The Ten Essential Traits in a Great Cozy Mystery Heroine

Why is it so easy to root for the darling and daring heroines in a cozy mystery book?

Protagonists like those inside a cozy mystery book seem like regular people you’d love to have as a friend.

You might even share the same hobbies as these amateur sleuths.

Do you knit?

Enjoy trying new recipes?

Dream of operating a bakery?

What about your love for pets? 

I am reassured to know that my favor

ite cozy-mystery heroines or heroes might also be responsible and loving pet owners.

We might learn we share a number of commonalities.

TEN TRAITS WE LOVE IN COZY MYSTERY HEROINES:

1. FRIENDLINESS: We can picture this heroine sharing her best recipes with us. 
   
   
2. INTELLECT: Don’t let the severity of the cozy mystery crimes cast doubt on your heroine’s cognitive abilities. It does not matter whether the crime is a missing phone charger or a phony charlatan; the crime will be solved.
   
   
3. A GOOD LISTENER: A cozy mystery heroine is first and foremost a good listener. She rarely dominates conversations and is eager to hear the other side of any good story.
   
   
4. ESSENTIAL SKILLS: She has essential skills that allow her to connect with so many others in her community.
   
   
5. INSTINCTS: A good cozy mystery protagonist trusts her instincts, but also double-checks with her sidekick best friend.
   
   
6. LOYAL FRIEND: She is careful to maintain and prioritize her family and friendships, while not losing her calm in the chaos.
   
   
7. RELATEABLE: Our favorite cozy mystery heroines, the ones we turn to when we seek peaceful solutions in our own ‘rough around the edges’ lives, seem a lot like us. If the heroine can have a positive outcome by the end of the book, we have hope that our lives can do the same.
   
   
8. UNUSUAL SPECIAL TALENT: Many of our cozy mystery heroines have a unique gift. If not a talent, there is something else unusual about them. Do they live in a camper next to the ocean? Do they have a photographic memory? For example, can they remember exactly what they wore on the day of their fourth-grade photo, including who stood in front of and behind them? Can they recall what the other classmates said and what the math lesson was on that particular day? It’s enjoyable to see how that skill helps them solve cozy mysteries.
   
   
9. LIKABLE: These heroines we invite into our imaginations are almost always likable. We’d be honored to have a friendship with these people.
   
   
10. BAD LUCK: These people often have bad luck, which makes us root for them to overcome it. It must be bad luck, because what other reason could there be for being involved in so many thefts, deaths, and fraudulent acts against the community?