Recommended Reading Path for Edna Davies Mysteries
For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the Edna Davies Mysteries in their original publication order. Because the books follow a single chronological timeline, Edna's family dynamics, relationships, and personal life progress significantly from one book to the next. Reading them in sequence allows you to fully appreciate the character growth of Edna, her husband Albert, her children, and her quirky neighbor Mary, while avoiding major spoilers about her family's status.
The Complete Edna Davies Mysteries Book List
Although some online retailer listings and databases are incomplete or contain numbering errors, the complete series consists of nine novels. Below is the definitive chronological and publication order:
- Murder by Yew (2009): The book that starts it all. Edna Davies becomes the prime suspect when her handyman dies of taxine (yew) poisoning. To clear her name, she must utilize her deep herbal knowledge to uncover a decades-old disappearance.
- Murder by Proxy (2011): Edna travels from Rhode Island to Colorado to support her son, only to find herself entangled in a web of digital fraud, corporate deception, and murder.
- Murder by Mishap (2012): Back home in Rhode Island, the discovery of an antique heirloom brooch sparks a deadly mystery, forcing Edna to dig into local historical secrets.
- Murder by Christmas (2013): A festive but suspenseful holiday mystery. While a massive winter storm threatens to strand her children in Colorado, Edna is drawn into a localized crime close to home.
- Murder by Arrangement (2015): Edna's granddaughter befriending the daughter of a primary murder suspect causes complications. Old rumors resurface, placing Edna in the middle of a delicate investigation.
- Murder by Decay (2016): When Edna's dentist becomes the prime suspect in a new killing, she is prompted to investigate a cold case stretching back over a decade.
- Murder by Exercise (2019): Edna investigates a suspicious death connected to a local Rhode Island fitness club, proving that danger can lurk in the most health-conscious environments.
- Murder by Invite (2021): Juggling wedding plans, Edna faces her most personal challenge yet when her husband Albert is accused of murder at a professional medical conference.
- Murder by Stealth (2023): In the final installment of the series, Edna returns to Colorado to visit her youngest son and daughter-in-law, only to get wrapped up in a case involving a dentist, a stray terrier, and dangerous secrets.
Understanding the Chronological and Publication Flow
Unlike some complex mystery series with prequels or disjointed timelines, the chronological order of the Edna Davies Mysteries perfectly mirrors its publication order. The main narrative continuity begins with Edna as a newly settled retiree in Rhode Island, moves through her various family visits and local investigations, and culminates in the events of Murder by Stealth. Skipping around will not prevent you from understanding the individual mystery puzzles, but it will significantly disrupt the subplots regarding her children's marriages, her granddaughter's growth, and her husband's career milestones.
Important Reading Caveats & List Discrepancies
If you search for the series on major online retail platforms, you may notice that some lists jump from Book 6 (Murder by Decay) directly to Book 9 (Murder by Stealth), or omit Book 7 (Murder by Exercise) and Book 8 (Murder by Invite) entirely. This mismatch is due to distribution gaps and formatting issues on electronic bookstore databases. Rest assured that the correct list includes all nine books in the order presented above, and reading them in this sequence prevents confusing gaps in Edna's family timeline.
Rhode Island Coastal Charm vs. Colorado Mountains
The series is defined by its two main geographic settings, which reflect the life of author Suzanne Young, a Rhode Island native who lived much of her later life in Colorado. The division of settings provides a refreshing change of pace for readers:
- The Rhode Island Settings: The majority of the series—including Murder by Yew, Murder by Mishap, Murder by Christmas, Murder by Arrangement, Murder by Decay, and Murder by Exercise—takes place in a cozy coastal Rhode Island town. These books feature small-town dynamics, local gossips, and coastal New England atmosphere.
- The Colorado Settings: In Murder by Proxy and Murder by Stealth, Edna travels to Colorado to visit her son and daughter-in-law. These entries showcase the rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains and introduce a slightly different set of local characters.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into the series, there are a few important elements to keep in mind to set your expectations:
The "Two Suzanne Youngs" Confusion
It is vital for readers to distinguish between the two authors publishing under the name Suzanne Young. The author of the Edna Davies Mysteries is Suzanne Young (1945–2023), a former computer programmer, Rhode Island native, and Denver Woman's Press Club member who specialized in cozy mysteries. The other Suzanne Young is a highly popular author of Young Adult (YA) dystopian fiction, best known for The Program series. Be sure you are looking at the cozy mystery catalog when purchasing your next read.
Tone and Sleuthing Style
The Edna Davies Mysteries belong firmly to the classic cozy mystery subgenre. You will not find graphic violence, gore, or strong language in these pages. Instead, the focus is on intellectual puzzle-solving, community relationships, and Edna's signature herbal lore. As an herbalist, Edna frequently uses her knowledge of plants, poisons, remedies, and botany to decode clues that traditional police officers miss, making her character a contemporary nod to Agatha Christie's Miss Marple.
Spin-Offs and Companion Works
There are no direct spin-offs, short story collections, or co-authored books set within the Edna Davies universe. However, if you enjoy Suzanne Young's writing style, you can check out her standalone mystery novel, The Wrong Coat (2018). This book was intended to launch a new series featuring two widows, Beryl Fishen and Nadine Rodd, living in a Colorado retirement community. While it is set in Colorado, it features a completely separate cast of characters and has no narrative ties to Edna Davies.