The Recommended Reading Order
For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the Dodie O’Dell Mystery series in publication order. Because the characters' lives, romantic relationships, and careers progress linearly from book to book, reading the novels in sequence allows you to enjoy the overarching plotlines and character developments without encountering spoilers.
- Show Time (2016)
The series begins with Dodie O'Dell settling into her new life in the cozy town of Etonville, New Jersey, after Hurricane Sandy destroys her restaurant at the Jersey Shore. Now managing the Windjammer Restaurant, Dodie gets pulled into catering the Etonville Little Theatre's production of Romeo and Juliet. When the actor playing Tybalt dies on stage, Dodie must clear her boss's name and track down a killer using her sharp observational skills.
- Time Out (2017)
Etonville is alive with a local food festival, and the community theater is staging the classic black comedy Arsenic and Old Lace. Dodie is busy preparing 1940s Brooklyn-themed knishes and treats to match the play's setting. Off-stage drama turns fatal when the guest director chokes on a knish and dies. Dodie finds herself investigating the food poisoning, while her spark with local Police Chief Bill Thompson begins to grow.
- Running Out of Time (2017)
Etonville hosts a historical celebration, and the Little Theatre presents a colonial-themed adaptation of Thornton Wilder's Our Town. Dodie coordinates the historical catering, serving up traditional colonial desserts. When a local historian is found dead, Dodie must dig into Etonville's historical secrets to uncover a modern-day motive, balancing the investigation with her demanding kitchen duties.
- Just in Time (2018)
The upbeat energy of the 1950s takes over Etonville as the theater group prepares for the musical Bye Bye Birdie. Dodie pairs the production with retro diner classics. The fun is cut short when a member of the production dies mysteriously. Dodie is forced to untangle a web of local rivalries, jealousy, and decades-old secrets that threaten the community.
- No More Time (2019)
Dodie takes a vacation back to the Jersey Shore to revisit her past, but her getaway is interrupted when members of the Etonville Little Theatre arrive to compete in a regional theater festival. Dodie steps in to cater boardwalk-style treats. When her ex-boyfriend Jackson's business partner is murdered on his charter boat, Dodie investigates to prove Jackson is innocent, which puts a strain on her relationship with Chief Bill Thompson.
- Killing Time (2020)
The series wraps up with a spooky Halloween atmosphere in Etonville as the theater stages a production of Dracula. When a mysterious newcomer cast as the Count is rumored to be a real vampire, and a body is discovered in the local cemetery with a stake through its heart, Dodie must separate rumor from fact and find the killer before she becomes the next target.
What to Know Before You Start
The Dodie O’Dell Mystery series is a classic cozy mystery collection written by novelist, screenwriter, and playwright Suzanne M. Trauth. Drawing from her extensive background as a university theater professor, Trauth imbues the series with authentic behind-the-scenes theater details, highlighting the chaotic rehearsals, backstage politics, and creative passion of community theater.
The stories are lighthearted, clean, and focus on small-town community dynamics, avoiding graphic violence or explicit content. Dodie's work at the Windjammer Restaurant is a central element of the plot, and each book highlights Dodie's themed menus designed to match whatever play the Etonville Little Theatre is staging. A slow-burn romance between Dodie and local Police Chief Bill Thompson runs throughout the series, giving readers an extra reason to follow the chronological order.
Can the Books Be Read as Standalones?
Yes, each installment features a self-contained murder mystery that is fully resolved by the end of the book. Newcomers can pick up any book in the series and easily follow the primary mystery. However, because Dodie's personal journey, her romantic relationship with Bill, and the recurring gags involving supporting characters like the police dispatcher Edna and the quirky Bangor sisters develop over time, reading them in order is highly recommended for the best experience.
The Playwright's Touch
What sets the Dodie O'Dell series apart from other culinary cozy mysteries is the theatrical integration. Suzanne M. Trauth does not just use the theater as a background detail; the themes of the plays (such as Romeo and Juliet, Arsenic and Old Lace, and Dracula) directly mirror the themes of the crimes and inspire Dodie's recipes. This clever blend of stagecraft and culinary sleuthing makes the series a perfect fit for theater fans and cozy mystery lovers alike.