The Recommended Reading Order
For the best experience, readers should follow the series in its publication order. The main narrative of Shelby Nichols follows a continuous timeline where her relationships, investigative skills, and the stakes of her double life evolve. Reading the books out of order will spoil major character developments, especially regarding her family dynamics and her complicated ties to the mob.
Main Series Books in Order
- Carrots (2011) – The adventure begins here. Housewife Shelby Nichols is grazed by a bullet during a bank robbery and wakes up with the ability to hear people's thoughts.
- Fast Money (2011) – Shelby’s life becomes more dangerous when she is hired to help verify a massive, suspicious bank deposit.
- Lie or Die (2012) – Shelby is caught in the middle of stolen funds, secrets, and deadly threats.
- Secrets That Kill (2013) – Working as a consultant for the police, Shelby must find a serial killer before she becomes the next target.
- Trapped By Revenge (2013) – A vengeful enemy targets Shelby, forcing her to rely on her mob connections to protect her family.
- Deep In Death (2014) – Shelby is pulled into a dark investigation involving missing people and deep secrets.
- Crossing Danger (2015) – Shelby finds herself caught between the FBI and the mob in a high-stakes game of survival.
- Devious Minds (2016) – Kidnapping and deception push Shelby’s mind-reading powers to their absolute limits.
- Hidden Deception (2016) – A search for a missing person leads Shelby straight into a web of corporate corruption.
- Laced In Lies (2017) – Lies and secrets threaten to unravel Shelby's suburban life.
- Deadly Escape (2018) – Shelby must go on the run to escape a deadly threat that hits too close to home.
- Marked for Murder (2019) – A target is placed on Shelby's back, forcing her to make difficult choices.
- Ghostly Serenade (2020) – Shelby encounters a mysterious case that blends her usual mob troubles with eerie secrets.
- Dying Wishes (2020) – A dying man's final request pulls Shelby into a dangerous search for hidden treasure.
- High Stakes Crime (2021) – High-stakes poker, gold mines, and murder weave together as Shelby goes undercover.
- Ties That Bind (2022) – Family loyalties are tested as the lines between Shelby's two worlds blur completely.
- Grave Duty (2023) – Shelby faces a grim task that connects past secrets to a current threat.
- Presumed Dead (2024) – Shelby must navigate a complex conspiracy where nothing is as it seems.
- Poisoned Truth (2025) – The latest entry in the core series, bringing fresh danger and secrets.
Novellas and Prequels: Where Do They Fit?
Colleen Helme has released several companion novellas that expand on the Shelby Nichols universe. Here is where you should insert them into your reading schedule:
- A Midsummer Night's Murder (2018) – A prequel novella set before the events of Carrots. While it can be read first, it is best enjoyed after you have read a few books in the main series to appreciate the backstory.
- Devil in a Black Suit (2018) – A standalone spin-off novel told entirely from the perspective of Alejandro Ramos, the enigmatic hitman. Chronologically, this book fits between Crossing Danger (Book 7) and Devious Minds (Book 8).
- License to Steal (2022) – A fun side-novella that fits into the timeline between High Stakes Crime (Book 15) and Ties That Bind (Book 16).
Spin-Offs and Crossovers
If you want to explore more of Colleen Helme's universe, she has created two distinct spin-off lines that connect to Shelby's world:
The Sand and Shadows Series
This paranormal suspense series centers on Ella St. John, a trauma nurse with a healing touch who was first introduced in the main Shelby Nichols series. It features crossovers and cameo appearances from characters in the main series.
- Angel Falls (Book 1)
- Desert Devil (Book 2)
Love, Loyalty & Larceny Series (Co-authored with Jocelyn Drake)
This series functions as a meta-fictional spin-off. Within the fiction of the novels, the stories are framed as romantic comedies written by a character from the Shelby Nichols series, inspired by the chemistry of the people around them. The series includes:
- The Hitman and the Psychic (2025)
- The Mob Boss and the Assassin (2026)
What to Know Before You Start
The Shelby Nichols Adventure series blends the cozy elements of amateur sleuthing with the gritty tension of romantic suspense and mafia drama. If you enjoy Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series or lighthearted paranormal mysteries, you will feel right at home. The core of the series is the chemistry between Shelby, her family, and the dangerous hitman Ramos. While there is a romantic tension between Shelby and Ramos, she remains committed to her husband Chris, adding a realistic and grounding dynamic to the paranormal chaos.