Kindle
$6.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Paperback
$13.44
Buy used:
$13.44
FREE delivery May 10 - 16. Details
Or fastest delivery May 7 - 10. Details
Used: Good | Details
Sold by The BAP Goods
Condition: Used: Good
Comment: The book may have minor cosmetic wear (i.e. creased spine/cover, scratches, curled corners, folded pages, minor sunburn, minor water damage, minor bent). The book may have some highlights/notes/underlined pages - Accessories such as CD, codes, toys, may not be included - Safe and Secure Mailer - No Hassle Return
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Colin Conway
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Cozy Up to Death (The Cozy Up Series) Paperback – March 18, 2020

by Colin Conway (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 2,457 ratings
See all formats and editions

“Cozy Up to Death is the perfect book to get lost in.” – Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

“Colin Conway has written the most unusual hero I've come across in a long time. Both touching and sweet with a razor-sharp edge. This is not your grandma's cozy.” - Libby Klein, Author of the Poppy McAllister Mysteries

COZY MYSTERIES JUST GOT TOUGHER.

A man in hiding. A gang of outlaws searching for retribution. This is no time for cupcakes.

Today is Brody Steele’s first day as the new owner of The Red Herring, Pleasant Valley, Maine’s only mystery bookstore. The cute shop has a loyal customer base as well as an ornery cat.

Unfortunately, Brody doesn’t know the first thing about running a legitimate business, he doesn’t want to be in the small town, and he hates cats. On top of all that, he hasn’t read a book since high school.

When a woman walks into the store, he thinks his bad luck is about to change. But as she starts asking about the previous owner’s whereabouts, his safe new existence begins to unravel.

For Brody Steele is a man with a secret he must protect at all costs. The U.S. Government has invested a lot to keep it hidden, and his enemies will stop at nothing to expose him.

Does happiness or death await Brody in this charming seaside community?

A FAST AND FUNNY COZY MYSTERY THAT DOESN’T PULL ANY PUNCHES.

This fascinating series is perfect for fans who want clean fiction without losing laughs or action.

Scroll up and join the action by grabbing Cozy Up to Death today!

PRAISE FOR COZY UP TO DEATH:

★★★★★ “Buckle up, Buttercup! This ain’t your standard Granny-owns-a-bookstore cozy.” – Lenora

★★★★★ “I was really surprised at how Conway put together such a great read without the use of foul language!” – Madeline

★★★★★ “An original idea with fantastic characters.” – Jobear

★★★★★ “I just finished the first title in the Cozy Up series and immediately bought the next two.” – MaryJane

★★★★★ “I absolutely loved it.” – James

ADDITIONAL SERIES BY COLIN CONWAY
The 509 Crime Stories – fast-paced police procedurals
The John Cutler Mysteries – hard-hitting private detective stories
The Flip-Flop Detective – light-hearted amateur sleuth mysteries
The Cozy Up series – not your grandma’s cozies
The Charlie-316 series – political/criminal thrillers

Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 7
    The Cozy Up Series
  2. Print length
    267 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    March 18, 2020
  5. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.67 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-13
    979-8621867355
  7. See all details
Next page
Amazon First Reads | Editors' picks at exclusive prices

From the Publisher

Image of man in leather vest. Tagline - Cozy mysteries just got tougher.
Cozy Up to Death book cover Cozy Up to Murder book cover Cozy Up to Blood book cover Cozy Up to Trouble Book Cover Cozy Up to Christmas book cover Cozy Up to Danger cover
Cozy Up to Death Cozy Up to Murder Cozy Up to Blood Cozy Up to Trouble Cozy Up to Christmas Cozy Up to Danger
See Details
See Details
See Details
See Details
See Details
See Details
Customer Reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
2,457
4.2 out of 5 stars
1,205
4.2 out of 5 stars
702
4.3 out of 5 stars
259
4.3 out of 5 stars
1,012
4.5 out of 5 stars
154
Price $6.99 $6.99 $6.99 $6.99 $6.99 $6.99
Synopsis A man in hiding. A gang of outlaws searching for retribution. This is no time for cupcakes. A man hiding from his past. A detective hunting for a murderer. This is no time to bake a pie. A man running from his past. A thief with a taste for blood. This is no time for scrapbooking. A man in a new city. A murderer on the loose. This is no time for embroidery. A man still in hiding. A Christmas heist. This is no time for fruitcake. A man hiding from trouble. A stick-up crew running from the law. This is no time for quilting.
Swearing No No No No No No
Naughty Scenes No No No No No No
Violence Some Some Some Some Some Some
Laughs Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!
These are not grandma's cozies picture - the cozy up book series by colin conway

Editorial Reviews

Review

"... the perfect book to get lost in. The story will capture the reader's attention immediately and they will be powerless in putting it down." - Cozy Mystery Book Reviews ★★★★★

"This is a great book to start you on a binge read because I could not put it down and can't wait to start the next in the series. Don't miss out - this book has something for everyone!! I highly recommend it." - Sharon Spring ★★★★★

"A wonderful, clean and simply fun story! Well written, great characters and an interesting plot. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this little gem! Try it! You'll enjoy it as much as I did!" - Karin K. Whitehead ★★★★★

"This was an enjoyable read. Brody is somewhere he totally doesn't belong, but I was routing for things to work out for him so he could stay in small town Maine. The book is very well written and the pace moves nicely. I went right to the next books in the series and bought them." - Barbara P. Barker ★★★★★

"I was really surprised at how Conway put together such a great read without the use of foul language!" Madeline P. ★★★★★

From the Author

Do you remember the television series Murder, She Wrote?
Angela Lansbury played Jessica Fletcher, a whip-smart mystery novelist, who lived in the quaint town of Cabot Cove. Jessica often found herself near a murder and solved the crime for any number of reasons.
Now, instead of being a charming lady, I'd like you to imagine Jessica Fletcher as a 6'3, 225-pound former biker covered in tattoos.
And I'd like you to imagine that instead of writing crime fiction novels, she is running a mystery bookstore.
Finally, instead of being a life-long resident of her little town, I want you to imagine that she is hiding there as a member of the witness relocation program.
That's the premise of the COZY UP series.
After turning informant for the FBI, a former enforcer for an outlaw motorcycle gang is hiding in a quaint seaside village. Unfortunately, it's hard to protect a man of his size and description.
Especially when the entire town knows he's the new guy.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0863TWDRN
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (March 18, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 267 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8621867355
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.67 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 2,457 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Colin Conway

Colin Conway

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Colin Conway is the creator of the 509 Crime Stories, a series of novels set in Eastern Washington with revolving lead characters. They are standalone tales and can be read in any order.

He also created the Cozy Up series which pushes the envelope of the cozy genre. Libby Klein, author of the Poppy McAllister series, says Cozy Up to Death is “Not your grandma’s cozy.”

Colin co-authored the Charlie-316 series. The first novel in the series, Charlie-316, is a political/crime thriller that has been described as “riveting and compulsively readable,” “the real deal,” and “the ultimate ride-along.”

He served in the U.S. Army and later was an officer of the Spokane Police Department. He's owned a laundromat, invested in a bar, and ran a karate school. Besides writing crime fiction, he is a commercial real estate broker.

Colin lives with his beautiful girlfriend, three wonderful children, and a codependent Vizsla that rules their world.

Find out more about Colin at his website: colinconway.com.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
2,457 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Diane W. Kaestner
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2024
Verified Purchase
Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Great author.
Helpful
 Report
Bookzilla
4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2021
Verified Purchase
This first in the series does not have a clear ending. No editing errors, gratuitous violence or drag-you-down drama.

Intriguing storyline that is easy to follow. Flexible procedures, actions and reactions. Believable characters with distinct personalities and great banter.

‘She refused to hear my argument that Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was science fiction crime noir.”

Great sounding recipe is included!

No desire to re-read this story. I am interested in other works if they have a satisfactory ending.
Remember this is my personal opinion and does not reflect on the author.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Valarie Gendron
5.0 out of 5 stars Man trying not to be killed
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2024
Verified Purchase
This book is very good, and I'm already to read book 3 of this series. But, the one thing that I wish, is that the author has the main character take better care of the cat. As it is, you never know who is feeding the cat or taking care of his basic needs. It is just assumed because otherwise the cat would've died. Outside of that, I love the series.
Helpful
 Report
Beckett Shiona
3.0 out of 5 stars Don't be fooled; this is NOT a Cozy.
Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2020
Verified Purchase
This is a very interesting story, well-written, with lively characters. The main character, especially, is well-rounded, and the town itself is nearly a separate character (although almost nauseatingly sweet and unbelievable). The initial chapters, especially, have a number of amusing moments. Nevertheless, despite the addition of pets, knitting, bookstores, and other "cozy" elements, this is not a cozy. Motorcycle gangs, mob bosses: the brutality and violence begin early on in the novel, starting with a description of a washed-up body on the shore missing all its fingers, and continue, with the body count mounting up right through those knitting needles being used to stab someone to death. The ending is a bummer, too; depressing and sad. I can't give it fewer than three stars since the plot of well-thought-out and complex, the characters quirky and interesting, and the book well-written. But it is definitely NOT in the cozy genre.
34 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Belle Brita
4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly cozy for a mystery about a former hit man
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2023
Verified Purchase
My best friend and I both love cozy mysteries, especially with female protagonists. She recommended this series to me, and I'm glad I tried it!

Interesting cast of characters. Great introduction to the protagonist, his background, and his current predicament.

Death does occur on the page, but it's not too detailed or graphic.

Romance in the present is sweet. Sex in the past is alluded to, but not described.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Karen Brasher aka Avid Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Funniest mystery I have ever read!
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2023
Verified Purchase
What an enjoyable reading experience. The usual mystery book is mostly serious with just slight banter but this book has brought a lot of laughter to the book. For the most part the laughter is brought about as slapstick comedy in a most pleasing manner. There are some parts of danger and excitement as well. This is a new author for me but I will definitely look for more books like this one.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Knit to relax
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2024
Verified Purchase
Brody is a man with a secret. The new owner of a mystery bookstore is under the protection of the US Marshals, a biker who killed for the club and turned evidence against them.

As Brody settles into his new life, things turn bad. He has become bait to find out what happened to the previous owner and finds that the Italian restaurant in town is mob owned.

Although Brody is a killer, he is a likeable character and tries to change his ways. Of course, the bookkeeper at the local grocery has something to do with that. He is a well written character who grows as the story develops. Other characters come to life, also. I really enjoyed this cozy book.
Helpful
 Report
Mark Baker - Carstairs Considers
4.0 out of 5 stars Debut that Grew on Me
Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2020
Verified Purchase
Today is Brody Steele’s first day running The Red Herring, a mystery bookstore in Pleasant Valley, Maine. However, he’s not a reader. So what is he doing here? It’s a cover since Brody has just entered the Witness Protection Program after turning on his former motorcycle gang. Brody is sure he will find his new life too quiet. However, as he tries to settle into town, he begins to find questions. Is there danger lurking just below the surface?

I’m always looking for something different, so I was intrigued by the premise of this book when I first heard about it. It took a while for the story to get going, but once Brody started to realize something was wrong, I was hooked all the way until the climax. I enjoyed the character growth we saw in Brody, and I liked several other characters as well. I did think the writing could be a bit more polished. I also found a few things about the Witness Protection Program, as described here, a little hard to swallow. Then again, I haven’t done any research on it and instead learned everything I know about it from the TV show In Plain Sight, so I decided to sit back and enjoy the story, which I most certainly did. Despite the series name and book title, we do get more violence than in a typical cozy. Overall, I’m glad I gave the book a chance, and I’m curious to see where the series will go from here.
11 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Coleen
5.0 out of 5 stars A great first book to get you hooked on the series!
Reviewed in Canada on October 9, 2021
Verified Purchase
I read this book because I liked “The Long Cold Winter” by this same author. This story, however, follows a totally different, and just as enjoyable, route.
The writing style reminds me a bit of Donald Westlake books.
Brody Steele is stuck between a rock and a hard place and I love his character. His interactions with the people in Pleasant Valley is alternately laughable, touching, and serious.
A very well-written and entertaining story that I highly recommend!
Report
Jeffers
5.0 out of 5 stars Proper page turner
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 30, 2022
Verified Purchase
Another great book by this author ...I started with 509 series,went on to Flip Flop Detective series and now these ....great reading
Report
LakeLady
4.0 out of 5 stars recommend
Reviewed in Canada on October 14, 2022
Verified Purchase
Well written and easy to read. I appreciated the ending was realistic. Now I am looking forward the book number 2.
Report
Lynne E. Jones
4.0 out of 5 stars Very readable!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 29, 2021
Verified Purchase
A surprisingly good cosy mystery story - a few laughs, a few deaths, and a few poignant moments. I enjoyed it very much. Much better than the cupcake stories.
One person found this helpful
 Report
Claudine Delacour-Jarrett
5.0 out of 5 stars Great for wet day
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 12, 2022
Verified Purchase
Great book
Report