How to Read the Charlotte Graham Series
Written by Stefanie Matteson, the Charlotte Graham series consists of eight cozy mysteries published between 1990 and 1997. Because the books follow a consistent timeline in Charlotte's life and her recurring friendships, reading them in publication order is the best path for readers.
Where to Start
We recommend starting with Murder at the Spa (1990). This debut novel introduces Charlotte Graham as a legendary, retired film star in her seventies who uses her old-Hollywood connections and sharp observational skills to solve murders. Starting here establishes her character and her ongoing partnership with detective Tom Plummer.
Charlotte Graham Books in Publication Order
The publication order follows the chronological sequence of Charlotte's sleuthing adventures. You can read the series in this order:
- Murder at the Spa (1990) – Charlotte goes undercover at a luxury health spa in New Jersey to find a saboteur and solves a fatal overdose case.
- Murder at Teatime (1991) – A sailing trip to a remote island off Bar Harbor, Maine, turns deadly when a prominent professor is poisoned by a garden plant.
- Murder on the Cliff (1991) – Set in Newport, Rhode Island, Charlotte investigates the suspicious death of a famous geisha's descendant at the seaside cliffs.
- Murder on the Silk Road (1992) – Charlotte travels to Dunhuang, China, unraveling an art-smuggling ring and the murder of a paleontologist.
- Murder at the Falls (1993) – While visiting the Great Falls in Paterson, New Jersey, Charlotte investigates the death of an artist who plummeted into the waters.
- Murder on High (1994) – While vacationing near Mount Katahdin in Maine, Charlotte investigates the suspicious death of an old screenwriter friend blacklisted during the McCarthy era.
- Murder Among the Angels (1996) – Charlotte visits a utopian community in the Hudson Valley for a cosmetic consultation and uncovers a plot linked to skeletal remains in a cemetery.
- Murder Under the Palms (1997) – At a Palm Beach charity ball themed after the SS Normandie, Charlotte reunites with an old flame and hunts a killer after a jewelry designer is murdered.
Reading Tips and Chronology
Each book in the series presents a standalone mystery, meaning you can jump around if a particular setting—like the historic mansions of Newport or the deserts of Dunhuang—catches your eye. However, because Charlotte's personal life and relationships progress, sticking to the publication sequence provides the most satisfying character arc. There are no spin-offs, short stories, or co-authored books to track.