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Claire Malloy Books in Order

21 Books
1985 – 2013 Published
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Reading order

How to Read the Claire Malloy Series

For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the Claire Malloy mysteries in publication order. The series features a strong linear progression in its characters' personal lives. Reading in order allows you to watch Claire's daughter, Caron, grow from an dramatic teenager (whose dialogue is famously punctuated in ALL CAPS) alongside her sidekick Inez, while following the slow-burn romance between Claire and Deputy Police Chief Peter Rosen.

Recommended Starting Point

Begin with the very first book, Strangled Prose (1986). It introduces Claire's independent bookshop, the Book Depot, her dry humor, her chaotic home life, and the quirky college town of Farberville, Arkansas (a thinly veiled stand-in for Fayetteville). Starting here sets the stage for the recurring humor and relationships that define the series.

Claire Malloy Publication Order

The core series consists of 20 novels published between 1986 and 2015:

  1. Strangled Prose (1986)
  2. The Murder at the Mimosa Inn (1986)
  3. Dear Miss Demeanor (1987)
  4. A Really Cute Corpse (1988)
  5. A Diet to Die For (1989)
  6. Roll Over and Play Dead (1991)
  7. Death by the Light of the Moon (1992)
  8. Poisoned Pins (1993)
  9. Tickled to Death (1994)
  10. Busy Bodies (1995)
  11. Closely Akin to Murder (1996)
  12. A Holly, Jolly Murder (1997)
  13. A Conventional Corpse (2000)
  14. Out on a Limb (2002) - Note: some publisher catalogs list the release year as 2003.
  15. The Goodbye Body (2005)
  16. Damsels in Distress (2007)
  17. Mummy Dearest (2008)
  18. Deader Homes and Gardens (2012)
  19. Murder as a Second Language (2013)
  20. Pride v. Prejudice (2015)

The Interactive Jigsaw Puzzle Outlier

When looking up the series, you might encounter a title called To Kill a Husband (originally released in 1994 or 1995). Rather than a standard standalone novel, this was a special interactive "Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle Thriller" released by the game manufacturer Bepuzzled. It features a short story starring Claire Malloy followed by a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle that players must assemble to solve the crime. While it is a fun collector's item for fans, it is not required reading for the main series continuity.

Crossovers and Other Series

Although author Joan Hess was also widely celebrated for her hilarious Maggody mystery series (featuring police chief Arly Hanks), the two series do not cross over. They exist in separate fictional versions of Arkansas, meaning you can enjoy the Claire Malloy series entirely on its own without needing to read Hess's other books.

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start reading the Claire Malloy series?

You should start with the debut novel, Strangled Prose (1986). It establishes the characters, Claire's bookstore, and the town of Farberville.

QDo Claire Malloy and Peter Rosen ever get married?

Yes. After a long, slow-burning courtship across the series, Claire and Peter finally tie the knot in the 17th novel, Mummy Dearest (2008), which begins with their honeymoon in Egypt.

QWhat is 'To Kill a Husband'?

It is an interactive jigsaw puzzle game package containing a short Claire Malloy mystery story. It was published by Bepuzzled in 1994/1995 and is not a standard full-length novel.

QAre the Claire Malloy and Maggody mystery series connected?

No. Although both were written by Joan Hess and take place in Arkansas, they feature different characters and settings with no crossover events.

QHow many novels are in the Claire Malloy series?

There are 20 main novels in the series, beginning in 1986 and concluding with the final book, Pride v. Prejudice, in 2015.