How to Read the Poppy Fields Adventures
For the best reading experience, you should read the Poppy Fields Adventures in publication order. Because the series features a continuous narrative arc, evolving romantic relationships, and recurring characters who grow with every book, jumping in mid-series can lead to major spoilers. Below is the recommended sequence to follow Poppy from her first accidental mission to her latest dangerous assignment.
The Poppy Fields Adventures in Publication Order
Written by USA Today bestselling author Julie Mulhern, the series kicked off in 2018 and has grown to include eight novels. Each book sends Poppy to a new, glamorous international destination where she must deploy her unexpected survival skills to stay alive.
1. Fields' Guide to Abduction (2018)
The adventure begins in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Poppy Fields is enjoying a luxurious vacation when she is suddenly kidnapped by a drug cartel. Fortunately, her late father was in the Special Forces, and she remembers enough of his training to survive. This debut establishes her relationship with Thor, her future partner in both love and espionage, and introduces her fierce Chihuahua companion, Consuela.
2. Fields' Guide to Assassins (2018)
Poppy travels to the romantic streets of Paris, France. What starts as an attempt to bankrupt a cartel turns deadly when a vengeful drug lord puts a target on her back. Navigating French fashion, high society, and shadowy hitmen, Poppy must rely on her wits to stay one step ahead of the killers.
3. Fields' Guide to Voodoo (2019)
Set in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans, Poppy arrives to celebrate her movie-star mother's wedding plans. Instead of cake tasting, she finds herself mixed up with black magic, smugglers, and a murder. The swampy bayous and eerie city streets add a darker, atmospheric flavor to her usual high-fashion escapades.
4. Fields' Guide to Fog (2019)
Poppy crosses the Atlantic to London, England. Caught in a dense London fog, she is plunged into the city's criminal underworld. As she tries to unravel a complex conspiracy, the gloomy streets and double-crossing agents test her survival instincts to their absolute limits.
5. Fields' Guide to Pharaohs (2020)
The action moves to Egypt. Amidst ancient ruins, pyramids, and desert heat, Poppy takes on a dangerous undercover assignment. She must decode hidden clues and dodge ancient curses—both real and fabricated—while tracking down a missing artifact and avoiding deadly traps.
6. Fields' Guide to Dirty Money (2020)
Poppy heads to the sunny Grand Cayman Islands for her mother's lavish destination wedding. The celebrations are quickly derailed when Poppy stumbles upon a massive money laundering conspiracy. She must navigate wealthy tax-evaders, local police, and dangerous criminals to clear her family's name before the big day.
7. Fields' Guide to Smuggling (2021)
Hoping for a quiet, romantic getaway, Poppy and Thor escape to a private island in Greece. The peace is short-lived when a violent storm washes six terrified teenage girls onto the shore. Poppy is thrust into a dangerous human smuggling ring, turning her tranquil vacation into a high-stakes rescue mission.
8. Fields' Guide to Secrets (2023)
Starting with a favor for her new father-in-law in Athens, Poppy picks up a mysterious package that contains world-altering information. The discovery triggers a frantic, cross-country chase across Turkey. With multiple factions of contract killers hot on her trail, Poppy must use every trick she has ever learned to protect the package and save her own life.
Chronological Order and Caveats
The chronological order of the books matches their publication order perfectly. There are no prequels or companion novellas that disrupt the timeline. However, readers should note that the timeline moves quickly. The progression of Poppy’s relationship with Thor—from initial sparks and professional friction to marriage and family dynamics—develops chronologically. Reading the books out of order will spoil these personal milestones and make the overarching plotlines difficult to follow.
What to Know Before You Start
Julie Mulhern’s series stands out because it successfully blends two genres that rarely mix: cozy mysteries and high-stakes espionage thrillers. While the books feature the humor, quirky sidekicks, and animal companions typical of cozy mysteries, they also feature genuine danger, international cartels, and pulse-pounding action. Poppy is not a typical bumbling amateur sleuth; her father's Special Forces training gives her a practical edge, making her highly capable in tight spots while she still manages to maintain her sense of humor and style.
Practical Reader Advice
If you are planning to start the series, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Start at the beginning: Do not skip Fields' Guide to Abduction. It sets the stage for Poppy's transformation from a shallow influencer to a clever spy, and explains how her team comes together.
- Expect growth: The character development is a major highlight. Poppy grows significantly as a person, and her relationship with Thor is a slow-burn romance that pays off beautifully over the course of the eight novels.
- Enjoy the travel: Part of the charm of the series is the vivid settings. Mulhern does an excellent job of researching each location, giving readers a mini-vacation with every book.