The Recommended Reading Path: Where to Start
For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the Jason Lynx series in its original publication order. While each novel presents a self-contained mystery that is resolved by the final page, the underlying character dynamics, personal backstories, and the evolving relationship between Jason Lynx and police detective Grace Willis develop sequentially across the books. Starting from the beginning allows you to watch their partnership grow from professional wariness into a deep romantic and domestic bond.
The Jason Lynx Series in Publication Order
Written between 1989 and 1997, the series consists of six novels. Below is the complete publication order, including plot summaries and alternative titles to help you track down copies:
A Little Neighbourhood Murder (1989)
The series opens with Jason Lynx, a quiet Denver antiques dealer and interior designer with an obsessive passion for solving puzzles. His ordinary life is upended when his neighbors, George and Betty Whitney, are found murdered. Because of his proximity to the crime scene, Jason quickly becomes the prime suspect in the eyes of the police. Rather than panicking, his puzzle-solving instincts kick in. Alongside the capable and dedicated Denver police officer Grace Willis, Jason digs into the Whitneys' seemingly mundane lives—including George's job at a religious radio station—to uncover a sinister secret that someone killed to protect.
Death and the Dogwalker (1990)
Jason's domestic life takes center stage when his dog discovers the body of Fred Foret in a local Denver park. Before long, another body—that of a beautiful woman named Melody Steinwale—is discovered in the exact same park. Unable to resist a complex puzzle, Jason starts putting the pieces together on his own, mapping out the connections between the two victims while navigating his increasingly close relationship with detective Grace Willis.
Death for Old Times' Sake (1992)
This entry carries deep personal stakes for Jason. The mystery is set in motion when Jason finds extortion letters tucked away among the belongings of his late foster father. The trail leads him directly back to his own traumatic, mysterious childhood—including the orphanage where he was left after being badly burned as a toddler. Simultaneously, Jason witnesses the shocking murder of an elderly woman, thrusting him into an investigation involving family legacies and old Denver secrets that put his own life on the line.
Looking for the Aardvark / Dead on Sunday (1993)
Taking a temporary detour from Denver, Jason travels to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to design a house and investigate the murder of Reverend Ernie Quivada. The highly polarizing and unpopular evangelist is found with his throat cut in a desolate desert chapel, positioned in front of a hypnotic painting of the Madonna and Child. The investigation forces Jason to navigate religious zealotry, art-world rivalries, and the victim's estranged family.
Long Time Dead (1994)
Tragedy strikes closer to home when Ron Willis, the brother of Jason's fiancée Grace, is found dead. Ron, who was living with AIDS, was desperately seeking cash before his death. With very few clues to go on besides Ron's personal address book and a mysterious human skeleton uncovered nearby by rescue workers, Jason must tread carefully to solve a murder that deeply affects the woman he loves.
A Death of Innocents (1997)
In the final installment of the series, Jason and Grace are now married and moving into a new home. Their fresh start is disrupted when they discover the skeletal remains of a young girl buried right under their porch. Investigations reveal the girl was assaulted and strangled twenty years prior, during the time the wealthy Monmouth family owned the property. To lay the past to rest, Jason and Grace must unravel the dark, long-hidden secrets of Denver's high society.
Behind the Pseudonym: Who is A.J. Orde?
A.J. Orde was a pseudonym used by the highly acclaimed science fiction and fantasy author Sheri S. Tepper (1929–2016). Best known for her eco-feminist speculative fiction classics like The Gate to Women's Country and the Arbai Trilogy, Tepper used pseudonyms to explore different genres without confusing her core readership. Under the name A.J. Orde, she wrote these six cozy, character-driven whodunits, which are grounded in realistic urban settings. Under the name B.J. Oliphant, she also wrote the Shirley McClintock mystery series, which features a rancher-turned-sleuth in Colorado and New Mexico. She also wrote horror under the name E.E. Horlak.
What to Know Before You Start: Setting, Tone, and Themes
The series is heavily grounded in the local flavor of Denver, Colorado. Tepper's deep familiarity with the city shines through in her detailed descriptions of historic neighborhoods, local parks, and the intricacies of the antique trade. While classified as cozy mysteries, these books carry the sharp social commentary and psychological depth that Tepper was known for in her science fiction, touching on themes of family trauma, religion, class differences, and social responsibility. Readers should expect an intelligent, slow-burn mystery style rather than fast-paced action sequences.