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High Desert Cozy Mystery Books in Order

17 Books
2015 – 2022 Published
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Reading order

The Recommended Reading Order for High Desert Cozy Mystery

For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the High Desert Cozy Mystery series in its publication order. While each installment features a self-contained murder mystery that is fully resolved by the end of the book, the overarching character arcs, personal relationships, and professional developments unfold chronologically. Watching Marty Morgan transition from a newly divorced newcomer rebuilding her life in the California desert to establishing a thriving antique appraisal business and finding romance with local detective Jeff Combs is a key charm of the series.

High Desert Cozy Mystery Books in Order

Here is the chronological publication order of the standalone novels in the High Desert Cozy Mystery series:

  1. Murder & The Monkey Band (2015) – Newly divorced antique appraiser Marty Morgan moves to the California desert to live with her sister, only to find herself investigating a murder involving antique porcelain figurines.
  2. Murder & The Secret Cave (2015) – Marty investigates a suspicious death linked to a hidden stash of illegal Native American artifacts.
  3. Murdered by Country Music (2016) – A chef's murder at a desert country music festival sends Marty hunting for clues among musicians and festival-goers.
  4. Murder at the Polo Club (2016) – Marty dives into the high-society world of Palm Springs polo to uncover a killer.
  5. Murdered by Plastic Surgery (2017) – The high-stakes world of cosmetic surgery and vanity becomes the backdrop for Marty's fifth murder investigation.
  6. Murder and Mega Millions (2018) – Greed turns deadly when a local lottery winner is murdered, leaving a massive list of potential suspects.
  7. Murder and the Museum (2018) – A web of art theft and murder tangles Marty's appraisal work at a local desert museum.
  8. Murder in Palm Springs (2019) – Marty and Detective Jeff Combs investigate a murder set among the luxurious estates of Palm Springs.
  9. The Money Club (2019) – A mystery focusing on high-finance schemes, secret investments, and deadly greed.
  10. Murder and High Rollers (2019) – The search for a killer leads Marty into the flashy world of high-stakes desert casinos.
  11. Murder at the Dog Show (2020) – Marty investigates a crime at a local dog show, showcasing canine subcultures.
  12. Murdered Mogul (2020) – Marty inspects the suspicious death of a wealthy business magnate surrounded by corporate secrets.
  13. Murdered Mayor (2020) – Local politics turn deadly, forcing Marty and Jeff to work quickly to solve the mayor's murder.
  14. The Secret (2021) – Now married to Jeff, Marty helps a close friend who is facing anonymous, life-threatening threats.
  15. The Mysterious Detective (2021) – A routine art and book collection appraisal reveals a hidden note and a trail of stolen masterpieces.
  16. Murder in New York (2022) – Marty takes her sleuthing talents out of the California desert and onto the busy streets of New York City.
  17. Murder in Sunrise Park (2022) – Marty returns to California to solve a complex mystery in the peaceful setting of Sunrise Park.

What to Know Before You Start

The High Desert Cozy Mystery series is written by USA Today bestselling author Dianne Harman. Drawing from her own professional background in antique appraising, Harman brings an authentic level of detail to Marty's investigations. The books are designed to be lighthearted, bloodless whodunits that emphasize community, clever clue-gathering, and cozy tropes rather than gritty violence.

Several recurring elements define the series:

  • The Desert Setting: Set in High Desert, California, just outside Palm Springs, the landscape plays a character of its own, blending stark desert beauty with historic native cultures and high-society polo clubs.
  • Duke: Marty's loyal black Labrador retriever who famously wears pink booties to protect his sensitive paws from the scorching desert sand.
  • Laura: Marty's sister, whose sudden psychic visions provide mysterious clues that help point the investigations in the right direction.
  • Recipes: Reflecting Harman's love of global cuisine, every book concludes with several recipes for dishes cooked or eaten by the characters in the story.

Understanding the Omnibus and Box Set Numbering

If you look up the series on websites like Fantastic Fiction, you might notice that Murder in New York is labeled as Book 19 and Murder in Sunrise Park as Book 20. This discrepancy is due to the inclusion of Dianne Harman's omnibus collections and box sets in some database numbering systems. Specifically, the collections High Desert Cozy Mysteries (2016), High Desert Super Series (2018), and High Desert Cozy Mysteries Superseries (2021) are sometimes counted as distinct entries. However, there are only 17 standalone novels in the primary series, which are listed above.

Spin-offs and Crossovers

Although Dianne Harman is incredibly prolific and has written multiple cozy mystery series—including the Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery series (featuring Kelly and her dog Rebel) and the Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery series—the High Desert Cozy Mystery books do not feature any formal crossovers or cameos. Each series exists in its own separate, cozy universe, making the High Desert series a fully self-contained experience that you can read from beginning to end without needing to track down external companion novels.

Frequently Asked

QCan the High Desert Cozy Mystery books be read out of order?

While each book features a standalone murder mystery that is solved by the end, it is recommended to read them in order. Marty's romance with Detective Jeff Combs, her sister's psychic developments, and her antique appraising career progress chronologically across the series.

QWho is the main character in the High Desert Cozy Mystery series?

The main protagonist is Marty Morgan, a recently divorced art and antique appraiser who moves to California's High Desert to live with her sister and ends up solving local murders.

QWhy does the dog in the High Desert series wear pink booties?

Duke, Marty's black Labrador, wears pink booties to protect his paws from the blistering heat of the desert sand and hot pavement in Palm Springs.

QDoes the series contain recipes?

Yes, author Dianne Harman includes custom recipes at the end of each book. These recipes highlight dishes that Marty and other characters eat during the course of the mystery.

QWhy do some sites list 20 books in the series instead of 17?

Some databases include Dianne Harman's omnibus editions and boxed sets (like the High Desert Super Series) as separate numbered entries, which inflates the book count even though there are only 17 standalone novels.

QAre there crossovers with Dianne Harman's other series?

No. While Dianne Harman has written other popular cozy mysteries like the Cedar Bay and Liz Lucas series, the High Desert Cozy Mystery series is self-contained with no formal crossovers.