Eccentric Investigators: Unlikely Detectives in Asian American and Asian Cozy Mysteries

Cozy mysteries have a lot to offer readers: intrigue, suspense, and danger, all in a setting that feels almost as developed as the cast of characters. But one of my personal favorite aspects of a good cozy mystery is the detective.

Sure, there are your standard detective types: literal police detectives and private investigators, not to mention bored-genius Sherlock-esque types. But the cozy mystery genre offers a whole array of delightfully offbeat detectives, oftentimes, the ones who never meant to become detectives in the first place.

Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series is an interesting example that brings together the bored-genius type in ex-spy Elizabeth, but pairs her with chatty and overly friendly Joyce, along with rabble-rousing Ron and potently observant Ibrahim. This motley crew of senior citizens makes for an uproariously eccentric detective team.

Similarly, contemporary Asian and Asian American cozy mysteries deliver in droves on unconventional detectives. These cozies tend to draw on cultural traditions and, in keeping with mainstream cozies, foodways. This focus on food is especially tantalizing in Asian American cozy mysteries like Vivien Chien’s Noodle Shop Mystery series, Jennifer J. Chow’s Magical Fortune Cookie series, and Mia P. Manansala’s Tita Rosie’s Kitchen series.

Jesse Q. Sutanto’s popular Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers is another awesome example of this. Elderly Chinatown business owner and busybody Vera Wong’s brash opinions and big heart (not to mention her mouth-watering cooking) have made her a favorite among cozy mystery readers.

In this post, I’ve gathered more Asian American and Asian detectives who are a bit, shall we say, unconventional. These detectives are the heart and soul of their stories, and their antics will have you turning those pages faster than you can say “red herring.”

My Grandfather the Master Detective by Masateru Konishi

Kaede and her grandfather are one of my favorite detective duos. Kaede is a teacher and her grandfather is living with Lewy Body Dementia; together, the two of them are exceptionally good at solving mysteries. This book, translated from the Japanese by Louise Heal Kawai, contains elements of both cozy mysteries and what some call “healing fiction.” Kaede’s relationship with and love for her grandfather is heartwarming, and the way they co-solve mysteries is really sweet (and satisfying).

The Library Game by Gigi Pandian

Gigi Pandian’s Secret Staircase series (of which this is book #4) features one of my favorite detectives: Tempest Raj. She’s a disgraced professional stage magician who’s working in her family’s specialty home renovation business. What’s so special about the business? They use their background as illusionists to install whatever secret staircases, hidden doors, and other cool architectural features their clients want. Of course, people need to stop dying in ways that appear to implicate Tempest and her family. Another part of its charm is that as a cozy series, the charming town and its mystery-nerd inhabitants are every bit as lovable as you’d imagine.

Death in the Cards by Mia P. Manansala

I’m a huge fan of Mia Manansala’s now-complete Tita Rosie’s Kitchen series, so when I saw that she’d come out with a YA mystery, I had to check it out. Danika Dizon is an enterprising high schooler and gifted tarot reader who wants nothing more than to follow in her private investigator mother’s footsteps. Her tarot services are highly sought after, mostly due to Danika’s refusal to lie about a reading (no matter how unwelcome the news might be) and her strong insights. When one of her clients’ older sister goes missing, Danika finds herself embroiled in the machinations of an unexpected crime network. Danika herself is a strong female character, but her family (especially her cousins) and besties add extra pizzazz (and humor) to this one.

The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club by Gloria Chao

This book has three unexpected detectives, and their dynamic is both hilarious and heartwarming. The story opens with Kat Hu having just about the worst day ever. She’s a sweet (albeit socially challenged) chemist who’s certain her boyfriend is about to propose to her. Not only is she wrong, but she learns she wasn’t even his only girlfriend. When his three ex-girlfriends (Kat, Olivia, and Elle) discover unexpected friendships with each other, their decision to prank their cheating ex goes south when they discover his dead body. Shenanigans ensue as these spunky and smart women put on their sleuthing hats to clear their own names. Bonus: the second book in the Hu Done It series (The Mortal Enemy Murder Club) is due out later this month.

The Mumbai School for Murder by Meeti Shroff-Shah

Mumbai-based author Meeti-Shroff-Shah’s character Radhi Zaveri is one of my favorite kinds of mystery protagonists: a mystery writer (and high school teacher). Yup, I love a good meta-mystery read, and Radhi is fantastic because she’s so human. What I mean by that is she’s no perfect bestselling superstar whose mystery-writing prowess magically translates to amazing real-life crime-solving. Nope, Radhi’s life is a mess at the beginning of the Temple Hill series, when she returns home to Mumbai amidst a cloud of negative gossip after yet another failed relationship. In this third book in the series (which can be read as a standalone if you don’t have the bandwidth for a series right now), one of her colleagues is found dead at her desk, and Radhi has to figure out what happened before it’s too late.

Still Sleuthing?

Look no further, we’ve got you covered! If you love cozy mysteries, check out this list of queer cozies or this list of cozies about bakeries. Incidentally, I’ve also put together a list of quirky cozies you might enjoy. And if you’re willing to go on an adventure for a good detective, there’s lots to discover on this list of amazing detectives in fantasy novels.