How to Read the Sam McCain Series
The Sam McCain series, written by the late Ed Gorman, is a masterclass in blending cozy small-town mystery with atmospheric historical fiction. Set in the fictional town of Black River Falls, Iowa, the series spans the late 1950s through the early 1970s. Each book is titled after a hit song from the period, capturing the changing cultural and political landscape of mid-century America.
When it comes to reading the series, you have two primary options: publication order or chronological order. While the books are largely self-contained mysteries, reading them in order allows you to witness the social evolution of Black River Falls and the personal growth of Sam McCain as he matures from a struggling young lawyer into a seasoned investigator.
Option 1: Publication Order (Recommended)
For most readers, starting with the order in which Ed Gorman wrote and published the novels is the best approach. It introduces Sam McCain's background, his quirks, and his complex relationship with the town's wealthy, eccentric judge, Esme Anne Whitney, in the way the author intended. The publication order is as follows:
- The Day the Music Died (1998)
- Wake Up Little Susie (1999)
- Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? (2000)
- Save the Last Dance for Me (2002)
- Everybody's Somebody's Fool (2003)
- Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (2004)
- Fools Rush In (2007)
- Ticket to Ride (2009)
- Bad Moon Rising (2011)
- Riders on the Storm (2014)
Option 2: Chronological Order
If you prefer to follow the exact historical timeline of Black River Falls, you will need to make a small adjustment at the very beginning of the series. The second book, Wake Up Little Susie, is set in September 1957, during the launch of the ill-fated Ford Edsel. The first book, The Day the Music Died, takes place in February 1959, centered around the tragic plane crash of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper. After these first two, the series follows a linear historical path.
Here is the chronological order of the books, mapped to the historical years in which they are set:
- Wake Up Little Susie (Set in 1957)
- The Day the Music Died (Set in 1959)
- Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? (Set in 1959)
- Save the Last Dance for Me (Set in 1960)
- Everybody's Somebody's Fool (Set in 1961)
- Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (Set in 1962)
- Fools Rush In (Set in 1963)
- Ticket to Ride (Set in 1965)
- Bad Moon Rising (Set in 1968)
- Riders on the Storm (Set in 1971)
Inside Black River Falls: A Guide to the Books
1. The Day the Music Died (1998)
Set in February 1959, this debut novel introduces us to Sam McCain, a young lawyer who also works as an investigator to pay the bills. When rock icon Buddy Holly's plane crashes nearby in Clear Lake, Iowa, the town is devastated. Amid the grief, Sam is hired by Judge Esme Whitney to investigate an apparent murder-suicide involving a local wealthy man and his wife, a case that quickly exposes deep-seated racial tensions in the community.
2. Wake Up Little Susie (1999)
Step back to September 1957. The town is buzzing with excitement over the arrival of the new Ford Edsel. However, the celebration turns sour when the body of Susan Squires, the wife of a prominent attorney, is found stuffed inside the trunk of one of the display cars. McCain must navigate a maze of marital secrets and small-town politics to clear a wrongfully accused suspect.
3. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? (2000)
Set in autumn 1959, against the backdrop of Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev's high-profile visit to Iowa. When a local liberal professor who has been receiving death threats is murdered on Sam's doorstep, the investigator is thrust into a hotbed of Cold War paranoia, McCarthyist scars, and local hypocrisy.
4. Save the Last Dance for Me (2002)
Taking place in the summer of 1960, this novel centers around the heated presidential race between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. McCain is hired to investigate a murder linked to a controversial local fundamentalist religious sect, bringing him face-to-face with the cultural and spiritual rifts dividing the town.
5. Everybody's Somebody's Fool (2003)
Set in 1961, the story begins during a tense class reunion party. When the daughter of one of Black River Falls' wealthiest families is found murdered in a gazebo, Sam McCain is tasked with finding the killer. The investigation delves into high school rivalries, drag-racing culture, and the strict class divides of the town.
6. Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (2004)
As the Cuban Missile Crisis looms in the autumn of 1962, the world holds its breath. In Black River Falls, McCain is dealing with a crisis of his own when a young woman is found dead at the bottom of a cliff. The investigation leads Sam into the dark underbelly of local politics and personal betrayals, all while the threat of nuclear war hangs over the characters.
7. Fools Rush In (2007)
Set in 1963, this installment tackles the Civil Rights Movement. When a young Black civil rights worker is murdered, Sam McCain takes the case despite facing significant hostility from the town. The book is a poignant look at how national struggles played out in small Midwestern communities.
8. Ticket to Ride (2009)
The year is 1965, and the Beatles are dominating the radio waves while the Vietnam War begins to escalate. McCain is drawn into a mystery involving a missing young woman and draft-evasion tensions, showcasing how the counterculture movement began to reach even the heart of rural Iowa.
9. Bad Moon Rising (2011)
Set in the turbulent year of 1968, following the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. When a young woman is murdered, suspicion falls on a newly established hippie commune on the outskirts of Black River Falls. McCain defends the commune members, highlighting the generational divides and anti-war sentiments of the era.
10. Riders on the Storm (2014)
The series finale takes place in 1971. The Vietnam War is drawing to a close, but its scars are deep. Sam McCain investigates the murder of a decorated veteran, a case that brings the series to a dramatic and satisfying conclusion while reflecting on the heavy toll of a changing America.
What to Know Before You Start
Ed Gorman's Sam McCain books are highly praised for their historical accuracy and emotional resonance. Unlike standard cozy mysteries that often present an idealized version of the past, Gorman utilizes his Cedar Rapids upbringing to paint a realistic portrait of the era. He tackles complex topics like racism, classism, religious intolerance, and the psychological impact of war, making the books as much historical documents as they are compelling whodunits. If you love classic rock 'n' roll, social history, and hard-nosed but soft-hearted detectives, this series is the perfect addition to your reading list.