The Recommended Reading Order
The Dixie Hemingway mystery series, created by Blaize Clement and continued by her son John Clement, follows a strict chronological timeline. Dixie’s personal journey—from a grieving former sheriff's deputy trying to rebuild her life to a resilient investigator finding new love and purpose—develops continuously from book to book. Therefore, the best way to read the series is in the exact order of publication. Reading them out of order will spoil major developments in Dixie's personal recovery, her relationships with the locals, and her romance with Lieutenant Guidry.
1. Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter (2005)
This is where readers meet Dixie Hemingway, a former deputy sheriff in Sarasota County, Florida, who resigned from the force after a tragic accident claimed her husband and young daughter. Seeking a quiet, stress-free livelihood, she starts a professional pet-sitting business on Siesta Key. However, her quiet life is shattered when she discovers a dead body in a client's home—literally drowned in a cat's water bowl. To protect her clients and clear her name, Dixie must reluctantly put her investigative skills to use.
2. Duplicity Dogged the Dachshund (2007)
Still adjusting to her new life, Dixie takes on a job caring for an adorable dachshund named Mistletoe. The routine gig quickly turns hazardous when Dixie stumbles upon a murder victim nearby. With the help of the dachshund and her sharp instincts, she must follow a trail of secrets that leads deep into the local community, showing that danger can hide even behind the most picturesque Florida facades.
3. Even Cat Sitters Get the Blues (2008)
While taking shelter from a sudden Florida rainstorm in the gatehouse of a wealthy estate, Dixie discovers the body of a murdered security guard. Making matters worse, she is currently pet-sitting a feisty calico kitten for the estate’s eccentric owner, a scientist whose work may be highly dangerous. To clear her name before she is wrongfully implicated, Dixie must unravel a complex web of corporate and personal greed.
4. Cat Sitter on a Hot Tin Roof (2009)
Dixie befriends Laura Halston, a newcomer to the island who claims she is hiding from a dangerous, abusive husband. When Laura begins receiving threatening phone calls, Dixie steps in to help. However, as she investigates further, she learns that Laura’s past is far more complicated and deadly than she initially let on, forcing Dixie to confront deep personal truths about trauma and trust.
5. Raining Cat Sitters and Dogs (2010)
Dixie’s path crosses with a frightened teenage girl named Jaz at a veterinarian's clinic. Jaz is running from her abusive stepfather and dangerous criminals who want to silence her because she witnessed a homicide. Dixie takes it upon herself to protect the girl, navigating both high-stakes danger and her complicated feelings for Lieutenant Guidry, the local detective who is increasingly becoming a major part of her life.
6. Cat Sitter Among the Pigeons (2011)
Dixie is hired to care for an orange shorthair cat named Cheddar for an elderly, injured client. She quickly becomes attached to the client's infant great-granddaughter, whose young mother is running from dangerous local syndicate members. The mother holds evidence that could expose a massive stolen money ring, putting Dixie, the baby, and Cheddar in the crosshairs of ruthless criminals.
7. The Cat Sitter's Pajamas (2012)
While pet-sitting at the luxurious home of a vacationing professional football player, Dixie is surprised by a woman claiming to be the player's wife. When Dixie calls the police, the woman vanishes, leaving behind a corpse. The investigation plunges Dixie into a dangerous black market involving high-end counterfeit fashion, proving that luxury and murder often go hand-in-hand in Siesta Key.
8. The Cat Sitter's Cradle (2013)
While walking a client's schnauzer, Dixie discovers a young homeless girl hiding in the underbrush with a newborn baby. In spite of her busy schedule—which includes caring for a Siamese cat and rare tropical fish for a demanding oil executive—Dixie resolves to help them. Her search for safety for the young mother leads her to a millionaire's murder and a web of familial deceit.
9. The Cat Sitter's Nine Lives (2014)
Dixie witnesses a violent head-on car crash and manages to pull the driver from the wreckage just before the vehicle explodes. The mystery takes an unsettling turn when the injured driver claims to be Dixie’s deceased husband. Shortly after, a local bookstore owner and his cat, Cosmo, go missing, leading Dixie to an abandoned mansion to uncover the truth.
10. The Cat Sitter's Whiskers (2015)
During a routine pet-sitting visit to check on a Maine Coon named Barney, Dixie is ambushed and knocked unconscious by a home intruder. Mysteriously, the police find no evidence of a forced entry and nothing appears to be missing from the house, which is decorated with valuable antique masks. Dixie must dig into the history of the house and its owner to find out what the intruder was really looking for.
11. The Cat Sitter and the Canary (2016)
In the final installment of the series, Dixie crosses paths with a charming Scottish tourist looking for a rental property on the key. Her day turns grim when she discovers a dead body in the front hall of her client's home with a cryptic note pinned to the lapel. Accompanied by a feisty Lhasa Apso named Charlie, Dixie embarks on her final case to stop a killer before they strike again.
The Transition of Authorship: Blaize and John Clement
One of the most notable aspects of the Dixie Hemingway series is its smooth transition of authorship. Blaize Clement, a Sarasota therapist and animal lover, successfully published the first seven novels. After she passed away in 2011, her son John Clement—who had spent years collaborating with her on brainstorming plots and character dynamics—decided to keep Dixie’s story alive. Using his mother's detailed outlines, notes, and drafts, John wrote and completed books 8 through 11. Critics and fans alike praised John for perfectly capturing his mother's signature voice, humor, and emotional depth, ensuring a seamless experience for readers.
What to Know Before You Start
While the Dixie Hemingway books are technically categorized as cozy mysteries, they carry a slightly more realistic emotional weight than typical entries in the genre. Dixie is a survivor of severe trauma, and her struggle with grief, guilt, and the healing process is a central theme throughout the series. The setting of Siesta Key, Florida, acts as a character itself—vividly rendering the tropical climate, the local beaches, canals, and quirky, tight-knit community. If you enjoy mysteries that feature a strong, flawed, and resilient female protagonist, warm relationships with animals, and a beachside atmosphere with a touch of genuine suspense, this series is a perfect fit.