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series Reading Order

Death by Chocolate Books in Order

8 Books
2011 – 2022 Published
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Reading order

The Recommended Reading Path

If you want to get the most out of the Death by Chocolate series, you should read the books in strict publication order. While each novel presents a self-contained murder mystery that is wrapped up by the final page, the character development, romantic subplots, and running jokes are highly serialized. Starting at the beginning lets you watch chocolatier Lindsay Powell build her Kansas City café, see her romance with detective Trent blossom, and observe the mysterious past of her eccentric neighbor Fred slowly unfold.

Here is the recommended reading path for the main series:

  1. Death by Chocolate (2011) – Lindsay Powell's husband Rick is a cheat and a thief, but when her friend Paula's stalker goes missing, Lindsay's chocolate shop becomes the epicenter of a murder investigation. Here, we meet Fred, the paranoid computer genius, and Trent, the handsome detective.
  2. Murder, Lies and Chocolate (2012) – Lindsay's famous chocolate brownies are linked to a dead body, and she finds herself targeted by a bizarre stalker obsessed with her tiny house.
  3. The Great Chocolate Scam (2012) – Lindsay inherits her ex-husband Rick's estate after he is seemingly killed in an explosion, only to find herself dealing with his shady, scheming family.
  4. Chocolate Mousse Attack (2013) – A sleepwalking new neighbor named Sophie keeps hiding in Fred's closet. The team must solve a twenty-year-old murder case that has no bodies, no DNA, and no proof the victim ever existed.
  5. Fatal Chocolate Obsession (2014) – Creepy, poorly written love poems and gifts start arriving for Lindsay, followed by a body in the alley behind her shop. Things get personal when even her ex-husband Rick is attacked.
  6. Deadly Chocolate Addiction (2017) – A mysterious customer leaves a brass key under a plate at Lindsay's café and is promptly murdered. Soon, a woman in high heels arrives claiming to be Fred's wife, throwing Fred's secretive past into the spotlight.
  7. Guns, Wives and Chocolate (2018) – A welcome-home party for a neighborhood ex-con brings chaos to Lindsay's backyard. Meanwhile, another ex-wife of Rick's moves across the street, followed quickly by the murder of her new husband.
  8. Spies, Lies and Chocolate Pies (2022) – Fred's actual wife is found pinned to a tree with an arrow. Shortly after, Rick goes missing, prompting a double investigation into spycraft and local secrets.
  9. Twin Troubles and Chocolate Tortes (2025) – A neighbor's sudden fatal fall is followed by the arrival of a woman claiming to be Paula's long-lost twin sister, dragging Lindsay into a web of vintage family secrets and DNA tests.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

For the Death by Chocolate series, there is absolutely no difference between the publication order and the chronological order. The timeline moves forward linearly, beginning with the café's early days in Death by Chocolate and progressing year-by-year up to the events of Twin Troubles and Chocolate Tortes in 2025. Sally Berneathy has not written any prequels, standalone holiday novellas, or flashback stories set outside this main sequence, meaning readers do not need to worry about complex chronological timelines.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into Lindsay's chocolate café, here are a few elements that define the series:

  • The Cozy Vibe: Despite the frequent murders, the series is lighthearted, sarcastic, and heavy on culinary comfort.
  • King Henry the Cat: A fan-favorite character, King Henry is a large, aggressive tomcat who acts more like a protective guard dog than a feline. He frequently assists Lindsay and Fred in their investigations and isn't afraid to attack intruders.
  • Fred's Mystery: The neighbor Fred is an OCD computer nerd with a murky past involving government surveillance and prison. The slow reveal of his secrets provides a satisfying overarching narrative thread.
  • Culinary Focus: Each book integrates Lindsay's chocolate business, and the mouthwatering descriptions of treats like "Murdered Man's Brownies" are central to the atmosphere.

Collections and Box Sets

For readers looking to save money or purchase in bulk, Sally Berneathy has released a collection titled Triple Chocolate Murder. This omnibus contains the first three full-length novels: Death by Chocolate, Murder, Lies and Chocolate, and The Great Chocolate Scam. Currently, no other box sets exist for the subsequent books in the series, so books 4 through 9 must be purchased individually.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the best order to read the Death by Chocolate series?

You should read the series in publication order. Because the relationships between Lindsay, Fred, and Trent develop over time, starting with the first book, Death by Chocolate, is highly recommended.

QAre there any prequels or short stories in the series?

No. Sally Berneathy has not published any prequels or companion short stories. The chronological order matches the publication sequence exactly.

QWhat is the latest book in the Death by Chocolate series?

The latest book is the ninth novel, Twin Troubles and Chocolate Tortes, which was published in June 2025.

QIs there a box set available for the series?

Yes, the first three novels are collected in the omnibus titled Triple Chocolate Murder. The remaining books must be acquired individually.

QDo Sally Berneathy's cozy mystery series cross over?

No. While she also writes the popular Charley’s Ghost paranormal cozy series, the two series take place in completely different universes and do not feature crossover events or characters.