The Recommended Reading Path
For readers diving into the Josie Marcus: Mystery Shopper series, the absolute best way to experience the stories is in publication order. Because the series progresses chronologically, each book builds upon the events of the last. Josie's life does not remain static; her tween daughter Amelia grows older, her relationships with her best friend Alyce and her meddlesome mother Jane evolve, and she experiences major personal milestones, including a developing romance and eventual marriage to veterinarian Ted Scottsmeyer. Reading the books out of order will spoil these overarching character arcs and family dynamics.
Josie Marcus: Mystery Shopper Books in Order
Below is the complete list of all ten novels in the series in both their publication and chronological order, along with a look at the retail crimes and personal challenges Josie faces in each installment:
1. Dying in Style (2005)
This is where it all begins. Josie Marcus is a single mother living in Maplewood, Missouri, struggling to make ends meet by working as an undercover mystery shopper. When her highly critical report on an exclusive, high-end handbag boutique leads to the owner's murder, the police tag Josie as their prime suspect. To clear her name and protect her daughter, Amelia, Josie has to use her shopping observation skills to find the real killer.
2. High Heels Are Murder (2006)
Josie's next assignment takes her to a local shoe store where she is tasked with evaluating the customer service. Instead of simple bad service, she discovers a creepy, foot-fetishist salesman who is soon found dead. Once again, Josie is drawn into St. Louis' quirky and sometimes seedy retail underbelly to untangle a web of suspects and save herself from stepping into danger.
3. Accessory to Murder (2007)
When Halley Hardwicke, a hot young designer famous for her expensive Italian silk scarves, is murdered in a mall parking lot, the local police suspect Jake, the husband of Josie's best friend Alyce. Determined to save her friend's marriage and prove Jake's innocence, Josie goes undercover in the high-fashion world to unmask the true culprit behind the designer's death.
4. Murder with All the Trimmings (2008)
In this festive holiday-themed whodunit, Josie is hired to audit a year-round Christmas shop. While evaluating the over-the-top holiday decor and customer service, she stumbles upon a deadly secret. Josie must navigate family drama, holiday shopping chaos, and a killer who wants to make sure Josie doesn't live to see the new year.
5. The Fashion Hound Murders (2009)
Josie is hired to investigate a large pet store suspected of working with unethical puppy mills. As she delves into the world of luxury canine couture, designer dog clothes, and pampering, she discovers a far uglier side to the pet industry. When a murder occurs, Josie has to sniff out the killer before they turn on her.
6. An Uplifting Murder (2010)
Assigned to mystery shop a high-end lingerie boutique, Josie is shocked to find her former high school gym teacher working as the store's manager. The assignment turns sour when Josie's old high school nemesis, the mean-spirited Francine "Frankie" Martin, is found dead in the boutique's restroom. With her old teacher facing murder charges, Josie steps in to find the real culprit.
7. Death on a Platter (2011)
Josie takes a break from fashion and retail to audit St. Louis eateries for a local food tour company. However, the tour stops dead when a customer is poisoned at Tillie's Off the Hill Italian Restaurant. When Tillie, a close friend of Josie's mother Jane, is arrested, Josie and her mother must work together to clear Tillie's name.
8. Murder Is a Piece of Cake (2012)
Wedding bells are in the air as Josie prepares to marry veterinarian Ted Scottsmeyer. Unfortunately, wedding planning becomes a nightmare when Ted's overbearing mother, Lenore, flies in to take charge of the details. Things go from bad to worse when a "bridezilla" who had been stalking Ted is found murdered, and Lenore is arrested. Josie must solve the crime to ensure her wedding goes off without a hitch.
9. Fixing to Die (2013)
Now happily married to Ted, Josie is excited about renovating their new fixer-upper home. They buy a property from Ted's business partner, Christine, which was previously occupied by Christine's sister, Rain, who supposedly left for an ashram. But when they tear down a rickety gazebo in the backyard, they find Rain's body. Christine is arrested, and Josie must investigate to save her husband's veterinary practice from ruin.
10. A Dog Gone Murder (2014)
In the final novel of the series, Josie audits local doggy day care centers. She visits the popular Uncle Bob's Doggy Day Camp and discovers that the celebrity owner is abusive to his staff. When Uncle Bob is murdered and a tenant renting from Josie's mother is arrested, Josie must hunt down the real killer in the pet care community to close out her mystery-shopping adventures.
What to Know Before You Start
Elaine Viets drew heavily on her own real-life experiences working low-wage retail jobs to write the Josie Marcus series, giving the retail audits an authentic, hilarious, and sometimes frustratingly realistic edge. The books are set in Maplewood, a charming suburb of St. Louis, Missouri, which serves as a vibrant backdrop for the mysteries. The tone is lighthearted and cozy, featuring no graphic violence or explicit content, making it perfect for fans of clean, humorous amateur-sleuth mysteries.
Spin-offs and Cross-Series Connections
While there are no direct spin-off series or cross-over novels starring Josie Marcus, readers who enjoy Elaine Viets' writing style will find a similar work-focused theme in her popular Dead-End Job Mystery series. That series features Helen Hawthorne, who goes on the run and takes various low-wage jobs to stay off the grid, offering the same sharp social commentary on modern employment and customer service.