Tess and Tilly Books in Order

Where to Start the Tess and Tilly Series

For the best reading experience, you should start the Tess and Tilly series with the very first book, The Christmas Letter. While each installment features a self-contained murder mystery that is resolved by the final page, the series relies on a strong, continuous character arc. Tess's personal journey, including her blossoming romance with Tony, her growing family of pets, and her long-term quest to uncover the truth about her missing father, develops sequentially from book to book. Reading them out of order will spoil these heartwarming milestones and key character developments.

Tess and Tilly Publication and Reading Order

The series is best read in order of publication, which aligns perfectly with the chronological order of events in White Eagle. Below is the complete list of Tess and Tilly mysteries:

1. The Christmas Letter (2017) – Tess and Tilly team up with a reclusive genius to solve a friend’s murder amid preparations for White Eagle’s Christmas Festival, establishing the core relationships of the series.
2. The Valentine Mystery (2018) – Tess investigates a fatal car accident that reveals secrets from the past, all while organizing a busy pet adoption event.
3. The Mother's Day Mishap (2018) – Springtime brings a fresh investigation as Tess digs into a decades-old mystery that hits close to home.
4. The Halloween House (2018) – A spooky, seasonal mystery surrounding a supposedly haunted local property.
5. The Thanksgiving Trip (2018) – Tess travels outside of White Eagle, bringing Tilly along for a holiday gathering that quickly turns deadly.
6. The Saint Paddy's Promise (2019) – A heartbreaking tale of lost love from sixty years ago resurfaces, prompting Tess to find answers.
7. The Halloween Haunting (2019) – Spooky autumn traditions return to Montana with a fresh puzzle for the town's favorite postal carrier.
8. The Christmas Clause (2019) – The holiday season is disrupted by a festive mystery that challenges Tess's deductive skills.
9. The Puppy Project (2020) – A heartwarming, animal-centric mystery that focuses heavily on Tilly and the local pet community.
10. The Wedding Plan (2020) – Tess and Tony prepare for their big day, but wedding planning must take a backseat to a murder investigation.
11. The Baby Plan (2021) – Life changes bring new joy and new challenges to Tess and Tony, along with a fresh small-town puzzle.
12. The Ghostly Groundskeeper (2021) – An eerie mystery at a local estate keeps Tess guessing.
13. The Murder Chronicles (2022) – Tess is forced to look closely at local history to resolve a modern crime.
14. The Castle Caper (2022) – A grand setting provides the backdrop for a clever and fast-paced whodunit.
15. The Christmas Visitor (2023) – Holiday magic and secrets collide when an unexpected guest arrives in White Eagle.
16. The Sleuthing Game (2024) – Tess must unravel a complicated web of clues left behind in a local parlor game.
17. The Firework Frenzy (2024) – A Fourth of July celebration is rocked by an explosive crime.
18. The Ghost Therapists (2024) – Tess and Tony chair a Halloween event featuring paranormal psychologists, while Tess navigates major life transitions. (Note: Some retailers and databases list this book as The Ghosts Therapists).

Understanding the Timeline and Holiday Themes

One of the defining features of the Tess and Tilly series is its structure around holidays and seasonal events. Kathi Daley intentionally anchors almost every mystery in a specific time of year—ranging from Christmas and Valentine's Day to Mother's Day, Saint Patrick's Day, the Fourth of July, and Halloween. Because the characters age and experience major milestones (such as marriage and family expansion) alongside these seasonal celebrations, the timeline flows forward in real-time. Following the publication order ensures you experience the holidays and Tess's life stages in the sequence the author intended.

What to Know Before You Start

The Tess and Tilly books belong to the cozy mystery subgenre, meaning they feature clean language, off-page violence, and focus heavily on community, family, and relationships. Animal lovers will find the series particularly appealing; Tilly the golden retriever is a central character who assists Tess on her mail route, and Tess eventually adopts kittens who become recurring fixtures in the household. Additionally, Tess’s search for her missing father serves as a overarching mystery that spans the entire series, adding a layer of narrative continuity that rewards long-term readers.

Crossovers and Companion Series

While Kathi Daley is famous for connecting her various cozy mystery universes—such as crossing characters between the Zoe Donovan and TJ Jensen series—the Tess and Tilly books remain entirely self-contained. You do not need to read any of Daley's other series to understand the events in White Eagle, Montana. However, fans who enjoy the clean romance, pet-friendly subplots, and seasonal settings of Tess and Tilly will likely appreciate Daley's other popular series, such as The Inn at Holiday Bay or Rescue Alaska, which share a similar heartwarming tone.