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series Reading Order

Candy Coated Mystery Books in Order

15 Books
2013 – 2024 Published
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Reading order

How to Read the Candy Coated Mystery Series

For the best experience, readers should follow the publication order. The main novels trace the personal and professional growth of Allie McMurphy, her relationships with the island locals, and her evolving romance, making a chronological progression highly recommended.

Recommended Reading Order

This hybrid order integrates both the main novels and the holiday novellas into their chronologically correct slots:

  1. All Fudged Up (2013)
  2. To Fudge or Not to Fudge (2014)
  3. Oh Say Can You Fudge (2015)
    • All I Want for Christmas is Fudge (2015) — Novella #3.5
  4. All You Need is Fudge (2016)
  5. Oh, Fudge! (2017)
    • Deck the Halls with Fudge (2017) — Novella #5.5
  6. Forever Fudge (2018)
  7. Fudge Bites (2019)
  8. Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas (2020)
  9. Here Comes the Fudge (2021)
  10. A Midsummer Night's Fudge (2022)
  11. Give Fudge a Chance (2023)
    • Having a Fudgy Christmas Time (2023) — Novella #11.5
  12. Three Fudges and a Baby (2024)
  13. Fudge and Marriage (2025)
  14. Some Like It Fudgy (2026)

Chronological and Narrative Caveats

While the main novels are told from Allie McMurphy's perspective, the 2023 holiday novella Having a Fudgy Christmas Time breaks tradition by centering on Carol Tunisian, Allie's senior-citizen friend, and her book club of "silver-haired sleuths." Allie still makes an appearance, but the narrative focus shifts. Additionally, the novellas are shorter e-book releases that provide festive side-plots but are not strictly required to understand the overarching mystery plots of the main entries.

Universe Connections and Spin-Offs

Although Nancy Coco also writes the popular Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series, there are no official crossovers or shared-universe connections between Allie McMurphy's Mackinac Island and Wren Johnson's Oregon coast. Each series stands completely on its own.

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start reading the Candy Coated Mystery series?

You should start with the first novel, All Fudged Up (2013), to properly follow Allie McMurphy's introduction to Mackinac Island and the start of her fudge-making endeavors.

QHow many books are in the Candy Coated Mystery series?

As of 2026, the series includes 17 books in total, consisting of 14 full-length novels and 3 holiday-themed novellas.

QWho writes the Candy Coated Mystery series?

The series is written by Nancy Coco, which is a pen name for cozy mystery author Nancy J. Parra (who also writes as Nell Hampton).

QAre the holiday novellas necessary to understand the main plot?

No, the holiday novellas like All I Want for Christmas is Fudge and Deck the Halls with Fudge are self-contained side stories. While they add festive fun, they are not mandatory for following the main series arc.

QWhich book is told from a different character's perspective?

The holiday novella Having a Fudgy Christmas Time is narrated by Carol Tunisian and features her senior-citizen book club sleuths, rather than the series' usual protagonist, Allie McMurphy.

QIs there a crossover with the Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series?

No, there are no crossovers between the Candy Coated Mystery series and the Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series, despite both being written by Nancy Coco.