The Recommended Reading Path for Gertie Johnson
For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to follow the publication order of the series. Because the character relationships—particularly the ongoing battle of wits between Gertie and her sheriff son, Blaze—evolve from book to book, starting at the beginning prevents minor spoilers and lets you appreciate the slow-burn charm of their small-town dynamics.
Your starting point should always be the award-winning debut, Murder Passes the Buck. This novel sets the stage, introducing Gertie, her man-hungry best friend Cora Mae, and her word-of-the-day-obsessed buddy Kitty. From there, you can follow the chronological progression of the seasons and mysteries through the Upper Peninsula's woods and snowy roads.
What to Know Before You Start
Deb Baker's series is heavily rooted in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P.) culture, with locals affectionately known as "Yoopers." The books are celebrated for their affectionate and humorous depiction of this unique region, featuring snowmobiles, pasties, and plenty of local slang. Unlike darker thriller series, Gertie's adventures focus on amateur sleuthing, senior empowerment, and laugh-out-loud comedy rather than hard-boiled forensics.
Gertie herself is a breath of fresh air for cozy mystery fans. At 66, she is stubborn, independent, and completely refuses to act like a stereotypical grandmother. Whether she is impersonating the FBI, dodging her son's attempts to confiscate her keys, or wielding a can of pepper spray, Gertie proves that adventure and crime-solving have no age limit.
Yooper Mysteries in Publication and Chronological Order
Since the storyline follows a linear path, the chronological order matches the publication sequence. The series consists of five full-length novels, three novellas, a holiday short story, and a companion cookbook.
1. Murder Passes the Buck (2006)
The debut novel that started it all. When Gertie's neighbor Chester is found shot dead in his hunting blind, local sheriff Blaze (Gertie's son) rules it a tragic accident. Gertie, refusing to let it go, launches her own investigation alongside Kitty and Cora Mae.
2. Murder Grins and Bears It (2007)
Set during the local bear hunting season, the stakes get personal when a game warden is murdered near the tree stand of Gertie's grandson, Little Donny. When Donny goes missing in the deep U.P. backwoods, Gertie heads into the forest to find him.
3. Murder Talks Turkey (2008)
A credit union robbery goes bizarrely wrong. Despite multiple witnesses, the stolen loot completely vanishes into thin air. Gertie, Cora Mae, and Kitty team up to sniff out the money and the culprit.
4. Cooking Can Be Murder: A Gertie Johnson Cookbook (2010)
This companion book features 100 recipes tied to the characters, including "Cora Mae's Hot and Heavy Manly Sandwich" and "Kitty's Drop Dead Desserts." It serves as a fun, optional companion to read after the third novel.
5. Murder Bites the Bullet (2011)
Originally published as a standalone e-novella, this story follows Gertie as she gets mixed up in another localized mystery in the Upper Peninsula. It was later collected in the omnibus edition Murder Comes in Threes.
6. Murder Trims the Tree (2011)
A festive holiday novella. Gertie is sentenced to community service at a local assisted living home, but the holiday cheer quickly turns deadly when a suspicious death occurs on the premises.
7. Murder Begins at Home (2012)
In this novella, Gertie has to deal with her 92-year-old mother-in-law, who is writing a secret manual on how to control husbands. When a local resident goes missing and is found next to a corpse, Gertie is back on the case.
8. Murder Decks the Halls (2015)
A quick holiday-themed short story featuring Gertie and her partners-in-crime finding themselves in the middle of festive mischief and lighthearted mystery.
9. Murder Goes to the Dogs (2016)
The fifth and final full-length novel in the main series. Gertie once again finds herself investigating a local murder despite the loud protests and interference of her son, Blaze.
Spin-offs and Co-Authored Works
While Gertie Johnson's story concludes with Murder Goes to the Dogs, fans of Deb Baker's cozy, humorous writing style can explore her work under her pen name, Hannah Reed. Under this name, she wrote the popular Queen Bee Mystery series (starting with Buzz Off) and the Scottish Highlands Mystery series (starting with Off Kilter), which carry the same warm humor and eccentric character work that made Gertie a fan favorite.