Welcome to Cozyville, Population: Dead People (and a Few Cats)
Ah, June. The air smells like sunscreen, grocery store watermelon, and imminent fictional murder. If you’re like me, you’d rather spend your summer inside with a fan, a pitcher of iced tea, and a stack of cozy mysteries thicker than a Southern accent.
This month’s new releases are practically begging to be devoured—ideally while your neighbors mow their lawns and wonder why you’re laughing about a body in a bell tower. From feline investigators to vintage scandals, here are four brand-new whodunits that are as comforting as they are clever. Let’s get into it before someone else bites the dust.
Requiem for a Mouse by Miranda James
Charlie Harris is back, and so is Diesel, his Maine Coon sidekick with better instincts than most small-town sheriffs. In this sixteenth Cat in the Stacks mystery, Charlie’s wedding is on the horizon—but fate, and a deeply suspicious library assistant named Tara, have other plans.
When Tara is attacked after a series of shady incidents, Charlie starts digging into her past. What he finds is a tangle of secrets, someone possibly on the run, and a mystery that could ruin more than just his big day. Diesel’s purr-fect intuition guides Charlie through a tale filled with misdirection, shady motives, and emotional depth.
Learn more about Reqieum for a Mouse.
Secrets Buried in the Backyard by Reva Davenport
Running a quaint B&B in Marigold Lake sounded like the start of a peaceful life for Claire Fisher—until old scandals, a guest with secrets, and a mysteriously resurfaced map make themselves at home.
Toss in a snorting Boston Terrier named Sadie (who has a nose for trouble and carbs), and Claire finds herself knee-deep in town gossip and potential felonies. The charm of this series lies in its offbeat humor, small-town drama, and a heroine who solves crimes in between baking muffins.
Bonus points for the subplot involving an ex-husband’s new wife—because nothing says cozy chaos like brunch with your romantic nemesis. Learn the Secrets Buried in the Backyard.
A Taste of Trouble by Courtney McFarlin
Food truck feuds, surprise family reunions, and a murder so inconvenient it might ruin the whole festival—Eden Brooks can’t catch a break in Valewood.
In the fifth Clowder Cats mystery, the summer heat is brutal, and the cats are as judgmental as ever. When tensions boil over at a local resort event, Eden is forced to play peacemaker—until someone winds up dead.
McFarlin balances sweet small-town life with a dash of murder. Eden remains a standout cozy heroine: frazzled, funny, and surrounded by cats who are smarter than half the suspects.
Murder in an Italian Castle by Benedict Brown
If your dream vacation involves murder, mystery, and a 1920s Tuscan castle, then Lord Edgington is your man. This debut in the Lord Edgington Investigates Abroad series blends vintage flair with modern wit.
A landowner falls from a bell tower (oops), and soon suspects pile up like biscotti at a wedding buffet. Between a shady priest, a suspiciously corrupt cop, and a language barrier thicker than olive oil, Lord Edgington and his grandson must catch the killer.
Also, there’s a golden retriever that may just steal the show. Check out Murder in an Italian Castle.
That’s a Wrap on Your Summer of Sleuthing
From library archives to Tuscan castles, June’s cozy mystery lineup is basically a travel guide for chaos—with snacks. Whether you’re in it for the cats, the carbs, or the clues, there’s something here to satisfy your inner armchair detective.
And let’s be honest—there’s no better way to spend a sunny afternoon than solving fictional murders with a smug feline by your side and muffin crumbs on your shirt.
