The Recommended Reading Order for Flight Risk Cozy Mystery
If you love globetrotting adventures, quick-witted banter, and puzzles that span the world's most beautiful destinations, Susan Harper's Flight Risk Cozy Mystery series is the perfect escape. Cozy mysteries thrive on creating comfortable, engaging worlds, and Harper masterfully twists this formula by taking her amateur sleuths out of their typical cozy small towns and sending them on a whirlwind tour of the globe. Following the chaotic but charming investigations of a young flight attendant and a sassy retired senior citizen, this 12-book series bends humor, friendship, and amateur sleuthing into a delightful travelogue of murder.
Because the characters grow closer with each passing adventure and the narrative builds toward a high-stakes finale, the best way to read the Flight Risk Cozy Mystery series is in publication order. This ensures you catch all the character development, inside jokes, and the evolving relationship between the leads as they traverse the globe from London to New York. The timeline of their travels flows chronologically from book to book, meaning events that occur in Kenya directly influence their mindset when they land in Hawaii or Texas.
Flight Risk Cozy Mystery Publication Order
All twelve books in the series were released rapidly between 2018 and 2019, providing a fast-paced reading experience that matches the characters' speedy flights. Here is the complete list of books in their recommended chronological and publication order:
- Murder at Macbeth (2018) – The adventure begins in London, where a layover turns deadly at the historic Globe Theatre.
- A Killing in Kenya (2018) – A thrilling safari trip is interrupted by the murder of a fellow guest.
- Homicide in Hawaii (2018) – Sun, sand, and secrets collide when a surfer's death pulls the duo into danger.
- Trouble in Texas (2018) – A local case in the Lone Star State brings its own brand of dusty mystery.
- Murder in Mississippi (2018) – The duo investigates a puzzling death with a southern blues backdrop.
- An Artful Assassination (2018) – A southern family reunion turns dark when a family member is killed.
- French Fatality (2018) – A European getaway turns tragic with a murder in scenic France.
- Kangaroos and Killings (2018) – An excursion to Australia lands Kendell and Pauline in hot water down under.
- Tailed in Tokyo (2019) – Navigating the neon lights and bustling streets of Japan to track down a killer.
- Iced in Alaska (2019) – An icy mystery unfolds amid the frozen beauty of the Alaskan wilderness.
- Mayhem in Mexico (2019) – A vibrant getaway turns into a race to solve a sunny crime.
- Nabbed in New York (2019) – The action-packed series finale where the sleuths must save Kendell's boyfriend, Jack.
Meet the Sleuthing Duo: Kendell, Pauline, and Dot
At the absolute center of this series is the heartwarming and hilarious multi-generational friendship between its two main protagonists. Susan Harper crafts an 'odd couple' dynamic that feels both authentic and highly entertaining, showing that age is no barrier when it comes to curiosity and courage.
Kendell is a vivacious, young, and fiery flight attendant. Her job gives her the perfect excuse to travel to exotic locales, but her tendency to make bold moves and rush headfirst into danger frequently lands her in hot water. Whether she is sneaking into a local morgue or chasing down suspects, Kendell's youthful energy is the engine of their investigations. However, she often acts before she thinks, requiring a steady hand to keep her grounded.
Pauline is a thrill-seeking, sassy retiree with a deep pocketbook and a passion for globetrotting. Rather than settling down for a quiet retirement, Pauline actively seeks out new thrills. She acts as the perfect foil to Kendell, balancing her partner's rashness with life-earned wisdom, sharp wit, and a purse dog named Dot. Dot, a tiny dog, provides plenty of comedic relief, often barking at the worst possible moments and nearly blowing their cover. Pauline's financial independence also helps fund their various excursions, ensuring that when Kendell gets a layover, Pauline is right there with her, ready to book a luxury suite.
Globetrotting Case Highlights
The series is beloved for its rich, evocative travel elements. Each book features a distinct setting that serves as more than just a backdrop—it shapes the plot, suspects, and atmosphere of the mystery. The author leverages the unique aspects of each culture and location to keep the formula fresh.
The journey kicks off in Murder at Macbeth. While stranded during a layover in London, Kendell and Pauline attend a performance of Shakespeare's Macbeth at the Globe Theatre. When a staged death turns all too real, the two find themselves accused of the crime, forcing them to team up and launch an amateur investigation. From sneaking into morgues to dodging local detectives, this book establishes the fast-paced, humorous tone of the entire series.
The duo next heads to Africa in A Killing in Kenya, where a safari holiday takes a deadly turn, and they must decipher clues under the scorching sun. They swap the savanna for the beaches of Oahu in Homicide in Hawaii, investigating a suspicious surfer death that reveals a web of island secrets. Later in the series, Tailed in Tokyo explores the sparkling modern architecture of Japan, while Iced in Alaska brings a cozy, snowy atmosphere to the table, forcing the duo to stay warm while cracking a chilly case.
Everything builds to the thrilling conclusion, Nabbed in New York. In this high-stakes finale, the action moves to the Big Apple. The mystery hits incredibly close to home when Kendell’s boyfriend, Jack, is targeted by a shadowy conspiracy. Pauline and Kendell must pull out all the stops, using every sleuthing skill they have acquired over their travels, to save Jack and bring the conspiracy to light, offering a highly satisfying resolution to the characters' arcs and celebrating the bond they have formed.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into the Flight Risk Cozy Mystery series, readers should expect a light, fast-paced, and comedic experience. This is not a dark, gritty procedural; the focus is firmly on friendship, laughter, and lighthearted mystery. Here are a few tips to enhance your reading experience:
- A Continuous Journey: While each book contains a self-contained murder mystery that is fully resolved by the end, the relationships and subplots—particularly Kendell's relationship with Jack—carry over. Reading them out of order will spoil who survives, who gets together, and how their travel plans progress.
- Standalone vs. Series: You can technically jump in at any point if you just want a quick mystery set in Tokyo or Hawaii, but you will miss out on the emotional payoff of the duo's evolving friendship and the final showdown in New York.
- Author Bibliography: Susan Harper is a prominent figure in the cozy mystery genre. If you enjoy the style of Flight Risk, she has written several other popular series including the Senoia Cozy Mysteries (co-authored with Stacey Alabaster), Caribbean Cruise Cozy Mysteries, and the Back Room Bookstore Cozy Mysteries, which are featured via her publisher Fairfield Publishing.