Recommended Reading Path: Susan Hunter Mystery in Order
The best way to experience Susan Hunter's chaotic, charming adventures is to read the books in order of their publication. Because Susan’s personal life, her career as a weight loss adviser, her racquetball matches, and her evolving relationships develop chronologically from book to book, jumping around can spoil some of the fun character growth.
Here is the recommended reading list for the series:
- Sunshine Hunter (2012) – Susan flees to sunny Florida after a bad breakup, only to be stalked and eventually pulled back home by a murder investigation.
- Big Apple Hunter (2012) – Susan heads to New York City, where big city lights bring big city trouble and a brand-new mystery.
- Sin City Hunter (2012) – A trip to Las Vegas lands Susan right in the middle of a magic show mishap and a fresh murder investigation.
- Big Easy Hunter (2012) – Set in New Orleans, this entry blends wedding bells and festive atmospheres with a tense home break-in case.
- Windy City Hunter (2012) – Susan dives into Chicago's competitive culinary scene, finding herself entangled in a cooking competition murder.
- Maple Leaf Hunter (2013) – A trip across the border into Canada brings beautiful landscapes and another unexpected mystery to solve.
- Buckeye Hunter (2015) – The series brings Susan back to her home roots in Ohio for a final set of humorous sleuthing adventures.
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order
In the case of the Susan Hunter Mystery series, the publication order and the chronological order are identical. Maddie Cochere released the first five books in rapid succession during 2012, followed by the Canadian escapade in 2013, and the Ohio finale in 2015. There are no prequels or time-jumping side stories to worry about, making this an exceptionally straightforward series to collect and read.
The Two Sisters and a Journalist Shared Universe Crossover
For dedicated fans of Maddie Cochere's work, the fun doesn't stop with Susan's standalone series. Cochere has established a shared universe between her books. Susan Hunter makes a special crossover guest appearance in the third book of the Two Sisters and a Journalist series, titled Murder Welcomes You to Buxley (published in 2015). If you want to see Susan interact with Jo Ravens and the rest of the Buxley crew, you should add this crossover book to your reading list after finishing the main Susan Hunter novels.
What to Know Before You Start
Maddie Cochere draws heavily on her own real-life experiences to bring Susan to life. Like Susan, Cochere worked for a weight loss company and played racquetball in the 1980s. This gives Susan's athletic pursuits and everyday career struggles a fun, authentic flavor. Readers should note that these books lean heavily into chick lit tropes, emphasizing humor, romance, quirky family dynamics, and lightweight suspense rather than gritty, hardboiled detective work. They are perfect, breezy weekend reads for fans of cozy mysteries.