My answer is it depends. Why? Because readers look for different things in
different kinds of mysteries. Thrillers, police procedurals, traditional
mysteries and cozies all have their fans, who bring their own expectations to
each sub-genre.
Cozies mystery readers probably look for romance the most in their mysteries.
Why? Because cozies focus on characters much more than other kinds of mysteries,
which is just fine with their fans. They like getting to know the people in a
series, watching their lives change, and enjoying the interactions. Some of
those interactions are logically going to be romantic—especially if the main
character is single (though there can certainly be romance between married
couples) and also, but not necessarily, if they are young.
In my Pickled and Preserved
series, my main character, Piper Lamb, is single and young. At the beginning
of the first book, THE
PICKLED PIPER, Piper had broken off an engagement and moved to a small town
to start a new life. The only problem was that her ex-fiancé, Scott, didn’t take
the break-up seriously. During his travels around the world to “find himself” he
sent Piper messages and gifts as though they were still a couple, much to her
annoyance and frustration.
The frustration grew as a new man entered Piper’s life—Will Burchett, a handsome
Christmas tree farmer who lived just outside of Cloverdale, where Piper had
relocated. Local townspeople picked up on the attraction between the two and
dropped many sly comments, much to Piper’s embarrassment and consternation,
since she had no intention of getting involved in a new romance so soon.
Luckily—at least for that particular situation—a murder occurred in Cloverdale
that diverted everyone’s attention, but only until the killer was caught near
the end of the book. Then interest returned to Piper’s love life, especially
when her ex-fiancé announced he was coming to Cloverdale.
In the second book, LICENSE
TO DILL, part of the focus was on the gentlemanly tug-of-war between Piper’s
former and current love interests, which ramped up as the former fiancé showed
signs of having changed for the better. This brought about some emotional
confusion in Piper, which she was more than happy to set aside for a second
murder investigation. Not that she was happy over another murder, but… well, you
know.
In SCENE OF THE BRINE,
the just-released book of the series, things heat up a bit. (But since this is a
cozy, “heat” comes mainly in the form of hints, and love scenes discretely fade
out.) A new murder occurs which hits close to home, quickly pulling Piper into
the investigation and taking precedence. But since new-boyfriend, Will, and
ex-fiancé, Scott, play important parts in solving this mystery—a poisoning that
nearly kills Piper’s pickles-and-preserves business as well—the two men’s
ongoing presence in the action means that Piper’s quandary over choosing between
them remains in the forefront. Can Scott’s persistence pay off? Does Will’s
patience and understanding win out? Is the murder solved?
Which question is deemed the most urgent depends the reader, but my guess is
that most cozy fans will see them as deserving equal time. SCENE OF THE BRINE, after
all is a cozy. A cozy mystery, of course, but one populated with
characters who lead fairly normal lives that are only occasionally interrupted
by the inconvenient murder.
Murder, of course, is terrible. And cozy characters deal with it with all the
seriousness it deserves. But readers want to see all sides of their favorite
characters, and that includes their love lives.
Does romance, then, belong in mysteries? For most cozy readers, and for this
particular cozy writer, I’d say the answer no longer depends. It would be a
resounding, “Yes!”
Mary Ellen Hughes is the author of the Craft Corner Mysteries, including
Wreath of Deception, String of Lies, and Paper-Thin Alibi, as well as the Maggie
Olenski Mysteries. She lives in Maryland with her husband, Terry, who has long
provided her with bounties of homegrown vegetables for preserving and pickling
as well as unique inspirations for mysteries. Mary Ellen is a member of Mystery
Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
Piper Lamb has to take a break from jarring her delicious pickles and
preserves to blow the lid off a poisoner....
Business is booming at
Piper’s Picklings in Cloverdale, New York. But not all is sweet in the life of
Piper’s number one customer and friend, local caterer Sugar Heywood. Sugar is
dating wealthy realtor Jeremy Porter, but his family doesn’t approve. After
their unscrupulous accountant finds some dirt on Sugar, the family quickly urges
Jeremy to throw her out like rotten fruit.
Things are further spoiled
after the accountant is found poisoned, and all evidence points to Sugar’s son,
Zach. With the Porter family determined to avoid scandal, it won’t be easy for
Piper to preserve Zach’s innocence. And after someone falls victim to a poisoned
jar of some of her brandied cherries, Piper’s got a peck of trouble to deal with
herself…
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