name and restore peace to the estate
Written In Stone by Paige Shelton
When Delaney wins a coveted invitation to reclusive artist Ryory Bennigan’s studio, she stumbles into a world of ancient Pictish mysteries—and a deadly scheme involving a controversial artifact and the suspicious death of Dr. Adam Pace, a paleontologist with a history of forgery. As Edinburgh’s police stall, Delaney dives into Pace’s shadowy past, uncovering a trail of fakes, 3D-printed fraud, and dangerous secrets tied to the Picts’ lost language. With the killer still at large, she must piece together the truth before she becomes the next victim in this high-stakes game of deception.
Kim Harrington
August 15, 2025A perfect setting for a nice fall day. I’ve read a couple of these, but putting the others on my TBR!
Debra Sennefelder
August 15, 2025I love bookstores in the autumn! And I do love reading about bookstores in my cozies. 🙂 Happy reading!