Lisa Q. Mathews

The Trouble with Perfect

Lisa’s reporting in from Book Jail, where she’s diligently writing the next title in the Irish Bed and Breakfast Mysteries (launching 8/20 with THE JIG IS UP ). Yes, she’s been spending plenty of time at home, but she’s also been living 24/7 in a crazy parallel universe…

As we mystery fans know, the Perfect Cozy Town can’t be too big or too small, too plain or too fancy, too rich or too poor, and it likely boasts an adorable cat or dog and a plate of cookies for every occasion. Oh, and at least one charming bookstore; a magical library; multiple gourmet restaurants, coffee shops, and bakeries; craft stores galore; a (very) sleepy police department; and fabulous festivals and events year-round. The weather? Pick your poison: bright and sunny or breathtakingly snowy.

Here in New England, we have a 5th season, around mid-February through mid-April, generally known as Mud. Not so popular in Cozy Land (or real life, either). Because cozy towns are perfect. Most of them, anyway.

My Irish Bed & Breakfast series is set in the fictional, Irish-themed town of Shamrock, Massachusetts. Like my current town of residence, Shamrock was once a busy mill town, and when the mill closed a lot of people lost their jobs. The town was, well…dying. So the desperate Chamber of Commerce, along with assorted politicians, concerned citizens, and overeager developers, came up with a plan. They’d take the town’s name and early history and swim with them—to the Emerald Isle and back.

The result? Think real-life Salem, MA, but with leprechauns instead of witches. Not everyone in Shamrock is of Irish descent, of course—many have no connection to Ireland whatsoever—but the whole place was redesigned to resemble a charming Irish village. Whether it hits the mark on that, well…it might depend on who you ask. (Maybe not a person from actual Ireland.)

In Salem, the town’s latest slogan is “Still making history.” But it remains popularly known as “Witch City,” based on its famous witch trials and more recent embrace of everything, well, witchy. At Halloween, the place is a madhouse–you can’t get near it with a 10-mile broomstick. In October, visitors are encouraged to park well outside of town and take shuttle buses in. Some residents are rumored to harbor ditch-the-witch sentiments, due to the kinds of issues brought by overtourism (ever-growing crowds, trash, skyrocketing rents, zero parking, etc.). But in general, Salem is beloved.

Shamrock hasn’t quite reached that level of popularity yet. It’s a cozy town living on the edge, teetering on financial ruin, so the residents double down. Their welcome sign bills the place as “A wee bit o’ Irish heaven in New England,” but the road to celestial Celtic paradise–and a balanced budget sheet–is a little bumpy sometimes. And there are plenty of residents who would be okay with ditching the leprechaun—my sleuth Kate Buckley and her dad, the former Shamrock Chief of Police, among them. I mean, would you want this guy checking in to your B&B?

Of course, many will be quick to point out that, when you live in a busy tourist town–even a fictional one–making plenty of green, it’s hard to complain about traffic and tourists. Without them, you might have other issues to deal with, some far worse. So it’s a grand idea to go all-in, do the best you can, be kind, and above all keep your sense of humor.

Guess it just goes to show you there are 2 sides to every gold coin. No town is perfect, not even a cozy one. And that’s a good thing, because it makes life more colorful, even if that color is green. Also, in the case of cozy towns, if they were really perfect there wouldn’t be any murders, which is one more teensy requirement every cozy town must fulfill. I’m sure the residents of yet another charming New England town–where the mayor’s re-election slogan was “The Do-Nothing Mayor”–would be the first to agree. Lookin’ at you, Cabot Cove, Maine!

Readers, what’s your perfect cozy (or not-so-cozy) town? Fictional or real—bonus points for a slogan!

30 thoughts on “The Trouble with Perfect”

  1. I want to go to Shamrock, Massachusetts, Lisa! I don’t know if I have a favorite cozy spot. As a Star Trek fan, I do adore the small town of Vulcan, Alberta. They have a statue of the Starship Enterprise and Leonard Nimoy even visited once. Live long and prosper!🖖

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    1. Well of course I had to google Vulcan, Alberta, JC! It does look cozy–of the snowy variety. And the Enterprise itself might be considered cozy, too. Also, while I was googling (anything to avoid writing, ha) I learned about the creepy Vulcan Hotel in New Zealand. Now there’s a book waiting to be written, with Rosie the ghost and al those fires. Maybe not that cozy…. https://historygoesbump.blogspot.com/2023/07/hgb-ep-497-new-zealands-vulcan-hotel.html

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  2. I’m with J.C. I want to go to Shamrock too! I’m going to go with my own cozy village, only because I’ll get bonus points for the slogan: Pelican, Louisiana, where the town slogan is “Yes We Peli-can!”

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  3. And now I really want to visit Shamrock, MA! (As long as I don’t end up as the murder victim.)

    As for my favorite mystery novel settings, my favorites tend to be the real-life ones like Oxford, England (or real-life towns that are merely re-named, such as Sue Grafton’s Santa Teresa).

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    1. Very cool, Leslie! And I think you’d fit right in in Shamrock. Bring a shiny green dress vest and we’ll keep your vintage portable bar at the Buckley House, where no one will find it.

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    2. We should all rent a party bus and go to Shamrock! But like you, Leslie, I enjoy books set in real towns, especially when I know them and have a bit of insider knowledge.

      But I’ll go with my Sugar Springs, CO (a renamed mostly-real town) because, like Lisa’s Shamrock, it was once the home of a thriving mill, but mine was sugar beets. When it died, the town refurbished the sugar mill into the Sugar Mill Marketplace, where all things cozy reside!

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      1. Becky, my real town here had a woolen mill where they made socks and underwear! The town is set on a river, so they sent the products off that way (in the summer/fall, anyway). I’m not sure about Shamrock’s mills–probably textiles as well, but for sure not paper (pee-yew!)

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      2. I would pay good money to visit Sugar Springs! Oh, wait – I do that – every time I buy the next Sugar Mill Marketplace book! 🙂 One of my favorite series these days.

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  4. I don’t know that I have a favorite cozy town. There are so many I’ve enjoyed visiting over the years. And I’m looking forward to visiting Shamrock in just a couple of months!

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    1. Thank you, Mark! I’ve spoken to the mayor, and he’s adding a special Mud Run event for Book #2 (set in July–March in Book #1 would not be pretty)

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  5. I don’t know if I have a favorite cozy town–I love them all in the books I read. And I’m game for fictional or real places.

    One cozyish town I’m planning on visiting at the end of the month is Harmony, CA (only one street long). I just love the name–and it’s supposed to have great ice cream!

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  6. I would love to visit Shamrock MA both on the page and wish I could go there for real. MUD season is real there. We often have FALSE SPRING and FALSE SUMMER in Ottawa, Ontario. Balmy spring breezes one day, blustery wintry weather with snow flurries the next day! Or sweltering heat wave one day, followed by sweater weather!

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    1. Grace, you would be VERY at home in Shamrock! We will roll out the green carpet for you (and hand you a complimentary umbrella).

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  8. Lisa, Shamrock is pretty doggone perfect in my book–or actually in yours! I’m ready to hop aboard that party bus whenever y’all say. (Maybe we can make it one of those pedal pub tours where you pedal whilst hoisting your pint?)

    One of my favorite town slogans is for one in Southern Oregon: “It’s the climate!” I love the enthusiasm!

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    1. Ah, a virtuous party bus where one gets a simultaneous workout! Okay, sure, Kathy–we’ll find a nice, flat stretch somewhere close to town. (Bonus for traffic, we’ll get lots of breaks.)

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  9. hestia here,

    I am gonna visit Shamrock come heck or high water. Sounds fabulous!

    as far as my fav? Too many to list! My head hurts just thinking about it!

    but there is one cozy town I love that’s real. Peddlers village, PA. It seems to be a secret of the population count. It’s maybe 4 streets square. There’s about 80 stores (hence the mame Peddler), and as far as I know, there’s only 2 stores that are part of a retail chain. There ain’t even a 7-11! They definitely qualify, as they have events and festivals all year. They even have a scarecrow contest in October, with all kinds of categories!

    if you ever get the chance, please go visit. Just remember, like a cozy town, they roll up the sidewalks early!

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    1. Oh wow, Hestia, just looked up Peddler’s Village–it looks amazing! (Red White & Blueberry Festival, I’m there!). But I also noticed they’re having a Murder Mystery Dinner on June 7. Wish we could go!

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