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Back Room Bookstore Cozy Mystery Books in Order

12 Books
2018 – 2019 Published
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How to Read the Back Room Bookstore Cozy Mystery Series

The best way to read the Back Room Bookstore Cozy Mystery series is in publication order. Because the books follow Monica Montoya's development as an "unnatural" witch and track the unfolding mysteries of her family and the supernatural portal behind her shop's back door, reading them sequentially guarantees you won't spoil any of the main story arcs or character relationships.

Back Room Bookstore Cozy Mystery Series in Order

All twelve books in the series were released between 2018 and 2019. Here is the complete list in order of publication (which matches the chronological timeline):

  1. Books and Brews (2018)
  2. The Guilty Party (2018)
  3. A Staged Murder (2018)
  4. A Gruesome Goal (2019)
  5. An Eye for Murder (2019)
  6. Holidays and Homicide (2019)
  7. A Lethal Love (2019)
  8. A Supernatural Slaying (2019)
  9. Beaten at His Own Game (2019)
  10. A Trip Through Time (2019)
  11. Seeing Double (2019)
  12. A Magical Ending (2019)

The Mortal and Magical Worlds of Bankstown and Wysteria

The series features twin sisters Monica and Mona Montoya who manage bookstores. While Monica runs the shop in the mortal town of Bankstown, Texas, the back door of the store leads directly to Wysteria, the magical realm. The books blend traditional whodunits with magical creatures, wizards, and witches.

Key characters that appear throughout the series include:

  • Monica Montoya: A witch with limited magical powers who solves mortal and supernatural crimes.
  • Mona Montoya: Monica's twin sister who assists with the magical bookstore operations.
  • Abigail: A grumpy cat who is actually a witch being punished for her past misdeeds.
  • Officer Brian: The local mortal law enforcement officer who shares a budding romantic chemistry with Monica.
  • Holly: A human employee in the bookstore with a mysterious mystical heritage.

Other Cozy Mystery Series by Susan Harper

If you enjoy Susan Harper's lighthearted and whimsical writing style, you can also explore her other popular cozy mystery series:

  • Senoia Cozy Mystery Series: Her debut series featuring party planner Felicity Overton.
  • Flight Risk Cozy Mystery Series: Following flight attendant Kendell and retiree Pauline on their travels.
  • Caribbean Cruise Cozy Mystery Series: Starring Hope Harper solving crimes on a cruise ship.

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start reading the Back Room Bookstore Cozy Mystery series?

You should start with Books and Brews, the first book in the series. Reading the books in order is highly recommended to follow the overarching character growth and plotlines.

QHow many books are in the Back Room Bookstore series?

There are 12 books in the series, all published by Susan Harper between 2018 and 2019.

QWho is the main protagonist of the series?

The main protagonist is Monica Montoya, an "unnatural" witch who inherits her grandmother's (or aunt's) bookstore, which contains a portal to the magical world of Wysteria.

QAre the Back Room Bookstore Cozy Mystery books standalones?

While each book features a self-contained murder mystery that is solved by the end, there is an overarching storyline involving the characters' relationships and secrets, making it best to read them in order.

QDoes the series have a definitive ending?

Yes, the series concludes with the twelfth book, A Magical Ending, which wraps up the main character arcs and story threads.

QAre there any co-authored books in this series?

No, the Back Room Bookstore Cozy Mystery series is written entirely by Susan Harper, although she has co-authored other series like the Senoia Cozy Mystery series.