The Recommended Reading Order
The best way to read the Pacific Northwest Mysteries (now also known as the Meg Reed Investigates series) is in chronological order, which matches the order of publication. Because Meg Reed goes through a significant personal and professional evolution across the series—moving from a clumsy, bluffing newcomer to a more seasoned reporter—reading the books in order allows you to fully appreciate the character arc and the developing relationships around her.
Depending on which edition you pick up, the books will have different titles and author names. Below is the recommended reading path, listing both the original Kensington publications (released under Kate Dyer-Seeley) and the reissued Storm Publishing editions (released under Ellie Alexander):
- Book 1: Scene of the Climb (2014) / Rebranded as A Murder on the Mountain (2025)
- Book 2: Slayed on the Slopes (2015) / Rebranded as A Slaying at the Ski Lodge (2025)
- Book 3: Silenced in the Surf (2016) / Rebranded as A Body at the Beach (2025)
- Book 4: First Degree Mudder (2016) / Rebranded as A Body at Boot Camp (2025)
- Book 5: In Cave Danger (2017) / Rebranded as Revenge on the Rocks (2025)
Understanding the Rebranding: Kate Dyer-Seeley vs. Ellie Alexander
If you are confused by seeing the same stories listed under different titles and author names, you are not alone. The author originally published this series under her real name, Kate Dyer-Seeley, through Kensington Publishing between 2014 and 2017. Dyer-Seeley is also the powerhouse writer behind the incredibly popular Bakeshop Mysteries and the Sloan Krause Mysteries, which she writes under the pen name Ellie Alexander.
In late 2025, she partnered with Storm Publishing to reissue the Meg Reed stories. To unify her brand and bring these outdoor adventures to a broader audience, the series was rebranded as Meg Reed Investigates (or the Adventure Reporter Mysteries) and credited to her well-known pseudonym, Ellie Alexander. The text remains the same cozy, action-packed mystery readers fell in love with, but with updated titles that match the style of her other series.
A Guide to the Books and Settings
One of the strongest elements of this series is its vivid sense of place. Kate Dyer-Seeley (a native of the Pacific Northwest) uses her personal passion for the outdoors to bring the Oregon landscape to life. Each book centers on a specific adventure sport and iconic regional location:
Scene of the Climb / A Murder on the Mountain
Meg Reed starts out as a jobless college graduate who bluffs her way into a writing position at Northwest Extreme, an outdoor adventure magazine. The irony? Meg is terrified of heights and prefers the indoors. For her first assignment, she travels to Angel's Rest in the Columbia River Gorge to cover a reality television show, only to witness a contestant fall to their death. Meg must navigate steep cliffs and suspicious crew members to prove it was murder.
Slayed on the Slopes / A Slaying at the Ski Lodge
Meg is sent to the snowy heights of Mount Hood to shadow an elite mountain rescue team during a fierce winter storm. When a body is discovered buried in the snow, Meg finds herself stranded with a killer. This installment ramps up the claustrophobia and tension, contrasting the vast open slopes with the isolation of being trapped in a blizzard.
Silenced in the Surf / A Body at the Beach
Changing terrains from the mountains to the water, Meg heads to Hood River—a world-famous destination for windsurfing and kiteboarding. Her assignment to cover a high-profile championship turns grim when a legendary windsurfer's body is found washed up on the riverbanks. Meg has to dive deep into the competitive and tight-knit windsurfing community to unmask the killer.
First Degree Mudder / A Body at Boot Camp
Meg steps up her physical involvement by registering for 'Mind Over Mudder,' an intense, military-grade outdoor fitness boot camp. Designed to prep participants for a grueling mud marathon at the historic Vancouver Barracks, the camp takes a dark turn when their hard-nosed instructor, 'Billy the Tank,' is found dead in the steam room. Meg has to investigate her sore, exhausted teammates while surviving the physical trials of the camp.
In Cave Danger / Revenge on the Rocks
The final book in the series takes Meg underground into Oregon's Lava River Caves. Tasked with covering a geological expedition, she finds the body of a forest ranger deep in the dark tunnels. As she works to solve the crime, Meg also faces a deeply personal mystery: the truth behind her own father's tragic and suspicious death years earlier.
What to Know Before You Start: The 'Extreme Cozy' Genre
Traditional cozy mysteries usually feature quiet, small-town settings, craft stores, bakeries, or libraries. Kate Dyer-Seeley subverts this by creating the 'extreme cozy.' While it retains standard cozy tropes—like a lack of explicit on-page gore, a slow-burn romance, a quirky cast of supporting friends (like Meg's best friend Jill), and an amateur sleuth—it places these elements against high-risk, physically demanding backdrops. If you enjoy cozy whodunits but want a little more adrenaline, natural danger, and wilderness survival, this series is the perfect fit.
Additionally, Meg Reed is a highly relatable protagonist for anyone who has ever felt like an imposter in their career. She starts out completely unqualified for her outdoor reporting job, and her growth in confidence and outdoor competence is one of the most rewarding aspects of reading the books in order.