Can a Serial Killer Be “Cozy”? Dark Comedy Meets Cozy Mystery | Fergus Craig episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 20, 2026 · 14 MIN

Can a Serial Killer Be “Cozy”? Dark Comedy Meets Cozy Mystery | Fergus Craig

from What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when you drop a retired serial killer into a luxury retirement home full of former investigators? You get chaos, secrets… and one very suspicious death.In this episode, I chat with British comedian-turned-mystery author Fergus Craig about his latest cozy crime novel, I’m Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home. We talk about writing a likable serial killer, the art of “cracked cozy” mysteries, and how parody crime novels unexpectedly launched his fiction career. If you love cozy mysteries with a dark twist — and characters who blur the line between wrong and relatable — this one’s for you.We also dive into his favorite reads (including a book he calls the best he’s ever read), and why sometimes escape fiction is exactly what readers need right now.📚 Books Mentioned I’m Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig — Buy on Amazon | Cozy Mystery | Dark Comedy | Serial Killer ProtagonistThe Bee Sting by Paul Murray — Buy on Amazon | Literary Fiction | Family DramaEast of Eden by John Steinbeck — Buy on Amazon | Classic Literary Fiction⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Introduction to Fergus Craig[01:00] The premise behind I’m Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home[02:00] What is a “cracked cozy” mystery?[03:00] Writing a likable serial killer[05:00] Balancing flashbacks and present-day mystery[06:00] From comedian and actor to novelist[07:00] Parody crime novels and landing a book deal[08:00] Why readers want escape fiction right now[09:00] Fergus’s reading life and audiobook habits[10:00] The Bee Sting by Paul Murray recommendation[12:00] Literary fiction and reading widelyJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!

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Can a Serial Killer Be “Cozy”? Dark Comedy Meets Cozy Mystery | Fergus Craig

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