Nocturne Falls Books in Order

How to Read Nocturne Falls: Recommended Reading Paths

Welcome to Nocturne Falls, Georgia—a cozy paranormal sanctuary where vampires, werewolves, witches, and gargoyles live openly under the guise of a year-round Halloween tourist attraction. Kristen Painter’s beloved world blends sweet romance, small-town charm, and lighthearted mystery. Because the characters frequently cross over and the town’s timeline moves forward, following a structured reading order is highly recommended.

Readers generally choose between two primary paths to experience this magical town:

The Master Chronological Path (Highly Recommended)

This is the official reading order recommended by author Kristen Painter. It seamlessly integrates the main romance novels, the short stories, the Jayne Frost cozy mysteries, and the Frost & Crowe spin-offs. Reading in this order ensures you never miss a recurring character’s update or a minor spoiler regarding who ended up with whom.

The Romance-Only Path

If you are strictly interested in the main romance books and want to skip the cozy mysteries, you can read the primary Nocturne Falls series (titled "The [Supernatural Creature] [Verbs] the [Noun]") in order of their publication. However, note that characters from the mystery spin-offs will occasionally pop up, so you might miss some minor context.

The Core Series and Spin-Offs Explained

Before diving into the reading list, it helps to understand how the different series under the Nocturne Falls umbrella connect:

• Nocturne Falls Main Romances: These are the core novels written by Kristen Painter. Each book features a different supernatural couple finding love in the town. They are sweet, high-chemistry, and low-angst paranormal romances.
• Jayne Frost Cozy Mysteries: A spin-off series starring Jayne Frost, the daughter of Jack Frost (and niece of Santa Claus). Jayne goes undercover in Nocturne Falls to solve various cold cases, bringing a fun, magical detective element to the town.
• Frost & Crowe Cozy Mysteries: A sequel spin-off series following Jayne Frost and Sinclair Crowe (the Prince Consort of the North Pole) as they travel outside Nocturne Falls (such as to Las Vegas and New Orleans) to tackle new mysteries while maintaining ties to the original world.
• Nocturne Falls Universe (NFU) Expansion Books: These are authorized stories written by guest authors (such as Laurie London and Cate Dean) set in Nocturne Falls. They feature new characters and are fun additions, but they are not considered part of Kristen Painter’s official main canon and can be read as standalones at any time.

Official Chronological Reading Order

Here is the complete chronological list of Kristen Painter’s official Nocturne Falls works, combining the main romances, short stories, and cozy mysteries:

1. The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride (Nocturne Falls Book 1)
2. The Werewolf Meets His Match (Nocturne Falls Book 2)
3. The Gargoyle Gets His Girl (Nocturne Falls Book 3)
4. The Professor Woos The Witch (Nocturne Falls Book 4)
5. The Witch’s Halloween Hero (Short Story / Book 4.5)
6. The Werewolf’s Christmas Wish (Short Story / Book 4.6)
7. The Vampire’s Fake Fiancee (Nocturne Falls Book 5)
8. The Vampire’s Valentine Surprise (Short Story / Book 5.5)
9. Miss Frost Solves A Cold Case (Jayne Frost Book 1)
10. The Shifter Romances The Writer (Nocturne Falls Book 6)
11. Miss Frost Ices The Imp (Jayne Frost Book 2)
12. The Vampire’s True Love Trials (Short Story / Book 6.5)
13. Miss Frost Saves The Sandman (Jayne Frost Book 3)
14. The Dragon Finds Forever (Nocturne Falls Book 7)
15. The Vampire’s Accidental Wife (Nocturne Falls Book 8)
16. Miss Frost Cracks A Caper (Jayne Frost Book 4)
17. When Birdie Babysat Spider (Jayne Frost Novella / Book 4.5)
18. Miss Frost Braves The Blizzard (Jayne Frost Book 5)
19. The Reaper Rescues The Genie (Nocturne Falls Book 9)
20. The Detective Wins The Witch (Nocturne Falls Book 10)
21. Miss Frost Chills The Cheater (Jayne Frost Book 6)
22. The Vampire’s Priceless Treasure (Nocturne Falls Book 11)
23. Miss Frost Says I Do (Jayne Frost Book 7)
24. The Werewolf Dates The Deputy (Nocturne Falls Book 12)
25. Lost In Las Vegas (Frost & Crowe Book 1)
26. The Siren Saves The Billionaire (Nocturne Falls Book 13)
27. The Vampire’s Sunny Sweetheart (Nocturne Falls Book 14)
28. Wrapped up in Christmas (Frost & Crowe Book 2)
29. Death Dates The Oracle (Nocturne Falls Book 15)
30. Mystified In Music City (Frost & Crowe Book 3)
31. The Vampire’s Former Flame (Nocturne Falls Book 16)
32. Nixed in New Orleans (Frost & Crowe Book 4)
33. The Witch’s Christmas Catastrophe (Nocturne Falls Novella)
34. The Gargoyle Beguiles The Beauty (Nocturne Falls Book 17)
35. Nightmare at the North Pole (Frost & Crowe Book 5)
36. The Ranger Courts The Celtic Witch (Nocturne Falls Book 18)

What to Know Before You Start

The best starting point is undeniably The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride, which introduces Delaney (a human fleeing her past) and Hugh (a vampire who runs the local pet shop). This book does the heavy lifting of explaining how the town operates, how the supernaturals hide in plain sight, and establishes the cozy, festive atmosphere that defines the series.

While each romance novel features a self-contained story with a guaranteed Happy Ever After (HEA) for the main couple, reading them out of order can lead to spoilers. Characters who get married or change jobs in earlier books will regularly appear as supporting cast members in later installments. If you prefer to avoid spoilers about previous couples, stick to the chronological path.