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series Reading Order

Resort At Castaway Bay Books in Order

9 Books
2021 – 2024 Published
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Reading order

The Recommended Reading Order

To fully appreciate the character development and evolving relationships on Shipwreck Island, we recommend reading the Resort at Castaway Bay series in publication order. The chronological timeline matches the order in which the books were released, making this the most straightforward path for readers.

  1. Truth or Dare (2021)
  2. Lost and Found (2021)
  3. Trick or Treat (2021)
  4. Now and Then (2022)
  5. Prove or Perish (2022)
  6. Hide and Seek (2022)
  7. Fit or Fatality (2023)
  8. Innocent or Guilty (2023)
  9. Fact or Fantasy (2023/2024)
  10. Fortune or Folly (2025)
  11. Haunting or Homicide (2025)

Where to Start: The Holiday Bay Connection

While you can jump straight into the first book of the series, Truth or Dare, dedicated fans of Kathi Daley's cozy mystery universe know that Sydney Whitmore makes her very first appearance in Clue in the Clam. This book is the 15th installment of Kathi Daley's flagship series, The Inn at Holiday Bay.

Reading Clue in the Clam beforehand is highly recommended as it provides the backstory of why Sydney, a forensic psychologist from San Francisco, decides to move back to Shipwreck Island to help run her family's coastal resort. However, because this is a parallel spinoff, the primary storylines do not heavily overlap with the main Holiday Bay series, and you can enjoy the Castaway Bay books as a self-contained story arc.

What to Expect from Resort at Castaway Bay

Co-authored with Christy Turner, this series blends the warm, community-focused elements of traditional cozy mysteries with a sharper, analytical edge. Sydney's background in forensic psychology allows her to approach cases from a unique perspective, dealing with themes of memory loss, cold cases, stalkers, and complex psychological motives. Despite the suspense, the series maintains a heartwarming tone centered around family, resilience, and the beautiful West Coast backdrop of the fictional Shipwreck Island.

Frequently Asked

QCan the Resort at Castaway Bay books be read as standalones?

While each book features a self-contained mystery that is resolved by the end, it is highly recommended to read them in order. The overarching relationships, family dynamics, and Sydney's personal growth develop continuously throughout the series.

QWhere does Sydney Whitmore first appear in Kathi Daley's books?

Sydney Whitmore is introduced in Clue in the Clam, which is Book 15 of The Inn at Holiday Bay series, before she stars in her own spinoff series.

QIs Shipwreck Island a real place?

No, Shipwreck Island is a fictional West Coast resort island created by Kathi Daley, inspired by her love of coastal environments and her home in the Lake Tahoe area.

QWho is the co-author of the Resort at Castaway Bay series?

Kathi Daley co-authors this series with Christy Turner, who also collaborates with her on lifestyle blog content and recipes related to the books.

QHow many books are currently in the series?

There are currently 11 books in the series, starting with Truth or Dare in 2021 and continuing through Haunting or Homicide published in 2025.