PBS Books Readers Club hosts a special event sharing Our Favorite Cozy Murder Mysteries from Masterpiece and the authors who wrote the amazing novels that inspired them. The episode premieres on June 25th at 8PM ET on Facebook, YouTube, and the PBS app.
For years, Masterpiece has been bringing renowned murder mystery novels to life through fantastic adaptations. In this special episode, we’ll feature interviews like Robert Thorogood (The Marlow Murder Club), Anthony Horowitz (Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders), and Daisy Coulam (executive producer and writer of Grantchester). Our hosts will explore the key elements of a great cozy mystery novel, with insights from past interviews on crafting intricate puzzles and developing memorable characters. The hosts also share their favorite cozy murder mystery book recommendations.
“I don’t expect the reader to fail to guess who the killer is. There’s normally only 4 or 5 suspects, but the game, and it is a parlor game, is can I smuggle the killer past you? Because when you’re reading a book and you see the reveal of who the killer is and you didn’t see it or you discounted that person long ago, the thrill you get is so intoxicating. And I’m sort of chasing that thrill when I try and write a book.” – Robert Thorogood, The Marlow Murder Club
Our PBS watch-alike this month is the Masterpiece Cozy Mystery PBS pledge program. For over 50 years, Masterpiece has been home to captivating crime dramas, with cozy mysteries emerging as fan favorites. These lighthearted stories feature amateur sleuths in tight-knit communities, focusing on puzzles and characters rather than violence. Shows like Grantchester, Miss Scarlet, Magpie Murders, and The Marlow Murder Club offer a feel-good take on crime, filled with twists, humor, and charm. We’re celebrating these uplifting, fast-paced mysteries for their unique, comforting appeal.
About the Author
Charlotte McConaghy
Charlotte is an Australian author living in Sydney with her partner and two children.
She has a Masters Degree in Screenwriting from the Australian Film Television and Radio School, and a number of published SFF works in Australia.
Her novel MIGRATIONS was her first foray into adult literary fiction, published in North America by Flatiron Books, and by Penguin Random House in Australia and the UK. It is being translated into over 25 languages, and adapted to film.
ONCE THERE WERE WOLVES, the New York Times Bestseller, is a romantic mystery about a biologist charged with reintroducing wolves to the Scottish Highlands in order to rewild the landscape and bring a forest back to life.
Her third novel WILD DARK SHORE continues her love of romantic thrillers set in beautiful, remote places, and explores not only what it takes to raise children in a collapsing world, but the impossible choices we make to protect those we love.
