Hey, it’s been a while since I did a master list for writers! You love them, and I love them, too. So here’s a list of settings to help you in writing a cozy mystery novel! (Full disclosure: I’m an acquiring editor in the cozy mystery genre in my day job.)
Sometimes the setting itself can inspire an intriguing plot or a memorable crime. Other times, it just makes the reading experience more enjoyable. After all, the cozy mystery genre is all about gentle reads that people love returning to again and again.
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Recently I was talking about cozy mystery settings in my YouTube series Blank Page to Final Draft. It was part of general advice on how to describe settings and why they matter, and to watch, you can click here.
In creating this list, I’ve tried to stay away from some of the most often-used settings, though some of these are still popular. All of them are either U.S. or U.K, settings, but some of them could work in other countries, too. Some of these are more ideas for the crime scene and/or the amateur sleuth’s workplace, and some of them are larger communities. You can’t have every murder happen right in the amateur sleuth’s ice cream shop, for instance, or it’s sure going to start to look like the amateur sleuth has secretly been a serial killer all along.
If you’re interested in writing a cozy mystery novel, now or in the future, pin or bookmark this post for future reference!
- an ice cream shop
- Talkeetna, Alaska—a gateway town to Denali National Park
- an Irish pub
- a glass artist’s workshop
- a strawberry farm in Florida
- a cherry orchard in Michigan
- Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, in the middle of Cajun country (it’s known as the Crawfish Capital of the world, and a lot of people here speak French!)
- a tailor shop
- a costume shop
- a community theater
- a community college
- a small college town
- a lighthouse
- a castle turned into a B&B
- a spa
- a quirky little museum, like a teddy bear museum or a pinball game museum
- a ski resort
- an observatory
- a botanical garden
- a garden nursery
- a lavender farm in Norfolk, England
- Silverton, Colorado—formerly an Old West mining town, with an amazing narrow gauge railroad that winds through mountains and canyons
- Leadville, Colorado—the highest elevation city in the U.S.
- a record shop (vinyl)
- a vintage clothing store in a Hollywood neighborhood
- a historic church
- a historic City Hall
- a county archive
- a sweater shop or yarn shop in the Aran Islands, Ireland
- a small beach town in Hawaii, like Lahaina, Maui or Hawi on the Big Island
- an art gallery in Taos, New Mexico
- a steamboat on the Mississippi
- a toy store
- a surf shop in southern California
- a horseback riding school in Kentucky
- a frame shop
- a drink-wine-and-paint-a-picture place (you know the ones I mean, right?)
- Anstruther, Scotland—a cute fishing village
- Coupeville, Washington—very, very cute town on a cove
- a bridal boutique
- a musical instrument shop
- a bicycle shop in Tucson (there are a lot of bicycles there)
- a coffee roasting company
- a beachfront bar and grill
- a 24-hour diner
- Lindsborg, Kansas—known as “Little Sweden USA,” with Swedish festivals
- a souvenir shop in London
- Chinatown in San Francisco, Los Angeles, or New York
- Charleston, South Carolina
- a pizza parlor
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Hopefully, you saw some ideas that piqued your imagination—and maybe even inspired you if you’re thinking about writing a cozy mystery novel. If you want some tips on creating a sense of place, check out my how How to Describe Settings—and Why It Matters.
Do you have other cozy mystery setting ideas, comments about the cozy mystery genre, or questions about how to write a cozy mystery? Share them below!
If you’re not familiar with my master lists, you can check out my book, Master Lists for Writers. And if you don’t want to miss new lists on the blog, be sure to subscribe, below!
Thanks so much for reading, and happy writing!
Yay! I just love your lists
Aww thanks Erin! It felt good to do one again! (I’m a weirdo!)
I love these. Thank you! For a cozy, is it ever possible to put one of these settings in a non-typical place similar to say Gotham city or Metropolis (not a trade marked one)? For instance, if the normal everyday woman sleuth worked in the record store there (I’m guessing the non-supers like to listen to music just like the capes do…). Also a couple more settings for you: a bead shop (there are some good ones in Vacaville, in San Diego and in Auburn, California – those needles can be sharp), and comic book store…they’re all over, but I’m thinking of one I went to growing up that was in Honolulu…
Great list. Thank you!
The cover picture for this entry with the painted houses; four houses in a row yellow, green, red, and blue, kinda makes me think of a big software company. I wonder what nefarious secrets are hidden there?
The setting for my first cozy mystery is on your list! A small college town. Mine is in northern Minnesota on the shores of Lake Superior. Also I have taken that train to Silverton, Colorado! 🙂
I am just starting to write my first cozy mystery after years of reading them and longing to write my own. I am sure your blog and tips will come in very handy as I go about writing fiction again after a long hiatus.
very late but what exactly is a cozy mystery?
Hi there! A cozy mystery is a subgenre of mystery. It never features a lot of gore on the page. It usually features an amateur sleuth, it highlights friendship and community ties (and there’s frequently a romance subplot), it usually takes place in a charming setting, and there’s often a dog or a cat. 🙂
One in which you get away with it.