The Recommended Reading Order for Riley Spartz
For readers looking to dive into the fast-paced, high-stakes world of Twin Cities television journalism, the best way to experience the Riley Spartz series is by following its publication order. Because the books follow a linear chronological timeline that matches the order in which they were written, there are no complicated prequels or timeline jumps to worry about. Starting from the beginning allows you to watch Riley navigate her career progression, professional rivalries, and the personal grief of losing her patrolman husband.
The Riley Spartz Novels in Publication Order
Julie Kramer’s series consists of six full-length mystery novels published between 2008 and 2014. Each book centers on a specific investigative story that Riley covers for her Minneapolis television station, Channel 3, while dealing with the chaotic environment of ratings-driven broadcast news.
1. Stalking Susan (2008)
Originally published by Doubleday and later reissued in paperback by Anchor Books, this debut novel introduces readers to Riley Spartz. Riley is an investigative reporter struggling to overcome personal tragedy. Her career gets a jolt when a police contact provides her with two cold case files of women named Susan who were strangled on the same day, exactly one year apart. As the next anniversary approaches, Riley races to find the killer. The search is complicated by ratings pressure, local politics, and a demanding news director. Riley ultimately stages a high-risk on-air stunt to draw the killer out.
2. Missing Mark (2009)
Published by Doubleday, the second installment begins when Riley notices a cryptic classified advertisement: "Wedding Dress for Sale: Never Worn." Sensing a human-interest piece that could boost ratings, Riley contacts the jilted bride, Madeline. She learns that the groom, Mark, disappeared following the rehearsal dinner. While Mark's mother initially downplays the disappearance to avoid public embarrassment, Riley's investigation reveals a darker plot. The search for the missing groom turns into a murder investigation, leading Riley through a web of secrets and introducing readers to characters with rare conditions like prosopagnosia (face blindness).
3. Silencing Sam (2010)
Published by Atria Books, this novel shifts the focus onto Riley herself when she becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation. After a public confrontation where Riley throws a glass of wine at Sam Pierce—a despised local gossip columnist who suggested she cheated on her late husband—Sam is found shot to death. To clear her name, Riley must find the real killer. Along the way, she attempts to report on rural wind farm bombings and dead bats, while navigating newsroom competition from a rival reporter covering a sensational park homicide.
4. Killing Kate (2011)
Published by Atria Books, this fourth entry hits close to home when Riley is assigned to cover the murder of Kate Warner, the younger sister of Riley’s estranged college roommate. The killer leaves a signature chalk outline shaped like an angel around the victim. Riley's investigation leads her to an eerie century-old legend surrounding the "Black Angel" monument in an Iowa cemetery, which appears to inspire the killer's delusions. Juggling newsroom ratings stress and an escalating conflict with the owner of a dog she rescued from a hot car, Riley finds herself directly targeted by the murderer.
5. Shunning Sarah (2012)
Published by Atria Books, this novel takes Riley outside her typical urban beat into a reclusive Amish community near the Twin Cities. The story begins with a ratings-boosting "sweeps" report about a young boy trapped in a sinkhole. The rescue effort turns into a homicide investigation when a corpse is discovered in the sinkhole alongside the boy. The victim is identified as Sarah Yoder, a young Amish woman. As Riley investigates, she faces resistance from the insular Amish community, which favors forgiveness over prosecution, and uncovers a web of fraud, deception, and greed spanning both the Amish and "English" worlds.
6. Delivering Death (2014)
Published by Atria/Emily Bestler Books, the final book in the series kicks off with a macabre delivery: a package containing human teeth is sent directly to Riley at work. The media-savvy killer wants their crimes publicized, turning the investigation into a highly public spectacle. While trying to report on the case, Riley uncovers a sophisticated identity theft ring that involves both low-level street criminals and white-collar opportunists. The investigation escalates into a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse, culminating in a trap that puts Riley's life on the line.
What to Know Before You Start
Julie Kramer's background heavily informs the Riley Spartz series. Before writing mystery novels, Kramer spent decades as a television news producer, running the investigative I-Team for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis and working as a freelance producer for NBC and CBS. This insider experience gives the novels their signature authenticity, portraying the television news industry not as a glamorous profession, but as a high-stress business driven by ratings, "sweeps weeks," and complex ethical dilemmas.
The series is set entirely in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, and the surrounding rural areas. Kramer utilizes real locations, local landmarks, and Midwestern culture to anchor the stories. Readers who enjoy workplace mysteries with a balance of crime-solving, media satire, and a touch of humor will appreciate the tone of the series, which is often compared to the works of Sue Grafton and Janet Evanovich. Riley's loyal dog, Shep, also serves as a recurring companion throughout her investigations.
It is also worth noting a common point of confusion: the mystery novelist Julie Kramer is a distinct person from the theater director Julie Kramer, who famously adapted Rona Jaffe’s novel The Best of Everything into an off-Broadway play in 2012. The mystery novelist has not written any play adaptations or young adult fantasy books (which are written by a third author, Julie L. Kramer).
Awards and Critical Recognition
The Riley Spartz series has received several notable honors and nominations within the mystery genre:
- Stalking Susan: Won the RT Reviewers' Choice Award for Best First Mystery and the Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction. It was also named a finalist for the Mary Higgins Clark Award, the Anthony Award, the Barry Award, and the Shamus Award.
- Missing Mark: Nominated as a finalist for the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense.
- Silencing Sam: Named a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in the Genre Fiction category.
- Killing Kate: Won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Mainstream Mystery/Suspense.