The Recommended Reading Order for Southern Sisters
To fully appreciate the evolving lives and hilarious, bickering relationship of Patricia Anne 'Mouse' Hollowell and Mary Alice 'Sister' Crane, you should read the Southern Sisters series in publication order. Because the books follow the chronological progression of the sisters' lives, family events, and personal milestones, reading them in the order they were published provides the most seamless and rewarding experience.
Southern Sisters Books in Publication Order
The series consists of eight novels published between 1996 and 2001. Here is the complete list of books in their recommended reading order:
- Murder on a Girls' Night Out (1996)
- Murder on a Bad Hair Day (1996)
- Murder Runs in the Family (1997)
- Murder Makes Waves (1997)
- Murder Gets a Life (1998)
- Murder Shoots the Bull (1999)
- Murder Carries a Torch (2000)
- Murder Boogies with Elvis (2001)
Understanding the Southern Sisters: Mouse vs. Sister
At the absolute heart of the series is the delightful contrast between the two main characters, who are in their sixties and living in Birmingham, Alabama:
- Patricia Anne 'Mouse' Hollowell: The narrator of the novels, Patricia Anne is a sensible, petite, retired schoolteacher. She is happily married to her husband, Sam, prefers a quiet life, and constantly tries to rein in her sister's wild impulses.
- Mary Alice 'Sister' Crane: Flamboyant, large-bodied, and wealthy from her multiple marriages (she is thrice-widowed), Mary Alice is impulsive, energetic, and always drags Patricia Anne into bizarre, dangerous, and comedic situations.
The Books in Detail
1. Murder on a Girls' Night Out (1996)
The series kicks off when Mary Alice impulsively purchases a country-western bar called the 'Oasis'. The sisters' new venture is immediately derailed when they discover a strangled body hidden inside the bar's wishing well. This debut novel won the prestigious Agatha Award for Best First Novel, introducing readers to the sisters' signature dynamic.
2. Murder on a Bad Hair Day (1996)
Set just weeks before Christmas in Birmingham, the sisters attend a local art gallery opening showcasing the work of a popular folk artist. When the gallery owner is murdered and a young assistant goes missing from the hospital under suspicious circumstances, Patricia Anne must balance holiday baking and decorating with a search for the truth.
3. Murder Runs in the Family (1997)
Genealogy becomes deadly when a professional researcher hired to trace the sisters' family history is murdered. As the sisters dig into their own family tree, they uncover long-buried secrets, eccentric relatives, and a killer determined to keep the past hidden.
4. Murder Makes Waves (1997)
The sisters leave Birmingham behind for a vacation on the sunny beaches of Destin, Florida. However, relaxation is cut short when a body washes ashore, forcing the duo to swap their beach towels for investigative notebooks as they navigate local coastal secrets.
5. Murder Gets a Life (1998)
When Mary Alice's son marries a young woman named Sunshine, the sisters head out to visit her family's eccentric, junk-filled trailer compound. They stumble upon a corpse on the floor, and when the local sheriff is slow to act in the sweltering heat, the sisters step in to investigate.
6. Murder Shoots the Bull (1999)
An arson incident at their house and a bizarre trial involving a man shot in a rather delicate location keep the sisters busy. They must sort through a range of suspects, from shady local characters to high-society bank presidents, to catch the culprit.
7. Murder Carries a Torch (2000)
After returning from a European vacation, the sisters are asked by a distraught cousin to find his wife, who has run off with a snake-handling preacher. Their search takes them into a remote mountain community where they discover a corpse instead of the missing wife.
8. Murder Boogies with Elvis (2001)
In the final installment of the series, published posthumously, the sisters find themselves entangled in a murder mystery at an Elvis Presley impersonator convention. It is a fittingly theatrical and humorous finale to their sleuthing adventures.
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order
For the Southern Sisters series, the chronological order is identical to the publication order. The narrative timeline moves forward chronologically from the first book to the eighth book, tracking the aging of the sisters, the marriages of their children, and the changing landscape of Birmingham. Trying to read the books out of order will result in minor spoilers regarding their family lives and personal relationships.
Practical Reader Advice
If you are planning to start the Southern Sisters series, here is what you need to know:
- Best Starting Point: You should definitely start with Murder on a Girls' Night Out. It establishes the central characters, their family dynamics, and their contrasting personalities.
- Can they be read as standalones? While the murder mystery in each book is self-contained and resolved by the final page, the ongoing character development, recurring family members, and inside jokes build upon previous books. To get the most enjoyment, do not read them out of sequence.
- Spin-offs and Tie-ins: There are no official spin-offs or co-authored books. The series remains a concise, eight-book collection due to the author's passing in 2001.
What to Know Before You Start
Anne George, an Alabama native and former teacher, was also a highly accomplished poet who served as Alabama's State Poet in 1994. Her 1993 poetry collection, Some of It Is True, received a Pulitzer Prize nomination. George brought her lyrical ear for dialogue and deep love for Alabama culture to the Southern Sisters series, filling it with authentic Southern humor, regional food, and local landmarks like Birmingham's Vulcan statue. The books are celebrated for featuring older female protagonists who tackle life and mystery with wisdom, humor, and resilience.