Southern Ghost Hunter Mystery Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order for Southern Ghost Hunter Mystery

If you want to experience the full charm, character development, and ongoing romantic tension of Angie Fox's Southern Ghost Hunter Mystery series, the absolute best way to read them is in chronological order (which matches the publication order). While each book features a standalone mystery that is resolved by the final page, the underlying relationships—particularly between Verity, her ghostly housemate Frankie, and deputy sheriff Ellis Wydell—evolve significantly from one book to the next.

Skipping around can lead to major spoilers regarding Verity's living situation, her supernatural abilities, and her love life. To help you navigate the series, here is the complete chronological sequence of all novels and intermediate novellas:

1. Southern Spirits (Book 1, 2015) – The novel that starts it all. We meet down-on-her-luck graphic designer Verity Long, who accidentally traps a 1920s gangster ghost named Frankie on her property. To save her home, she agrees to help the local deputy sheriff solve a decades-old cold case at a haunted estate.
2. A Ghostly Gift (Book 1.5, 2015) – A festive Christmas novella. Verity helps a restless spirit in a friend's holiday shop while learning to cooperate with her newly bound ghostly companion.
3. The Skeleton in the Closet (Book 2, 2015) – Verity is hired to investigate a haunting in Sugarland's historic library, only to stumble upon a fresh skeleton and a web of town secrets.
4. Ghost of a Chance (Book 2.5, 2016) – A short holiday story. Verity attempts to enjoy a peaceful Thanksgiving, but she gets dragged into locating a missing antique with supernatural ties.
5. The Haunted Heist (Book 3, 2016) – When the Sugarland bank is targeted by ghostly bank robbers from the past, Verity must go deep into the town's history to stop a spiritual crime wave.
6. Deader Homes and Gardens (Book 4, 2016) – Verity tackles a haunted historic home restoration project, dealing with stubborn spirits and very real, dangerous human suspects.
7. Dog Gone Ghost (Book 4.5, 2017) – A fun novella set at the Sugarland Animal Rescue Center. Animals are mysteriously being let out of their cages, and the ghostly culprit holds the key to an old missing child case.
8. Sweet Tea and Spirits (Book 5, 2017) – Sugarland's historic inn is plagued by demanding, high-society ghosts, and Verity is brought in to soothe the spirits before a major event.
9. Murder on the Sugarland Express (Book 6, 2017) – What was supposed to be a scenic, relaxing train ride turns into a murder mystery when a passenger is killed, forcing Verity and Frankie to work on the rails.
10. Pecan Pies and Dead Guys (Book 7, 2018) – Family secrets and delicious desserts collide when Verity investigates a murder that hits close to home in Sugarland.
11. The Mint Julep Murders (Book 8, 2019) – Verity heads to the high-stakes world of horse racing, where a wealthy owner's ghost refuses to cross over until his killer is brought to justice.
12. The Ghost of Christmas Past (Book 8.5, 2019) – A Christmas-themed novella. Verity tries to survive a holiday visit from her boyfriend's overbearing family, made worse by a meddlesome ghost.
13. Southern Bred and Dead (Book 9, 2020) – Verity dives into a historic estate's dark past to clear the name of an innocent suspect.
14. The Haunted Homecoming (Book 10, 2021) – Sugarland's high school reunion becomes haunted when a long-dead spirit decides to crash the party to reveal the truth about a decades-old mystery.
15. Give Up The Ghost (Book 11, 2022) – A local time capsule from 1985 is opened, revealing a scandalous blackmail plot and triggering a modern-day murder that Verity must solve.
16. Dread and Buried (Book 12, 2023) – A graveyard shift turns literal when Verity investigates suspicious spiritual activity in Sugarland's oldest cemetery.
17. Death at the Drive-In (Book 13, 2024) – A nostalgic drive-in movie theater becomes a crime scene when a body is found, and Verity has to deal with movie-loving spirits to find the killer.
18. Secrets, Lies and Fireflies (Book 14, 2025) – A summer mystery filled with glowing fireflies, hidden town secrets, and a ghost who refuses to let sleeping dogs lie.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

For this series, publication order and chronological order are identical. Angie Fox has written and released the stories in the exact order they occur in Verity's life. Because of this, readers do not have to worry about complicated timelines or jumping backward in time. Even the holiday novellas (which are numbered with decimal places like 1.5, 2.5, 4.5, and 8.5) were published in their correct chronological spots between the main novels.

Chronological and Order Caveats

While you can technicaly skip the novellas and stick strictly to the full-length numbered novels (Books 1, 2, 3, etc.), doing so means you will miss out on key relationship milestones. The romance between Verity and Ellis, as well as the deepening friendship and banter between Verity and her ghostly partner Frankie, progress significantly during these shorter stories. If you skip A Ghostly Gift (Book 1.5) or Dog Gone Ghost (Book 4.5), you might find characters references things that feel unfamiliar in the next full-length book. Therefore, the safest and most satisfying reading path is to read every entry, including the novellas, in order.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into Sugarland, Tennessee, here are a few things to keep in mind about the series' universe:

• The Spooky Tone: This is a cozy paranormal mystery series. While there are ghosts, murders, and supernatural elements, the tone is lighthearted, humorous, and heartwarming rather than terrifying. You won't find graphic gore or horror here.
• Verity's Companions: Verity's sidekicks are a major highlight of the series. Frankie is a ghost from the Prohibition era who loves mafia slang and acts as Verity's reluctant partner. Lucy is Verity's pet skunk who has a big personality and frequently steals the show.
• The Romantic Subplot: The slow-burn romance between Verity and Deputy Sheriff Ellis Wydell is a major running thread throughout the books. It adds a lovely layer of heart to the mystery-solving.

Collections and Special Releases

For readers who prefer to get multiple stories at once, Angie Fox released a holiday-themed collection titled Haunted for Christmas in 2023. This collection brings together two of the series' popular festive novellas: A Ghostly Gift (Book 1.5) and Ghost of a Chance (Book 2.5). It is a perfect addition for readers looking to catch up on the early seasonal side stories in one convenient volume.