How to Read Jon's Mysteries
Written by A.J. Sherwood, Jon's Mysteries is a beloved paranormal M/M romance and urban fantasy series. The books follow Jonathan Bane, a powerful psychic consultant who works with the Nashville Police Department, and Donovan Havili, the detective who becomes both his professional partner and romantic interest. Unlike traditional psychics who speak to the dead, Jon's unique abilities allow him to perceive magical meridian lines, active spellworks, and human auras, leading to a highly visual and comedic approach to solving crimes.
Because the series features tight continuity, character development, and a major crossover with a sister series, readers will get the best experience by following the chronological storyline. Below, we break down the recommended path, the crossover reading order, and what to expect from each installment.
The Recommended Reading Order
While you can read the core Jon's Mysteries books on their own, they share a universe with another of A.J. Sherwood's series, Mack's Marvelous Manifestations. The characters eventually cross paths in a major collaborative novel. To understand all the character cameos and timeline events, the master reading order is recommended:
- Jon's Downright Ridiculous Shooting Case (Jon's Mysteries #1)
- Jon's Crazy Head-Boppin' Mystery (Jon's Mysteries #2)
- Jon's Spooky Corpse Conundrum (Jon's Mysteries #3)
- Brandon's Very Merry Haunted Christmas (Mack's Marvelous Manifestations #1)
- Mack's Perfectly Ghastly Homecoming (Mack's Marvelous Manifestations #2)
- Mack's Rousing Ghoulish Highland Adventure (Mack's Marvelous Manifestations #3)
- Jon's Boom Shaka Laka Problem (Jon's Mysteries #4)
- Jon and Mack's Terrifying Tree Troubles (Jon's Mysteries #5 / Mack's Marvelous Manifestations #4)
- Alan's Utterly Accidental Dream-Cute (Jon's Mysteries Side Story)
- Jon's Helter Skelter Cold Case (Jon's Mysteries #6)
The Main Series Books Explained
1. Jon's Downright Ridiculous Shooting Case (2019)
This is the essential starting point for the franchise. The book introduces Jonathan Bane, a psychic consultant who is desperately trying to live a quiet life but keeps getting dragged into bizarre police cases. When Nashville detective Donovan Havili is assigned to protect him during a highly unusual shooting investigation, sparks fly. This volume establishes the series' signature blend of low-angst romance, chaotic humor, and unique magic rules.
2. Jon's Crazy Head-Boppin' Mystery (2019)
The second case sees Jon and Donovan officially established as partners in both work and life. The mystery centers on a strange curse or supernatural affliction causing victims to act erratically. Jon must use his ability to read magical meridian lines to find the source of the curse before it affects those closest to him.
3. Jon's Spooky Corpse Conundrum (2019)
In this installment, the stakes get weirder as Jon and Donovan are called to investigate a crime scene that defies natural explanation. The mystery heavily involves ghosts and spiritual energy, laying the groundwork for the psychic concepts that bridge into the crossover books. Character relationships deepen significantly here, making it a crucial read for the overall romance arc.
4. Jon's Boom Shaka Laka Problem (2021)
After a brief chronological gap (during which the first three books of the companion series take place), Jon returns to face a highly explosive case. In addition to dealing with literal explosions, Jon and Donovan must navigate the domestic challenges of their growing bond. This book acts as the direct narrative bridge to the major crossover event.
5. Jon and Mack's Terrifying Tree Troubles (2023)
This is the official fifth book in the Jon's Mysteries lineup and serves as a major crossover event with Mack's Marvelous Manifestations. Jon teams up with Mack, a medium who can actually see and interact with ghosts. Together with their respective partners, they venture into a forest to solve a historical, multi-generational murder mystery. While highly entertaining on its own, reading the preceding Mack books makes the ensemble dynamics much richer.
6. Alan's Utterly Accidental Dream-Cute (2023)
A spinoff novella that takes place shortly after the events of the crossover. It shifts focus away from Jon and Donovan to spotlight Donovan's brother, Alan. When Grant, a sleep-deprived psychic dreamwalker who uses his gifts to find kidnapped victims, desperately needs a grounding anchor, Jon plays matchmaker. Jon realizes Alan's unique energy is the perfect fit. The novella is a lighthearted, low-angst romantic palate cleanser.
7. Jon's Helter Skelter Cold Case (2024)
The sixth main case brings the focus back to Jon and Donovan as they tackle a long-dormant cold case. Using Jon's matured psychic abilities, they sift through decades of old secrets, family drama, and magical residue. The book delivers the familiar mix of cozy romance, family banter, and lighthearted investigation that fans expect from the series.
What to Know Before You Start
The magic system in Jon's Mysteries is highly specific. Jon does not talk to dead people; instead, he views the world through auras, colors, and physical lines of magic. This distinguishes him from traditional paranormal mediums and shapes how he solves crimes. Additionally, readers should note that the series is intentionally written as a low-angst, high-humor romance. The main couple, Jon and Donovan, establish their relationship early on, and subsequent books focus on them working together as a solid, healthy unit rather than relying on relationship drama or miscommunication tropes.
Standalone Status vs. Connected Universe
While each of the main cases features a self-contained mystery that is resolved by the end of the book, the overarching character development, relationship progression, and side character introductions carry over. It is highly discouraged to read these books out of order. If you skip directly to the crossover or the later cases, you will miss important context regarding Jon's family, his psychic limitations, and the progression of his relationship with Donovan.