Jay Larkin: Cozy Mystery Author Interview #4
- carolemarples
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
Jay and I are in the same author Discord group, and she drew me in with her obvious warmth and enthusiasm. Also, she makes a consistently big effort with social media, and I'm in awe of her dedication.
Meet Jay Larkin🙋♀️
✍️ The Craft of Writing
For readers who might be new to your books, can you tell us a little about yourself and your cozy mystery series?
I grew up devouring classic British mysteries and always loved the feeling of being drawn into a puzzle I could almost solve but never quite did. Now I get the pleasure of creating those puzzles myself.
My main series, Aunt Audrey’s Angels, is set in a small English town in the 1980s and follows Jenny Brooks, a cleaner with an eye for detail and a habit of stumbling into trouble. Each book is made up of twelve bite sized mysteries, so readers get a complete, satisfying case in every chapter. There are no murders, just plenty of intrigue, nostalgia and gentle humour as Jenny digs for the truth with the best of intentions.
If you enjoy classic whodunnits, small town charm and a quick mystery fix, my series is very much written with you in mind. My books are also available in Large Print and German Editions
How did you first discover and fall in love with the cozy mystery genre?
My love for cozies began long before I knew the term even existed. As a child I read Sherlock Holmes and the Agatha Christie books with absolute fascination, not so much for the danger but for the cleverness, the atmosphere and the comforting promise that all would be put right by the final page.
Later I found myself drawn to stories with gentle humour, quirky characters and mysteries that relied on observation and human nature rather than grisly crime. That mix of warmth and puzzle solving is exactly what I adore about the cozy genre.
It felt completely natural to write the kind of mysteries I most enjoy reading, where curiosity is rewarded, justice is tidy and readers can escape into a world where everything, even the messiest of clues, eventually makes sense.
Are you a plotter, or do you discover the story as you go along?
I always start with the most important thing firmly in place. I have to know who did it and why before I write a single line. The puzzle needs a solid foundation. But once I begin writing, the characters often surprise me. They develop quirks, change their minds and occasionally wander off in directions I never expected.
So I suppose I am a mix of both. I plot the bones of the mystery, but I let the characters flesh it out in their own way. It keeps the writing process lively, and sometimes their unexpected behaviour leads to the most enjoyable twists.
How do you keep your series fresh and maintain reader interest across multiple books?
For me, the fun of writing a series lies in giving readers something familiar to enjoy, while always adding a little twist of the unexpected. Each book in my Aunt Audrey’s Angels series follows the same comforting format of twelve bite sized mysteries, but the cases themselves are completely different. One chapter might involve a disappearing dog, the next a puzzling mix up at the local museum or a suspicious incident at the town café.
I also let the characters grow from book to book. Jenny Brooks learns new tricks of the trade, her relationships shift, and the townspeople reveal new layers over time. Even in a cozy, small town, life never stays still for long, and readers enjoy feeling part of that ongoing world.
Most of all, I make sure each mystery is clever, satisfying and a little surprising. As long as I keep challenging myself to come up with fresh puzzles, readers seem very happy to come along for the ride.
🏠Writing the Cozy Life
What's the most challenging part of writing a cozy mystery (e.g., creating a believable amateur sleuth, crafting fair clues, avoiding gore)?
For me, the biggest challenge is simply the volume of ideas needed. Each book contains twelve separate mysteries, each with its own setup, suspects and solution. That means I am constantly dreaming up new types of crime, new misunderstandings and new puzzles that feel fresh and fair to the reader.
Keeping that variety while still staying true to the tone of the series can be tricky, but it is also the part I enjoy most. There is something very satisfying about finding a brand new twist on a seemingly ordinary situation and turning it into a mystery worth solving.
What are the essential ingredients for a truly great cozy mystery?
For me, a great cozy needs three things working in harmony. First, a clever but fair puzzle. Readers should feel they have all the pieces, even if they only see the full picture at the very end.
Second, a setting they want to return to. Whether it is a village, a bookshop or, in my case, a small English town in the 1980s, the atmosphere should feel welcoming and lived in, the kind of place where readers enjoy spending time.
And finally, an amateur sleuth with heart. They do not have to be perfect, but they should be observant, determined and genuinely motivated to help others. If readers care about the sleuth, they will happily follow them through every twist.
Add a touch of humour, a cast of memorable characters and a mystery that wraps up neatly, and you have all the essentials of a cozy worth curling up with.
What qualities do you think your main character possesses that makes them an effective amateur detective?
Jenny Brooks is naturally curious, which is both her greatest strength and the reason she often finds herself in the middle of trouble. As a cleaner she notices details other people overlook, and she has a knack for slipping quietly into the background while observing everything that goes on around her.
She is also kind hearted and genuinely wants to help, which means people tend to open up to her. They trust her in a way they might not trust someone in a more official role. Her patience, her eye for small clues and her determination to get to the truth all combine to make her a surprisingly effective sleuth.
Most of all, she never gives up. Even when she is baffled, she keeps asking questions and following her instincts, and that persistence often leads her straight to the answer.
How would you describe your sleuth in three words?
Clever, inquisitive, resourceful
What’s your favourite method of killing your victims?
My cozies are unique in that there are no murders at all. I write what I like to call “clean crime” – mysteries that are full of intrigue, mischief, and clever puzzles, but no bodies.
The fun is in the mix ups, disappearing items, and little acts of trickery that keep readers guessing. Leading them along one trail while the real culprit or solution hides in plain sight is far more satisfying than any dramatic death and perfectly fits the light, fun spirit of a cozy mystery.
☕️Personal and Reader Connection
What's one real-life skill you learned or picked up while researching one of your books (e.g., baking, knitting, gardening)? Alternatively, what real-life skill(s) have you brought to your writing?
I think one of the most useful skills I’ve brought to my writing comes from a lifetime of reading and watching mysteries of all kinds. Over the years, I’ve developed a keen eye for plot holes and inconsistencies, which helps me make sure my own books are tightly plotted and fair to the reader.
It’s a skill that comes naturally from being an attentive reader and viewer, but it has made a huge difference in crafting mysteries that feel clever, satisfying, and, I hope, delightfully tricky without ever being frustrating.
What is the best piece of writing advice you've ever received?
The best advice I ever received was not to worry if the first draft isn’t perfect. The important thing is to get the words down on the page. You can always refine, edit, and polish later, but nothing happens until you start writing. That freedom to just write has saved me countless times from overthinking and helped my stories flow more naturally.
What is the worst piece of writing advice you've ever received?
The worst advice I’ve ever been given is to “write to market.” Whenever I try to do that, I become self-conscious, my writing feels stilted, and it stops being fun. I prefer to write stories that I enjoy creating. If readers enjoy them too, that is wonderful, but the joy has to come first. Writing should be a pleasure, not a formula.
What's one thing you want your readers to take away from your books, aside from a solved mystery?
More than anything, I want my readers to come away with a sense of fun and enjoyment. My stories are full of clever puzzles, quirky characters, and a little nostalgia for small-town life in the 1980s. I hope readers feel entertained, relaxed, and maybe even a little inspired by Jenny’s curiosity and determination. Cozy mysteries should be a comforting escape, and if readers finish a book with a smile, I consider that a success.
💥What's Next For You?
Can you share anything about your next project?
I’m very excited to say that I’m just finishing the first book in a brand new cozy series. It’s a spin-off from Aunt Audrey’s Angels and stars Freda Starling, a Cockney cleaner in her sixties. Freda moves to a small English seaside town to help run Appletree Lodge, a charming guesthouse, and of course finds herself drawn into all sorts of curious mysteries. It’s been a joy to bring her world to life, and I can’t wait to share it with readers.
You can follow Jay and learn more about her books here:
- Website: https://www.jaylarkinbooks.com/
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What a wonderful interview. I enjoyed getting to know Jay and all about her mysteries.