Angela M. Sanders Books in Order

Where to Start with Angela M. Sanders

If you are new to the stylish and witty mysteries of Angela M. Sanders, your best starting point depends on the flavor of cozy mystery you enjoy most:

• For Vintage Fashion & Classic Detective Vibes: Start with The Lanvin Murders (2014), which introduces vintage clothing store owner Joanna Hayworth in Portland.
• For Paranormal Cozy Mysteries: Start with Bait and Witch (2020), the debut of the Witch Way Librarian series featuring Josie Way.
• For Quirky Humor: Begin with The Booster Club (2015), featuring a hilarious cast of retired petty criminals.
• For Breezy Beachside Mystery (as Clover Tate): Start with Blown Away (2017), the first book in the Kite Shop Mysteries.

Joanna Hayworth Vintage Clothing Mysteries

This is the series that established Sanders's reputation for blending retro glamour, classic cocktail recipes, and intricate puzzles. Set in Portland, Oregon, the books follow Joanna Hayworth, a vintage clothing store owner who constantly finds herself untangling crimes linked to historical fashion pieces.

The series is best read in publication order, as Joanna's personal life, her store's success, and her relationship with her eccentric young helpers (the Book Bunnies) develop over time. There are no major chronological discrepancies or prequel stories, making the reading order straightforward:

1. The Lanvin Murders (2014)
2. Dior or Die (2014)
3. Slain in Schiaparelli (2015)
4. The Halston Hit (2016)
5. Head Case (2018)
6. Secret of the Blue Lily (2020)

Witch Way Librarian Mysteries

In this magical cozy series, librarian Josie Way relocates to the small town of Wilfred, Oregon, only to discover that the local library holds ancient secrets—and that she is an apprentice witch. The series blends light paranormal elements, small-town charm, and library lore. Readers should follow the publication order to trace Josie's magical training and the evolving relationships within Wilfred:

1. Bait and Witch (2020)
2. Seven-Year Witch (2021)
3. Witch and Famous (2022)
4. Witch Upon a Star (2023)
5. Gone with the Witch (2024)
6. The Witch Is Back (2024)
7. Witch and Tell (2025) - This book serves as the seventh and final installment in Josie Way's main story arc.

Sixth Sense Mysteries (Witch Way Librarian Spin-off)

If you have finished the Witch Way Librarian series, your next logical step is this spin-off series set in Astoria, Oregon. It features Lise Bloom, a character who possesses "clairalience"—the paranormal ability to smell emotions, history, and secrets as physical ribbons of scent. When Lise is accused of murdering her boss at a local New Age shop, she must use her unique sensory gift and the help of her roommates in a Victorian mansion to find the true culprit.

1. A Whiff of Murder (2026)
2. Slay It by Ear (Forthcoming, March 2027)

The Booster Club Capers

For readers who appreciate a more comedic, lighthearted caper, this series is set in a retirement home specifically for former petty criminals. When trouble arises, these old-school lawbreakers team up to solve crimes using their unique, less-than-legal skill sets. Read them in order:

1. The Booster Club (2015)
2. Cat in a Bag (2017)

Kite Shop Mysteries (Writing as Clover Tate)

Under the pseudonym Clover Tate, Sanders penned a three-book cozy mystery series set on the windy Oregon coast. It follows Emmy Adler, who moves to the beachside town of Cape Williwaw to open a kite shop called Strings Attached, only to find herself investigating local murders. The order is simple and chronological:

1. Blown Away (2017)
2. Live and Let Fly (2017)
3. Wuthering Kites (2018)

What to Know Before You Start

Sanders's books are highly appreciated for their rich atmospheres. While the mystery plots in individual books are generally self-contained, reading the series out of order is not recommended because character growth, romantic subplots, and town lore progress continuously. The transition from the Witch Way Librarian series to the Sixth Sense Mysteries is particularly rewarding for readers who enjoy seeing familiar universe elements carry over to a new setting. Additionally, Sanders is known for including vintage cocktail recipes, fashion trivia, and book reviews in her author newsletters, which reflect the retro and cozy lifestyles celebrated in her novels.