About Carly Winter

USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Carly Winter writes fun, small-town cozy mysteries packed with humor, heart, and characters you'll love.

Carly has always been drawn to cozy stories where community matters, laughter is never far away, and even the quirkiest characters have a place to belong. That love of storytelling led her to cozy mysteries, a genre that lets her blend wit, warmth, and just enough suspense to keep you turning pages late into the night.

Carly Winter's Cozy Mystery Series

Carly writes across several cozy mystery series, each with its own flavor:

• Sedona Spirit Cozy Mysteries — Paranormal cozy mysteries. Follow Bernie and her ghostly grandmother, Ruby, as they solve murders in Sedona, Arizona.
• Heywood Herbalist Cozy Mysteries — Contemporary cozy mysteries. Set in the small town of Heywood, following an herbalist with a knack for stumbling into trouble.
• Heywood Hounds Cozy Mysteries — Humorous cozy mysteries with a talking dog. Featuring Daisy, a lovable rescue mutt with plenty to say about the murders unfolding around her.
• Patty Byrne Cozy Mysteries — Historical cozy mysteries. Set in the golden age of 1960s air travel, following stewardess Patty Byrne as she solves murder mid-flight and on the ground.

(Carly also writes the Tri-Town Murders and Deadly Destinations series — browse the full shop to see everything.)

Where Her Characters Come From

Her characters often have a little real life woven in. Ruby, from the beloved Sedona Spirit Cozy Mysteries, was inspired by someone close to Carly's heart. And then there's Daisy, the lovable rescue mutt at the center of the Heywood Hounds series. Daisy is based on Carly's own rescue dog — personality quirks and all. (Carly will admit to having one-way conversations with her dog. Daisy is an excellent listener.)

Carly's stories are rooted in the stunning landscapes of Arizona, which is a perfect backdrop for mystery, mischief, and memorable characters.

A Little More About Carly

When she's not crafting her next whodunit, you'll find Carly at the gym, enjoying a morning cup of coffee or tea, or soaking up the Arizona sunshine — except in summer, which she'd rather skip entirely. She's a firm believer that dogs make everything better, wine and chocolate are non-negotiable, and Christmas should absolutely happen twice a year.

You can follow along with Carly's writing life and get a peek behind the scenes on Instagram: @carlywintercozymysteries

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cozy mystery series has Carly Winter written? Carly Winter writes multiple cozy mystery series, including the paranormal Sedona Spirit Cozy Mysteries, the contemporary Heywood Herbalist Cozy Mysteries, the humorous Heywood Hounds Cozy Mysteries (featuring a talking dog), and the historical Patty Byrne Cozy Mysteries, set in the 1960s.

What kind of cozy mysteries does Carly Winter write? Carly Winter writes across several cozy mystery subgenres — paranormal, contemporary, humorous, and historical — but all of her books share small-town settings, amateur sleuths, humor, and heart, with no graphic violence or explicit content.

Is Carly Winter a USA Today bestselling author? Yes, Carly Winter is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author.

Where should I start reading Carly Winter's books? Each series can be read independently. For paranormal mysteries with a ghost sidekick, start with The Guest is a Goner (Sedona Spirit Book 1). For historical mysteries, start with the first Patty Byrne Cozy Mystery. See What series should I read first? for a full guide.