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series Reading Order

Ellie Avery Mystery Books in Order

10 Books
2006 – 2017 Published
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Reading order

Recommended Reading Path for Ellie Avery

For readers looking to dive into the cozy mystery world of Ellie Avery, the recommended reading path is simple and direct: follow the publication order. Because the series timeline directly tracks the real-life progression of Ellie’s family, her moves to different military bases, and the growth of her children, reading the books in order ensures you won’t encounter spoilers regarding her personal life.

The series, also known as the Mom Zone Mysteries, consists of ten full-length novels published between 2006 and 2017. There are no companion novellas, prequel short stories, or split timelines to worry about, making this an exceptionally straightforward series to collect and read from start to finish.

The Ellie Avery Mystery Reading Order

Here is the complete chronological and publication order of the series, starting from Ellie’s very first move to her final case:

  1. Moving Is Murder (2006): Introducing Ellie Avery, an Air Force wife and professional organizer who has just relocated her family from Washington State to the fictional suburban town of North Dawkins, Georgia. While unpacking boxes and dealing with the chaos of a new environment, Ellie discovers that her neighbor’s sudden death was not an accident.
  2. Staying Home Is a Killer (2007): With her husband Mitch deployed, Ellie must balance parenting a toddler, running her home organization business, and investigating the suspicious death of a local mother. This book highlights the unique support systems and stresses of military spouses during active deployments.
  3. Getting Away Is Deadly (2008): A family vacation to an island off the Georgia coast turns into a crime scene. Ellie attempts to take a break from her busy organizing schedule, only to find herself sorting through suspects and secrets when a body is discovered on the beach.
  4. Magnolias, Moonlight, and Murder (2009): Set during the sweltering Georgia summer, Ellie tackles high-society Southern events. When a local designer is murdered, Ellie uses her systematic organizing skills to categorize clues and unmask the killer.
  5. Mint Juleps, Mayhem, and Murder (2010): Ellie dives into local history and community pageantry when she participates in a historic home tour event. A murder among the historic preservation crowd forces her to dig into long-hidden Southern family secrets.
  6. Mimosas, Mischief, and Murder (2011): A wedding celebration brings family drama to the forefront. Ellie has to manage catering disasters, high-stress family dynamics, and a murder that threatens to ruin the big day.
  7. Mistletoe, Merriment, and Murder (2012): Ellie faces the holiday rush in Georgia. Amidst decorating, shopping, and baking, she must clear the name of a friend accused of killing a local holiday festival coordinator.
  8. Milkshakes, Mermaids, and Murder (2013): The Avery family travels to Florida’s Gulf Coast for a relaxing beach getaway. The trip takes a dangerous turn when a simple online eBay transaction embroils Ellie in a web of blackmail and kidnapping.
  9. Marriage, Monsters-In-Law, and Murder (2016): Tensions rise when Ellie’s mother-in-law visits. The family friction becomes the least of Ellie’s problems when a murder occurs close to home, forcing her to investigate while keeping the peace at the dinner table.
  10. Mother's Day, Muffins, and Murder (2017): The final entry in the series finds Ellie volunteering for a Mother’s Day school event in Georgia. When a school-related killing occurs, Ellie uses everything she has learned as a mother and an organizer to solve her final case and bring the series to a satisfying end.

What to Know Before You Start

The Double Hook: Organizing and Military Life

What sets the Ellie Avery series apart in the crowded cozy mystery genre is its authentic depiction of military family life. Author Sara Rosett drew heavily on her own experiences as an Air Force wife, capturing the relocations, the community bonds on base, and the anxiety of spouse deployments. Rather than a static small-town setting, the backdrop of the series moves with the family’s assignments.

Additionally, Ellie’s career as a professional organizer is central to her character. Rosett famously integrated real-world organizing tips at the end of chapters in many of the books. These range from packing strategies for major moves to ideas for managing paper clutter, giving readers practical takeaways alongside the whodunit plots.

Can the Books Be Read as Standalones?

While the mystery in each book is completely resolved by the final chapter, reading them out of order is not recommended. Major life events, such as Ellie’s children growing older, shifts in Mitch’s military assignments, and changes in Ellie’s organizing business (Everything in Its Place), build sequentially. Reading them in sequence allows you to appreciate the organic development of Ellie’s character from an overwhelmed young mother to a confident community leader.

What to Read Next

If you finish the Ellie Avery series and want more of Sara Rosett's writing, she has authored several other successful mystery series that showcase her range:

  • High Society Lady Detective Series: A historical cozy mystery series set in 1920s England, following Olive Belgrave as she solves crimes among the British aristocracy.
  • Murder on Location Series: A contemporary series featuring Kate Sharp, a film location scout who travels to the English countryside and stumbles into local mysteries.
  • On the Run Series: For readers who prefer a faster pace, this romantic suspense series features high-stakes action and globetrotting adventures.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the recommended reading order for the Ellie Avery Mystery series?

You should read the series in publication order, starting with Moving Is Murder. The chronological timeline of the books matches their release dates, following Ellie's family as they grow and relocate.

QAre the Ellie Avery books standalone novels?

The mystery plots are self-contained and resolved in each book, but the overarching family dynamics, military moves, and character growth build from book to book, making it best to read them in order.

QWhy is the series sometimes called the Mom Zone Mysteries?

The series was originally marketed under the Mom Zone Mystery name because Ellie Avery is a young mother who manages childcare and household chores while solving local murders.

QDoes the series contain real organizing tips?

Yes. Because Ellie is a professional organizer, author Sara Rosett included practical organizing tips at the end of chapters, covering topics like decluttering and moving.

QAre there any novellas or short stories in the series?

No. The Ellie Avery series is comprised entirely of ten full-length novels, with no supplemental short stories or holiday novellas.

QWhere is the Ellie Avery series set?

The books are primarily set in Georgia (specifically the fictional town of North Dawkins), but because Ellie is an Air Force wife, the settings occasionally shift to other locations like Florida's Gulf Coast.