About a week ago, WJ made a comment right here on the blog that got me thinking about all of the Cozy villages/towns/communities that we have been introduced to by some of our favorite Cozy Mystery authors. WJ’s comment referred to Leslie Meier’s Lucy Stone mysteries setting. Here is WJ’s comment:
I love her books and want to move to Tinkers Cove, Maine!!
So, naturally I started thinking about some of the Cozy Mystery fictional places seem (almost) real to me. The characters have become like friends >>> no matter how long it has been since I was last with them, things go back as if no time has passed. The locations have taken on brick and mortar realities to me, so much so that when the characters in the Cozies talk about their shops or cafés (etc.), I feel like I have been in them, too!
I have a few Cozy Mystery places I would love to live in, with characters I would love to hang out with. Let’s see, right off the top of my head I can think of four: Gerry Porter’s Lincoln Point (by Margaret Grace), Hannah Swensen’s Lake Eden (by Joanne Fluke), Jessica Fletcher’s Cabot Cove (by Donald Bain & “Jessica Fletcher”), and Peggy Jean Turner’s Cobb’s Landing (by Kate Borden).
How about you? Are there any Cozy Mystery towns you would love to move to? (Without all the murders, of course!) If so, please post a comment with the town, series, and author. Thank you!
Anne says
I would love to love in Sinful, Louisiana (Jana Deleon) with Fortune and the gang.
Margie says
First choice always…Louise Penny’s Three Pines
Karen says
I agree with Three Pines. Also Martha Grimes’ Long Piddlington.
Lulu says
Yup, Three Pines.
Elaine says
LOVE Three Pines! I am hoping to at least go to Quebec sometime.
Sheila in CT says
My Cozy Town to live in would be Cabot Cove, Maine. Even when watch Murder She Wrote on TV, I could just picture living there right next door to my best friend “Jessica Fletcher”.
Christina says
I prefer the episodes & books that take place in Cabot Cove
Denise says
I totally agree, I skip over the re-runs where she is in New York!!!
Mike S says
I do the same. When I record Murder She Wrote, I delete all not using the Cabot Cove location.
suzanne says
Love the books and the re-runs on TV!!
Rob says
Suzanne: I agree, I would love to live in Cabot Cove but I also like Amos Tupper and Mort Metzger as lawmen! I would probably get into as much trouble as “Mrs F” as Mort calls her.
Also on my top places for living spaces: Inspiration Valley North Carolina with the Novel Idea agents and Lila WIlkins and her mom, the “Amazing Althea”.
Lala says
Yes!! They make anything better ♥️
Shelby says
Tinkers cove for sure
Brenda says
Yes …
Mackinac Island – Duffy Brown
Cabot Cove – Jessica Fletcher
Madrona Island – Kathi Daley
Mrs Pringle says
Mackinac Island isn’t as exciting as you might think. It’s beautiful in the summer but you’re frequently stuck on the island in the winter. And it’s super small! It’s beautiful though. 🙂
Shelby says
I could handle being stranded in winter.
Marie says
The first one that came to mind was Louise Penny’s Three Pines. Just sounds like a lovely small town to me.
Kitty says
Three Pines, Quebec, Louise Penny’s setting for the Inspector Gamache mysteries. Ahhh!
susy says
Lochdubh! Also, Three Pines.
Christina says
Sleepyside, NY (Trixie Belden) is still my favorite.
Susan* says
Absolutely. Wonderful idea, Christina! Wind back time, so I can be a teenager again, along with Trixie and the gang.
Christina says
It’s just a nice, relatively safe little town. The kids could drive into town in the Bob-White station wagon or Brian’s jalopy to run errands or solve their mysteries. Trixie Belden is one series where I could actually imagine myself being a part of the story as opposed to just reading about it. I know that seems weird. I wish they had rerelease all of the books.
Mary Ann says
Great idea – just found some of my old Trixie beldon books. think I’ll revist them this evening.. thanks
Sandy says
Peg Cochrans Lake Michigan town in her Cranberry mysteries, and of course Three Pines.
Ginny says
I think the best place for me would Wagtail mountain from Krista Davis series Paws and Claws
Denise says
I love Wagtail!!!
Rob says
Thanks, Denise. I love those Krista Davis Paws series. I’m very partial to Canines and it is a fun series~! And since I am old and read a lot, I couldn’t remember the town’s name!
Rob
Rob says
As an addition, Lucy Arlington sets her mysteries in Imagination, SC and Leigh Perry sets her Spice Shop Syteries in Seattle, WA. Both are winning series.
Emma says
That’s my pick too!
Cathy says
I also love Wagtail and it would be great to live at an Inn with my furry friends.
Shelby says
The Jessica beck donut series is set where? That would be a second choice.
KG says
Oh my stars! So many good ones to choose from:
Oyster Bay, North Carolina (Books By the Bay Series)
Tinkers Cove, Maine (Lucy Stone Series)
Celebration Bay, New York (Celebration Bay Series)
Brossard’s Rock Island, South Carolina (Death on Demand Series)
South Cove. California (Tourist Trap Series)
Joppy says
Flaxborough (Colin Watson), so many eccentric personalities.
Martha says
Scumble River. The little Indiana town the Flower Shop Mysteries are in.
Katie says
Isn’t that the school psychologist with the over bearing mother?
Nancy says
Martha’s Vineyard- Cynthiia Riggs’ Series
Rob says
I’d like to live in Margaret Grace’s LIncoln Point and some other towns by other favorite authors like Hamish McBeth’s Lochdubh, Kelly Flynn’s Fort Connor, CO and Mrs. Jeffrie’s London, England. Many more though. I’ll have to make a list of mine, too. You bring up a good point, Danna. I think that half the fun of reading our favorite books is the towns they are set in and the characters that “people” them. I just thought of one in the books I just finished. Pepper Resse’s Seattle in the Assault and Pepper book I just read. Reading her sequel too that is also set in Seattle which is titled Guilty as Cinnamon. Love that one so far.
Thanks, Danna for bringing that up and letting us list our author’s towns! A great town helps the characters thrive in it also, don’t they? Helps you enjoy the setting too.
Linda MH says
I have three favorites:
*My first choice would be Caerphilly, Virginia. That’s where Meg Langslow and the gang live. (Author: Donna Andrews–such a fun series!)
*I would love to join Fortune and friends in Sinful, Louisiana. (Author: Jana Deleon–One of my favorite series!)
*Living in Celebration Bay, NY would be lots of fun, too. Imagine living somewhere that celebrates just about everything in a really big way. (Author: Shelley Freydont–keeping my fingers crossed the author is continuing this series.)
Fun topic, Danna!
Emma says
i, too, have been waiting for a new Celebration Bay story! I love this series. Best characters and story lines!
Kaye says
The first one that comes to mind is the small English village of Finch, in the Cotswolds (Nancy Atherton, Aunt Dimity series)
Margaret StashEmpress says
Oh YES — I’d LOVE to live in Finch!!!!
Marsha says
I thought about this town too but I don’t know if I could take Peggy Taxman- hahaha!
Susie says
Cranberry Cove, Michigan. Peg Cochran’s books about Sassamanach Cranberry farm. Its a relatively new series but a very good read!!
NikkiL says
First would be Agatha Christies St Mary’s Mead. Second Athena Mississippi from Miranda James cat in the stacks mysteries. And for a no fictitious place, I love Charleston featured in several series including The tea shop mysteries by Susan Wittig Albert
PlumGaga says
The tea shop mysteries are by Laura Childs.
Lindy says
Celebration Bay, NY, the setting for Shelly Freydont cozy mystery series, sounds like a fun place in which to live.
Melissa says
I would love to visit Savannah, Georgia in the Consignment Shop Mystery series by Duffy Brown. The flowers sound lovely!
C. T. Collier says
For me it’s Sally Goldenbaum’s village in Cape Ann, Massachusetts, Sea Harbor. I’ve spent many happy days on beautiful Cape Ann, and I’d love to live there. If you haven’t picked up the Seaside Knitters Mystery series, I strongly recommend it! –kate
Billie says
i would really like to visit Cape Ann, Mass., Three Pines, St Mary Meade, Caerphally, Va., Charleston and Finch.
Mary says
Lochdubh, with Hamish & his gang, Lake Eden w/ Hanna & her gang,
& yes, crazy as it seems, Sinful, LA with Unfortunately, I wouldn’t like the weather in any of those places. Maybe Santa Teresa, CA with Kinsey Millhone or with the characters in the Aunt Dimity series in her small English village (name escapes me).
Jill says
Ashland, OR – Ellie Alexander’s Torte Bakery Series
Busmen’s Harbor – Barbara Ross’ Clambake Series
SUSAN says
yes ! me too!
add finch for the Aunt Dimity books and the Literary Ladies and their island in lAKE eRIE (?),
And maybe at least a visit to Moosetookalook. 🙂
Kim says
Oyster Bay , North Carolina Ellery Adams Books by the Bay mystery series .
Jane says
St. Mary Mead (Miss Marple).
Judy says
Annie Darling’s Broward’s Rock (Carolyn Hart)
Genevieve says
I still like Lilian Jackson Braun’s Cat Who location…
Pat says
Diane Mott Davidison’s Aspen Grove, Colorado….I love Goldie, I love Colorado!
Billie says
Silver Springs, Colorado, site of Emily Thomas’s books, would be fun to visit too.
Marla says
Taviscombe in England with Sheila Malory
Dharma with Brooklyn Wainwright’s mom and dad
Three Pines with Inspector Gamache and Reine
Deb B says
Definitely Dharma – I’ve just laughed my way through the series and will absolutely read them again.
Jan says
Deb B, I have not read this series, but would like to. What is the name of the series?
Jan
Marla says
By Kate Carlisle. Her Bibliophile series which has a book reference in each title.
Jan says
Thank you. I am looking for to reading Ms. Carlisle’s books.
Jan
Susan* says
I don’t know if it actually counts, but I want to live in the same apartment building as Corrina Chapman and all the others from Kerry Greenwood’s ‘Earthly Delights’ mysteries. I’m not a huge fan of Melbourne, as a city, but the building is a community unto itself in the books.
Then, perhaps, St Mary Mead, near Miss Marple, or Browards Rock, from Carolyn Hart’s ‘Death on Demand’ series. At least with Annie’s bookstore nearby, you wouldn’t run out of mysteries to read! Lol!
Another vintage teenage favourite (Now, sadly, somewhat obscure) was Bruce Campbell’s ‘Ken Holt’ Mysteries. I wouldn’t mind living in Brentwood. Small town America in the 1950’s.
jane says
April Springs NC. – the Jessica Beck series.
Ellen Byron says
Oh, Three Pines for sure. Also, St. Mary Mead. And G.M. Malliet has done a wonderful job of creating a modern-day equivalent with her village of Nether Monkslip. And to be honest, I would love to live in the village I created in my mystery series, Pelican, Louisiana. I’m actually trying to find the real-life version of the town because the one that initially inspired it doesn’t look like it anymore.
robin in oregon says
Where to begin!? Almost any of the small towns from the cozy series I read. Some of my favorites: St Mary Mead of course. Heather Blake’s Enchanted Village (Craft series) and Hitching Post, Al(Potion series). Mary Daheim’s Emma Lord in Alpine Wa. Jane Cleland’s Josie Prescott in Rocky Point NH. More of an area than city is Peter Shandy @ Balaclava college by Charlotte MacCleod. Also the towns in the books by B.B.Haywood, Sofie Kelly/Sophie Ryan, Avery Aames, Amanda Lee, Joanna Carl and Laura Childs “Egg” series. Senior moments-I remember the stories and characters, but am blocking the name of the towns!
Dawn says
Siesta Key, Florida, where Blaize Clement’s Cat Sitter mysteries take place.
Hanna says
I would like to at least visit Laura Childs’ Charleston where her tea shop mysteries take place. And I like Carolyn Hart’s Broward’s Rock. Though, perhaps, not in the summer.
MJ says
I agree with C. T. Collier. I mentioned several times, I’d like to live in the Sea Harbor Massachusetts village where the Seaside Knitters live. Not only that, I want to be their friend, too (I especially want to go to their Friday night gatherings)! Although I don’t knit……..I guess I’d be willing to learn if I could join their group.
I’m sure I’d enjoy Warner Pier on Lake Michigan in Joanna Carl’s Chocoholic Mystery series, too.
OR, maybe Cranberry Island, ME where the Grey Whale Inn series by Karen MacInerney is set.
I do like ‘scenic’ (and water)!
Margaret StashEmpress says
Joanna Carl’s Warner Pier for sure — but only if they’re still giving a free chocolate sample every day… 😉
Margie says
I would love to live in Pickax City.
With all of the quirky characters encountered
by Jim Qwilleran and KoKo. The wonderful Cat Who
books written by Lillian Jackson Braun
Not forgetting Yum Yum either.
If I couldn’t live there I would like to live
in a house on the grounds of Balaclava College
and attend Professor Peter Shandy’s lectures.
Also wonderful books written by Charlotte Macleod
Deb B says
Charlotte Macleod was my first (and still one of my favorite) cozy mystery authors. Boston would be fun to live in if I was friends with Sarah and Max.
Marie says
I’d just like to live in Quilleran’s house! Doesn’t it sound wonderful?
Cheryl says
Cabot Cove has always been a place I wanted to check out.
Christina says
I also like the idea of living in the villages mentioned in the Asey Mayo mysteries. There are several others I like, but too numerous to name.
Mary Joy says
A few come to mind.
Tinker’s Cove (Lucy Stone)
Aleford, Mass (Faith Fairchild)
Stoneham, Mass (Booktown Mysteries)
And the little seaside town of Fethering, England where Simon Brett’s “odd couple” friends, Carol and Jude do their sleuthing
Charlotte says
I have to second Moose County from “The Cat Who…” books. It sounds absolutely wonderful 🙂
Marianne says
I know it’s not a mystery series, but Mitford (Jan Karon) seems ideal to me.
Rita says
As many others have said there are too too many to choose. Some of my favorites are…Elizabeth Lynn Casey series Southern Sewing Circle mysteries set in Sweet Brier, SC. I would love to have that group as friends.
Lorna Barrett’s Booktown Mysteries set in Stoneham, NH.
This is just the tip of the iceberg.
Rita says
I forgot.. Denise Swanson Scrambled River series. Love Skye.
Ellie says
New England’s Balaclava Architectural College! Charlotte MacLeod’s books are out of print, but still my favorites. I particularly love Her Kelling-Bitterroot series, learned to love Boston while reading them. That’s 2 locations. Pickaxe in Moose County (Michigan) is my 3rd. Thanks to all who comented!
Kim says
Alpine Washington – ( Alpine series – Mary Daheim)
Pickax in Moose Count – ( The Cat Who series – Lillian Jackson Braun)
Blue says
“…small town of Pickax located in Moose County “400 miles north of everywhere.” Lilian Jackson Braun and The Cat Who… mysteries.
And as everyone else Three Pines.
Margaret StashEmpress says
I’d be kind of scared to live in (or even vacation in!) Cabot Cove — they must have the highest per capita murder rate of ANYWHERE in the world! (Sort of like wearing a red shirt in a Star Trek episode — you’re just about painting a target on your back….)
Marsha says
After reading all the No. 1 ladies Detective Agency books I would love to go visit Gaborone, Botswana. I would also love to go have a cup of tea at the Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston. I think that’s why I love to read series. I feel at home in them after awhile.
Rebecca says
Booktown and St. Mary Mead!
Mary Ann says
I would love to hang out in Alabama with Ann George’s Patricia Anne — “Mouse” and Mary Alice — “Sister” and their clan!!!!
Margaret StashEmpress says
I think the place I’d probably most love to live is Storyton Hall from Ellery Adams’ Book Retreat series. Though I would love to vacation at Joyce & Jim Lavene’s Renaissance Village. As much as I love Donna Andrews’ Meg Langslow series, I don’t think I would actually want to live there because all the wonderfully eccentric characters that I love to read about would drive me crazy if I had to deal with them in real life! I think this probably holds true for many of my favorite series– it’s a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Wow! I really enjoyed reading all of your ideas! After reading all of the comments about which Cozy Mystery towns we’d like to live in, it looks like most of us picked the same sorts of towns. It just goes to show us how vividly our favorite authors paint their pictures!
Oldemill says
Well, there are so very many really good ones. The top of my list is Finch from Nancy Atherton’s series, closely followed by Charleston (Indigo tea shop), St. Mary Meade (Agatha Christie – Miss Marple), Lake Eden (Hannah Swenson), and Lochdubh (Hamish MacBeth).
Oz Grandma says
My number 1 pick would be Christmas River, Oregon. Followed by Cabot Cove, Maine.
Rita says
Can you tell me what series is in Christmas River, Oregon? Sounds like a good one. Thank you.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Rita, this series is written by Meg Muldoon.
Rita says
Thank you.
Gina says
My choices are:
Cabot Cove, Maine (Murder, She Wrote series)
Storyton, Virginia (Ellery Adams’ Book Retreat series)
Havenwood, Georgia (Ellery Adams’ Charmed Pie Shoppe series)
Oyster Bay, North Carolina (Ellery Adams’ Books by the Bay series)
Oxfordshire, England (H.Y. Hanna’s Oxford Tearoom Series)
Hatters Cove, Florida (Elisabeth Crabtree’s Hatters Cove Gazette series)
Lucy says
Cranberry Island off the coast of Maine (Gray Whale Inn series).
Billie says
I would like to live near the areas in Tony Hillerman’s books or at least part of the year. I am really fond of northern Arizona.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Billie, there is a certain attraction to a nice dry heat.
Billie says
Or could we take some time and visit them all.