'The Best Corpse for the Job' & 'Jury of One' by Charlie Cochrane
- Reed
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Author: Charlie Cochrane
Rating: B+
Vibe: : Tea, murder, and British politeness—hold the spice
I have a soft spot for cozy mysteries. Give me an amateur sleuth, a closed circle of suspects, and a murder that's more puzzle than trauma, and I'm happy. So when I picked up Charlie Cochrane's The Best Corpse for the Job and Jury of One, I knew exactly what I was getting into—and I got exactly what I wanted.
These books follow two protagonists who meet and fall for each other in the first book, then navigate life (and more murder) as a couple in the second. The romance is sweet, the dialogue is sharp, and the mysteries are solid. They're not revolutionary. They're not trying to tackle big queer themes or reinvent the genre. But they're well-written, compelling, and a genuinely good time—which is sometimes exactly what you need.
Let's start with what works: the protagonists. They're likeable, funny, and their banter has real chemistry. Cochrane writes dialogue that feels natural and engaging, and the push-and-pull of their relationship in the first book is genuinely charming. By the second book, when they're fully together and practically living in each other's pockets, that dynamic deepens without losing its spark. These are characters you want to spend time with, which is half the battle in a series like this.
The mysteries themselves are classic cozy fare—think closed settings, limited suspects, and a puzzle that's more about logic than gore. The Best Corpse for the Job has a slightly stronger twist at the end, and I found myself more invested in the setup. Jury of One is still enjoyable, but the resolution didn't land quite as sharply. That said, both books are tightly plotted and move at a good pace. Cochrane knows how to keep you turning pages.
Now, let's talk spice—or the complete lack thereof. You've heard of Fifty Shades of Grey? This is One Shade of Grey. Spicy as oatmeal. The romance is sweet and earned, but if you're looking for heat, you won't find it here. And honestly? That's fine. Not every book needs sex scenes, and Cochrane clearly made a choice to keep things chaste. I'm just flagging it so you know what to expect. The emotional intimacy is there; the physical stuff stays off the page.
What I appreciate most about these books is that they know exactly what they're trying to do—and they do it well. They're cozy mysteries in the truest sense: comforting, engaging, and a little escapist. The writing is clean, the characters are fun, and the mysteries are satisfying without being overly complex.
If you're a fan of cozy mysteries and you've been looking for something with gay leads, these are absolutely worth your time. Cochrane writes with warmth and skill, and I'll definitely be picking up the next one in the series.
