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Mary O’Reilly Books in Order

37 Books
2 Reading orders
2010 – 2023 Published
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The Recommended Reading Path for Mary O’Reilly

If you are ready to step into the cozy, ghostly town of Freeport, Illinois, the best way to experience the Mary O’Reilly series is by following the publication order. Because the series features long-term character development, evolving relationships, and a shifting family dynamic, reading the books in order ensures you won’t spoil major plot points. Mary’s personal journey—from a former Chicago police officer recovering from a near-death experience to a confident private investigator and family woman—forms the emotional backbone of the series.

However, there are a few chronological exceptions and side stories to keep in mind. Prequels and perspective-shift novels like The Three Wise Guides and Divergent Paths can be enjoyed as companion pieces rather than strict entry points. To help you navigate Mary’s ghostly cases and her expanding family, we have organized the books into their primary series, spin-offs, and festive specials below.

The Main Mary O’Reilly Series in Publication Order

The core series follows Mary as she uses her unique ability to communicate with the dead to solve cold cases and help restless spirits find peace. Here is the complete list of the main series novels in their original publication order:

  • Loose Ends (2010) – The book that started it all. After a near-death experience, Mary O’Reilly leaves the Chicago PD, moves to Freeport, and tackles a cold case involving a drowning and missing girls.
  • Good Tidings (2010) – A heartwarming yet suspenseful Christmas mystery where the ghost of a young boy helps Mary solve a kidnapping.
  • Never Forgotten (2011) – The stakes become highly personal when Mary investigates a case connected to her beau, Police Chief Bradley Alden.
  • Final Call (2011) – Mary takes on a case involving a tragic fire and a spirit seeking justice.
  • Darkness Exposed (2011) – A pivotal, high-stakes installment that concludes with a major cliffhanger, leaving Mary in a coma.
  • Natural Reaction (2011) – Mary recovers from her brush with death and deals with the fallout of the previous book’s dramatic events.
  • Secret Hollows (2012) – A mystery involving local history, secrets, and buried truths in Freeport.
  • Broken Promises (2012) – Mary assists a spirit trapped by unfulfilled vows, balancing romance and danger.
  • Twisted Paths (2012) – A complex investigation that forces Mary to untangle a web of small-town deceit.
  • Veiled Passages (2013) – Ghostly warnings and hidden histories challenge Mary's skills.
  • Bumpy Roads (2013) – Mary faces personal and professional hurdles as her relationship with Bradley deepens.
  • The Three Wise Guides (2013) – A short story published in 2013, frequently categorized as Book 0.5. It works beautifully as a quick prequel look into Mary’s early adjustment to her abilities.
  • Treasured Legacies (2014) – An investigation into family inheritance and long-dead family secrets.
  • Buried Innocence (2014) – One of the more emotional cases in the series, focusing on a cold case involving children.
  • Stolen Dreams (2015) – Mary helps a spirit whose life and goals were cut short.
  • Haunted Tales (2015) – A collection of cases that tests Mary's limits.
  • Deadly Circumstances (2015) – A fast-paced mystery where the living pose just as much danger as the dead.
  • Frayed Edges (2016) – Mary works to mend broken relationships while solving a tragic death.
  • Delayed Departures (2016) – Focused on souls who are refusing to move on, requiring Mary's signature empathy.
  • To All A Good Night (2016) – Another festive mystery blending holiday cheer with paranormal investigations.
  • Old Acquaintance (2017) – Secrets from the past resurface as the new year approaches.
  • Clear Expectations (2017) – Intended as the original emotional finale to the main 20-book arc, weaving together ghost children and Mary's domestic life.
  • Auld Lang Syne (2017) – A festive short story that reflects on the passage of time and family bonds.
  • Breakaway (2020) – Part of the "Mary O'Reilly Lost Files" subseries. This book takes place chronologically during the time Mary was in a coma at the end of Darkness Exposed (Book 5), detailing the adventures her spirit experienced.
  • Hallmarked (2021) – A cozy holiday novella where Mary finds herself trapped inside a trope-filled, made-for-TV holiday romance mystery.
  • Truly Santa (2022) – A charming holiday short story featuring Mary and the Freeport community during Christmas.
  • Divergent Paths (2024) – Subtitled "Bradley’s Story," this novel retells the events of Loose Ends entirely from the perspective of Police Chief Bradley Alden.

Chronological Caveats and Special Order Considerations

While publication order is the easiest path, there are three books that warrant special reading advice if you prefer a chronological flow:

The Prequel: The Three Wise Guides (Book 0.5)

Although published in 2013, this short story is set before the events of Loose Ends. It serves as a great introduction to the tone of the series, but first-time readers should still start with Loose Ends to experience Mary's transition out of police work in full detail. Read this after Book 1 or Book 11 as a nostalgic callback.

The Coma Interlude: Breakaway (The Lost Files)

Because Breakaway occurs while Mary is in a coma at the end of Darkness Exposed (Book 5), chronological purists can read it between Darkness Exposed and Natural Reaction (Book 6). However, because it was published much later in 2020, reading it in publication order (after Book 23) is highly satisfying and fills in long-standing questions without disrupting the narrative tension of the early books.

The Alternate Viewpoint: Divergent Paths (Bradley’s Story)

Do not read Divergent Paths first! While it covers the same timeframe as the very first novel, it relies heavily on the reader's familiarity with Bradley Alden's character development. It is best read as a companion piece after you have finished Loose Ends, or even later in the series when you want to revisit the origins of Mary and Bradley's romance.

Spin-off Series: Tales Around the Jack O'Lantern

For readers who cannot get enough of Freeport's supernatural community, Terri Reid publishes an annual or semi-annual anthology series titled Tales Around the Jack O'Lantern. In these collections, the O'Reilly family, their close friends, and neighbors gather on Halloween night to share ghost stories from their own lives. It provides a deeper look into the secondary characters of the Mary O'Reilly universe. The collections should be read alongside the main series or enjoyed as seasonal autumn treats:

  • Tales Around the Jack O'Lantern (2014)
  • Tales Around the Jack O'Lantern II (2015)
  • Tales Around the Jack O'Lantern III (2016)
  • Tales Around the Jack O'Lantern IV (2017)
  • Tales Around the Jack O'Lantern V (2018)
  • Tales Around the Jack O'Lantern VI (2019)
  • Tales Around the Jack O'Lantern VII (2020)
  • Tales Around the Jack O'Lantern VIII (2021)
  • Tales Around the Jack O'Lantern IX (2022)
  • Tales Around the Jack O'Lantern X (2023)

Expanding the Universe: The Order of Brigid's Cross

If you want to explore the wider paranormal lore established by Terri Reid, you should dive into The Order of Brigid's Cross. This urban fantasy series acts as a direct spin-off, centering on Mary O'Reilly's brother, Sean O'Reilly. While Mary deals with domestic ghosts and local cold cases, Sean—a detective for the Chicago Police Department—stumbles into a secret society tasked with maintaining the treaty between humans and the Fae. The spin-off features a more action-oriented, mythological tone than the cozy mystery style of the main Mary O'Reilly books, but it shares the same rich storytelling and family loyalty that fans love.

What to Know Before You Start

Terri Reid's Mary O’Reilly series is the ultimate cozy paranormal read. Set against the real-life historical backdrop of Freeport, Illinois—complete with its famous underground tunnels and historic architecture—the books mix genuine mystery with lighthearted humor and a slow-burn romance. While the ghosts can occasionally be spooky, the stories focus on themes of faith, redemption, healing, and helping lost souls find peace. They are clean mysteries with minimal graphic violence, making them perfect for fans of cozy detective stories and supernatural fiction alike.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the best book to start with in the Mary O’Reilly series?

You should start with the first novel, Loose Ends. While there are prequels and alternate-perspective books, starting here introduces Mary's abilities and her move to Freeport, Illinois, in the correct narrative sequence.

QCan the Mary O’Reilly books be read as standalones?

While each book features a self-contained paranormal mystery that is resolved by the end, the overarching relationships, character development, and family dynamics build continuously. It is highly recommended to read them in order.

QWhere does the book Breakaway fit into the reading order?

Chronologically, Breakaway takes place during Mary's coma at the end of Darkness Exposed (Book 5). You can read it immediately after Book 5, or in its publication spot after Book 23.

QAre the Tales Around the Jack O'Lantern books necessary to understand the main plot?

No, they are not mandatory. The Tales Around the Jack O'Lantern series is a spin-off collection of Halloween ghost stories shared by the O'Reilly family and friends, serving as fun companion reading rather than main plot progression.

QHow is The Order of Brigid's Cross connected to Mary O'Reilly?

It is a direct spin-off series focusing on Mary's brother, Sean O'Reilly, a Chicago police detective who gets involved with a secret society protecting humanity from the Fae. It features a different, more action-fantasy tone.

QIs Freeport, Illinois, a real place?

Yes, Freeport, Illinois, is a real city. Terri Reid incorporated local history, including Freeport's historical buildings and rumors of underground tunnels, to give the setting an authentic, atmospheric feel.