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Bed-And-Breakfast Mysteries Books in Order

32 Books
1991 – 2004 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start the Bed-and-Breakfast Mysteries

The best place to start your stay at Hillside Manor is with the very first book, Just Desserts (1991). Because the characters grow, relationships shift, and the bed-and-breakfast itself evolves, reading the series in its original order of release offers the most satisfying experience. You will get to meet the quirky guests, watch Judith's romance with Joe Flynn develop, and enjoy the witty banter between Judith and her cousin Renie from the very beginning.

Publication Order and Chronological Order

Fortunately for readers, the publication order of the Bed-and-Breakfast Mysteries matches the chronological order of the story. You do not need to worry about jumping around a timeline or keeping track of prequels. Simply follow the books in order from 1 to 32:

  1. Just Desserts (1991)
  2. Fowl Prey (1991)
  3. Holy Terrors (1992)
  4. Dune to Death (1993)
  5. Bantam of the Opera (1993)
  6. A Fit of Tempera (1994)
  7. Major Vices (1995)
  8. Murder, My Suite (1995)
  9. Auntie Mayhem (1996)
  10. Nutty as a Fruitcake (1996)
  11. September Mourn (1997)
  12. Wed and Buried (1998)
  13. Snow Place to Die (1998)
  14. Legs Benedict (1998)
  15. Creeps Suzette (2000)
  16. A Streetcar Named Expire (2001)
  17. Suture Self (2001)
  18. Silver Scream (2002)
  19. Hocus Croakus (2003)
  20. This Old Souse (2004)
  21. Dead Man Docking (2005)
  22. Saks & Violins (2006)
  23. Scots on the Rocks (2007)
  24. Vi Agra Falls (2008)
  25. Loco Motive (2010)
  26. All the Pretty Hearses (2011)
  27. The Wurst Is Yet to Come (2012)
  28. Gone with the Win (2013)
  29. Clam Wake (2014)
  30. Here Comes the Bribe (2015)
  31. A Case of Bier (2018)
  32. Lady MacDeath (2020)

Are There Any Crossovers or Spin-Offs?

Mary Daheim is also well-known for her popular Alpine Mysteries series, which features newspaper editor Emma Lord and is set in the mountain town of Alpine, Washington. While both are excellent cozy mysteries set in the Pacific Northwest, they are completely separate series with no official crossovers or shared storylines. You can read either series independently without missing any plot details.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the recommended starting point for the Bed-and-Breakfast Mysteries?

You should start with the first novel, Just Desserts (1991), to properly follow the character development and ongoing relationships.

QDoes the chronological order differ from the publication order?

No, the storyline flows chronologically in the exact order the books were published.

QWho helps Judith solve the mysteries at Hillside Manor?

Judith's main partner in sleuthing is her hilarious and sarcastic cousin, Serena 'Renie' Jones.

QIs there any connection between this series and the Alpine Mysteries?

No. Although both series are written by Mary Daheim and set in Washington State, they do not feature crossovers or shared storylines.

QHow many books are in the Bed-and-Breakfast Mysteries series?

The main series consists of 32 books, starting in 1991 and concluding with Lady MacDeath.

QWho are Judith's husbands in the series?

Judith's first husband was the late Dan McMonigle. She later reunites with and marries her old flame, homicide detective Joe Flynn.