Where to Start Reading Alice Nestleton
For the best experience, you should read the Alice Nestleton mysteries in publication order. While the mystery in each book is a standalone whodunit, the personal life of Alice, her acting career struggles, and the lives of her feline companions evolve from one story to the next. The best place to start is the very first book, A Cat in the Manger (1990).
Alice Nestleton Books in Publication Order
The series consists of 21 original novels published between 1990 and 2002, plus a later omnibus edition. Here is the complete list of books in order of release:
- A Cat in the Manger (1990)
- A Cat of a Different Color (1991)
- A Cat in Wolf's Clothing (1991)
- A Cat in the Wings (1992)
- A Cat by Any Other Name (1992)
- A Cat with a Fiddle (1993)
- A Cat in a Glass House (1993)
- A Cat with No Regrets (1994)
- A Cat on the Cutting Edge (1994)
- A Cat on a Winning Streak (1995)
- A Cat in Fine Style (1995)
- A Cat in a Chorus Line (1996)
- A Cat under the Mistletoe (1996)
- A Cat on a Beach Blanket (1997)
- A Cat on Jingle Bell Rock (1997)
- A Cat on Stage Left (1998)
- A Cat of One's Own (1999)
- A Cat with the Blues (2000)
- A Cat with No Clue (2001)
- A Cat Named Brat (2002)
- A Cat on the Bus (2002)
Note: The title A Cat Tells Two Tales (2012) is often listed at the end of the series, but it is actually a two-in-one omnibus reissue collecting the first two novels, not a new entry.
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order
There are no chronological timeline gaps, flashbacks, or prequel novels to worry about in this series. The chronological order of Alice's sleuthing adventures matches the publication order exactly, which makes organizing your reading list simple and straightforward.
Spin-offs, Crossovers, and Co-authored Books
Although Franklin B. King wrote other animal-themed cozy mystery series under the Lydia Adamson pseudonym—such as the 12-book Deirdre Quinn Nightingale (Dr. Nightingale) series focusing on a veterinarian, and the 3-book Lucy Wayles birdwatching mystery series—there are no crossovers between them. Alice Nestleton's universe is entirely separate, and she does not share the page with characters from the other series. Furthermore, the books were written solely by King under his pen name without any co-authors.