How to Read the Calamity Jayne Series
For the best reading experience, we highly recommend reading the Calamity Jayne series in publication order. The books rely heavily on character development, recurring town residents, and the slow-burn romance between Tressa Jayne Turner and Rick Townsend (the ranger behind her "Calamity" nickname). Reading them out of order will spoil Tressa's growth as an amateur investigator and her evolving relationships.
The Calamity Jayne Books in Publication Order
Below is the complete list of Tressa Jayne Turner mysteries in their recommended reading order, including their alternate titles (which can sometimes cause confusion for collectors):
- Calamity Jayne (2006) – The book that starts it all. Tressa finds a body in a trunk and has to prove her innocence while dodging Rick Townsend.
- Calamity Jayne Rides Again (also published as Calamity Jayne and the Fowl Play at the Fair) (2006) – Tressa heads to the Iowa State Fair, dealing with fairground chaos and a missing cousin.
- Ghouls Just Want to Have Fun (also published as Calamity Jayne and the Haunted Homecoming) (2006) – A spooky mystery centered around a high school reunion.
- Calamity Jayne Goes to College (also published as Calamity Jayne and the Campus Caper) (2007) – Tressa enrolls in college courses, only to find herself investigating a campus conspiracy.
- Calamity Jayne Heads West (also published as Calamity Jayne in the Wild, Wild West) (2007) – A change of scenery to Arizona, involving the theft of a quirky fertility figurine.
- Anchors Aweigh (also published as Calamity Jayne and the Hijinks on the High Seas) (2008) – Tressa takes a cruise, but a mystery follows her onto the ship.
- Six Geese a' Slaying (2013) – A holiday novella (often referred to as Book 6.5) originally published as part of the 12 Days of Killer Fiction anthology.
- Calamity Jayne and the Trouble with Tandems (2014) – Tressa returns to Grandville, Iowa, sorting through tandem bicycle mishaps and murder.
- Calamity Jayne and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Lawn Gnome (2015) – The eighth full-length novel, featuring stolen lawn gnomes and small-town secrets.
Chronological Caveats and Novella Placement
While the holiday novella Six Geese a' Slaying is a shorter story, it should not be read first as a prequel. Chronologically and narratively, it is best enjoyed as Book 6.5, fitting between Anchors Aweigh and Calamity Jayne and the Trouble with Tandems. Reading it early will spoil the relationship status between Tressa and Rick Townsend.
Additionally, note that Kathleen Bacus's holiday novella Six Geese a' Slaying shares a very similar name with Donna Andrews' Meg Langslow novel Six Geese a-Slaying. Make sure you have the version by Kathleen Bacus when reading Tressa's adventures!
What to Know Before You Start
The Tressa Jayne Turner series combines chick-lit humor, cozy mystery investigations, and light romance. Author Kathleen Bacus is a former Iowa State Trooper and consumer fraud investigator. Her law enforcement background brings a touch of realistic investigative procedure to Tressa's chaotic, accident-prone whodunits. Fans of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum will find a similar vibe here: a well-meaning heroine who frequently gets into trouble but always manages to find her way out with help from a colorful cast, including her gun-toting grandmother, "Hellion Hannah."
Will There Be a Ninth Calamity Jayne Book?
Although the main series concluded in 2015, Kathleen Bacus has teased a potential ninth installment titled Calamity Jayne and the Kiss Me, Kill Me Couples' Retreat. There is currently no official release date, but the project remains a hopeful prospect for the series' dedicated fanbase.