The Best Starting Point for Murder in the Mix
If you are ready to visit the charming (yet surprisingly deadly) town of Honey Hollow, Vermont, you should start at the very beginning with Cutie Pies and Deadly Lies (2018). While each installment features a self-contained whodunit, the overarching story of Lottie Lemon, her bakeries, and her romantic life progresses chronologically. Starting with the first book ensures you fully understand the origins of Lottie’s paranormal abilities, the introductions of key townspeople, and the slow-burn love triangle that spans the entire saga.
As you progress through the series, the relationships evolve, local businesses change, and recurring characters grow. Jumping in mid-series is possible because the mystery plots are resolved in each book, but you will miss out on the sweet character growth and cozy town building that make the series so beloved.
The Core Reading Order: Publication and Chronology
For Murder in the Mix, the publication order matches the chronological order of the story. The events flow season by season, holiday by holiday, through the cozy New England calendar. Below is the complete order of the books, tracking Lottie's adventures from her first days at the Cutie Pie Bakery through her latest culinary capers:
- Cutie Pies and Deadly Lies (2018)
- Bobbing for Bodies (2018)
- Pumpkin Spice Sacrifice (2018)
- Gingerbread and Deadly Dread (2018)
- Seven-Layer Slayer (2018)
- Red Velvet Vengeance (2018)
- Bloodbaths and Banana Cake (2018)
- New York Cheesecake Chaos (2019)
- Lethal Lemon Bars (2019)
- Macaron Massacre (2019)
- Wedding Cake Carnage (2019)
- Donut Disaster (2019)
- Toxic Apple Turnovers (2019)
- Killer Cupcakes (2019)
- Pumpkin Pie Parting (2019)
- Yule Log Eulogy (2019)
- Pancake Panic (2019)
- Sugar Cookie Slaughter (2019)
- Devil's Food Cake Doom (2019)
- Snickerdoodle Secrets (2019)
- Christmas Fudge Fatality (2019)
- Strawberry Shortcake Sins (2020)
- Cake Pop Casualties (2020)
- Flag Cake Felonies (2020)
- Peach Cobbler Confessions (2020)
- Poison Apple Crisp (2020)
- Spooky Spice Cake Curse (2020)
- Pecan Pie Predicament (2020)
- Eggnog Trifle Trouble (2020)
- Waffles at the Wake (2020)
- Raspberry Tart Terror (2021)
- Baby Bundt Cake Confusion (2021)
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Conundrum (2021)
- Wicked Whoopie Pies (2021)
- Key Lime Pie Perjury (2021)
- Red, White, and Blueberry Muffin Murder (2021)
- Honey Buns Homicide (2021)
- Apple Fritter Fright (2021)
- Vampire Brownie Bite Bereavement (2021)
- Pumpkin Roll Reckoning (2021)
- Cookie Exchange Execution (2021)
- Heart-Shaped Confection Deception (2022)
- Birthday Cake Bloodshed (2022)
- Cream Puff Punishment (2022)
- Last Rites Beignet Bites (2022)
- Pineapple Upside-Down Dilemma (2022)
- Star-Spangled Ice Scream Cake (2023)
- Apple Cider Donut Danger (2023)
- Fright Night Chocolate Delight (2023)
- Pumpkin Cake Penance (2024)
- Plum Pudding Peril (2024)
- Sweet Crepes of Wrath (2024)
- Vanilla Glazed Valentine Vendetta (2025)
What to Know Before You Start: Honey Hollow's Quirky Rules
Before diving into Lottie’s world, it helps to understand the unique paranormal and romantic setup that powers the series. The central hook of the series is Lottie’s supernatural gift: she can see the ghosts of deceased pets. Far from being a scary haunting, these animal spirits act as furry omens of impending doom. Whenever a pet ghost appears to Lottie, she knows a murder is about to take place, which prompts her to investigate before the local authorities can pin the crime on the wrong person.
Alongside the mysteries, the series is famous for its ongoing love triangle. Lottie finds herself torn between two very different men: Noah Fox, a charming private investigator who frequently helps her dig into cases, and Everett Baxter, the town judge whose professional demeanor clashes with his clear attraction to Lottie. This romantic tension builds gradually over dozens of books, adding a fun subplot that keeps cozy romance readers highly engaged.
The Broader Universe: Crossover Events
Addison Moore is a prolific creator of cozy mystery universes, and she frequently crosses over her distinct series. While Lottie Lemon and the town of Honey Hollow remain the primary focus of Murder in the Mix, readers will find characters from other Addison Moore books popping in for guest appearances. These crossovers connect Honey Hollow to other popular series, creating a larger shared universe.
A notable connection is with the Country Cottage Mysteries series, which Moore co-writes with Bellamy Bloom. In novels such as Flag Cake Felonies, characters from the seaside town of Cider Cove cross paths with Lottie. Additionally, the standalone crossover novel Felines and Fatalities serves as a direct bridge between these two worlds. Moore also connects Honey Hollow to her Meow for Murder series (such as in the book A Purr-fect Storm). These crossovers do not disrupt the reading flow of the main series, but they offer delightful Easter eggs for fans who explore the author's other works.
Tips for Binge-Reading Murder in the Mix
With over fifty books in the series, tackling Lottie’s adventures can seem daunting. Here are a few practical strategies to help you get the most out of your time in Honey Hollow:
- Take advantage of subscription services: The vast majority of the series is available on Kindle Unlimited, making it highly affordable to read the books in rapid succession.
- Follow the seasonal vibes: Moore frequently writes books centered around specific holidays or seasons (such as pumpkin-themed books in autumn and peppermint treats in winter). Matching your reading to the current season can make the cozy atmosphere feel even more immersive.
- Read the crossovers as fun extras: You do not need to read the entirety of the Country Cottage Mysteries or Meow for Murder to understand the plots in Honey Hollow, but reading the specific crossover books provides a fun change of pace.