The Recommended Reading Order
For the absolute best reading experience, you should read the Hat Shop Mystery series in chronological order, which aligns perfectly with its publication order. While each mystery is resolved by the end of its respective book, the recurring characters, their personal histories, and the overarching romantic and professional relationships develop continuously from book to book.
Starting with the first book allows you to experience Scarlett's initial arrival in London, her growing partnership with her cousin Vivian, and the slow-burn romance that blossoms between Scarlett and their business manager, Harrison Wentworth.
Hat Shop Mystery Books in Order
- Cloche and Dagger (2013): Scarlett Parker flees to London after her love life spectacularly collapses online. She joins her cousin Vivian Tremont to help run their late grandmother’s hat shop, Mim’s Whims. However, before she can settle in, a wealthy client who ordered a custom cloche hat is found murdered, and the cousins find themselves at the top of the suspect list. Scarlett must work with the shop's handsome business manager, Harrison Wentworth, to clear their names.
- Death of a Mad Hatter (2014): Business is booming at Mim's Whims, and the cousins are hired to design hats for an Alice in Wonderland-themed tea party. The whimsical event turns deadly when the guest of honor, an eccentric collector of Lewis Carroll memorabilia, is poisoned. Scarlett and Vivian must search through a tea party full of suspects to find the culprit.
- At the Drop of a Hat (2015): Scarlett and Vivian are thrilled to restore a vintage bridal headpiece for a high-profile wedding. The excitement turns to horror when a dead body is discovered in their very own workroom. The cousins must dig through old secrets to discover who left the corpse amidst the lace, silks, and feathers.
- Copy Cap Murder (2016): Harrison Wentworth invites Scarlett and Vivian to a posh Bonfire Night party. The cousins arrive wearing their most creative headwear, but the evening turns dark when they realize the effigy being thrown onto the fire is actually Harrison’s corporate rival. When Harrison becomes the prime suspect, Scarlett goes to great lengths to find the real killer and save the man she is falling for.
- Assault & Beret (2017): Scarlett and Vivian leave London behind for the romantic streets of Paris, where Vivian is teaching a millinery class. Vivian's secondary goal is to track down her estranged husband, Will Graham, to finalize an annulment. But when Will and a rare Renoir painting vanish, Vivian and Scarlett find themselves caught in a dangerous art-world mystery.
- Buried to the Brim (2020): Back in London, Harrison's Aunt Betty is preparing to enter her corgi, Freddy, into a prestigious charity dog show, complete with matching hats from Mim's Whims. When the show's sponsor is found dead after a public clash with Betty, Scarlett steps in as the dog's handler to nose out the true killer.
- Fatal Fascinator (2023): Vivian is cornered into designing headpieces for the wedding of her former design school rival, Piper May. The celebration at a Sussex castle is cut short when the groom is murdered on the wedding eve. Locked down in the castle, Scarlett and Vivian must navigate high-society drama and hidden affairs before the killer strikes again.
The Jenn McKinlay Cozy Universe Crossovers
Jenn McKinlay is famous for hiding delightful Easter eggs and character cameos across her different cozy mystery series. While the Hat Shop Mystery series stands on its own, it shares a loose universe with her Cupcake Bakery Mystery and Library Lover's Mystery series. For example, Vivian's exquisite custom hats are occasionally mentioned or purchased by characters in the Cupcake Bakery books, and Scarlett's parents eventually move to Briar Creek, the setting of the Library Lover's series.
The most significant event for fans occurs in the eighth book of the Library Lover's Mystery series, Death in the Stacks. McKinlay wrote a special crossover scene where the main characters from both the Hat Shop Mystery and the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series visit Briar Creek and interact during a library fundraising dinner, making it a must-read for fans who want to see their favorite sleuths gather in one place.
What to Know Before You Start
The Hat Shop Mystery series is beloved for its rich, atmospheric London setting. Readers get to explore the colorful antique stalls of Portobello Road, the historic streets of Notting Hill, and the wider British countryside. The series balances cozy elements—like descriptions of delicious teas, scones, and the intricate art of hat-making—with clever whodunits that feature multiple suspects and smart red herrings.
Unlike some cozy mysteries where the protagonist is a lone detective, this series focuses heavily on the strong bond of female friendship and family between Scarlett and Vivian. Their contrasting personalities—Scarlett's outgoing, impulsive nature versus Vivian's quiet, artistic reserve—create a wonderful comedic dynamic that drives the story forward.