How to Read the Nicole Graves Mystery Series
The Nicole Graves Mystery series, written by Nancy Boyarsky, follows the life and career of Nicole Graves, a Los Angeles woman whose knack for solving complex puzzles leads her from ordinary life into the dangerous world of private investigation. While each book is designed as a standalone mystery that can be enjoyed on its own, reading them in publication order is highly recommended. This allows you to experience Nicole's personal and professional growth, watching her transform from a vulnerable amateur sleuth into a bold, licensed investigator.
Nicole Graves Books in Publication and Chronological Order
Because the chronological timeline of Nicole's life aligns perfectly with the order in which the books were released, the publication order is the definitive way to read the series. Below is the complete checklist of the books:
- The Swap (2017) – The series begins when Nicole, seeking an escape from personal tragedy, coordinates a house swap in London. The vacation turns into a nightmare when the couple she swapped with disappears, leaving her at the center of a deadly conspiracy.
- The Bequest (2017) – Back in Los Angeles, Nicole starts working at a prestigious law firm. When a colleague is murdered and she is left a mysterious inheritance, Nicole is pulled into the corrupt world of LA's wealthy elite.
- Liar Liar (2018) – Nicole takes on a temporary babysitting job for a key witness in a high-profile rape trial. Soon, she finds herself caught in a dangerous web of deceit, threat, and intimidation.
- The Ransom (2019) – Now working closer to her goal of becoming a licensed private investigator, Nicole is hired to investigate the death of a client's son during a home invasion. The case turns deeply personal and dangerous when someone close to her is kidnapped.
- The Entitled (2020) – Nicole travels back to London to retrieve a wealthy couple's rebellious teenage daughter. The routine assignment goes awry when the girl's boyfriend is murdered, making the teen the prime suspect and putting Nicole in the crosshairs.
- The Moscow Affair (2021) – Entangled with MI6, Nicole goes on a two-week cruise along Russia's Volga River. A simple observation assignment turns into international espionage and murder.
- The Big Shakeup (2023) – Just as a massive earthquake hits Los Angeles, Nicole discovers her boss Jerry dying of a gunshot wound in their office. Evasion is her only choice as the police name her the prime suspect, forcing her to find the real killer during a city-wide disaster.
Chronological Order Caveats and Continuity
When searching for the books online, you might notice that some databases list a first publication date of 2015 for The Bequest. This is an database entry error; the book was officially published and distributed in August 2017, shortly after the debut of The Swap. There are no prequels or alternate timelines in this series, so you do not need to worry about adjusting your reading order to accommodate this date anomaly. Start with The Swap and move straight through to The Big Shakeup.
What to Know Before You Start
Nancy Boyarsky brings a background in political journalism and communications to the series, giving the novels a realistic grounding in institutional corruption, media dynamics, and legal battles. The tone of the books sits in a unique space: they offer the fast-paced, suspenseful tension of a Hitchcockian thriller mixed with the character-driven charm of a contemporary cozy mystery. While Nicole faces high stakes and real danger, the books avoid extreme graphic violence, focusing instead on psychological suspense and Nicole's resilience.
Nicole's growth is the true anchor of the series. She does not begin as a super-sleuth; she begins as a grieving woman trying to put her life back together. Her journey through trauma, her romantic complications, and her determination to gain professional independence as a private eye provide a satisfying overarching narrative that makes reading the series in order highly rewarding.