Anna Castle Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Anna Castle

For readers new to Anna Castle's meticulously researched mysteries, the best starting point is the Francis Bacon Mystery series, beginning with the award-winning novel Murder by Misrule. This series showcases Castle's signature blend of rich historical detail, intellectual puzzles, and sharp wit. Alternatively, if you prefer Victorian mysteries and Sherlockian lore, start with Moriarty Meets His Match, the opening novel of the Professor & Mrs. Moriarty series.

Francis Bacon Mystery Books

This series reimagines the famous philosopher and statesman Francis Bacon as a brilliant sleuth in Elizabethan England, aided by a cast of colorful associates like his young clerk, Thomas Clarady. The books should be read in chronological order to follow the character development and political plots.

The Correct Reading Order for Francis Bacon Novels

Note that while some online databases list Death by Disputation first due to publication date anomalies or cataloging errors, Murder by Misrule is the official first book in the series. The novels should be read in the following sequence:

1. Murder by Misrule (2014 / 2015) — Book 1: Francis Bacon is hired to investigate a murder at Gray's Inn.
2. Death by Disputation (2014) — Book 2: Bacon and Clarady investigate religious dissent and murder at Cambridge.
3. The Widows Guild (2015) — Book 3: A secret alliance of Catholic widows draws Bacon into danger.
4. Publish and Perish (2017) — Book 4: A murder mystery centered around the high-stakes world of Elizabethan printing.
5. Let Slip the Dogs (2018) — Book 5: Bacon investigates when a royal forester is accused of murder.
6. The Spymaster's Brother (2019) — Book 6: Francis Bacon uncovers espionage and family secrets.
7. Now and Then Stab (2021) — Book 7: Political and personal rivalries clash in a complex murder investigation.
8. Lock Up Honesty (2022) — Book 8: The final full-length novel in the series before the author's passing.

Francis Bacon Short Stories, Novellas, and Collections

Castle also wrote several shorter pieces that expand the Francis Bacon universe. These can be read as standalones or inserted between the main novels:

• Mustard on Velvet (2017)
• In Walked a Lady (2018)
• For Want of a Book (2019)
• fraNCIS bacon: The Shirt (2019)
• Bacon's Dozen (2020) — A collection gathering these short stories for easy reading.

Professor & Mrs. Moriarty Mystery Books

This Victorian-era series offers a clever twist on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's universe. It reimagines Professor James Moriarty not as a purely evil mastermind, but as an eccentric intellectual who teams up with Angelina Gould—a brilliant, independent woman—to solve capers and outwit adversaries in London.

Recommended Reading Order

You can start with the prequel short story to meet the couple, or dive straight into the first novel:

1. The Stockbroker's Wife (2018) — Prequel short story (Book 0.5)
2. Moriarty Meets His Match (2016) — Book 1
3. Moriarty Takes His Medicine (2017) — Book 2
4. Moriarty Brings Down the House (2018) — Book 3
5. Moriarty Lifts the Veil (2020) — Book 4

Cunning Woman Mystery Books

If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a touch of the supernatural, the Cunning Woman series is a delightful Elizabethan spin-off. Set in 1590s England, it centers on the cozy, paranormal investigations of local cunning women solving village crimes.

1. The Case of the Spotted Tailor (2020)
2. The Case of the Tangled Maypole (2021)
3. The Case of the Miscast Curse (2021)

Lost Hat, Texas Mystery Books

Departing from historical Europe, Castle also penned a contemporary cozy mystery series set in a fictional Texas town. These novels follow photographer Penny Trigg as she gets tangled up in local investigations:

1. Black & White & Dead All Over (2015)
2. Flash Memory (2016)

What to Know Before You Start

Anna Castle (1956–2022) had a rich academic background, holding a PhD in Linguistics and an MS in Computer Science, which heavily influenced the intellectual depth and linguistic playfulness of her historical fiction. Because of her thorough research, her depictions of Elizabethan legal practices and Victorian science are highly authentic. While her books can be enjoyed individually, reading them in publication order lets you enjoy the slow-burn relationships and recurring subplots that span the series.