I recently listened to an episode of the podcast What Should I Read Next? in which one of the podcast team members said she loves books set in New England. The host of the podcast, Ann Bogel, said she likes books set in Maine, specifically. And if you’ve been on the internet, you know that this is totally a thing!
People love books set in Maine (almost as much as they love a cozy mystery set in an English manor house!).
As a writer of a cozy mystery series set in Maine, I’ve read quite a few cozies that take place in my great state, so I decided to put together a list and share it!
Below you will find the name of the cozy mystery series set in Maine, as well as the first book in each series.
*Sometimes I include affiliate links to books or stores, which means I may earn a small commission from the store, but it doesn't cost you any more to purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Maine Clambake Mysteries (12 books)
By Barbara Ross
This book has over 2500 reviews on Amazon with 4.3 out of 5 stars!
I listened to the audio a couple of years ago and I really liked it! I love the titles and the covers in this series, they are so fun!
Mainely Needlepoint Mysteries (9 books)
By Lea Wait
This series is set in coastal Maine, which is true of a lot of Maine cozy mystery books (my own books are set in rural Maine, which is quite different).
I have always wanted to learn needlepoint, but I don’t know what I would do with the pieces when finished. (Also, years ago, I asked for a bunch of things to learn how to knit, then I gave up quickly and ended up selling it all at a garage sale ten years later! I'm not sure I'm cut out for this type of hobby!)
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Amy Creighton Mysteries (2 books)
by A. Carman Clark
From what I can tell, this book is NOT set on the coast of Maine, which makes it an outlier in terms of Maine cozy mystery books. The main character is a sixty-year-old woman who works as an editor and gardens on the side. The second book is called The Corpse in the Compost, which I think is a brilliant title!
Snug Harbor Mysteries (4 books)
By Karen MacInerney
These books are also known as the Seaside Cottage Books Cozy Mysteries
Each book has a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon. If you’re thinking, “but there are only four books in the series!” don’t worry…the same author has written the next series in my list, just scroll down!
Gray Whale Inn Mysteries (11 books)
by Karen MacInerney
If you like Karen’s writing in the Snug Harbor series, you’ll be thrilled to see that she put out 11 books in this series in just four years! They have great reviews and the covers only get better with each book (I especially love number five).
Great Maine Mysteries (4 books)
by Nellie H. Steele
The covers of these books are perfect for fans of lighthouses. This series takes place on the coast of Maine in a seaside Victorian house that the main character has inherited. There are cats, too!
Death by Chocolate Mysteries (8 books)
by Sarah Graves
This is a bake shop mystery that takes place in a fishing village in Maine. The shop is called The Chocolate Moose, which is a wicked great name for a Maine business!
This series started in 2018 and has almost a thousand ratings on Amazon (4.4 out of 5 stars)
This series is a spin-off from the author’s Home Repair is Homicide book series, with many of the same characters (but from what I understand, you can start with this one without any problems).
I hope this list introduces you to a new series or two! I love sharing books about my home state. If you have any questions about Maine, send me an email at nobinmarketing@gmail.com
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