How to Read the Worst Detective Ever Series
The Worst Detective Ever series, penned by USA Today bestselling author Christy Barritt, follows Joey Darling, a Hollywood actress famous for playing TV detective Raven Remington. Reeling from a canceled show, a failed marriage, and the mysterious disappearance of her father, Joey seeks refuge in the Outer Banks. Instead of peace, she finds herself repeatedly mistaken for a real-life investigator, bumbling through dangerous yet hilarious crimes. Because the series features an ongoing search for Joey's father and a developing romantic arc, it is highly recommended to read the books in order of publication.
The Worst Detective Ever Books in Publication Order
Each book in the series presents a self-contained mystery, but the overarching character growth and subplots connect the titles chronologically. Here is the complete list of books in the recommended reading order:
- Ready to Fumble (2017) – Joey Darling retreats to her aunt's hair salon in the Outer Banks, only to be mistaken for a real detective and dragged into a local murder investigation.
- Reign of Error (2017) – When Joey is framed for a murder she didn't commit, she must put her fictional investigative training to the test to clear her name.
- Safety in Blunders (2017) – Joey's newfound reputation as a sleuth brings a fresh set of troubles as she investigates a case involving suspicious real estate developers.
- Join the Flub (2017) – Chaos strikes a local Outer Banks festival, and Joey is once again called upon to help solve a crime that hits close to home.
- Blooper Freak (2017) – When a close friend is accused of murder, Joey intervenes to find the truth, uncovering a deeper conspiracy that puts her own life at risk.
- Flaw Abiding Citizen (2017) – As crucial clues about her father's disappearance finally surface, Joey goes rogue to get answers, ignoring the rules and her stalker fan club.
- Gaffe Out Loud (2018) – Just as Joey's acting career and relationship with Detective Jackson Sullivan look promising, she finds a corpse in her newly purchased home.
- Joke and Dagger (2019) – During a filming gig on Lantern Beach, someone alters the movie script to mimic a real-life murder, placing Joey and Jackson in immediate danger.
- Wreck the Halls (2019) – This festive holiday novella brings murder and mayhem to the Outer Banks when a local Santa Claus is found dead.
- Glitch and Famous (2021) – Planning a wedding gets complicated when an old acquaintance seeking refuge is attacked, forcing Joey to balance cake tastings with crime-solving.
- Not on My Botch (2023) – Joey's newlywed life is thrown into disarray when an impostor claiming to be the real Joey Darling arrives, sparking a high-stakes identity crisis.
- One Hit Blunder (2023) – Researching a role as a tragic one-hit-wonder singer for a biopic, Joey begins to suspect the singer's accidental death was actually foul play.
- The Faux Must Go On (2025) – Joey goes undercover at an exclusive, superficial self-help retreat in a beachfront mansion to help a friend, only to expose a dark web of lies.
In-Universe Tie-Ins and Novellas
For readers who want to experience the show-within-a-show, Christy Barritt published Relentless in 2017. This action-packed companion novella is written as if it were an actual episode of the fictional TV show Joey Darling starred in, following the ex-CIA operative character Raven Remington on a high-stakes mission. While not required to understand the main series, reading it after Ready to Fumble adds fun context to Joey's Hollywood past. Additionally, the holiday mystery Wreck the Halls acts as a cozy bridge between the eighth and tenth main novels, keeping the timeline intact.
What to Know Before You Start
Christy Barritt's series is a beloved staple of the Christian cozy mystery genre. The books offer clean, wholesome content with light faith-infused themes, gentle romance, and plenty of humor. Key dynamics to watch include the slow-burn romance between Joey and the straight-laced Detective Jackson Sullivan, her interactions with her thrill-seeking neighbor Zane Oakley, and the quirky support of her Aunt Dizzy. The Outer Banks setting serves as a character itself, blending beachside warmth with small-town secrets.