A grisly crime. Heaps of tension. A shocking twist at the end. The gory details of a classic true crime tale will always capture our attention, whether through our favourite reads or via our Netflix watchlist. That being said, all that darkness can also be a bit… much sometimes, which is where the genre of cosy crime comes in.

For those unfamiliar, in cosy crime sex and violence occur offstage, the detective is an amateur sleuth and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially-intimate community. Think Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club, The Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz and, of course, Agatha Christie.

In other words, whether in book or audio form, cosy crime is perfect for snuggling up with on a chilly January evening. Here are eight of our favourite podcasts to tune into for your next mystery fix.

8 cosy crime podcasts that ramp up the mystery (without being scary)