Male Protagonists in Cozy Mysteries

I saw a post the other day on one of the cozy mystery pages I follow. It was from a male cozy reader who was wondering about male protagonists in cozy mysteries. The majority of cozy mysteries are written by women and feature female protagonists. However, some female authors have male protagonists, and there are male cozy authors who have both male and female protagonists.

So who are some of these male leads?

One of my favorite series is The King Harald Mystery series by Richard Audry. King Harald is actually a dog (male at that) and the human protagonist is Andy Skyberg. Andy is a laid back, ordinary guy whose lovable dog keeps finding trouble in Minnesota. Grab some Biberschwanz Pilsners and settle in for a fun time.

Jeffrey Cohen writes a few mystery series using a few names. I first was introduced to him via his Double Feature Mystery series. Elliot Freed owns the Comedy Tonight cinema in New Jersey where he only shows comedy films. I loved this laugh out loud series, which sadly, is only comprised of three books. Some of his other series feature female protagonists, but he has another male protagonist in his current Asberger's Mystery series.

Tim Myers is another prolific mystery writer. Writing under the names Time Myers, Elizabeth Bright, Melissa Glazer, Casey Mayes, Jessica Beck, and Chris Cavender, Tim features both male and female protagonists. The Lighthouse Inn Mystery series (Tim Myers) first introduced me to this author. I really enjoyed Alex Winston. I also liked both his Candlemaking series with Harrison Black, and Soapmaking Mystery series with Benjamin Perkins.

I love John J. Lamb's Bear Collector's Mystery series. It features retired homicide detective Brad Lyon who now makes collectable teddy bears with his wife.

Miranda James in actually Dean James who pens a few mysteries. As Miranda James he features librarian Charlie Harris and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, in the Cat in the Stacks Mystery series while as Dean James he has the Simon-Kirby Jones Mystery series set in England.

Terry Ambrose writes a few series including the Seaside Cove Bed and Breakfast Mystery series. These feature single dad Rick Atwood and his precocious 10 year old daughter. Jeffrey Allen writes the Stay at Home Dad Mystery series set in Texas with Deuce Winters. Tim Cockey's protagonist is undertaker Hitch Sewell, featured in the Hitch Sewell Mystery series while Stephen Kaminski has Damon Lassard in his Damon Lassard Dabbling Detective series.

There are several female authors who chose male protagonists for their series. Of course, we have our founding traditional mysteries which include Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot and Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael. Lilian Jackson Braun features Jim Qwilleran, a journalist, in her long running Cat Who Mystery series. The Barnabas Tew Mystery series features a male Victorian private investigator who investigates in the Egyptian Underworld in his first outing by female author Columbkill Noonan. Nupur Tustin features Kapellmeister Joseph Haydn in her historical mystery series while Sheri Cobb South features bow street runner John Pickett in her Regency Mystery series.

I haven't really touched on the traditional mysteries, many with well known male protagonists such as Father Brown and Hamish Macbeth, and I'm sure I've left out many other male cozy protagonists. Have you read any of these mysteries? Do any of these men rank as a favorite protagonist for you? Feel free to share your favorites in the comments below.

The Animal Cozy

I'm a huge animal lover. Wildlife, domesticated animals, pets...I enjoy all kinds of animals. I especially love it when they make it in to mystery novels.

There are a few different ways in which animals appear in cozy mysteries. In some instances they exist in the novels as pets, but don't play a major role. In some cases they're little more than background enhancer; the family pets in the Jane Jeffires Mysteries by Jill Churchill, for example. In other series their role is a little more important, but only as a background character; Earl Grey, the mixed breed "Dalbrador", in Laura Child's Tea Shop Mysteries or Miss Marple, Tricia's cat, in the Booktown Mysteries by Lorna Barrett

In other books the animal plays a more active role, oftentimes helping the protagonist solve the mystery. Koko and Yum Yum are prime examples in The Cat Who series by Lilian Jackson Braun. I just love Owen and Hercules from The Magical Cats Mysteries by Sofie Kelly.

A third type of animal mystery actually gives voice to the animal. The story may be told from his or her point of view, or they may tell part of the story. All of the animals talk in the Mrs. Murphy Series by Rita Mae Brown, although the humans can't understand them. While Mrs. Murphy, Pewter, and Tee Tucker are the major animal stars here, the other animals have their say too, including horses and my favorite opossum, Simon. Midnight Louis has even more to say in his series by Carole Nelson Douglas. In these books the chapters alternate between the point of view of the humans and those of Midnight Louis.

Some mysteries have an animal theme. The protagonist works with animals in some way. Claudia Bishop writes about a veterinarian in The Casebook of Dr. McKenzie Series while Linda O. Johnston's Pet Rescue Series features a no-kill animal shelter.

Then there's the cover cat. You may pick up a cozy and see a cat on the cover. However, as you read the book you find no mention of a cat. Who is that cat is on the cover? What's his role? This mysterious cat is a marketing tool. Publishers believe that cats on covers increase sales, so they'll add a cat to a petless mystery in the hopes of getting that animal lover to pick up the book, take a closer look, and perhaps buy it.

What do you think about animal mysteries? Do you have a favorite?