Barb Goffman Books in Order

How to Start Reading Barb Goffman

Barb Goffman is a master of short crime fiction, known for her sharp pacing, cozy mystery elements, and unexpected narrative twists. Unlike novelists who write multi-volume series centered on a single investigator, Goffman focuses almost exclusively on the short story format. Because her stories are standalone tales, there is no strict chronological timeline or character continuity that you need to follow. You can read her work in any order you choose.

The Recommended Entry Points

If you want the best possible introduction to her writing style, there are two primary paths we recommend:

• Start with the Collection: Begin with her major collection, Don't Get Mad, Get Even (2013). This book compiles 15 of her best early stories, including several of her award-nominated and award-winning tales. It is the perfect showcase of her range, covering themes of revenge and justice that go satisfyingly right or hilariously wrong.
• Start with the Award-Winners: If you prefer to sample individual stories, start with her most highly decorated standalone works. "Beauty and the Beyotch" (2022) is an exceptional high school-set rivalry mystery that swept the Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards. Alternatively, "Dear Emily Etiquette" (2020) won the Ellery Queen Readers Award and the Agatha Award, blending etiquette rules with murder.

Publication Order of Short Stories and Novellas

For readers who want to follow Barb Goffman's development as an author, here is the chronological publication list of her short fiction. These stories originally appeared in various magazines (such as Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine and Black Cat Weekly) and themed crime anthologies:

1. Murder at Sleuthfest (2006)
2. The Gift of Murder (2009)
3. Volunteer of the Year (2010)
4. Biscuit, Carats, and Gravy (2010)
5. Truth and Consequences (2011)
6. When Duty Calls (2012)
7. Evil Little Girl (2013)
8. The Shadow Knows (2014)
9. A Joy Forever (2015)
10. The Best-Laid Plans (2016)
11. Whose Wine Is It Anyway? (2017)
12. English 398: Fiction Workshop (2018)
13. Crime Travel (2019)
14. Dear Emily Etiquette (2020)
15. A Family Matter (2021)
16. A Tale of Two Sisters (2021)
17. Beauty and the Beyotch (2022)
18. The Gift (2022)
19. Real Courage (2023)

Publication Order of Collections

Goffman gathers her short stories into dedicated collections. Her primary collection provides a convenient way to read her shorter works in one volume:

• Evil Little Girl (2013) - This title is also published as part of her larger collections or as a standalone chapbook/novella release.

Publication Order of Anthologies

Barb Goffman is a highly active member of the mystery community. In addition to contributing her own stories, she has served as a freelance editor and co-editor for many popular themed anthologies. Reading these anthologies is a great way to discover both her work and other voices in the cozy and traditional mystery community:

• Murder at Sleuthfest (2006)
• The Gift of Murder (2009)
• Volunteer of the Year (2010)
• Deadly Ink 2010 Short Story Collection (2010)
• Truth and Consequences (2011)
• When Duty Calls (2012)
• The Killer Wore Cranberry (2012)
• Premonition (2014)
• Writes of Passage (2014)
• Chesapeake Crimes: Storm Warning (2016)
• Malice Domestic 11 (2016)
• 50 Shades of Cabernet (2017)
• Killing It Softly 2 (2017)
• Malice Domestic 13 (2018)
• Florida Happens (2018)
• Crime Travel (2019)
• The Beat of Black Wings (2020)
• Chesapeake Crimes: Invitation to Murder (2020)
• Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, September-October 2021 (2021)
• Only the Good Die Young (2021)
• Murder on the Beach (2021)
• Black Cat Mystery Magazine #10 (2021)
• Black Cat Weekly #14 (2021)
• Malice In Dallas: Metroplex Mysteries Volume I (2022)
• Murder in the Mountains (2022)
• Malice Domestic: Mystery Most Diabolical (2022)
• Low Down Dirty Vote Volume 3 (2022)
• Black Cat Weekly #50 (2022)
• Chesapeake Crimes: Magic is Murder (2022)
• The Gift (2022)
• Reckless in Texas: Metroplex Mysteries Volume II (2023)
• Died in Your Arms (2024)
• Murder, Neat (2024)
• Three Strikes—You’re Dead! (2024)

What to Know Before You Start

When diving into Barb Goffman's mysteries, keep these tips in mind to enhance your reading experience:

• Standalone Format: Since there are no recurring detectives across her stories, you don't need to worry about missing backstories. You can jump directly into whichever premise sounds most intriguing to you.
• Tone and Style: Goffman's style is often described as a mix of traditional and cozy mystery, frequently containing elements of dark humor, witty dialogue, and themes centered on revenge or justice.
• Distinction from Cathy Wiley: Some online databases occasionally misattribute the Cassandra Ellis mystery novels (such as Dead to Writes) to Barb Goffman. Those novels are actually written by Cathy Wiley; Goffman writes short stories exclusively.