The Recommended Reading Order
If you want to get the most out of Richard Houston's cozy mystery series, we highly recommend reading the books in publication order. The narrative timeline matches the release dates, allowing you to watch the bond between former software engineer Jake Martin and his brilliant Golden Retriever, Fred, grow naturally from the very beginning.
Starting with the first book is also essential for following Jake's personal journey, his handyman career transition, and his evolving relationship with his quirky seventy-year-old neighbor, Bonnie.
Books To Die For Publication & Chronological Order
Each book in the series takes Jake and Fred to different scenic locations, primarily moving between the rugged mountains of Evergreen, Colorado, and the lake communities of the Missouri Ozarks. Here is the list of books in their recommended reading order:
- A View to Die For (2012) – Jake and Fred travel to the Missouri Ozarks to clear his sister of murder charges and find themselves hunting for Jesse James' legendary gold.
- A Book to Die For (2014) – Accused of manslaughter in Denver, Jake must untangle a dangerous poaching ring.
- A Treasure to Die For (2015) – A coded message in a rare edition of Tom Sawyer leads to murder and historical secrets in Colorado's old mines.
- Letters to Die For (2016) – While remodeling a house, Jake uncovers decades-old love letters that trigger a modern-day chase.
- A Relic to Die For (2017) – The duo gets caught up in a mystery involving historical relics.
- A Secret to Die For (2018) – Jake and Fred return to tackle local secrets and puzzles.
- Something to Die For (2020) – Cozy amateur sleuthing resumes with more quirky small-town trouble.
- Nothing to Die For (2022/2023) – Another engaging puzzle that tests Fred's canine intelligence and Jake's wits.
- A Taste to Die For (2023) – Fred discovers poached paddlefish remains, plunging Jake, Fred, and Bonnie into the dangerous world of illegal Ozark caviar poaching.
Crucial Reading Caveats & Clarifications
Watch Out for the Anthology Confusion
When searching for these books, you might run across a book called Books to Die For: The World's Greatest Mystery Writers on the World's Greatest Mystery Novels. This is a highly acclaimed non-fiction anthology of essays edited by John Connolly and Declan Burke. Richard Houston did not write or co-author this collection; it is completely unrelated to his cozy mystery series.
Are There Any Spin-offs or Co-Authors?
No. Richard Houston has written all the books in the Jake Martin series by himself, drawing on his real-life experience as a former NASA software engineer, carpenter, and resident of Missouri. There are currently no spin-offs, co-authored novels, or short story tie-ins to keep track of, making this a very straightforward and enjoyable series to binge-read.