Hetta Coffey Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path

If you want to experience the full, sun-soaked, and delightfully chaotic charm of Hetta Coffey's adventures, there is only one way to go: publication order. While each mystery is largely self-contained and functions as an individual case, Hetta's personal life, her romantic relationship with Jenks Jenkins, her revolving crew of animal companions, and her sailing competency (or lack thereof) evolve continuously. Reading the series in order ensures you do not miss out on character progression, running jokes, and shifting settings.

Hetta Coffey Books in Publication Order

The main series, independently published by Jinx Schwartz, currently consists of sixteen novels. Below is the complete reading order list including the latest releases:

1. Just Add Water (2004) – The novel that started it all and won the National EPPIE for Best Mystery. We meet Hetta Coffey, a single, forty-ish civil engineer who impulsively buys a 45-foot yacht named Raymond Johnson to revitalize her dating prospects, only to stumble into stalkers and dead bodies.
2. Just Add Salt (2006) – Hetta takes a questionable engineering job in Mexico, sailing into the Sea of Cortez where she battles hurricanes, corrupt officials, and local cartels alongside her best friend, Jan.
3. Just Add Trouble (2007) – Looking for rest and relaxation in Mexico, Hetta instead finds herself caught in the crosshairs of scuba diving accidents, fishy projects, and international thieves.
4. Just Deserts (2011) – Hetta trades the water for the sand when she takes a land-locked job in the desert, uncovering a financial conspiracy that keeps her on her toes.
5. Just the Pits (2013) – Back in Baja, Hetta investigates fraud in a mining project, navigating the treacherous waters of corporate greed and local scams.
6. Just Needs Killin' (2014) – A trip to Texas brings Hetta face-to-face with family drama and a local murder mystery that hits close to home.
7. Just Different Devils (2015) – Hetta's engineering career takes her to the San Francisco Bay, but the local politics and suspicious deaths make her wish she was back on the open sea.
8. Just Pardon My French (2016) – Hetta and her yacht cross the Atlantic to navigate the scenic but historically dangerous canals of France, where a peaceful vacation quickly turns into a crime investigation.
9. Just Follow the Money (2017) – Financial fraud and money laundering take center stage as Hetta digs into a complex web of white-collar crime.
10. Just for the Birds (2018) – Hetta tackles exotic animal smuggling, utilizing the help of her loyal dog Po Thang and her loudmouth parrot Trouble.
11. Just a Happy Camper (2019) – Hetta tries out the RV lifestyle, but trading a boat for a camper doesn't stop her from running straight into trouble and mystery.
12. Just on Porpoise (2020) – Marine life conservation and illegal fishing operations pull Hetta back into the Sea of Cortez for an environmental thriller.
13. Just So Wrong (2021) – A tangled web of deceit and local politics in Mexico forces Hetta to make some tough decisions to save a friend.
14. Just Cause (2022) – Hetta investigates a suspicious charity organization, discovering that good intentions can sometimes hide very bad deeds.
15. Just Like That (2023) – A fast-paced mystery that sees Hetta juggling relationship issues, yacht maintenance, and a sudden disappearance.
16. Just Say Neigh! (2024) – The sixteenth and latest installment. Before departing San Diego for Mexico's cruising season, Hetta and her cousin Blue are drawn into a dangerous horse-rustling and smuggling operation spanning the border near Juarez.

The Standalone Thriller Connection: Troubled Sea

In addition to the main mystery series, Jinx Schwartz published a standalone thriller titled Troubled Sea in 2004. Interestingly, this book features Hetta Coffey and Jenks Jenkins as the main characters, but presents them in a different light: they are already married and living aboard their boat in the Sea of Cortez. When they witness a drug deal gone wrong, they are thrust into a high-stakes, intense struggle for survival.

Because Troubled Sea is a gritty suspense thriller rather than a humorous cozy mystery, and because it places the characters in a different stage of life than the early books of the main series, it is best read as a parallel-universe story. We recommend reading it after you have established a love for Hetta and Jenks in the main series, rather than using it as a starting point.

Practical Reader Advice & Starting Points

For the absolute best experience, start with Just Add Water. The humor of Hetta's initial incompetence on the water is a core pillar of the series, and watching her grow into a capable (if still trouble-prone) captain is incredibly rewarding. If you pick up a later book, you might find yourself confused by the large cast of recurring characters, including Jan, cousin Blue, and her beloved pets.

There are no co-authored books in the Hetta Coffey series, and Jinx Schwartz has kept the series highly consistent in tone—often described as "Mae West meets Sam Spade." Before starting, readers should know that the series leans heavily into humor, animal rescue themes, and detailed nautical settings based on the author's real-life experiences living on a boat in Mexico for nearly thirty years.