But then I came across Vivien Chien’s Death by Dumpling one day at the bookstore. It was my way back into the genre. Now I love cozies once again, thanks to the Noodle Shop Mysteries. I was also bothered by the avoidance of substantive issues in the series I read. One of the hallmarks of cozies is there in the name. It’s meant to be comfortable. No graphic violence, no sex, no swearing. Generally, these books are meant to be upbeat and happy, and not dwell too much on the darker sides of life (aside from murder, of course). But with some series from a few decades ago, it feels that they were taking that too far. It seems like those authors erased some intrinsic facts in their works. To use an example that I made up, it would be like talking about 1950s Germany without any mention of the Nazis and the violence they wrought upon the country and the rest of the world. Or like setting a series in Ancient Rome without any mention that there were enslaved people. As a historian, it got really annoying. And given the battles today over books, it seemed quite problematic. But part of it came from my own prejudices about genre fiction. I felt that I shouldn’t read “these” types of books, instead I should be spending my time reading “substantive” literature. So eventually cozies were out and literary mysteries were in. (Also, I could have taken a class on murder mysteries in college but didn’t for the same reason. It’s one of many regrets from my college years.) Thank goodness I made that leap of faith. Inside, I met Lana Lee, the amatuer detective at the heart of the novel, who was so funny and relatable. She was a little lost in life, having quit her job and broken up with her boyfriend and returning to the family restaurant, but she wasn’t down and out. She was feisty and caring for her family and friends, even when they drove her nuts. Plus, she had a dog named Kikkoman, after the soy sauce brand, and a giant love for donuts.
The Love That Keeps On Growing
Now cozies are the majority of my reading and I’m better for it. I love these worlds that cozy writers open up to me, whether it’s owning a bookshop, pet grooming, or running a restaurant. And I’m happy that I was able to move away from the stupid idea that I shouldn’t read certain types of books. If they make me happy, then I should read them. Plus these newer cozies may have a general rosier view on life but they do deal with substantive issues. For instance, recent cozy series I’ve read discuss issues like institutional racism and the housing crisis. So thank you to Vivien Chien for bringing me back to cozies and for sharing challenges with us. The next title in the series, Misfortune Cookie, is supposed to come out next year. Now back enjoying all the Agatha Christie mysteries, and am finally rectifying my regret and planning on taking a class on Native American crime fiction through the Newberry Library this fall. Want more discussion of cozies? Here’s a thoughtful essay on new cozies. Here’s another essay on the increasing diversity in cozy mysteries.
