Do You Think That You Can Judge a (Cozy Mystery) Book By Its Cover?

Well, I have to admit that I (sort of) do think that way. I know that when I am looking at the books of an author with whom I'm not familiar, I tend to be swayed by the covers of their books. Of course, that doesn't mean that I make my decision based on the book's cover. I read the synopsis of the given book, and I read what other people have to say about the book, and then I look at the book's cover.

Gruesome Book Covers

If the cover is gruesome, I usually take that into consideration. The book's synopsis had better indicate that the book isn't too terribly graphic, or else I'm not interested. I don't see any reason for unnecessary graphic violence. I'm simply not interested in graphic violence being included in a book just for the sake of having it in the book! Agatha Christie certainly didn't need it... and I think that we all were smart enough to be able to read between the lines... When Christie included a dead body on the rug, we knew that something terribly violent had happened for that body to be lying on the rug!

The same goes for graphic sex scenes... I (again) can read between the lines... If two characters are drinking their first cups of coffee at the breakfast table the "next morning" ... I get it! I don't need a play by play card!

I do, however read "true crime" books, so I must not be all that squeamish! But, when I read a true crime book I know what I'm in for, and make that decision myself. A publisher isn't making the decision to include gruesome details for me... I know the essence of true crime books.

Covers with Idyllic Settings

I have noticed that there seem to be different "categories" of cozy mystery book covers these days: There are some book covers that are scenes that (I feel) invite the cozy mystery reader to read the book... These covers almost scream: "This book is for you! This is a cozy scene with you in mind!" These covers are usually in soft, inviting colors, with artists' renditions of something we expect in our cozies: a far-away, (very British) looking landscape or building (preferably a cottage overlooking the sea or a hotel that caters to old colonels with their young wives), a beautiful room in a house/mansion (again very British looking!), or a lovely item in a beautiful room - in a terrific house - in a far-away, wondrous setting.

Bright, Bold Covers

There are other books that have artists' delightfully bright renditions of what modern, cozy characters could look like. These book covers (like those with the covers of idyllic settings) really catch my attention. And, I'm glad to see that publishers are using more and more artists to paint their book covers.

Covers with Photographs

There are also mysteries that show still pictures of a scene. These don't capture my attention as much, but that's not to say that I don't read plenty of books with those types of covers.

I'm sure that there are many other types of book covers out there that are gracing our cozy mystery novels. And, as with all things, different people have different tastes. Perhaps the next time that you are deciding on a new author to start reading, you will notice yourself seeing what role the author's book covers play in your decision to either read or pass on that author's novels.

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