Books On Board

Tara Holloway Books in Order

  • 15 Books
  • 2011 – 2017 Published

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Reading order
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The Recommended Reading Order

For the best experience, the Tara Holloway series should be read in chronological order. Because Tara's personal relationships, career trajectory at the IRS, and the ongoing saga of her love life develop steadily across the series, skipping around can lead to minor character spoilers. The publication order perfectly mirrors the chronological order, provided you slot the three novellas into their proper narrative placements.

Chronological and Publication Reading List

  1. Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure (2011) - Introducing Tara Holloway as she hunts down a tax-evading ice cream vendor and a Ponzi scheme operator, while meeting landscaper Brett Ellington.
  2. Death, Taxes, and a Skinny No-Whip Latte (2012) - Tara teams up with her partner Eddie to investigate a murderous loan shark hiding behind a coffee shop facade.
  3. Death, Taxes, and Extra-Hold Hairspray (2012) - A beauty pageant and hair salon tax fraud case keep Tara busy while she navigates office politics and romance.
  4. Death, Taxes, and a Sequined Clutch (2012) - Novella 3.5. A quick, fun holiday story featuring Tara trying to enjoy a special event despite tax drama.
  5. Death, Taxes, and Peach Sangria (2013) - Tara goes after a tax-evading husband-and-wife duo running a shady construction business.
  6. Death, Taxes, and Hot-Pink Leg Warmers (2013) - Tara goes undercover at a local strip club to investigate mortgage fraud, while her boss Lu 'The Lobo' Lobozinski pushes a fitness craze.
  7. Death, Taxes, and Green Tea Ice Cream (2013) - Facing an unexpected suspension and a massive lawsuit, Tara seeks comfort in green tea ice cream while trying to clear her name.
  8. Death, Taxes, and Mistletoe Mayhem (2013) - Novella 6.5. A festive caper that brings holiday cheer, a little danger, and financial sleuthing.
  9. Death, Taxes, and Silver Spurs (2014) - Tara is assigned to audit a charming country music star, testing her professional boundaries and her relationship with boyfriend Nick Pratt.
  10. Death, Taxes, and Cheap Sunglasses (2015) - Tara goes deep undercover to dismantle a complex financial network tied to a drug cartel.
  11. Death, Taxes, and a Chocolate Cannoli (2015) - Tara investigates a tax-cheating Italian bakery with potential ties to organized crime.
  12. Death, Taxes, and a Satin Garter (2016) - Tara digs into the books of a sketchy wedding planner and matchmaking service.
  13. Death, Taxes, and Sweet Potato Fries (2017) - Financial irregularities at a trendy local eatery lead Tara into a web of deceit.
  14. Death, Taxes, and Pecan Pie (2017) - Novella 11.5. Chronologically set right before the finale, this novella sets the stage for Tara's big day.
  15. Death, Taxes, and a Shotgun Wedding (2017) - The series finale. Tara prepares to walk down the aisle, but a dangerous criminal threat forces her to defend her wedding day.

Understanding the Novellas and Timeline Placements

Diane Kelly wrote three companion novellas that expand Tara's world. While they are not mandatory to understand the main case files, they enrich the romance and character dynamics. Death, Taxes, and a Sequined Clutch takes place between books 3 and 4. Death, Taxes, and Mistletoe Mayhem takes place between books 6 and 7. The final novella, Death, Taxes, and Pecan Pie, takes place between books 11 and 12, serving as a direct prelude to the series finale, Death, Taxes, and a Shotgun Wedding.

What to Know Before You Start

The Tara Holloway series stands out in the cozy mystery genre because of its authentic financial elements. Author Diane Kelly is a former tax advisor, CPA, and attorney who worked directly with white-collar crimes. Her background, combined with her time at the Texas Citizen Police Academy, allowed her to construct realistic tax fraud cases while keeping the tone incredibly light, humorous, and entertaining. The books are written in a witty first-person narrative, filled with Dallas setting details, coffee addictions, and a lovable cast of recurring characters, including Tara's beehive-wearing boss Lu 'The Lobo' Lobozinski.

Other Series by Diane Kelly

If you finish Tara's adventures and want more of Diane Kelly's signature style, she has written several other popular cozy mystery series. These include the Paw Enforcement series (featuring a K-9 police duo), the House-Flipper Mysteries, the Busted series, and the Southern Homebrew Mysteries. Although they share Kelly's trademark humor and strong female leads, there are no official crossovers or character cameos between Tara Holloway and these other series, meaning they can be enjoyed entirely independently.

Frequently Asked

What is the best starting point for the Tara Holloway series?

You should start with the very first book, Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure. Because Tara's career and romantic life evolve continuously, reading the series in chronological order provides the best experience.

How many books are in the Tara Holloway series?

The series consists of 15 works in total, which includes 12 full-length novels and 3 companion novellas.

Are the novellas necessary to understand the main plot?

No, the novellas are optional side stories. However, they add fun context to Tara's relationships, and the final novella, Death, Taxes, and Pecan Pie, serves as a direct lead-in to the series finale.

Where is the Tara Holloway series set?

The series is set in and around Dallas, Texas, where Tara works as an IRS Special Agent in the Criminal Investigation Division.

Is Tara Holloway based on a real person?

While Tara is fictional, her cases and daily operations are heavily inspired by author Diane Kelly's real-life career as a tax advisor, CPA, and assistant attorney general.

Are there any crossover characters in Diane Kelly's other books?

No, there are no crossovers. Diane Kelly's other series, such as Paw Enforcement and the House-Flipper Mysteries, are set in different universes and do not feature Tara Holloway.