Are you looking for some patriotic sleuthing? Here are some Fourth of July-themed cozy mysteries for 2024.
How should we celebrate this Fourth of July? Some may celebrate by grilling hot dogs, hosting cookouts, and watching fireworks. I prefer to take a cozier approach. How about solving murders by the pool under the red, white, and blue glowing fireworks? If cozy-sleuthing sounds like a better alternative, I’ve got five book suggestions if you’d like to join me in having a cozy American holiday.
Fourth of July Forgery by Tonya Kappes
This book is the sixth book in the Holiday Cozy Mystery Series by Toyna Kappes. On Goodreads it has a good rating at 4.37 with 481 ratings and reviews.
The book, Fourth of July Forgery, promises to be a thrilling mystery with a final twist. The book description states, “As the Fourth of July festivities kick off in the quaint town of Holiday Junction, a body washed up on the beach, murdered in cold blood.”
The sleuth in this novel is a journalist named Violet Rhinehammer. She sets out to find the next big story and learning about the victim. Quote,
“As the investigation begins, Violet finds herself unraveling a web of deceit and uncovering dark secrets hidden behind the town’s idyllic facade. With suspects as numerous as fireworks in the sky, Violet must navigate a dangerous path to uncover the truth, all while celebrating the most American of holidays.”
The sleuth must find the murderer before the party ends. If the mystery is not solved, the murderer will strike again, killing another innocent person.
Dead, White, and Blue by Carolyn Hart
This book is a part of the Death on Demand series by Carolyn G. Hart. It is book #23 in the series. It has a 3.75 rating on Goodreads and has 1,156 ratings as of this blog post. This book was first published in the late spring of 2013. This book has a very cozy setting. Set on an island in the summer, there’s a mystery bookstore called, “Death on Demand” where tourists shop.
There are two mysterious disappearances that take place right before the Fourth of July. I love this quote from the book’s description on Goodreads,
“The residents of Broward’s Rock grow uneasy when a second islander mysteriously disappears. Annie and her husband, Max, know something dangerous is brewing. They soon find themselves following a twisted trail marked by blackmail, betrayal, and adultery, winding from the corridors of the island’s lovely inn to a pier lashed by pelting rain, to a gathering on the terrace of a country club where a trap is set for a calculating killer…”
Star Spangled Murder by Leslie Meier
This book is a part of A Lucy Stone Mystery series. It is book #11 out of 30 in the series. It has a 3.9 rating on Goodreads.
In this series the slueth is a reporter named Lucy Stone and these books are set in the fictional seaside village of Tinker’s Cove, Maine.
Here is a quote from the book description on Goodreads,
“Tinker’s Cove is full of suspects, but none with so personal a motive as the Stones. Their feud with Mrs. Pratt has put them at risk of losing their freedom this Independence Day–unless Lucy can start things off with a bang by catching a red, white and blue killer. . .”
A Catered Fourth of July (A Mystery With Recipes) by Isis Crawford
This book is #10 in the cozy mystery series, A Mystery with Recipes by Isis Crawford. It has a 3.52 rating on Good reads and was first published on 2014. This book is set in Longley, New York on the Fourth of July. Sisters Bernie and Libby are catering during a reenactment of a historic battle. After the muskets are fired during the reenactment, one death looks a little too realistic. This setting is my favorite on this list.
Here is a quote from the description on Goodreads,
“Bernie and Libby have their plates overloaded with suspects, and will need to work very fast to clear Marvin’s name. The simmering killer is still out there, armed and taking shots, and unless the sisters quickly get to the bottom of this patriotic pre-meditation. . .their goose may be cooked!”
Jealousy Filled Donuts (A Deputy Donut Mystery) by Ginger Bolton
I’ve saved the best book description for last. This is the book I am most excited to read on Fourth of July 2024. The first 52 minutes of the audiobook is available on YouTube thanks to Google Play Book’s channels’ audiobook previews. This book is book #3 from A Deputy Donut Mystery series by Ginger Bolton. It has a 4.09 rating on Goodreads. It was first published in 2019.
This story is set during Fourth of July picnic. The main characters, ametuer slueths, and owners of teh Deputy Donut Cafe are put into a ‘sticky’ stituation involving a mysterious and messy murder.
Here’s a quote from the book’s description on Goodreads,
“So when Fallingbrook needs donuts for their Fourth of July picnic, Emily’s shop gets deputized. But a twisted killer has found another use for Emily’s treats. At the picnic, a firecracker is hidden in a stack of raspberry-filled donuts and aimed at the unwitting queen of the festivities. When it explodes, she is killed. Having her jelly donuts involved puts Emily in a sticky situation, and when a shady shutterbug tries to frame her with incriminating photos, she finds herself in quite a jam.”
Hope you enjoyed this Fourth of July Cozy Mysteries 2024 recommendation list.
Are you on Good Reads? See my review here and follow me on Good Reads for more cozy mystery reviews. Are you looking for more summer cozy mysteries? Check out these new releases for July 2024.
Best,
Anita
