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Shirley McClintock Books in Order

7 Books
1990 – 1997 Published
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Reading order

The Recommended Reading Order for Shirley McClintock

For the best reading experience, we highly recommend reading the Shirley McClintock books in publication order. Because the books follow a continuous timeline where Shirley ages, experiences personal growth, and eventually transitions from a rugged Colorado rancher to a New Mexico innkeeper, reading them sequentially is essential. Her relationships, particularly with recurring characters like her friend J.Q. and daughter Allison, evolve naturally across the novels.

Here is the complete publication and chronological order for the series:

  1. Dead in the Scrub (1990)
  2. The Unexpected Corpse (1990)
  3. Deservedly Dead (1992)
  4. Death and the Delinquent (1992)
  5. Death Served Up Cold (1994)
  6. A Ceremonial Death (1995)
  7. Here's to the Newly Dead (1997)

A Closer Look at the Books

1. Dead in the Scrub (1990)

This is where readers first meet Shirley McClintock, a widow in her late fifties who manages a sprawling Colorado ranch. While out hunting on her property, Shirley stumbles upon a historic skeleton alongside a fresh corpse. The investigation quickly pulls her into the town's darker underbelly, exposing deep-seated religious bigotry, corporate greed, and environmental exploitation. Sheri S. Tepper's signature feminist and ecological themes are front and center from the very first page.

2. The Unexpected Corpse (1990)

In the second installment, Shirley deals with family drama and inheritance disputes when her cousin's husband is murdered. Shirley is forced to dissect a web of long-held family secrets and greedy motives in order to find the culprit. It showcases Shirley's unique brand of no-nonsense investigative logic and highlights the complexities of small-town domestic life.

3. Deservedly Dead (1992)

Shirley becomes the prime suspect when the new owner of the neighboring Jewell place is found murdered. The victim had been widely hated for his destructive ecological practices, including poisoning the soil and killing off local wildlife. Shirley, who openly despised the man's actions, must find the true killer from a long list of suspects to clear her own name and protect her home.

4. Death and the Delinquent (1992)

Taking a vacation in New Mexico with her friend J.Q., her daughter Allison, and Allison's obnoxious classmate April, Shirley hopes for rest. Instead, April is shot and killed by a sniper. Shirley, despite being temporarily incapacitated and on crutches, looks into the death. She uncovers a conspiracy involving illegal Native American pottery smuggling and a kidnapped newborn infant.

5. Death Served Up Cold (1994)

Now operating a guest ranch and inn known as the 'Frog House,' Shirley finds herself dealing with a bizarre tragedy under her own roof. A reclusive guest dies from a mysterious, inexplicable cause that baffles medical examiners. Determined to protect her inn's reputation, Shirley starts digging and unearths secrets that have been buried for decades.

6. A Ceremonial Death (1995)

Shirley is horrified when she discovers the mutilated body of her neighbor, Shadow Dancer (born Bridget McCree), a local cosmic healer preparing for an upcoming spiritual ceremony. As Shirley examines the victim's complex personal relationships and torrid love affairs, she must also navigate local rumors linking the crime to UFO sightings and cattle mutilations.

7. Here's to the Newly Dead (1997)

The final book in the series takes place near Shirley's guest ranch in New Mexico. When a young pair of newlyweds is found murdered in a local canyon, Shirley discovers that almost everything about their identities and lives was fabricated, except for the massive amounts of cash they were carrying. Shirley must navigate a final web of lies to close the case.

What to Know Before You Start

The Shirley McClintock series is a unique hybrid of the classic cozy mystery and the eco-feminist thriller. Sheri S. Tepper, writing as B.J. Oliphant, injected a lot of her personal views into the novels. Readers should expect regular, passionate critiques regarding environmental destruction, animal cruelty, narrow-minded religious groups, and women's rights.

Shirley is not your typical cozy mystery sleuth. She is older, weathered, physically capable, and doesn't care about social pleasantries if they get in the way of the truth. While the mysteries themselves can be read as standalones, you will miss out on Shirley's life journey—especially her transition from ranch owner to guest-house host—if you read them out of order.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the recommended starting point for the Shirley McClintock series?

You should start with the first book, Dead in the Scrub (1990). This book introduces Shirley's character, her ranch, and the distinct eco-mystery style of the series.

QWho is the author behind the pseudonym B.J. Oliphant?

B.J. Oliphant is a pen name used by the famous science fiction and fantasy author Sheri S. Tepper, who also wrote mysteries under the name A.J. Orde.

QAre the Shirley McClintock books standalones?

While each book features a self-contained murder mystery that is solved by the end, the character development and Shirley's shift from rancher to innkeeper follow a strict chronological progression. We highly recommend reading them in order.

QWhere does the Shirley McClintock series take place?

The early books are set in rural Colorado on Shirley's family ranch. Later in the series, the setting shifts to the scenic and eccentric landscape of New Mexico, where Shirley opens a guest inn.

QIs the Shirley McClintock series still ongoing?

No, the series is complete. The final book, Here's to the Newly Dead, was published in 1997, and author Sheri S. Tepper passed away in 2016.