Join the sleuthing fun December 1st to December 12th.
#12DaysofCozies
There will be an email newsletter every day during the celebration. (This is the only time of year I email more than once a month.) Each email includes the daily schedule, giveaway opportunities, bonuses/extras not shared anywhere else (and there will be quite a few of them), and a giveaway! Readers will be entered to win an ebook, audiobook, or gift card simply by opening the email.
Each day, December 1st to December 12th, readers can share their interpretations of the daily Instagram prompts. To help foster cozy conversations and sleuther participation, I highly recommend using the hashtag #12daysofcozies when posting content.
The 2024 challenges are all inspired by classic mysteries 🔎 To celebrate and share the coziness, I will be shouting out sleuthers & their photos via the main feed, stories, and email newsletters. I’m super excited to see what y’all come up with 📚❤️
CELEBRATING CLASSIC COZY MYSTERIES & THEIR CREATORS
INSTAGRAM PHOTO CHALLENGES
DAY ONE
SHERLOCK HOLMES
“How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?” - Sherlock Holmes, The Sign of Four
The first Sherlock Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet, was published December 1, 1887.
Have you read anything by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? Do you have a favorite Sherlock story? If you haven’t read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle yet, have you seen a Sherlock-inspired movie/TV adaptation? Do you have a favorite rendition?
The Day One Instagram Photo Challenge: Share Your Favorite Sherlock or Sherlock-Inspired Story. For example, The Cozy Mystery Book Club we read Vicki Delany’s Elementary, She Read.
Bonus Question: Who is your favorite Sherlock-related character? Is Moriarty your favorite villain? Is Irene Adler your favorite literary woman? Do you want Dr. Watson as a best friend? Did an author create another character inspired by Sherlock that you adore? Please share!
DAY TWO
MISS MARPLE & HERCULE POIROT
“The impossible could not have happened, therefore the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances.” - Hercule Poirot, Murder on the Orient Express
The first Miss Marple short story, The Tuesday Night Club, was published in December 1927.
What was your first Agatha Christie read? If you haven’t read Agatha Christie yet, have you seen a movie/TV adaptation? What did you think?
The Day Two Instagram Photo Challenge: Share Your Favorite Agatha Christie or Agatha Christie Inspired Story.
Bonus Question: Who is your favorite fictional detective?
DAY THREE
MURDER MOST FOUL
“Murder most foul, as in the best it is. But this most foul, strange and unnatural.”
- William Shakespeare, Hamlet
The Day Three Instagram Photo Challenge: Candlestick? Dagger? Pipe? Revolver? Rope? It was Poison! Take a photo of a novel that has poison in the title or used poison as the murder method in the story.
Bonus Question: What is the most creative murder you have read?
*Also, if you can figure out the reference from the photo challenge prompt, find a way to incorporate it into your 12 Days of Cozies fun.
DAY FOUR
TROPES & THEMES
If you truly love a book, you should sleep with it, write in it, read aloud from it, and fill its pages with muffin crumbs.” - Anne Fadiman
Our love of literature is what brought this sleuthing family together. In honor of cozy mysteries, please share your favorite cozy mystery trope and or theme.
Five strangers are stranded on an island. A locked room mystery. Family-owned restaurant. Female small business owner. Hobby-themed. Cozy companions. What is your go-to cozy mystery?
The Day Four Instagram Photo Challenge: Share a photo of your favorite cozy mystery novel. If you can’t select one title, share your favorite trope or theme of choice.
Bonus Question: Who is your auto-buy cozy mystery author?
DAY FIVE
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!
“Aside from the murders, DC has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.” - Marion Barry
What is your favorite place to read about? Bring on the small towns, escape into the city, or murder abroad?
The Day Five Instagram Photo Challenge: Showcase a story that features your favorite place to read about.
Bonus Question: Is there a small town cozy community you would love to be a part of? Do you want to live in Lake Eden? Is visiting Lawrenceton a dream of yours?
DAY SIX
J.B. FLETCHER
“Well, of course it's the murder weapon. Whoever heard of framing anyone with the wrong gun?” - Jessica Fletcher
Murder, She Wrote is one of the longest-running cozy mystery TV shows of all-time. After the program came to an end, a book picked up the sleuthing torch. At the present moment, there are over fifty books in the cozy mystery series. What is your favorite mystery series?
The Day Six Instagram Photo Challenge: Take a photo of your favorite cozy mystery series.
If you don’t have each of the titles in print, feel free to showcase one or two of the titles.
Bonus Question: “Now, I may be wrong, but frankly, I doubt it.” This is an iconic Jessica Fletcher quote. Was there a mystery novel that you solved before the big reveal? Was there a mystery novel that took you entirely by surprise (never thinking of the ending)?
DAY SEVEN
MURDER MYSTERY DINNER PARTY
“People who love to eat are always the best people.” - Julia Child
Food and mystery novels go hand-in-hand. From Clue, inviting all of the guests to a fancy dinner party, to Murder, She Wrote’s “Who Threw the Barbitals in Mrs. Fletcher’s Chowder?” to the numerous fictional characters who own restaurants, bakeries, and coffeeshops. Mystery readers love their food-inspired stories.
The Day Seven Instagram Photo Challenge: Take and share a photo of your favorite restaurant, bakery, or beverage-themed cozy mystery.
Bonus Question: What is your favorite food-inspired book title? Examples include: And Then There Were Crumbs by Eve Calder, The Quiche of Death by MC Beaton, and The Enemy You Gnocchi by Catherine Bruns.
DAY EIGHT
PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE
“Do act mysterious. It always keeps them coming back for more.” - Carolyn Keene, Nancy’s Mysterious Letter
Who grew up reading Nancy Drew? Who wanted to be a member of the Hardy Boys? Do you remember your first cozy mystery read? If you can’t remember your favorite cozy mystery read, is there a character or series that first inspired you to keep coming back for more?
The Day Eight Instagram Photo Challenge: Take and share a photo of your most memorable cozy read.
Bonus Question: What was the mystery novel that inspired you to become a fan of the genre?
DAY NINE
RECENT READS
“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” - C.S. Lewis
What was your 2024 reading goal? Have you accomplished your 2024 reading goals? If not, how many more pages/books do you have left to read?
The Day Nine Instagram Photo Challenge: Take and share a photo featuring your latest cozy mystery read.
Bonus Question: What cozy mysteries are currently on your to be read list?
DAY TEN
SLEUTHING SIDEKICKS
“You know my methods, Watson.” - Sherlock Holmes, The Crooked Man
Every sleuther needs a friend to go on mysterious adventures with. If not a Watson to their Sherlock, then a cozy companion to keep them company and bring smiles.
The Day Ten Instagram Photo Challenge: Share your favorite literary Watson. Who is your favorite cozy sidekick?
Bonus Question: Who is your favorite cozy companion? Is there a fictional cat or dog that you wish was your own?
DAY ELEVEN
SILVER SCREEN, BIG SCREEN, & STREAMING
Sherlock: Strain yourself to be alert to the bizarre and the unusual; that which has no place in any given picture.
Watson: Like that stretch limo with the driver staring straight at us?
- Elementary (TV Show)
What is your favorite cozy mystery program? Examples Include: Father Brown Mysteries, McBride, Miss Marple, Sherlock, Elementary, Mystery Woman, Murder, She Baked, Queens of Mystery, Monk, Psych, Miss Fisher, Aurora Teagarden, Scooby Doo, and Agatha Raisin.
What is your favorite cozy mystery movie? Examples Include: Knives Out, Glass Onion, Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, Game Night, Harriet the Spy, Get a Clue, Sherlock Holmes, and Murder Mystery.
The Day Eleven Instagram Photo Challenge: Share the original text that inspired your favorite cozy mystery movie. If you can’t find a book-to-movie adaptation you enjoyed, is there a cozy mystery about actors, screenwriters, costume designers, dancers, or theaters that you would like to feature?
Bonus Question: Find a cozy mystery that has the word “silver,” “film,” or “movie” in the title.
DAY TWELVE
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
“Ah, but you must have a Christmas uncomplicated by murder.” - Agatha Christie, Hercule Poirot’s Christmas
There are a number of classic mysteries set at Christmastime; such as Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie, The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, A Nancy Drew Christmas by Carolyn Keene, and A Christmas Tragedy by Agatha Christie.
In addition to classic mysteries, there are a number of cozy mysteries set at Christmastime; such as Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings by Liz Ireland, Rest Ye Murdered Gentleman by Vicki Delany, In Peppermint Peril by Joy Avon, Mistletoe Murder by Leslie Meier, and A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril.
The Day Twelve Instagram Photo Challenge: Share your favorite holiday-inspired reads.
Bonus Question: The Cozy Mystery Book Club Buddy Read is The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict. Share a photo of our selected title.
For your chance to be featured a 12 Days of Cozies email newsletter, please share your cozy Instagram photos and tag @cozymysteryclub (and or @writerahart) and use the hashtag #12DaysofCozies 📸
I also do my best to share everyone's photos via The Cozy Mystery Book Club's Instagram Stories. Each day has its own unique highlight so that the photos will always be featured. Plus, each of the Instagram Stories can be viewed after the 24 hour cutoff. The coziness and holiday fun will live on throughout the year 🗓️
Every day, December 1st to December 12th, cozy mystery authors will be ready to discuss their stories, characters, recent reads, holiday traditions, etc.
To take part, visit the social media platform, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X, or BlueSky at the designated time. The authors will be at their computers/phones ready to chat. If you have a question, simply type your post then include the hashtag #12DaysofCozies at the end. The authors will see your question via the running hashtag feed and answer you live! How cool is that?
Online Author Chats
DECEMBER 1ST
8:00 PM EST Vicki Delany (@vickidelany) on Twitter
8:00 PM EST Sybil Johnson (@SybilJohnson19) on Twitter
DECEMBER 2ND
10:30 AM EST Jennifer J. Chow (@jenjchow) on Threads
4:00 PM EST Daryl Wood Gerber (@darylwoodgerber) on Facebook
8:00 PM EST Julie Mulhern (@juliekmulhern) on Twitter
DECEMBER 3RD
8:00 PM EST J. Arens (@districtdetectiveseries) on Threads
DECEMBER 4TH
1:00 PM EST Mindy Quigley (@minty_fresh_books) on Instagram
6:00 PM EST Victoria Hamel (@victoria7401) on Threads
DECEMBER 5TH
8:00 PM EST Sydney Leigh (@sydneyleighcozy) on Twitter
DECEMBER 6TH
2:00 pM EST Katherine Brown (@katherinebrownkatie) on Instagram
8:00 PM EST Sabine Frisch (@Cikotok65) on Twitter
DECEMBER 7TH
11:00 AM EST DL Mitchell (@dlmitchellmystery) on Threads
DECEMBER 8TH
12:00 PM EST Kate Lansing (@kmlansing) on Threads
3:00 PM EST Liz Ireland (@lizireland_author) on Threads
8:00 PM EST Christina Romeril (@romerilchris) on Twitter
DECEMBER 9TH
8:00 PM EST Victoria Gilbert (@VGilbertauthor) on Facebook
DECEMBER 10TH
8:00 PM EST Traci Hall (@tracihallauthor) on Instagram
DECEMBER 11TH
6:00 PM EST Heather Weidner (@heather_mystery_writer) on Threads
DECEMBER 12TH
7:00 PM EST Colleen Cambridge (aka Colleen Gleason) on BlueSky
TO FIND YOUR TIME ZONE, PLEASE USE THE PST TO EST CONVERTER
12 DAYS OF COZIES | SOCIAL MEDIA SCHEDULE
THE COZY MYSTERY BOOK CLUB’S TWITTER (@cozymysteryclub)
TWITTER READING SPRINTS: 5:00 to 8:00 PM EST
5:00 to 5:20 | 20 Minute Twitter Reading Sprint
5:20 to 5:30 | 10 Minute Break
5:30 to 5:50 | 20 Minute Twitter Reading Sprint
5:50 to 6:00 | 10 Minute Break
6:00 to 6:20 | 20 Minute Twitter Reading Sprint
6:20 to 6:30 | 10 Minute Break
6:30 to 6:50 | 20 Minute Twitter Reading Sprint
6:50 to 7:00 | 10 Minute Break
7:00 to 7:20 | 20 Minute Twitter Reading Sprint
7:20 to 7:30 | 10 Minute Break
7:30 to 7:50 | 20 Minute Twitter Reading Sprint
7:50 to 8:00 | 10 Minute Break
THE COZY MYSTERY BOOK CLUB’S THREADS (@cozymysteryclub)
THREADS READING SPRINTS: 9:00 PM EST to 12:00 AM EST
9:00 to 9:20 | 20 Minute Threads Reading Sprint
9:20 to 9:30 | 10 Minute Break
9:30 to 9:50 | 20 Minute Threads Reading Sprint
9:50 to 10:00 | 10 Minute Break
10:00 to 10:20 | 20 Minute Threads Reading Sprint
10:20 to 10:30 | 10 Minute Break
10:30 to 10:50 | 20 Minute Threads Reading Sprint
10:50 to 11:00 | 10 Minute Break
11:00 to 11:20 | 20 Minute Threads Reading Sprint
11:20 to 11:30 | 10 Minute Break
11:30 to 11:50 | 20 Minute Threads Reading Sprint
11:50 to 12:00 | 10 Minute Break
During 12 Days of Cozies, I will be posting cozy content across social media platforms.
@writerahart on Instagram
✨ Cozy Christmas-Inspired Photo Sharing the Daily 12 Days of Cozies Schedule
✨ The 12 Days of Cozies Instagram Photo Challenge
✨ FOUR Special Videos via IG Stories
✨ TWO Reels
@writerahart on TikTok
✨ At least ONE new TikTok video every day!
@writerahart on Twitter (X)
✨ Good Morning Tweet Alongside a Christmas Themed Cozy Mystery Title
✨ Daily Reading Challenges
✨ Evening Author Chats
Books Are My Hart on YouTube
✨ ONE YouTube Short Video
To win one of these paperbacks, please visit The Cozy Mystery Book Club’s Instagram page @cozymysteryclub. Every day, December 1st to December 12th, one of these cozy mysteries will be offered as a giveaway. A unique post will be shared via The Cozy Mystery Book Club’s main Instagram feed and sleuthers will be asked to engage with the content (such as like, save, share, and or comment).
⭐️ Be 18 Years Old (and or Have a Parent’s Permission to Enter)
⭐️ These Giveaways are Not Sponsored/Endorsed by Instagram
⭐️ Be Following @cozymysteryclub, @writerahart, and @kensingtonbooks on Instagram
⭐️ Limited to United States & Canada
⭐️ Giveaways Will Be Live for 24 Hours
⭐️ Winners Will Be Randomly Selected and Announced via The Cozy Mystery Book Club’s Instagram as well as the Daily Email Newsletters
Last year, a fake account used the book club’s logo in an attempt to scam users. Winners will only be asked their preferred name and a valid mailing address. No one will be asked for credit card information, social security numbers, etc. If you are notified by anyone other than The Cozy Mystery Book Club (@cozymysteryclub on Instagram and writerahart@gmail.com via email). please be suspicious.
For International Sleuthers, I’ve Got You Covered! Each Daily Email Newsletter Includes a Digital Giveaway!
eMail Newsletter Giveaways
Day One: Killer Fruitcake: A Sea Glass Beach Mystery (Sea Glass Beach Mysteries) by Amelia Pine
Day Two: The District Detectives The Silence Broken by J. Arens
Day Three: Christmas Lights and Catfights (A Jules Keene Glamping Mystery) by Heather Weidner
Day Four: Sleep in Heavenly Pizza (A Deep Dish Mystery) by Mindy Quigley (audiobook)
Day Five: Whispers in the Attic (A Magical Papillon Mystery) by Sabine Frisch (audiobook)
Day Six: Instagoner (A Bark and Blog Mystery) by Sydney Leigh (ebook)
Day Seven: The Deep End by Julie Mulhern (ebook)
Day Eight: Trust the Terrier (A Coral Shores Veterinary Mystery) by DL Mitchell (ebook)
Day Nine: Harm for the Holidays (Annabeth Watson Historical Cozy Mystery Novella) by Katherine Brown
Day Ten: Brush Up On Murder by Sybil Johnson
Day Eleven: In the Event of Murder (Starlit Bookshop Mystery) by Cynthia Kuhn (ebook)
In the Event of Murder (Starlit Bookshop Mystery) by Cynthia Kuhn (audiobook)
Day Twelve: Ginger Snapped to Death (Cookies and Chance Mystery) by Catherine Bruns (ebook)
Each day during 12 Days of Cozies, readers and writers submitted guest blog posts for your enjoyment. You can find a brand new feature each morning at 7:00 AM EST over on TheCozyMysteryBookClub.com 🔎
December is the only month we don't have a YouTube livestream discussion. Sleuthers can enjoy our December title, The Christmas Murder Game, by reading it during Twitter (X) and or Threads 12 Days of Cozies reading sprints, discuss the tale via The Cozy Mystery Book Club's Instagram stories (in which questions, polls, images, and more will be shared), post photos (using the 12 Days of Cozies prompts), and celebrate the cozy mystery via personal accounts. If you share a photo, review, or video, be sure to tag The Cozy Mystery Book Club or email me a link (writerahart@gmail.com). I can't wait to see your creativity ❤️
