Beth Byers Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Beth Byers

If you are new to the delightful, cozy worlds of Beth Byers, your absolute best starting point is Murder & The Heir, the first book in her flagship series, The Violet Carlyle Mysteries. This series is Byers' most popular and extensive work, capturing the perfect blend of 1920s historical charm, lighthearted sleuthing, and family loyalty that defines her writing style. Reading her series in publication order is highly recommended, as it allows you to watch the character relationships, especially the bond between Violet and her twin brother Victor, grow naturally over time.

The 1920s Historical Mysteries (The Violet Carlyle Universe)

Beth Byers is a master of the interwar cozy mystery. While these historical series do not feature direct plot-altering crossovers, they share the same atmospheric Roaring Twenties setting, light suspense, and witty dialogue. They can be read as independent companion series, but reading each individual series in order is best.

The Violet Carlyle Mysteries

Set in 1920s England, this massive series follows the spunky, chocolate-loving Lady Violet Carlyle as she solves murders alongside her twin brother Victor and a charming cast of characters. Start with the book that began it all:

1. Murder & The Heir (2018)
2. Kennington House Murder (2019)
3. Murder at the Folly (2019)
4. A Merry Little Murder (2019)
5. Murder Among the Roses (2019)
6. Murder in the Shallows (2019)
7. Gin & Murder (2019)
8. Obsidian Murder (2019)
9. Murder at the Ladies Club (2019)
10. Wedding Vows & Murder (2019)
11. A Jazzy Little Murder (2019)
12. Murder By Chocolate (2019)
13. A Friendly Little Murder (2019)
14. Murder by the Sea (2019)
15. Murder on All Hallows (2019)
16. Murder in the Shadows (2019)
17. A Jolly Little Murder (2019)
18. Hijinks & Murder (2020)
19. Love & Murder (2020)
20. A Zestful Little Murder (2020)
21. A Murder Most Odd (2020)
22. Nearly A Murder (2020)
23. A Treasured Little Murder (2020)
24. A Cozy Little Murder (2020)
25. A Masked Murderer (2020)
26. Meddlesome Madness (2020)
27. Silver Bells & Murder (2020)
28. Mystery on Valentine's Day (2020)
29. Murder at Midnight (2021)
30. A Fabulous Little Murder (2021)
31. Murder On A Yacht (2021)
32. Murder On The Boardwalk (2021)
33. Murder On A Girl's Night Out (2021)
34. A Frosty Little Murder (2021)
35. A Romantic Little Murder (2022)
36. Murder With Daffodils (2022)
37. Murder, Perhaps (2022)
38. A Spooky Little Murder (2022)
39. Murder & Mistletoe (2022)
40. A Tender Little Murder (2023)
41. Murder Foretold (2023)
42. Murder on the Downs (2023)
43. Murder at the Funeral (2023)
44. A Murderous Little Christmas (2023)
45. Murder Overdue (2024)

Smith Investigates Mystery Series

This series features a mysterious protagonist known simply as Smith, an amateur detective who knows a bit too much about everyone. The titles are cleverly pulled from classic Shakespeare quotes.

1. Something Wicked (2021)
2. Thing of Darkness (2021)
3. Clothe My Villainy (2022)
4. All The Devils Are Here (2022)
5. Show of Evil (2022)
6. Solely A Coward (2022)
7. Death's Approach (2022)
8. Interred With Their Bones (2022)
9. Pernicious Woman (2023)
10. Call Thee Devil (2023)
11. Pitch Our Evils (2023)
12. Villain, Smiling, Villain (2023)
13. A Bleak Midwinter (2024)

The Mysteries of Severine DuNoir

Another historical gem set in the 1920s, this series tracks the investigations of Severine DuNoir as she navigates madness, deceit, and secrets in a beautifully atmospheric setting.

1. Mystery at the Edge of Madness (2020)
2. The Mysterious Point of Deceit (2020)
3. Mystery in the Darkest Shadow (2020)
4. The Wicked Fringe of Mystery (2020)
5. The Lurid Possibility of Murder (2020)
6. The Uncountable Cost of Mystery (2021)
7. The Inexorable Tide of Mystery (2021)
8. The Unexpected Flavor of Forever (2021)

Other Historical Sleuths

Byers has also penned smaller series focused on distinct 1920s and 1930s investigators:

• Josephine West 1920s Mysteries: Follows Josephine West through a series of corpse-laden adventures, starting with Josephine West & the Unexpected Corpse (2023), followed by Josephine West & the Christmas Corpse (2023), Josephine West & the Bookish Corpse (2024), and Josephine West & the City Corpse (2024).
• The Hettie and Ro Adventures: A quick-paced, lighthearted series following Hettie and Ro. The books are: Philanderers Gone (2019), Adventurer Gone (2019), Holiday Gone (2019), and Aeronaut Gone (2020).
• Poison Ink Mysteries: Set during the 1930s, this series deals with blackmail, hidden diaries, and murders. It runs from Death by the Book (2019) through to A Lonely Little Death (2020), spanning ten books in total.
• The Cat Clarke 1960s Mysteries: Stepping forward in time, this series brings a mid-century heist and con vibe to her historical catalog. It features Stealing Murder (2021) and Conning the Charming (2021).
• Veda Wright Historical Mystery: A standalone historical entry starting with Murder At Manningtree (2023).

Cozy Modern & Contemporary Series

For readers who want to step out of the historical era, Beth Byers offers several lighthearted contemporary cozy mysteries that focus on food, small-town secrets, and close-knit communities.

2nd Chance Diner Series

This series centers around the delicious, drama-filled world of Rosemary Baldwin and her diner. It's filled with recipes, humor, and a tight community.

1. Spaghetti, Meatballs, & Murder (2017)
2. Poison & Pie (2018)
3. Double Mocha Murder (2018)
4. Cinnamon Rolls & Cyanide (2018)
5. Tea & Temptation (2018)
6. Donuts & Danger (2018)
7. Scones & Scandal (2018)
8. Lemonade & Loathing (2018)
9. Wedding Cake & Woe (2018)
10. Honeymoons & Honeydew (2018)
11. The Pumpkin Problem (2018)
12. Cookies & Catastrophe (2021)

Modern Cozy Spin-offs and Collaborations

• Brightwater Bay Cozy Mystery Series: This was Byers' co-authored entry point into the genre, starting in 2018. It includes A Tiny Dash of Death (2018), A Sweet Spoonful of Cyanide (2018), A Little Taste of Murder (2018), and A Small Sprinkle of Suspicion (2019).
• The To Die For Mysteries: A food-focused cozy trio beginning with A Burger to Die For (2023), followed by A Christmas To Die For (2023) and A Secret to Die For (2024).
• Denny Stumbles Through: A humorous modern cozy series containing Chocolate Dipped Intrigue (2023), Christmas Wrapped Intrigue (2023), and School Days Intrigue (2024).

Midlife Variations and Paranormal Cozy Mysteries

Byers has also explored creative subgenres, including midlife romance/mysteries and light paranormal stories:

• Jane Austen Midlife Variations: A highly unique series that reimagines classic Jane Austen themes with perimenopause and midlife liberation. Start with Pride & Perimenopause (2022), followed by Loss & Liberation (2022) and Disgusted & Devoted (2023).
• Wicked Midlife Adventures: A companion project beginning with Villain: A Wicked Midlife Adventure (2022).
• Bright Young Witches: A magical historical blend featuring Bright Young Witches & the Restless Dead (2019) and Bright Young Witches and the Merry Dead (2019).
• The Magic Before Mysteries: A fantasy cozy featuring Magic Before Mischief (2018).

What to Know Before You Start

Beth Byers' books are celebrated for their brisk pace and character-focused writing. They are classic cozy mysteries, meaning they focus on relationships, humor, and atmosphere rather than graphic violence or gore. Because the series are published rapidly (often with multiple books releasing in a single year), the stories flow into one another seamlessly. If you are reading the Violet Carlyle series, try to avoid skipping books, as the overarching romance and family subplots evolve sequentially across the volumes.