Top Cozy Mysteries Set in Oregon
“Oregon is an inspiration. Whether you come to it, or are born to it, you become entranced by our state's beauty, the opportunity she affords, and the independent spirit of her citizens.” - Tom McCallWith its lush forests, charming small towns, and misty coastlines, Oregon provides the perfect backdrop for a cozy mystery and we’ve found several authors who agree!
Here is our list of some of the best cozy mysteries that showcase the beauty and mystery of Oregon.
Meet Your Baker by Ellie Alexander
Set in Ashland, Oregon
Description:
Artisan pastry chef Juliet “Jules” Capshaw returns to her childhood home of Ashland Oregon, which is famous for its Oregon Shakespeare Festival, to nurse a broken heart and help with her family’s bakery. While baking sweets and helping the business, Jules begins investigating murders.
In the first book of the series, Meet Your Baker, Jules leaves her successful career on a cruise ship to figure out her personal life at her beloved family bakery, Torte. However, her Shakespeare-inspired hometown is not as peaceful as she would have hoped. On stage and off stage there is drama and when the festival’s newest board member, a real-life Lady Macbeth, is murdered, Jules finds herself invested in the investigations. Complicating the matter is that one of the detectives on the case is her high school sweetheart. While Jules is discovering “the course of true love never did run smooth”, she uncovers clues that could lead to a killer.
Why We Love it:
We love the Shakespearean setting (which is a real place and also home to the Ashland Mystery Festival) and wish we could visit Torte for its delectable treats and delightful staff. We love the relationship with her mom and her staff.
The characters are colorful and fun, especially the townsfolk involved in the themed events. We’re rooting for Jules to succeed with the bakery and to decide if she can work things out with her estranged husband or turn her friendship with her high school flame into something more.
Each book also includes recipes!
Other books in the Bakeshop Mysteries series:
Meet Your Baker (2014)
A Batter of Life and Death (2015)
On Thin Icing (2015)
Caught Bread Handed (2016)
Fudge and Jury (2017)
A Crime of Passion Fruit (2017)
Another One Bites the Crust (2018)
Til Death Do Us Tart (2018)
Live and Let Pie (2018)
A Cup of Holiday Fear (2019)
Nothing Bundt Trouble (2020)
Chilled to the Cone (2020)
Mocha, She Wrote (2021)
Bake, Borrow, and Steal (2021)
Donut Disturb (2022)
Muffin But the Truth (2022)
Catch Me If You Candy (2023)
A Smoking Bun (2024)
Sticks and Scones (Scheduled for August 2024)
2. Fresh Brewed Murder by Emmeline Duncan
Set in Portland, Oregon
Description:
Set in Portland, Sage Caplin runs the coffee cart Ground Rules where she and her business partner Harley roast their own beans and create coffee-inspired cocktails. When Sage’s family past makes her look like a suspect, she begins investigating to clear her name and finds she has a talent for solving cases.
In the first book, Fresh Brewed Murder, Sage has just opened her coffee cart and finds that the lot where the food trucks park is full of trouble, both from drama between long-time vendors and nearby protesters. When a man is found with his throat slashed next to Sage’s cart, the murder weapon points makes innocent Sage looking very guilty. Being related to a manipulative con artist doesn’t help her reputation, so Sage sets out to find the real killer.
Why We Love it:
We love Sage’s backstory and how she has to avoid the grasp of her con artist mother. The characters are delightful and so are the fellow food trucks. The Portland setting carries through and adds as much local flavor as the descriptions of all the delicious coffee blends. We enjoy seeing how Sage solves crimes and the potential love triangle.
The book also includes recipes for specialty coffees, cold brews, food, and cocktails!
Other books in the Ground Rules Mysteries series:
Fresh Brewed Murder (2021)
Double Shot Death (2022)
Flat White Fatality (2023)
Death Unfiltered (2024)
3. Death Bee Comes Her by Nancy Coco
Set in Oceanview, Oregon
Description:
Wren Johnson is the talented artisan behind the delectable honey boutique, Let It Bee, who finds that she and her irresistibly charming Havana Brown cat Everett have a knack for solving crimes.
In the first book of the series, Death Bee Comes Her, Halloween season is approaching and casts an enchanting spell over the seaside town of Oceanview, Oregon.
However, Wren’s plans for crafting sweet treats take a spine-tingling turn when she finds herself as the prime suspect in a murder case. With her aunt, loyal friends, and faithful feline by her side, Wren embarks on a quest to clear her name.
Why We Love it:
The bee-themed boutique of Let It Bee is a place so inviting that we wish we could really visit it. We love the Halloween of the first book and all the interesting bee facts throughout the series.
However, we find that Everett is the real scene stealer of this series. We love reading about this furry feline companion with a personality as captivating as the mysteries Wren unravels.
Other books in the Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series:
Death Bee Comes Her (2021)
A Matter of Hive and Death (2022)
4. Bait and Witch by Angela Sanders
Set in Wilfred, Oregon
Description:
Balancing whimsy and danger, this series follows Josie Way, a librarian who recently discovered she is a witch.
In the first book, Bait and Witch, Josie is on the run after witnessing a crime. Hiding on the other side of the country and taking a job in a quirky Victorian mansion-turned-library, Josie thinks she might be safe. However, a dead body found on the grounds complicates matters - and so does discovering that she suddenly has magical powers!
Why We Love it:
Magic and libraries are a great combination for a cozy! Add in a little murderous mystery, and it’s a perfect treat. We love reading about Josie’s unusual journey in Wilfred, Oregon as she discovers her powers and the bookish form they take.
We also love her coworkers and their interesting hobbies (secret romance novelist!), as well as Josie’s adorable new familiar Rodney. The potential romance with someone who has their own secrets is also intriguing.
Other books in the Witch Way Librarian Mysteries series:
Bait and Witch (2020)
Seven-Year Witch (2021)
Witch and Famous (2022)
Witch Upon a Star (2023)
Gone with the Witch (2024)
The Witch is Back (Scheduled for November 2024)
5. Pint of No Return by Dana Mentink
Set in Upper Sprocket, Oregon
Description:
Recovering from her divorce, Trinidad and her dog Noodles move to fulfill a dream and start a new ice cream shop, the Shimmy and Shake Shop. Trinidad inherited her ex's business building and the drama of his other ex-wives in his former hometown.
In the first book, Pint of No Return, Trinidad is busy setting up her new shop. However, the murder of the Popcorn King spells trouble for a fellow ex-wife. When her new friend becomes the prime suspect, Trinidad agrees to look for the real killer.
Why We Love it:
Firstly, the “Freakshake” monster milkshake desserts in this series sound so delectable, we wish that we pull them from the pages. This is a great series for any ice cream lover (it made our top three list of ice cream-inspired cozies) but we also love the description of the quirky Upper Sprocket, Oregon town.
We’re rooting for Trinidad and her sisterhood of ex-wives who unfortunately were also married to the same embezzling jerk at different times. We also love Noodles, the senior dog rescue dog who flunked out of being a service dog.
Other books in the Shake Shop Mystery series:
Pint of No Return (2021)
A Sprinkle in Time (2022)
Spoon to be Dead (2023)
6. The Ghost of Marlow House by Bobbi Holmes
Set in Frederickport, Oregon
Description:
Danielle Boatman is a widowed marketer heiress who is able to see ghosts. After inheriting a seaside mansion that she hopes to turn into a B&B, Danielle learns that the house is still occupied by the spirit of a man who died there ninety years ago. Challenged to solve his murder and restore the old house, Danielle encounters other mysteries and supernatural shenanigans along the way.
In the first book, The Ghost of Marlow House, Danielle moves into her new property and meets the ghostly inhabitant, Walt Marlow. The charming spirit convinces Danielle that the only way he can move on is if she solves the mystery of his death.
However, Danielle soon discovers that the living might post more of a threat than the dead as some people have their sights on Marlow House’s other secrets.
Why We Love it:
This long-running series is full of supernatural fun as well as mystery.
We enjoy seeing the different points of view in the narrative and following Danielle as she works to turn her new haunted home into a B&B. However, the true appeal is seeing the relationship unfold between Danielle and the deceased occupant of the house, Walt Marlow.
Other books in the Haunting Danielle series:
The Ghost of Marlow House (2014)
The Ghost Who Loved Diamonds (2014)
The Ghost Who Wasn't (2015)
The Ghost Who Wanted Revenge (2015)
The Ghost of Halloween Past (2015)
The Ghost Who Came for Christmas (2015)
The Ghost of Valentine Past (2016)
The Ghost from the Sea (2016)
The Ghost and the Mystery Writer (2016)
The Ghost and the Muse (2016)
The Ghost Who Stayed Home (2016
The Ghost and the Leprechaun (2017)
The Ghost Who Lied (2017)
The Ghost and the Bride (2017)
The Ghost and Little Marie (2017)
The Ghost and the Doppelganger (2018)
The Ghost of Second Chances (2018)
The Ghost Who Dream Hopped (2018)
The Ghost of Christmas Secrets (2018)
The Ghost Who Was Says I Do (2019)
The Ghost and the Baby (2019)
The Ghost and the Halloween Haunt (2019)
The Ghost and the Christmas Spirit (2019)
The Ghost and the Silver Scream (2020)
The Ghost of a Memory (2020)
The Ghost and the Witches’ Coven (2020)
The Ghost and the Mountain Man (2021)
The Ghost and the Birthday Boy (2021)
The Ghost and the Church Lady (2022)
The Ghost and the Medium (2022)
The Ghost and the New Neighbor (2022)
The Ghost and the Wedding Crasher (2023)
The Ghost and the Twins (2023)
The Ghost and the Poltergeist (2024)
The Ghost Who Sought Redemption (2024)