I have to do a panel on Saturday at the San Francisco Writers Conference and somehow my cozy little self was placed between two thriller writers, Sheldon Siegel and Robert Dugoni... So I thought I'd better come up with the differences between the two subgenres, just in case there's any confusion...
versus
1. A cozy centers around a small puzzle, like “Who Killed The Cat Lady,” while a thriller is concerned with a larger crime, such as who’s writing all that stuff for Wikipedia?
2. A cozy heroine uses her hobby to solve the crime, such as her quilting skills or cooking knowledge, while a thriller hero uses his contacts with the police, informants, and spies.
3. A cozy has more to do with figuring out whodunit, like “Was it the butler or clergyman?” while a thriller deals with emotions, such “What kind of person would kidnap a dog?”
4. In a cozy, the sex and violence take place off the page, such as behind closed doors, while a thriller offers details of throbbing thighs and bloody Samuri swords on the page.
5. A cozy is set in a small town, such as Podunk, Iowa or Flat Skunk, California, while a thriller takes place on a larger stage, like Berlin, Moscow, or Lithuania.
6. A cozy offers clever clues like broken lipsticks and strange keys, while a thriller provides shocking surprises, such as hidden safe deposit boxes and buried treasure.
7. A cozy keeps the killer’s identity a secret until the end, such as the butler, while a thriller tells you right away the butler escaped from an insane asylum and is a ticking timebomb.
8. Cozies are usually series, filled with victims who are friends or family members, while thrillers are usually standalones, with larger-than-life victims like Enron presidents.
9. Cozies look for suspects, like men with scars and women who work as “masseuses,” while thrillers look for betrayers, such as your own husband, child, or hairdresser.
10. Cozies have cute tongue-in-titles, like Dead Body Language or How to Host a Killer Party, while thrillers have pithy, dynamic titles, like Murder One! or Perfect Alibi!
11. Cozies have ordinary protagonists, like beekeepers, seamstresses, and cupcake makers, while thrillers have disgruntled CIA agents, nearly retired cops, and reformed ex-cons.
12. Cozies are often humorous, with comical sidekicks who work as inept prostitutes, while thrillers aren’t funny, because they’re really serious.
Contact cozy Penny Warner at pennywarner.com or pennywarnerink@yahoo.com.
What a perfect explanation of cozy mysteries. This humor also explains why I enjoy your books so much.
Posted by: Lynette K. | February 15, 2012 at 10:38 AM
Cozies may keep you up all night--reading. But thrillers leave you hoping you won't fall asleep.
Posted by: Liz | February 15, 2012 at 12:27 PM
Lynette, you're too kind! Guess I'll keep on writing them!
Posted by: penny warner | February 15, 2012 at 12:48 PM
Good point, Liz! So what should I read when I have insomnia and WANT to get to sleep?
Posted by: penny warner | February 15, 2012 at 12:49 PM
hee hee... I love the illustrations you used too!
Posted by: Dana | February 15, 2012 at 01:05 PM
Love, love, love it. Love the comic illustrations. You've cleared up all confusion between cozies and thrillers.
Posted by: Carole Price | February 15, 2012 at 01:16 PM
What a fun list! The only point I'd differ with is that a cozy has to take place in a small town. A cozy needs a small down "feel" but can still be set in a city. Some of my favorite cozies are set in cities -- such as San Francisco's Treasure Island... ;)
(I don't think my first attempt went through, so apologies if this appears twice!)
Posted by: Gigi Pandian | February 15, 2012 at 01:25 PM
Carole, that may be clearer now, but I'm still confused about the difference between chick lit and cougar lit....
Posted by: penny warner | February 15, 2012 at 02:40 PM
Gigi, you got me there!
Posted by: penny warner | February 15, 2012 at 02:41 PM
Penny--a legal opinion, of course!
Posted by: Liz | February 15, 2012 at 03:28 PM
What fun comparison! I'd add that cozies are character-driven while thrillers are plot-driven.
Oh, and Harlan Coben's thrillers are always about an ordinary guy and a family in trouble. To me, that makes them even more compelling than the "larger stage" thrillers.
Have fun in San Francisco!
Cathy AJ
Posted by: Cathy Akers-Jordan | February 16, 2012 at 06:31 AM
Hi Cathy,
Harlan is one of my favorites, from early on when he was writing more "cozy" type mysteries featuring Myron the Sports Agent.
And you're right about character vs plot driven.
Posted by: penny warner | February 16, 2012 at 08:50 AM
Now I'll know how to tell someone what kind of books I write. Thanks for the clear explanation!
Posted by: Sharan Newman | February 16, 2012 at 05:27 PM
Sharan - Ha! Feel free to take liberties.....
-Penny
Posted by: penny warner | February 17, 2012 at 09:05 PM