Recommended Reading Order
For the best experience, readers should follow the publication order of the Edisto Island Mystery series. While each mystery is resolved within its respective book, Callie Jean Morgan’s personal journey—from grieving widow and former Boston detective to Edisto Beach Police Chief and beyond—develops sequentially. Reading the books in order ensures you capture the evolution of her relationships, her struggles with alcohol and trauma, and the changing dynamics of the local community.
- Murder on Edisto (2014)
- Edisto Jinx (2015)
- Echoes of Edisto (2016)
- Edisto Stranger (2017)
- Dying on Edisto (2019) (Crossover with Carolina Slade)
- Edisto Tidings (2019)
- Reunion on Edisto (2021)
- Edisto Heat (2022)
- Badge of Edisto (2022)
- Edisto Bullet (2023)
- Edge of Edisto (2024)
- Edisto Storm (2025)
The Carolina Slade Crossover Order
C. Hope Clark’s two primary mystery series—the Edisto Island Mysteries and the Carolina Slade Mysteries—share the same universe. The main characters, Callie Jean Morgan and federal investigator Carolina Slade, cross paths in several books. If you want to experience the complete chronological narrative across both series, you can read them in their combined publication order:
- Lowcountry Bribe (Carolina Slade #1) – 2012
- Tidewater Murder (Carolina Slade #2) – 2013
- Palmetto Poison (Carolina Slade #3) – 2014
- Murder on Edisto (Edisto #1) – 2014
- Edisto Jinx (Edisto #2) – 2015
- Echoes of Edisto (Edisto #3) – 2016
- Edisto Stranger (Edisto #4) – 2017
- Newberry Sin (Carolina Slade #4) – 2018
- Dying on Edisto (Edisto #5) – 2019 – Slade and her partner Wayne Largo visit Edisto Beach to investigate a travel blogger's death, assisting Chief Callie Morgan.
- Edisto Tidings (Edisto #6) – 2019
- Salkehatchie Secret (Carolina Slade #5) – 2020 – Callie Morgan crosses over into Slade's territory in the Salkehatchie region to help with a search for a missing federal agent.
- Reunion on Edisto (Edisto #7) – 2021
- Edisto Heat (Edisto #8) – 2022
- Badge of Edisto (Edisto #9) – 2022 – Slade appears again in Callie's jurisdiction as they investigate a death behind the local cemetery.
- Lake Murray Money (Carolina Slade #6) – 2023
- Edisto Bullet (Edisto #10) – 2023
- Edge of Edisto (Edisto #11) – 2024
- Edisto Storm (Edisto #12) – 2025
What to Know Before You Start
The Edisto Island Mystery series stands out in the cozy mystery genre by incorporating a slightly darker, grit-filled undertone—often referred to as Southern gothic cozy. Callie Jean Morgan is not your typical lighthearted amateur sleuth; she is a seasoned ex-Boston detective dealing with severe grief after her husband was murdered by the Russian mob. Her battle with PTSD, alcoholism, and the guilt of her past forms a major part of the character-driven narrative.
Edisto Beach itself acts as a central character. Clark, a South Carolina native, writes with authentic local knowledge, capturing the real-world geography, the lack of franchise businesses, the preservation of loggerhead turtles, and the tight-knit, protective nature of Lowcountry residents. The series shifts in dynamic as Callie transitions from a civilian resident to taking over as Police Chief in the third book, Echoes of Edisto, and eventually navigating life as an ex-chief in the later novels.
Detailed Guide to the Books
1. Murder on Edisto (2014)
Reeling from the murder of her husband, Callie Jean Morgan returns to her family’s Lowcountry cottage for peace. Instead, she finds her friend and mentor murdered, forcing her to confront local secrets and her own detective instincts.
2. Edisto Jinx (2015)
A death at a beach party during the hot August dog days sparks talk of an island curse. A local psychic warns Callie of spirits, but Callie looks for a flesh-and-blood killer hiding among the tourists and residents.
3. Echoes of Edisto (2016)
Now serving as the interim Police Chief of Edisto Beach, Callie investigates the suspicious drowning of a rookie officer. The case exposes corruption and deep-seated conflicts within the small police force and the town itself.
4. Edisto Stranger (2017)
When a stranger's body is found in a pickup truck outside a local bookstore, Callie must work alongside state investigators. The victim's ties to the local community reveal hidden greed and long-buried resentments.
5. Dying on Edisto (2019)
This entry serves as the first major crossover with the Carolina Slade series. Federal investigator Carolina Slade and her partner Wayne Largo travel to Edisto Beach, where they team up with Callie to solve the murder of a high-profile travel blogger.
6. Edisto Tidings (2019)
Set during the Christmas season, this holiday mystery sees Callie investigating a break-in at a historic plantation house. The investigation turns deadly when a body is discovered, threatening the island's festive peace.
7. Reunion on Edisto (2021)
A high school reunion brings old friends and long-held grudges back to the island. When one of the attendees is found dead, Callie has to dig into the past to solve a cold case that has suddenly turned hot.
8. Edisto Heat (2022)
Summer brings blistering heat and a dangerous arsonist to Edisto Beach. Chief Callie Morgan must find the culprit before the island's historic structures—and its residents—go up in flames.
9. Badge of Edisto (2022)
Now stepping away from her role as Police Chief, ex-Chief Callie Morgan is drawn back into detective work. When a body is discovered behind a local cemetery, Callie, alongside her friend Carolina Slade, works to clear a local officer's name.
10. Edisto Bullet (2023)
A break-in at a local restaurant leaves behind an unspent .41 caliber bullet. The unusual ammunition leads Callie into a dangerous investigation involving the past of contractor Mark Dupree and illegal weapon rings.
11. Edge of Edisto (2024)
When a woman goes missing from a group of five vacationers, Callie is called to help. The mystery deepens when an unidentified body washes ashore, forcing Callie to trace the relationships of the visitors.
12. Edisto Storm (2025)
In this high-stakes installment, a massive storm threatens the coast while Callie tracks a killer operating under the cover of the evacuation. The local environment and weather play a critical role in the suspense.
Practical Reading Advice
If you are short on time, you can read the mysteries as standalones, as each book resolves its primary murder investigation. However, to fully appreciate the romance, the shifting authority dynamics at the police department, and Callie’s ongoing recovery, starting with Murder on Edisto is highly recommended. The crossovers with Carolina Slade (specifically Dying on Edisto, Salkehatchie Secret, and Badge of Edisto) enrich the world-building but are not strictly mandatory to understand the core Edisto plotlines.