Weekly Book Recs 23-2025: Queer Detectives and Cozy Mysteries
- Apollo Imperium
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
WEEKLY BOOK RECS: 6 book reviews and suggestions every week
If you’re like me, sometimes you want the thrill of a mystery with the clues, the tension, the shady side characters, but you also want a cup of coffee, maybe a little flirting, and a lead character with just the right amount of personal chaos. This week’s book recs edition celebrates queer detectives, amateur sleuths, and cozy mysteries that get the job done while also giving us characters we actually want to follow, even when they’re getting in their own way.
These six books bring the intrigue, but also bring heart, wit, queerness, and a whole lot of personality. Whether it’s a small-town witch, a meta drunk unraveling his own plot, or a hardboiled noir cop trying to survive queer history, there’s a mystery here for every kind of mood.
1. “The Detective” by Jake Zuurbier
⭐ 4.6/5
Tropes/Genre: Metafictional whodunit, bisexual mess of a main character, chaos in a murder mansion
Description: Mike is an alcoholic writer from our world who gets sucked into his own poorly written 1950s murder mystery after hitting his head while blackout drunk. Now he’s stuck in the plot with his ex, her new boyfriend, a femme fatale he can’t stop staring at, and a string of murders he never wrote. The more he drinks, the worse it gets, and the only way out might be straight through.
Review: This book is completely unhinged in the best way. It’s part whodunit, part metafiction meltdown, and somehow still manages to hit emotionally where it counts. Mike’s voice is chaotic, crude, and weirdly vulnerable, and the bisexual rep is refreshingly messy and real. If you want a mystery with a cracked mirror vibe and a narrator who’s spiraling while solving a crime he accidentally created, this is your book. Also, lots of cursing. Like, a lot.
2. “Lavender House” by Lev AC Rosen
⭐ 4.3/5
Tropes/Genre: Noir mystery, found family, queer history
Description: In 1950s San Francisco, disgraced detective Evander "Andy" Mills is hired to investigate a suspicious death at a queer household known for secrecy and scandal. As Andy uncovers the truth, he also confronts his own shame and desire.
Review: This one is stylish, smart, and drenched in vintage noir vibes. The mystery is tight, but the real draw is how it explores queerness and survival in a time when being out could kill you. Andy is a layered lead, and the cast of suspects is rich with secrets. Think classic hardboiled detective story but with actual emotional stakes. Perfect for fans of Raymond Chandler with a queer lens.
3. “A Death in Berlin” by David C. Dawson
⭐ 4.1/5
Tropes/Genre: Contemporary cozy mystery, gay romance, international intrigue
Description: British journalist Dominic Delingpole heads to Berlin for a relaxing trip with his partner, but things go sideways when a body turns up at a museum. The case leads them into dangerous territory involving art, corruption, and murder.
Review: This one’s more cozy-adjacent than full thriller, with strong romantic subplots and an easy flow. It’s a great pick for readers who want a queer relationship front and center while still enjoying the twists of a classic murder mystery. The pace is more vacation-read than adrenaline-fueled, and that’s what makes it fun.
4. “The Verifiers” by Jane Pek
⭐ 4.2/5
Tropes/Genre: Tech mystery, Asian American rep, queer amateur sleuth
Description: Claudia Lin secretly works for a company that investigates clients' online dating matches. When one of her clients disappears, Claudia starts digging. What she finds is bigger than she expected, and way more dangerous.
Review: This is a quirky, modern mystery with sharp writing and a lead who’s both socially awkward and extremely good at what she does. Claudia is queer, funny, and refreshingly non-stereotypical. The mystery itself is tech-driven but accessible. It’s a fun read with just enough bite to keep it interesting. Great for fans of light cyber thrillers and sarcastic narrators.
5. “Payback’s a Witch” by Lana Harper
⭐ 4.4/5
Tropes/Genre: Magical revenge plot, sapphic romance, paranormal cozy mystery
Description: Emmy Harlow returns to her magical hometown to help judge a tournament between rival witch families. She ends up teaming up with two women to take revenge on the same charming, infuriating guy, and maybe falls for one of them along the way.
Review: This one blends rom-com and mystery with witchy flair. It’s not a traditional detective story, but there’s definitely a who’s-lying-to-who vibe that fits the cozy mystery feel. The sapphic romance is soft and spicy, and the small-town magical setting is a total mood. A fun, low-stress read with just enough magic and mischief.
6. “A Queer Trade” by KJ Charles
⭐ 4.3/5
Tropes/Genre: Historical mystery, enemies to lovers, magical realism
Description: Crispin is a paper magician whose work goes sideways when his mentor dies and his spell-laced paper ends up sold off. Constable Ned Hall is called in when strange things start happening. The two must work together, and deal with some serious tension.
Review: This novella packs a lot into a small page count. It’s charming, mysterious, and steeped in a rich Victorian setting. Ned and Crispin have fantastic chemistry, and the magical angle adds something unique to the mystery. Great if you want a quick, satisfying read with both romance and a supernatural puzzle.
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