The Recommended Reading Order
For the best reading experience, the Bay Tanner series should be read in publication order. Because the books follow a linear path, the publication order matches the chronological timeline perfectly. Reading the series in sequence allows you to experience Bay's emotional journey from a grieving widow to a resilient, professional investigator, while tracking the development of her relationship with her brother-in-law (and later husband) Red Tanner, her computer-expert associate Erik Whiteside, and her father, Judge Talbot Simpson.
Bay Tanner Books in Order
- In for a Penny (2000) - The series debut introduces Bay as she investigates her late husband Rob's murder.
- And Not a Penny More (2002)
- Perdition House (2003)
- Judas Island (2004)
- Resurrection Road (2005)
- Bishop's Reach (2006)
- Sanctuary Hill (2007)
- The Mercy Oak (2008)
- Covenant Hall (2009)
- Canaan's Gate (2010)
- Jericho Cay (2011)
- St. John's Folly (2013)
- Like a Bad Penny (2014) - A novella (Book 12.5) featuring novelist Elizabeth Stanton, who enlists Bay's help to face a threat from her past.
- Jordan Point (2015) - The thirteenth and final novel in the series.
Chronological Caveats and Reading Tips
There are no complicated timelines, prequels, or spin-offs in the Bay Tanner series, making it very straightforward to follow. However, skip-reading is not recommended. Wall builds a rich network of recurring characters and evolving relationships surrounding Simpson & Tanner, Inquiry Agents. Subplots regarding Bay's family legacy, local Hilton Head Island politics, and her partner Erik's computer investigations carry over significantly from one novel to the next. The only minor detail is the 2014 novella, Like a Bad Penny, which acts as a bridge between the twelfth and thirteenth novels and focuses on a friend of Bay's rather than Bay herself.