Nikki Hunter Mystery Books in Order

How to Read the Nikki Hunter Mystery Series

If you love a mystery series that combines the salty air of marina life, a gutsy female private investigator, and a dash of culinary intrigue, Nancy Skopin’s Nikki Hunter Mystery series is a perfect fit. Set in the scenic San Francisco Bay Area, primarily Redwood City, California, the series follows the cases of Nicoli "Nikki" Hunter. Nikki is a sharp-witted detective in her mid-thirties who lives on a 46-foot motorsailer and uses her day job as a restaurant and bar "mystery shopper" as a cover for her deep-dive investigations.

Because Nikki's personal relationships, her career trajectory, and her interactions with local homicide detective Bill Anderson evolve from book to book, the best way to read this series is in strict chronological order. Fortunately, the chronological order matches the publication order exactly, making it simple to follow Nikki’s adventures from the very beginning.

Nikki Hunter Mystery Books in Order

Here is the complete list of the Nikki Hunter Mystery novels in their recommended reading and publication order:

1. Murder on the Menu (2015)

   This is where it all begins. Nikki Hunter is introduced to readers as she takes on a complex case involving the brutal murder of socialite Laura Howard. What starts as a standard inquiry quickly spirals into a dark web of secrets, blackmail, and a multi-million-dollar inheritance. This book established Nancy Skopin’s signature style and won the 2015 Beverly Hills Book Award.

2. Murder Over Cocktails (2015)

   In her second outing, Nikki’s investigation takes a perilous turn when she matches wits with a sadistic serial killer. To flush the killer out, Nikki must team up with an unlikely ally—a skilled cat burglar—and risk her life by acting as a decoy. The tension is high as the case pushes her investigative skills to the limit.

3. Dinner and a Murder (2015)

   Hoping for a break from near-death experiences, Nikki attends her high school reunion. Instead of a relaxing trip down memory lane, she reconnects with her former flame, Paul Marks, an air traffic control supervisor. Paul asks for Nikki's help to investigate a suspicious death at his workplace that the authorities have brushed off. To uncover the truth, Nikki must place herself in the line of fire once again.

4. Murder a la Carte (2015)

   A young boy’s heart-wrenching plea to find his mother's killer draws Nikki into a complex investigation. She finds herself hunting a vigilante who has been targeting local sex offenders. As she digs deeper, Nikki is forced to grapple with heavy moral and ethical dilemmas regarding justice, revenge, and the law.

5. Murder Served Hot (2016)

   Nikki’s reputation as an implacable private investigator brings a dazzling new client to her door. However, the case quickly turns volatile as she is forced to confront a vicious vigilante. This fast-paced mystery tests her tactical thinking and showcases her resilience in the face of escalating danger.

6. A Side Order of Murder (2016)

   This sixth book takes a unique and surprising detour from the standard cozy mystery formula, introducing sci-fi elements and high-stakes thriller tropes. Nikki finds herself caught in the middle of a massive conspiracy involving government black ops, classified experiments, and mind control.

7. Murder Alfresco (2017)

   Following a high-intensity trip to Washington, D.C., where she survived a deadly attack and saved a client's life, Nikki returns to Redwood City hoping for some routine restaurant surveillance. Instead, she is hired by Abetha Mimbo, a mother convinced that someone is plotting to murder her son. As Nikki investigates, she discovers that one of her most dangerous adversaries might actually be her strongest ally.

8. Murder Served Cold (2017)

   The stakes become deeply personal when someone close to Nikki is murdered and left near a dumpster. The cause of death is a baffling mix of poisoning, taser marks, and blunt force trauma. With detective Bill Anderson leading the official case, Nikki launches her own investigation, rallying her friends and the tight-knit marina community to track down the killer.

9. Murder Al Dente (2019)

   In the ninth novel, Nikki is hired by a multimillionaire boat owner who manufactures sex toys to investigate threats against his life. When he is found dead on his mega yacht in what looks like a suicide, Nikki suspects foul play. Simultaneously, she is hired by a desperate mother whose four-year-old daughter has been abducted. Nikki must race against the clock to solve both cases.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into Nancy Skopin's series, there are a few unique details that set these books apart from typical detective stories:

• The Protagonist's Background: Nikki Hunter is not your average PI. She is the daughter of a Cossack father and a former nun, giving her a unique personal philosophy and a quirky outlook on life.
• The Setting: Nikki lives and works from her 46-foot sailboat docked in a Redwood City marina. The sights, sounds, and salty atmosphere of the marina community are central to the series' charm.
• The Tone: While the series is often categorized alongside cozy mysteries due to its coastal setting, food-centric titles, and close-knit community, the plots themselves can be darker and more intense. The books touch on heavy themes like child abuse, serial killers, and vigilante justice.
• Mystery Shopping: Nancy Skopin drew from her own real-life experience working with a private investigator to perform "mystery shopping" at bars and restaurants. This authentic detail makes Nikki's undercover surveillance operations feel grounded and realistic.

Key Characters to Watch

As you read through the series, several recurring characters populate Nikki's world, creating a warm, community-driven feel that anchors the high-stakes plots:

• Bill Anderson: A local Redwood City homicide detective. His relationship with Nikki is a central pillar of the series, shifting from professional friction to mutual respect and romantic tension.
• Elizabeth Gaultier: Nikki's close friend and fellow boat-dweller who offers a sounding board and emotional support throughout Nikki's most dangerous cases.
• Paul Marks: Nikki's former high school flame who reappears in Dinner and a Murder, adding personal complications to her investigative work.

Practical Reader Advice

If you are planning to read the series, keep these practical tips in mind:

Can the books be read as standalones? Yes, the core mystery in each book is fully resolved by the final page. However, we strongly recommend reading them in order. Nikki's relationships, especially her slow-burn dynamic with homicide detective Bill Anderson and her friendships with marina locals like Elizabeth Gaultier, build continuously across the nine novels.

Is the series complete? As of now, the series ends with Murder Al Dente, published in 2019. There has been no official announcement regarding a tenth book, making the current nine-book run a complete and satisfying journey for readers looking for a finished series.