How to Read the Fiddler and Fiora Series
The Fiddler and Fiora series follows a strict chronological timeline that matches its publication order. Written by the husband-and-wife team Ann and Evan Maxwell (with Ann better known under her romance pseudonym, Elizabeth Lowell) using the pen name A.E. Maxwell, the series spans eight novels released between 1985 and 1993. The narrative follows the professional and romantic evolution of private investigator Fiddler Flynn and his ex-wife, investment banker Fiora Flynn, making it essential to read the books in order to appreciate their developing relationship.
Fiddler and Fiora Books in Publication and Chronological Order
- Just Another Day in Paradise (1985) – Fiddler helps Fiora's brother escape a deadly international conspiracy involving federal agents and smugglers.
- The Frog and the Scorpion (1986) – The duo is drawn into an Los Angeles extortion scheme that spirals into international Middle Eastern political conflict.
- Gatsby's Vineyard (1987) – A trip to Napa Valley to help Fiddler's former flame reveals a dark plot to destroy prime vineyards using a deadly parasite.
- Just Enough Light to Kill (1988) – Fiddler travels south of the border to investigate the murder of a customs agent who once saved his life, while Fiora faces danger back home.
- The Art of Survival (1989) – Fiddler's solo trip to Santa Fe embroils him in art forgery, tax fraud, and murder surrounding a lost Georgia O'Keeffe painting.
- Money Burns (1991) – Fiora is called in to clean up a bank's money-laundering mess before a federal audit, forcing Fiddler to assist in navigating the criminal fallout.
- The King of Nothing (1992) – A friend's murder leaves Fiddler with a cursed Samurai sword, while Fiora attempts to negotiate a corporate merger in Seattle under threat from the Yakuza.
- Murder Hurts (1993) – The final book sees Fiddler and Fiora diving into the decades-old murder of Fiddler's uncle, taking them from Mexico's criminal underworld to Hollywood's elite.
Where to Start Reading
For the best experience, readers should start with Just Another Day in Paradise. Because the core of the series is the complex, on-again-off-again romantic tension and eventual reconciliation between Fiddler and Fiora, starting at the beginning allows you to see their personal growth and changing dynamic. While the individual mysteries in each book are self-contained and can theoretically be read as standalones, the overarching relationship development serves as the series' true emotional spine.
What to Know Before You Start
The Fiddler and Fiora novels are a unique blend of 1980s hard-boiled detective noir, high-finance thriller, and contemporary romance. The series reflects the combined expertise of its writers: Ann Maxwell's character development and romantic pacing, and Evan Maxwell's background as an investigative crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Readers should expect sharp dialogue, complex financial crimes, international espionage, and a gritty Southern California setting reminiscent of Travis McGee's adventures. Note that because the series was published in the late 1980 and early 1990s, the books reflect the technology, geopolitics (such as the Cold War era), and social dynamics of that timeframe.
Spin-offs, Co-authored Works, and Adaptations
The eight novels listed above constitute the entirety of the Fiddler and Fiora universe. Ann and Evan Maxwell have confirmed via their official website that they have no plans to write further books in this series. While the authors have written numerous other works separately and together—most notably Ann's extensive romance bibliography as Elizabeth Lowell—there are no official spin-offs or direct companion series featuring Fiddler and Fiora. The series has not been adapted for film or television, leaving the original eight books as the complete saga of the detective duo.