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Maggie Newberry Mysteries Books in Order

28 Books
2001 – 2021 Published
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How to Read the Maggie Newberry Mysteries

For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the Maggie Newberry Mysteries in publication (and chronological) order. Unlike some cozy mystery series where books can be read in any order with minimal continuity issues, Maggie Newberry's life undergoes significant chronological changes. Over the course of the series, Maggie transitions from an advertising copywriter visiting France into a full-time expat, wife, and mother. Her relationship with Laurent Dernier, her integration into French village life, and the growth of her family are major narrative threads that develop sequentially. Skipping around will lead to major spoilers regarding her family status and personal life.

Recommended Starting Point

The absolute best place to start is the very first novel, Murder in the South of France (originally published as Murder on the Côte d'Azur). This book introduces Maggie, explains why she travels to Cannes, and establishes her initial encounter with Laurent. Attempting to start later in the series will leave readers confused about the couple's history and how Maggie ended up residing in the fictional Provençal village of St-Buvard.

Maggie Newberry Mysteries Reading Order

Below is the complete list of books in the Maggie Newberry series. This order details both the numbered novels and the chronological placement of the holiday novellas and short stories, which add festive context to the ongoing lives of the characters.

  1. Murder in the South of France (Book 1 / originally Murder on the Côte d'Azur) (2010)
  2. Murder à la Carte (Book 2 / originally Toujours Dead) (2010)
  3. Murder in Provence (Book 3) (2011)
  4. Murder in Paris (Book 4) (2013)
  5. Murder in Aix (Book 5) (2013)
  6. Murder in Nice (Book 6) (2014)
  7. Murder in the Latin Quarter (Book 7) (2016)
  8. Murder in the Abbey (Book 8) (2016)
  9. Murder in the Bistro (Book 9) (2016)
  10. A Provençal Christmas (Novella / insert between Books 9 and 10) (2016)
  11. Murder in Cannes (Book 10) (2017)
  12. Murder in Grenoble (Book 11) (2018)
  13. Murder in the Vineyard (Book 12) (2018)
  14. A Thanksgiving in Provence (Novella / insert between Books 12 and 13) (2018)
  15. Murder in Arles (Book 13) (2019)
  16. Murder in Marseille (Book 14) (2019)
  17. Murder in Saint-Rémy (Book 15) (2019)
  18. Murder à la Mode (Book 16) (2020)
  19. Murder in Avignon (Book 17) (2020)
  20. Murder in the Lavender (Book 18) (2021)
  21. Murder in Mont St-Michel (Book 19) (2021)
  22. Murder in the Village (Book 20) (2022)
  23. Murder in St-Tropez (Book 21) (2022)
  24. Murder in Grasse (Book 22) (2023)
  25. Murder in Monaco (Book 23) (2023)
  26. Murder in the Villa (Halloween short story / insert between Books 23 and 24) (2023)
  27. Murder in Montmartre (Book 24) (2024)
  28. Murder in Toulouse (Book 25) (2024)
  29. Murder in Metz (Book 26) (2025)
  30. Murder in Cassis (Book 27) (2025)
  31. Murder in the Luberon (Book 28) (2026)
  32. Murder in the Chateau (Book 29) (2026)
  33. Murder in the Market (Book 30) (2026)
  34. Murder in Reims (Book 31) (Upcoming)
  35. Murder in the Cathedral (Book 32) (Upcoming)

Understanding Alternate Titles and Formatting

Readers should note that the first two books in the series were initially published under different names. Murder on the Côte d'Azur was later repackaged and retitled as Murder in the South of France to match the formatting of subsequent books. Similarly, the second book, Toujours Dead, was re-released under the name Murder à la Carte. When buying or borrowing, verify that you are not accidentally purchasing the same story twice under different titles.

Spin-offs and Companion Series

Susan Kiernan-Lewis has built a rich universe of cozy mysteries set in France. While the Maggie Newberry series remains her flagship, fans of expat amateur sleuths will also enjoy her Claire Baskerville Mysteries (also known as the An American in Paris series). This series follows Claire Baskerville, a widowed American with face blindness (prosopagnosia) who runs a private investigation business for expats in Paris. Though there are no direct character crossovers, the series shares the same immersive French atmosphere, light-hearted tone, and mystery elements as Maggie's adventures.

What to Know Before You Start

The series is heavily grounded in the local culture, cuisine, and scenery of France. Expect frequent descriptions of traditional Provençal foods, regional wines, and expat adjustments. The mysteries are generally light and cozy, though they sometimes touch on darker historical secrets, such as World War II events in the local region. Since the books follow a continuous timeline, reading them in order ensures you can fully appreciate Maggie's personal growth and changing family dynamics.

Frequently Asked

QCan the Maggie Newberry books be read as standalones?

While individual murder mysteries are solved in each book, it is highly recommended to read the series in order. The overarching plot, including Maggie and Laurent's relationship and family development, is strictly chronological and contains major spoilers if read out of order.

QWhat are the original titles of the first two books?

Book 1, Murder in the South of France, was originally published as Murder on the Côte d'Azur. Book 2, Murder à la Carte, was originally titled Toujours Dead.

QAre the holiday novellas necessary to the main plot?

No, holiday novellas like A Provençal Christmas and A Thanksgiving in Provence are optional companion stories. However, they are chronologically set between specific main novels and offer fun, festive snapshots of the characters' lives.

QWho writes the Maggie Newberry Mysteries?

The series is written by Susan Kiernan-Lewis, a USA Today bestselling author who lived in France during her childhood and has a background in advertising copy-writing, much like her protagonist.

QWhere is the series primarily set?

The series is primarily set in the fictional village of St-Buvard in Provence, France, though Maggie frequently travels to other French locations like Paris, Nice, Cannes, and Mont St-Michel.

QIs there a spin-off series to Maggie Newberry?

While not a direct spin-off, the author's Claire Baskerville Mysteries (An American in Paris) shares a similar expat-in-France mystery theme and is highly recommended for fans of Maggie Newberry.