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Fresh Baked Mysteries Books in Order

16 Books
2006 – 2021 Published
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Reading order

How to Read the Fresh Baked Mysteries in Order

If you love cozy mysteries filled with small-town Texas charm, tight-knit communities, and mouthwatering recipes, Livia J. Washburn’s Fresh Baked Mysteries is a series you need to sink your teeth into. The series follows Phyllis Newsom, a retired schoolteacher who resides in the quaint town of Weatherford, Texas. Alongside a delightful cast of fellow retirees and her close companion Sam Fletcher, Phyllis repeatedly finds herself using her keen mind to solve local homicides—often when her own recipes or friends are under suspicion.

For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the series in publication order. While each mystery functions well as a standalone whodunit, the personal relationships, character growth, and romantic undertones between Phyllis and Sam develop chronologically from book to book. Reading in order also allows you to experience the seasonal progression of local festivals, holidays, and baking competitions that define the atmosphere of Weatherford.

The Complete Reading Order

Here is the recommended reading path for the main novels and short stories in the series:

  1. A Peach of a Murder (2006) – The series debut, where Phyllis competes in the Weatherford Peach Festival, only to have a judge die after tasting her peach cobbler.
  2. Murder by the Slice (2007) – A local high school carnival turns deadly when Phyllis's own carving knife is used as a murder weapon.
  3. The Christmas Cookie Killer (2008) – A festive mystery where a neighbor is found strangled, and Phyllis must find the killer amidst holiday baking.
  4. Killer Crab Cakes (2009) – Phyllis travels to the Gulf Coast for a cooking competition, only to encounter a murder mystery on the shore.
  5. The Pumpkin Muffin Murder (2010) – The autumn season brings a pumpkin festival, a competitive rivalry, and a body in a harvest display.
  6. The Gingerbread Bump-Off (2011) – Phyllis and her friends enter a gingerbread house competition that is quickly ruined by a bitter homicide.
  7. Wedding Cake Killer (2012) – Phyllis prepares a wedding cake for a friend, but the groom becomes the prime target of a killer.
  8. The Fatal Funnel Cake (2013) – A trip to the Texas State Fair takes a dark turn when a competitor in a funnel cake contest is poisoned.
  9. Trick or Deadly Treat (2014) – Halloween treats and tricks lead to a spooky mystery when a local citizen is murdered on Halloween night.
  10. The Candy Cane Cupcake Killer (2015) – A holiday bake sale is threatened by a killer, forcing Phyllis to solve a wintertime mystery.
  11. Baker's Deadly Dozen (2017) – A baking class turns into a crime scene when one of the participants is found dead.
  12. Black and Blueberry Die (2018) – Phyllis finds herself investigating a dark crime when a blueberry-themed event is struck by tragedy.
  13. The Great Chili Kill-Off (2018) – A spicy Texan chili cook-off becomes the stage for a deadly confrontation.
  14. Death Bakes a Pecan Pie (2018) – The holiday season is disrupted by a murder that requires Phyllis's expert sleuthing skills.
  15. The Coconut Bunny Butt Caper (2020) – A delightful Easter short story (considered Book 14.5) where Phyllis helps organize an Easter egg hunt that goes awry.
  16. Never Trifle with Murder (2021) – The sixteenth installment, where a trifle-themed mystery challenges Phyllis and Sam once again.

What to Know Before You Start

The Fresh Baked Mysteries offer a classic cozy experience: low-on-gore, high-on-character, and full of delicious Southern flavor. Here are a few things to keep in mind before you start reading:

  • A Unique Sleuthing Team: Unlike many cozies that feature young women starting over, Phyllis Newsom is a proud retired schoolteacher. She lives with several other retired teachers (Sam, Carolyn, and Eve) in a shared house. This setup creates a wonderful "found family" dynamic, bringing a wealth of life experience and humor to their investigations.
  • The Setting Matters: Weatherford, Texas, is a real town, famous as the "Peach Capital of Texas." Washburn captures the genuine feel of North Texas, incorporating local festivals, climate, and community dynamics into the plots.
  • Recipes Included: If reading about Phyllis's peach cobblers, gingerbread houses, and pecan pies makes you hungry, you're in luck. Livia J. Washburn includes the actual recipes for the dishes featured in the stories at the back of each book.

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start reading the Fresh Baked Mysteries series?

It is best to start with the first novel, A Peach of a Murder (2006). This book introduces Phyllis Newsom, her partner Sam Fletcher, and the town of Weatherford, establishing the core relationships and setting.

QCan the books in the Fresh Baked Mysteries series be read as standalones?

Yes. Every book contains a self-contained mystery that is resolved by the end. However, reading them in order is recommended to fully enjoy the development of the characters' relationships and lives.

QWho is the main character in the Fresh Baked Mysteries?

The series protagonist is Phyllis Newsom, a retired high school teacher living in Weatherford, Texas. She is an expert baker who frequently ends up solving local murder mysteries.

QAre there actual recipes included in the books?

Yes! Author Livia J. Washburn includes recipes at the back of each book for the delicious baked goods and Southern dishes that Phyllis prepares during the stories.

QHow many books are in the Fresh Baked Mysteries series?

The series consists of 16 works, which includes 15 full-length novels and one Easter-themed holiday short story titled The Coconut Bunny Butt Caper.

QWhat is the chronological position of The Coconut Bunny Butt Caper?

This short story was published in 2020 and is set around Easter time. Chronologically, it fits as Book 14.5, taking place between Death Bakes a Pecan Pie and Never Trifle with Murder.