Fun cozy Mysteries set in small town Maine
One of my favorite vacations ever was our trip to Bar Harbor, Maine. I loved the cozy coastline, the lighthouses, the lobster, and the steaming bowls of clam chowder. It’s no wonder that I love to revisit it often through books. That’s where the inspiration for this fun list of cozy mysteries set in Maine came from.
These books are the equivalent of a hot cup of coffee on the front porch – pure comfort.
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Fun Cozy Mysteries Set in Maine
I tend to gravitate towards books set in Maine, so I’ve been reading these throughout the years. In this list, you’ll find both older series and some new series. And, they’re all fantastic. Hopefully you’ll find some new mystery series to add to your TBR list!
Haley Powell Mystery Series by Lee Hollis
In the Haley Powell Mystery Series by Lee Hollis, I get to visit Bar Harbor any time I like. Haley is a single mom and food writer for a local newspaper who finds herself stumbling over dead bodies often (and isn’t this true of all cozy mysteries?). She’s a lot of fun and that’s a good thing, because there are 14 books to enjoy in this series.
In the first book, Death of a Kitchen Diva, a rival food writer is found face down in a bowl of Haley’s clam chowder. All signs point to Haley as the killer so she starts investigating herself in order to clear her name.
This series is a fun way to revisit Bar Harbor and great for readers who love a fast-moving and fun mystery.
Purchase the first book in the series, Death of a Kitchen Diva here.
Lucy Stone Mystery Series by Leslie Meier
The Lucy Stone Mysteries are another delightful (and lengthy) series set in coastal Main. Lucy is a busy mom who keep stumbling into mysteries, many of which happen around holidays and other special occasions. If you follow the series, you’ll get to see Lucy’s kids grow up as well as her becoming a grandmother.
The first book, Mistletoe Murder, takes place around Christmas time. In this book, Lucy finds the owner of her company dead in his car. It first appears to be suicide, but that doesn’t sit right with Lucy. Can she figure out what really happened?
This is a great choice if you want to get lost in a long series (28 books!).
Purchase the first book in the series, Mistletoe Murder, here.
Maine Clambake Mystery Series by Barbara Ross
The popular Maine Clambake mystery series is set in a small coastal town of Busman’s Harbor. The protagonist is Julia Snowden and she returned to her hometown to help with her family’s struggling clambake business and along the way she stumbles onto murder.
In the first book, Clammed Up, the Snowden family is catering a wedding on picturesque Morrow Island when the best man is discovered dead. In order to save her business and help a friend, Julia soon gets involved to help solve the murder.
This series is a great one to binge (with 9 books) for any arm chair travelers who love books with a great sense of place and also for anyone who loves a good foodie mystery.
Purchase the first book in the series, Clammed Up, here.
Mainely Needlepoint Mystery Series by Lea Wait
In the Mainely Needlepoint series, Angie Curtis comes home to Harbor Haven, Maine and to her Grandmother, Charlotte. In the first book of the series, Twisted Threads, you learn that Angie comes home because of the disappearance of her mom many years ago.
This first mystery brings Angie home and also introduces her to her Grandmother’s needlepoint business and a fun group of crafters. Angie will soon find that there are a lot of mysteries to solve in Harbor Haven!
This is a great cozy series for anyone who loves needle crafts, small town settings, and quirky groups of friends who help solve mysteries.
Purchase the first book in the series, Twisted Threads, here.
Second Chance Cat Mystery Series By Sofie Ryan
A common premise in cozy mysteries is a protagonist who returns home to her small town after some time away spreading her wings. But, despite how many times I read it, I never tire of it and think it fits the cozy mystery genre quite well. The Second Chance Cat mysteries is one such series that uses this premise. In this series, Sarah Grayson returns to her hometown of North Harbor to run a fun second hand shop with the help of her found cat Elvis and a whole cast of charming side characters (including a fun group of elderly friends who are quite a hoot!).
In the first book of the series, The Whole Cat and Caboodle, Sarah’s elderly friend Maddie is found with the body of her gentleman friend in her garden. Sarah and her friends must work to solve the mystery and clear Maddie’s name.
You’ll love this series if you love mysteries featuring cats and quirky small town settings.
Purchase the first book in the series, The Whole Cat and Caboodle, here.
Faith Fairchild Mystery Series by Katherine Hall Page
I’ve been slowly reading my way through the Faith Fairchild series for years now. It’s one I always know I’ll enjoy as soon as I pick it up. This series follow Faith, a minister’s wife and caterer, and all the mysteries she stumbles upon. The series (especially in the beginning) alternates between the Fairchild’s home in Massachusetts and their summer home in Maine. But, enough of the series is set in Maine that I feel comfortable adding this one to my list of Maine mysteries.
The second book of the series, The Body in the Kelp, is the first book set in Maine, specifically charming Sanpere Island. In this book, Faith is following fun clues found on a patchwork quilt when she stumbles upon a dead body on the beach. Suddenly her fun, harmless mystery is so much more.
This is a great series for anyone that’s looking for a long-lasting series (25 books!) and love to follow along a family as the kids go from toddler to young adult.
Purchase The Body in the Kelp here.
Apron Shop Mystery Series by Elizabeth Penney
The Apron Shop Mysteries are a relatively new series that shows a lot of promise. In this series, Iris Buckley returns to her hometown of Blueberry Cove to help her Grandmother run an apron shop. This series brings together old friends, new friends, and a fun premise for a retail shop.
In the first book of the series, Hems & Homicide, Iris and her Grandmother, Anne, stumble upon a skeleton while working on opening up their retail shop. Soon a second body shows up, that of Anne’s landlord with whom she has been feuding for decades. Iris realizes that she’s got to step in and solve this mystery once her Grandmother becomes the prime suspect.
This is a great series for anyone who loves fun quirky stores and friends solving mysteries.
Purchase the first book in the series, Hems & Homicide, here.
The Gray Whale Inn Mystery Series by Karen MacInerney
In the Gray Whale Inn Mystery series, you’ll meet Natalie Barnes who moved from Texas to Cranberry Island to follow her dream of opening a bed & breakfast in Maine. Natalie has plenty of challenges with opening a B&B and even more challenges when she stumbles onto murder.
In the first book of the series, Murder on the Rocks, the Gray Whale Inn is being threatened by a developer and when that developer is found dead, Natalie is the prime suspect. Can she solve the mystery, clear her name, and save her bed & breakfast?
This is a great series for anyone who loves their mysteries set at B&Bs or Inns.
Find the first book in the series, Murder on the Rocks, here.
A Death By Chocolate Mystery Series by Sarah Graves
Is there anything better than a cozy mystery series about dessert? How about one that focuses on chocolate. Yum! The Death by Chocolate series set around a sweet shop called The Chocolate Moose owned by friends Jake (short for Jacobia) and Ellie. You may have already met these two ladies if you are a fan of the Home Repair is Homicide series also by Sarah Graves.
In the first book in the series, Death by Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake, Jake & Ellie are excited by the possibilities of the 4th of July weekend for their shop. Unfortunately, their town is hit by an early season hurricane the the local health inspector is found dead inside The Chocolate Moose. Unfortunately, Ellie becomes a suspect and Jake must work to clear her name.
You’ll love this series if you love a good foodie mystery or have a sweet tooth!
Purchase the first book in the series, Death by Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake, here.
Candy Holliday Murder Mystery Series by B. B. Haywood
In the Candy Holliday mysteries, Candy left her job in Boston to return home to Cape Willington and help her father run Blueberry Acres farm. It doesn’t take long before she is plunged into solving a mystery.
In the first book, Town in a Blueberry Jam, an aging playboy and the newly crowned Blueberry Queen are killed. Candy’s friend, who is also a local handyman, is accused of the murders. Can she help clear his name and wade through all the secrets and scandals that come to light?
This is a fun series for anyone that loves farm settings and small town mysteries.
Purchase the first book in the series, Town in a Blueberry Jam, here.
Maine is such a popular setting for cozy mysteries and there are so many fun series to choose from. Have you read any of these great mysteries set in Maine? Do you know of any that I should add to this list?
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