Paranormal cozies are one of the fastest-growing corners of the genre. These books take the classic cozy formula — amateur sleuth, small-town setting, no graphic content — and add a supernatural element. The protagonist might be a witch, a psychic, a ghost whisperer, or someone who has recently discovered magical abilities they never knew they had. The paranormal element varies widely in how central it is to the story. In some series, magic is everywhere and the entire community is supernatural. In others, the protagonist has one specific ability — like seeing ghosts or reading auras — and the rest of the world is normal. Both approaches work, and readers tend to have strong preferences. What makes paranormal cozies especially fun is that they give the author more tools for creating plot complications. A ghost can provide a clue that no living witness could. A witch can sense when someone is lying. A psychic can touch an object and get a vision. These abilities create unique storytelling possibilities while still keeping the mystery fair for the reader.
Lily Ivory is a natural-born witch who runs a vintage clothing store in San Francisco. The clothes sometimes hold supernatural energy from their previous owners.
Elliana Allbright runs a perfume shop and garden in Poppyville, California, where her handcrafted scents have magical properties.
Aleksandra 'Alex' Daniels discovers she is a mermaid descendant with water magic in a charming North Carolina coastal town.
Pepper works in a cemetery and can see and communicate with ghosts who need her help solving their murders.
Bay Winchester is a newspaper reporter and a witch in a small Michigan town. A long-running indie series with a dedicated fanbase.
Kath Rutledge inherits a yarn shop that comes with a resident ghost named Geneva. Combines crafting and paranormal elements.
Back to all subgenres. For a general introduction to the genre, see What Are Cozy Mysteries?