Recommended Reading Order for the Jake Hines Series
For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the Jake Hines series in publication order. Because the books follow a linear timeline, reading them sequentially allows you to watch Jake's professional progression from a detective to Chief of Detectives, while also following the slow-burn development of his relationship with forensic scientist Trudy Hanson.
Jake Hines Books in Publication and Chronological Order
Since the chronological events of the series match their publication sequence, this list serves as both the release and narrative order for the main novels:
- Triple Play (1997) – Detective Jake Hines is introduced as he tracks down a serial killer who poses victims in vintage baseball uniforms.
- Par Four (1998) – Jake investigates a crime wave that begins with a bar robbery and escalates into a double homicide.
- Five Card Stud (2000) – Set during a freezing Minnesota winter, Jake must solve a mystery involving a frozen corpse and a missing trucker.
- Six-Pound Walleye (2001) – A body is pulled from a lake on the opening day of fishing season, pulling Jake into a web of local secrets.
- Seventh-Inning Stretch (2002) – Jake faces high-stakes pressure when a local high school basketball star goes missing.
- Crazy Eights (2005) – A murder investigation forces Jake to confront a past verdict that continues to haunt him.
- McCafferty's Nine (2007) – Jake untangles a complicated conspiracy after a local conspiracy theorist and radio host is murdered.
- The Ten-Mile Trials (2010) – Jake tackles a suspicious death linked to a regional bicycle race.
- Eleven Little Piggies (2013) – While off-duty, Jake stumbles upon a farmer's body, uncovering a bitter family feud over land and environmental politics.
- Noontime Follies (2014) – An office burglary escalates into the murder of a leading biotech scientist, testing Jake's procedural skills to the limit.
The Jake Hines Novella
- Too Many Santas (2002/2011) – This festive holiday novella follows Jake investigating the disappearance of a department store Santa. It was originally published in the 2002 multi-author anthology How Still We See Thee Lie and later re-released as a standalone e-book in 2011. You can read it at any point after Seventh-Inning Stretch or as a standalone holiday mystery.
What to Know Before You Start
Elizabeth Gunn's series stands out in the crowded police procedural genre due to its vivid setting and strong character development. Rutherford, Minnesota, is a fictional mid-sized city based closely on Rochester in southeast Minnesota. The stark contrast between the icy, brutal Midwestern winters and the warmth of the local community provides a atmospheric backdrop for each mystery.
Jake Hines himself is a unique protagonist. Abandoned in a dumpster as an infant and raised in the foster care system, he is a mixed-race detective whose underdog status and quiet determination make him incredibly relatable. Gunn’s portrayal of police work is grounded and realistic, avoiding sensationalized action in favor of methodical investigation, evidence collection, and realistic team dynamics within the department. While there are no direct spin-offs or crossovers with Gunn's other works, such as her Tucson-based Sarah Burke series, the Jake Hines books offer a satisfyingly self-contained and complete universe.