The Recommended Jerry McNeal Reading Order
Sherry A. Burton’s Jerry McNeal series is highly episodic, meaning the books build directly on one another. The characters grow, relationships evolve, and Jerry’s understanding of his psychic abilities deepens with each installment. Because of this continuous character development, we strongly recommend reading the books in publication order, which also serves as the chronological storyline order.
Here is the complete reading order for the Jerry McNeal books:
- Always Faithful (2016) – Introduces Pennsylvania State Trooper Jerry McNeal, whose psychic premonition leads him into a snowstorm where he is assisted by the ghost of a German Shepherd K-9 named Gunter.
- Ghostly Guidance (2022) – Jerry struggles to accept his supernatural gifts while racing to protect a psychic medium named Savannah.
- Rambling Spirit (2022) – Jerry and Gunter travel to Louisville during the Kentucky Derby to prevent a tragedy involving a police officer.
- Chosen Path (2022) – Jerry begins to accept his role as a bridge between the living and the dead.
- Port Hope (2022) – A paranormal investigation takes Jerry to the scenic shores of Port Hope, Michigan.
- Cold Case (2022) – Gunter helps Jerry uncover long-buried secrets to solve an old, forgotten crime.
- Wicked Winds (2022) – Jerry faces a stormy mystery where nature and the supernatural collide.
- Mystic Angel (2022) – Set in Mystic, Connecticut, Jerry and Gunter search for a missing child with the help of local spirits.
- Uncanny Coincidence (2022) – A series of seemingly random events turn out to be deliberate spectral clues.
- Chesapeake Chaos (2022) – A trip to the Chesapeake Bay results in chaotic supernatural encounters.
- Villages Shenanigans (2022) – Jerry and Gunter head to the massive retirement community of The Villages, Florida, for a lighter, humorous mystery.
- Special Delivery (2023) – A mystery surrounding a package containing secrets from the past.
- Spirit of Deadwood (2023) – The first full-length novel in the series, which takes Jerry to the historic and heavily haunted town of Deadwood, South Dakota.
- Star Treatment (2023) – Jerry deals with high-profile spirits and glitzy drama.
- Merry Me (2024) – Holiday cheer meets ghostly investigations as Jerry's relationship with April progresses.
- Hidden Treasures (2024) – Jerry searches for lost items and the spirits attached to them.
- Company Business (2024) – Jerry and April head to Florida to help April cope with the emotional weight of constant spirit visitations.
- Dearly Departed (2025) – A cruise-ship mystery where Jerry and April try to get married while helping a spirit protect his widow from a catfishing scam.
- Family Ties (2026) – Following a move to Sandusky, Michigan, Jerry investigates a mysterious agency and takes a road trip to Hampton Roads.
- Maine Event (July 2026) – A full-length novel set in Belfast, Maine, focusing on a new paranormal mystery.
What to Know Before You Start
The Jerry McNeal series is a unique blend of paranormal cozy mystery, police procedural, and supernatural drama. Unlike traditional, gritty detective novels, these stories focus on heart, humor, and the incredible bond between a trooper and his spectral dog. The series is written in a clean, accessible style, making it a comfortable read for mystery lovers of all ages.
Jerry McNeal is a relatable protagonist who struggles with PTSD from his time in the Marines, giving the series a grounded emotional core. His partner Gunter is a standout character, providing both comic relief and invaluable assistance in solving cases. April, a woman who shares a deep connection with Jerry, also becomes a major part of his journey as the series progresses.
The Novella Format vs. Full-Length Novels
Most of the books in the Jerry McNeal series are written as novellas, which Sherry A. Burton calls "Paranormal Snapshots." They are designed to be fast-paced, episodic stories that you can read in a single sitting—much like watching an hour-long television drama. Each novella runs roughly 28,000 words (around 120 to 150 pages).
However, the series also features full-length novels. Spirit of Deadwood (Book 13) was the first full-length novel in the series, expanding the narrative to over 300 pages. The upcoming twentieth book, Maine Event, is also a full-length novel, allowing readers to spend more time immersed in Jerry and Gunter's world.
The 2016 to 2022 Publication Gap
New readers often notice a significant gap between the release of the first book, Always Faithful (originally published in 2016 as That Feeling), and the second book, Ghostly Guidance, which came out in 2022.
Burton originally intended the first book to be a standalone novella. In her original draft, Gunter was only meant to appear briefly. However, due to overwhelming reader feedback and a fondness for the characters, Burton decided to expand the concept into an ongoing series, launching the subsequent books rapidly starting in 2022.
Can the Jerry McNeal Books Be Read as Standalones?
While each book features a self-contained mystery that is resolved by the final page, we do not recommend reading them out of order. The overarching narrative—including Jerry's acceptance of his psychic powers, his evolving romance with April, and the changes in his law enforcement career—progresses chronologically. Starting in the middle of the series will spoil previous plot points and make Jerry's personal growth harder to appreciate.