Anita Davison Books in Order

Where to Start with Anita Davison

Anita Davison is a master of blending meticulous historical research with the page-turning intrigue of cozy crime. While she has written across several eras, her most famous works fall into two distinct historical cozy mystery series. Choosing where to start depends on your preferred era:

• For Edwardian Elegance: Start with the Flora Maguire Mysteries. Beginning in the early 1900s, this series follows a head butler's daughter turned governess who has a knack for finding herself in the middle of high-society crimes.
• For World War I Intrigue: Start with the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mysteries. Set during the Great War, this series follows Hannah Merrill and her suffragette Aunt Violet as they run a bookshop in London and assist Scotland Yard in solving crimes.

If you prefer sweeping historical family dramas over mystery, you should begin with her 17th-century duology, The Woulfes of Loxsbeare, which is set against the backdrop of the Monmouth Rebellion.

The Flora Maguire Mysteries: Reading Order & Alternate Titles

The Flora Maguire series is best read in publication order, as Flora’s personal life, her career as a governess, and her relationship with bunny-hunting partner Bunny Harrington develop sequentially over the books.

However, readers must be cautious: the series has undergone significant republishing, resulting in multiple titles for the exact same books. To avoid purchasing the same novel twice, refer to the title guide below:

1. Death on Board (Originally published in 2015 as Murder on the Minneapolis, and also released as Flora's Secret) – Flora's debut case takes place aboard the S.S. Minneapolis on an Atlantic crossing.
2. Death at the Abbey (Originally published in 2016 as Murder at Cleeve Abbey, and also released as Betrayal at Cleeve Abbey) – Flora is hired as a governess at a country house near the ruins of Cleeve Abbey, where family secrets turn deadly.
3. Death of a Suffragette (Originally published in 2016 as Murder at The Grenadier, and also released as A Knightsbridge Scandal) – Set in London, this book plunges Flora into the height of the women’s suffrage movement when a prominent activist is murdered.
4. Death by the Thames (Originally published in 2017 as The Forgotten Children) – Flora investigates a dark mystery surrounding an orphanage and children who have gone missing.
5. Death on a Train (Originally published in 2018 as The Bloomsbury Affair) – The fifth mystery brings Flora's adventures to a dramatic head involving a train journey and conspiracies in Bloomsbury.

The Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mysteries

Setting her sights on the home front during the Great War, Davison introduced a delightful new sleuthing duo: Hannah Merrill, an independent young woman working in London, and her bold, suffragette Aunt Violet. Together, they run a bookshop in Covent Garden and frequently cross paths with former Scotland Yard detective Aidan Farrell.This series should be read in chronological order to follow Hannah's personal growth, her developing romance with childhood friend Darius Clifford, and Aunt Violet’s own subplots:

1. Murder in the Bookshop (2023) – The series kicks off when a body is discovered hidden in the basement of the Covent Garden bookshop.
2. Murder in the Library (2024) – Hannah and Aunt Violet travel to a grand country estate, only for a weekend gathering to be cut short by a library murder.
3. Murder at Midwinter Manor (2024) – A festive gathering turns dark in this seasonal historical mystery set in a snowbound manor house.
4. Murder in Covent Garden (2025) – Hannah investigates crime closer to home amidst the bustling streets of wartime London's market district.

Note: Davison has continued the series beyond these titles with releases like Murder at the Wedding and Murder in the Reading Room (2026), expanding the exploits of the Covent Garden bookshop team.

The Woulfes of Loxsbeare Duology

Before finding her cozy mystery niche, Davison wrote sweeping 17th-century historical fiction. Under this duology, she explores the turbulent years of the Monmouth Rebellion and the reign of King James II. Unlike her cozy mysteries, these focus more on family survival, romance, and political loyalties.

• Book 1: The Goldsmith's Wife (Originally published in 2008, re-released in 2017) – Introduces Helena Woulfe, a wealthy merchant's daughter whose life is upended by the political instability in Stuart England.
• Book 2: The Rebel's Daughter (Originally published in 2015) – Helena and her family face the devastating aftermath of the Battle of Sedgemoor and the harsh punishments of the Bloody Assizes.

Multi-Author Collections and Anthologies

Anita Davison has also contributed to collaborative writing projects. If you are tracking down her entire bibliography, keep these details in mind:

• Canadian Historical Brides Series: This is a multi-author historical romance series containing 12 books. You do not need to read the entire series. Anita Davison only wrote Book 11, titled Envy the Wind (2018). Set in 1905 on Prince Edward Island, it follows the widow Grace MacKinnon as she attempts to escape her oppressive father-in-law. You can read this completely as a standalone.
• Castles, Customs, and Kings (2013): Davison contributed essays to this non-fiction anthology. It features true historical tales and research snippets compiled by members of the English Historical Fiction Authors group.

What to Know Before You Start

If you are new to Anita Davison, it helps to understand her background. She began publishing her novels later in life after raising her family. Her early historical fiction works were originally released under the pen name Anita Seymour, including titles like Royalist Rebel, Duking Days Rebellion, and Duking Days Revolution. Most of these works have since been updated or integrated under her real name. Davison's writing stands out for its strong-willed historical heroines who challenge the societal limitations of their respective eras, whether they are Edwardian governesses, Stuart-era rebels, or WWI suffragettes.