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The Retired Performer:Once a star in a niche field (think retired magician, circus performer, or opera singer), this character brings a flair for the dramatic and a network of equally colorful former colleagues who can offer help or hindrance.

The Conspiracy Theorist:Always ready with an outlandish theory, this character can throw the investigation off with their wild speculations or, surprisingly, be right when least expected, leading to a pivotal plot twist.

The Time Capsule Keeper:Someone who lives as if they’re in another era, providing a living link to the past and possibly key historical insights related to the mystery. Their anachronistic lifestyle and perspective offer both charm and clues.

The Nomadic Traveler:A character who’s seen the world and brings back stories, artifacts, and possibly a few unsolved mysteries of their own. Their global perspective and connections can open up international angles to your cozy setting.

The Urban Escapee:A former city dweller who has moved to the countryside to escape the rat race, bringing a fresh perspective and perhaps some unintended sophistication to solving rural mysteries.

The Botanical Wizard:With a deep knowledge of plants, this character can offer insights based on the flora involved in the mystery, be it poison, an obscure clue left at a crime scene, or a plant-based remedy that plays a crucial role.

The Animal Whisperer:Someone with a special connection to animals, who can interpret the behaviors or reactions of pets and wildlife to uncover clues or even solve parts of the mystery.

The Ghost Hunter:Whether or not ghosts are real in your story’s universe, this character is obsessed with the supernatural and can introduce eerie elements, historical mysteries, or misinterpretations that lead to red herrings.

The Artisan:Whether they’re a brewer, a bookbinder, a glassblower, or any other type of craftsperson, this character’s deep knowledge of their craft offers unique insights and solutions, as well as a window into a fascinating world of tradition and skill.

At the same time, focusing on real-life character types that toe the line between annoying and indispensable can also be useful, adding both relatability and depth to your cozy mystery:

The Overzealous Volunteer:Always the first to sign up and the last to leave, this character’s boundless energy and need to be involved in everything can be overwhelming. They often overhear crucial information or stumble upon key evidence due to their omnipresence at community events.

The Micro-Manager:A micro-manager character is a boss or manager who closely observes and controls the work of your protagonist (or their employees), often with excessive attention to minor details. This management style can lead to a lack of autonomy for employees, potentially stifling creativity and motivation. It can also, understandably perhaps, lead to murder.

The Nosey Neighbor:This character knows exactly when you leave for work, what you’re planting in your garden, and the “proper” way to sort recycling. Their attention to detail and insistence on order can annoyingly lead to noticing something amiss that’s crucial to the plot.

The Unsolicited Advice Giver:Hey, it’s me!!! Seriously, full of life hacks, health tips, and relationship advice, this character can’t help but share their wisdom, whether you want it or not. Occasionally, their offhand comments can provide an unexpected breakthrough.

The Constant Complainer:Nothing is ever right for this character—service is too slow, weather too dreary, and don’t get them started on the youth of today. Their grievances might seem tiresome until they complain about something genuinely out of the ordinary that hints at a deeper mystery.

The Armchair Detective:Fueled by true crime podcasts and detective novels, this character is convinced they can solve the mystery before the protagonist. Annoyingly, they sometimes do piece together a valuable clue amidst their many theories.

The Bragger:Ugh. But we all know one. Always one-upping everyone with tales of their accomplishments, travels, or Amazon ranking, this character’s incessant need to impress can inadvertently reveal important facts or connections that no one else knows.

The Social Media Oversharer:Whether it’s live-tweeting every moment and meal or chronicling neighborhood drama on Facebook, their oversharing habit is eye-roll-inducing but proves to be a treasure trove of timelines, alibis, and maybe even photographic evidence.

The Perpetual Skeptic or Pessimist:Doubting every piece of news and questioning every decision, this character’s relentless skepticism can be tiresome but also prompts others to look closer at details they might otherwise accept at face value. This is the character who looks for the cloud in every silver lining.

The Networking Nuisance:Always looking to hand out a business card or connect on LinkedIn, their relentless self-promotion and networking can uncover unexpected links between seemingly unrelated characters or events.

The Old-School Luddite:Eschewing technology for “the good old days” of pen and paper, this character’s disdain for modern conveniences is a source of frustration. However, their preference for analog methods uncovers clues that tech-reliant characters might overlook.

Incorporating these character types into your story adds layers of realism and complexity, making your fictional world more vibrant and engaging. They mirror the everyday challenges of dealing with diverse personalities but also highlight how each person, no matter how quirky or annoying, has the potential to contribute meaningfully to the community and the unfolding mystery.

Now, if you are writing a gay cozy mystery, you already know that your main character will identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Which means that there is at least one other person in their cozy world who identifies as LGBTQ+. That person is your protag’s romantic interest.

However, these two cannot be the only two LGBTQ+ people in this world.

For one thing, that undercuts the power of their emotional connection.

On the other hand, they might not be acquainted with all the LGBTQ+ people in their community.

Gallup released a poll in February 2022 indicating that 7.1 percent of US adults identified as something other than heterosexual, which includes identities such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, et al. This marked an increase from previous years, reflecting a growing willingness among Americans to identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. These numbers will rise (or fall) with societal attitudes. Ideally, they will evolve as more people feel comfortable openly identifying with non-heterosexual orientation.

That said, it’s safe to assume that 7.1 percent did not jump to 50 percent in the span of three years—and I highly doubt it will in ten years. But diversity, as previously discussed, is not just one thing. So yes, you want to include people—characters—who serve as representatives for all kinds of different experiences and viewpoints. People of different ages, backgrounds, races, ethnicities, sexualities, spiritualities.

Why is diversity so important?

Frankly, for a whole host of reasons both philosophical and practical.