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series Reading Order

Fear Familiar Books in Order

19 Books
1989 – 2017 Published
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Reading order

How to Read the Fear Familiar Series

The Fear Familiar series, penned by Carolyn Haines under her pen name Caroline Burnes, is a unique blend of cozy mystery and romantic suspense. The books are anchored by a highly intelligent, cream-loving black cat named Familiar, who has a knack for getting humans out of dangerous scrapes and pushing them into romantic partnerships. Because the series was published over nearly two decades by Harlequin Intrigue, keeping track of the complete list can be tricky, especially with anthologies and digital reissues modifying the order in some lists.

The Recommended Reading Order

While each book features a self-contained mystery and a different central human couple, it is highly recommended to read the series in publication order. Familiar’s own backstory—starting from his escape from a university research lab in the first book, his adoption by Eleanor Duncan and Peter Curry, and his growing reputation as a feline sleuth—develops sequentially across the books. Reading them in order ensures you don't miss the subtle evolution of Familiar's recurring human contacts and his own witty, sardonic perspective on human behavior.

The Complete Publication Order

  1. Fear Familiar (1990) – The book that started it all. Eleanor Duncan rescues a black cat from a parking lot, uncovering a CIA conspiracy and finding love with veterinarian Peter Curry.
  2. Too Familiar (1993) – Familiar travels to help a woman wrongfully accused of murder.
  3. Thrice Familiar (1993) – A historic estate mystery. Note: The local database lists this as book 19 (published in 2017) due to a digital reissue, but it is historically the third book in the series.
  4. Shades of Familiar (1994) – Set in New Orleans, this story blends horse training and detective work with a touch of Southern gothic.
  5. Familiar Remedy (1994) – Familiar visits a wellness retreat to investigate suspicious deaths.
  6. Familiar Tale (1995) – Reporter James Tenet and Jennifer Barkley investigate a kidnapping scandal.
  7. Bewitching Familiar (1995) – A Halloween-themed mystery involving a family curse.
  8. Familiar Heart (1997) – Set in the Southern marshes, featuring a biologist and a high-stakes rescue.
  9. Familiar Fire (1998) – Sheriff Kate McArdle and fire chief Jake Johnson team up to solve arson cases.
  10. Familiar Valentine (1999) – Dan Carson and Celeste Levert investigate a charity event disappearance. Note: This title is missing from some partial series lists.
  11. Familiar Stranger (1999) – Originally published in the After Dark anthology alongside Rebecca York, this story follows Molly Lynch's search for her son's father and their kidnapped child.
  12. Familiar Christmas (1999) – A festive holiday mystery set in a snowbound cabin.
  13. Familiar Obsession (2000) – Familiar protects a woman on the run from a persistent stalker.
  14. Familiar Lullaby (2001) – A baby is left in Familiar's care, leading two investigators to team up.
  15. Familiar Mirage (2002) – The feline detective heads to a desert landscape to solve a hot case.
  16. Familiar Oasis (2002) – A companion piece to the desert adventure, continuing the Middle Eastern mystery theme.
  17. Familiar Double (2003) – Nicole Paul, a stuntwoman framed for a jewel heist, teams up with Jax McClure and Familiar.
  18. Familiar Pursuit (2004) – Published in The Truth About Cats & Dogs anthology, where Familiar works alongside other famous literary pets.
  19. Familiar Texas (2005) – A western-flavored romance and crime-solving adventure.
  20. Familiar Escape (2006) – Molly Harper and Thomas Lakewood search for a kidnapped baby with Familiar guiding their way.
  21. Familiar Vows (2009) – A wedding-themed mystery where Familiar plays matchmaker under high pressure. Note: Sometimes listed as 2008 due to copyright dates.
  22. Familiar Showdown (2009) – The final adventure in the original Harlequin Intrigue run, concluding Familiar's major investigative arcs.

Chronological and Order Caveats

While the publication order is the safest path, readers should watch out for database discrepancies. Because several books were originally released as part of Harlequin multi-author anthologies (such as After Dark in 1999 and The Truth About Cats & Dogs in 2004), they are occasionally left off standard lists or counted as standalone novellas. Furthermore, digital reissues—such as the 2017 re-release of Thrice Familiar—frequently cause automated lists to place older books at the very end of the series. Always check the original publication year rather than reissue dates to maintain chronological continuity.

Spin-Offs and Companion Works

Under the same pseudonym Caroline Burnes, the author wrote the Legend of Blackthorn duology (consisting of Babe in the Woods and Rider in the Mist, both published in 2003). While these share the author's trademark blend of romantic suspense and cozy mystery, they are set in a different continuity and do not feature Familiar the cat. If you are looking for more feline sleuths by the same author, you should check out Carolyn Haines's major cozy mystery series under her real name, featuring Sarah Booth Delaney and her hound dog, which captures a similar Southern charm and lighthearted mystery tone.

What to Know Before You Start

Because the series began in 1990 and ran through 2009, readers should prepare for a nostalgia trip. The early books feature classic 90s technology, payphone calls, and period-typical gender dynamics that reflect category romance of the era. However, the charm of Familiar—with his sardonic internal monologues, demands for half-and-half cream, and constant exasperation with slow-witted humans—remains timeless and continues to delight cozy mystery fans today.

Frequently Asked

QDo I need to read the Fear Familiar books in order?

While the romantic mysteries in each book are self-contained and feature different couples, it is best to read them in publication order. Familiar's own backstory, starting with his escape from a lab in the first book, builds across the series.

QWhy do some reading lists show only 19 books instead of 22?

Some lists omit the books that were originally published in multi-author anthologies, such as Familiar Stranger (published in After Dark, 1999) and Familiar Pursuit (published in The Truth About Cats & Dogs, 2004), or miss entries like Familiar Valentine.

QWho is the author Caroline Burnes?

Caroline Burnes is a pseudonym used by the prolific cozy mystery and Southern fiction author Carolyn Haines, who is also well-known for her Sarah Booth Delaney mystery series.

QIs Thrice Familiar the final book in the series?

No. Although some digital retail sites and databases list Thrice Familiar under a 2017 publication date, it was originally published in 1993 as the third book in the series. The final book in the series is Familiar Showdown (2009).

QAre there any spin-offs featuring Familiar the cat?

There are no direct spin-offs featuring Familiar. However, the author wrote a two-book romantic suspense series called the Legend of Blackthorn under the same pseudonym, and writes the Sarah Booth Delaney mysteries under her real name, Carolyn Haines.