Medlar Mystery Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order

To fully appreciate the evolution of the characters, their relationships, and the overarching subplots, the Medlar Mystery series should be read in its official publication order. The narrative progression relies heavily on the growing bonds and shared history of the three main characters, making a chronological approach the absolute best way to experience the series.

1. A Willing Murder (2018)
2. A Justified Murder (2019)
3. A Forgotten Murder (2020)
4. A Relative Murder (2022)
5. An Unfinished Murder (2024)

What to Know Before You Start

Renowned romance novelist Jude Deveraux made a delightful pivot into the cozy mystery genre with this series, bringing her signature emotional depth, witty dialogue, and character-driven plotting to the world of amateur sleuthing. The stories are primarily set in the fictional town of Lachlan, Florida, a setting infused with authentic Southern charm, local gossip, and long-buried secrets. While the books are cozy in tone, they also delve into darker elements like decades-old cold cases, family betrayals, and personal trauma.

At the center of the series is a unique found-family trio known to readers as the Medlar Three:

• Sara Medlar: A retired, highly successful romance novelist who returns to her roots in Lachlan, builds a grand mansion, and finds a second calling solving real-life crimes.
• Kate Medlar: Sara's curious and sharp-witted niece, who works as a local real estate agent. Kate's career often acts as the catalyst for discovering crime scenes and local properties with dark histories.
• Jackson 'Jack' Wyatt: A local contractor and close friend whom Sara treats like an honorary grandson. Jack is recovering from personal trauma and brings practical skills, protective instincts, and a complicated past to the team.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

Because the series is written linearly, the publication order matches the internal chronological order of the stories. Unlike some mystery series that feature standalone puzzles with static characters, the Medlar Mystery series tracks the slow-burn relationships, personal healing, and evolving careers of Kate, Jack, and Sara. Reading the books out of order will spoil major character developments, particularly surrounding Sara's hidden family history and the shifting dynamics between Kate and Jack.

Detailed Book-by-Book Breakdown

1. A Willing Murder (2018)

The series opens with retired novelist Sara Medlar returning to Lachlan, Florida, to live out her retirement in a custom-built mansion. She invites her niece, Kate, and local builder Jackson Wyatt to live with her. The domestic arrangement quickly turns into a crime-solving partnership when two skeletons are unearthed on the property, forcing the newly formed trio to dig into a decades-old murder that the town's prominent families would prefer to keep forgotten.

2. A Justified Murder (2019)

The second installment cements the group's reputation as Lachlan's premier amateur detectives. When a popular but secretly disliked local man is found murdered in a nearby swamp, the trio must sift through small-town gossip and layers of local resentment to identify the killer. This book highlights the cozy, small-town atmosphere of Lachlan, where everyone knows everyone else's business, but no one wants to speak the truth.

3. A Forgotten Murder (2020)

For the third book, the Medlar Three travel across the Atlantic to Oxley Manor in Wiltshire, England. Hired to investigate the 1994 disappearance of a young couple, they organize a theatrical reenactment of the fateful night with the original suspects. The shift in setting brings a classic British manor-house mystery flavor to the series while showing the team's adaptability outside of their Florida home.

4. A Relative Murder (2022)

Returning to Florida, the stakes become deeply personal. When the local sheriff goes on vacation, Jack Wyatt is unexpectedly deputized, giving the team official access to active cases. The plot kicks off when Kate finds a body while showing a listing, which is quickly linked to a mysterious new real estate client with ties to Sara's closely guarded family secrets. Sara is forced to confront her past, risking her relationship with Kate to expose the truth.

5. An Unfinished Murder (2024)

The fifth book centers on the historic Lachlan House, a local mansion with a dark past that Kate has just listed for sale. During their initial inspection, the trio discovers a skeleton dressed in a vintage tuxedo. The investigation hits incredibly close to home for Kate, as the victim's history is tied to her own forgotten childhood memories and her late father's secrets, testing the bonds of the Medlar Three like never before.

Practical Reader Advice

For the best experience, start with A Willing Murder. While the mystery plots of each book are resolved by the final page, the character arcs and emotional growth build directly from one book to the next. The romantic tension and evolving banter between Kate and Jack are highlights of the series, and jumping in mid-way will make their interactions feel less earned. There are currently no spin-offs or tie-in novellas to worry about, making this a straightforward and satisfying five-book binge read.