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I don't know about "golden age" style. But I am with you on trying to avoid books where it seems like the author is constantly trying to come up with ever more gruesome crimes which are described in disgusting detail. I also don't usually like the kind of cozy where the main character runs a local food or craft shop and annoys local law enforcement by butting into all their investigations.
Here are some series I've found that I would classify as not too cozy nor too violent:
Martin Walker's Bruno, Chief of Police
Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware
Faye Kellerman's Decker & Lazarus
Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch
Mary Daheim's Alpine/Emma Lord It's easy to keep these in order because the titles are alphabetical - Alpine Advocate through Alpine Zen, then starting over with Alpha Alpine. They're cozy but Emma runs the local newspaper so she and her staff at least have a reason to be looking into all the local crimes.
If you like something with a sense of humor, there's Christopher Fowler's Bryant & May. It's been a while since I read any of those but the ones I read, I enjoyed.
If you like historical mysteries, you might try Charles Todd's Bess Crawford or Ian Rutledge series.
I haven't read any of these in a while, but they are pretty cerebral and some of the investigations aren't about murders - Alexander McCall Smith's Isabel Dalhousie series. Those books spend a lot of time in Isabel's head as she ponders her life and various issues so if that's not your cup of tea, give them a pass.
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