B.V. Lawson Books in Order

Where to Start Reading B.V. Lawson

B.V. Lawson has created distinct mystery universes, meaning your starting point depends on your preferred subgenre. For fans of cerebral, puzzle-like investigations with complex psychological depth, the absolute best place to start is with Played to Death, the first novel in the Scott Drayco series. Drayco’s unique perspective, shaped by his synesthesia and musical background, makes this the author’s signature series.

If you prefer a classic, gritty partnership between a jaded detective and a clever con artist, start with Steal Away, the opening novel of the Adam Dutton & Beverly Laborde series. For readers who enjoy shorter, atmospheric tales steeped in mountain lore, the Appalachian-set Melungeon Witch series is a quick and rewarding entry point.

Scott Drayco Mystery Series

Scott Drayco is a former concert pianist and FBI agent who works as a private crime consultant. Drayco possesses chromesthesia (a form of synesthesia), which allows him to see sounds as colors and shapes—a trait that frequently helps him decode complex crimes, but also makes him highly sensitive to his environments. While the novels can be enjoyed as standalone mysteries, reading them in publication order is highly recommended to follow Drayco's evolving personal life and recurring characters.

The Main Novels in Order

1. Played to Death (2014) - Drayco inherits a rundown opera house in a Virginia shore town, only to find a body with a mysterious letter carved into the chest.
2. Requiem for Innocence (2015) - A complex case involving musical codes, secrets, and a string of local deaths.
3. Dies Irae (2015) - Drayco confronts a series of baffling murders that seem linked to a local cult and historical grievances.
4. Elegy in Scarlet (2016) - A gothic mystery where Drayco is drawn into a labyrinth of family secrets, music, and madness.
5. The Suicide Sonata (2019) - When a classical pianist is found dead, Drayco must determine if a legendary, cursed musical score drove him to suicide.
6. Deadly Dance (2021) - Corporate espionage, commune secrets, and a complex web of lies that Drayco must untangle.
7. Melody of Murder (2022) - Drayco is kidnapped and forced to solve a puzzle, leading to a murder mystery involving a man believed to have died years ago.
8. Fatal Fugue (2024) - The eighth installment, pushing Drayco to his limits as he unravels a deadly conspiracy.

Scott Drayco Short Stories & Novellas

Lawson has written several shorter pieces featuring Scott Drayco. These can be read between the novels or as quick introductions to his character:

• Ill-Gotten Games (2012)
• False Shadows (2012)
• Hear No Evil (2016)
• The Maltese Moon Rock (2016)
• A Smite Christmas (Holiday Novella)

Adam Dutton & Beverly Laborde Series

This series pairs Adam Dutton, a haunted Vermont police detective, with Beverly Laborde, a sharp con artist seeking vengeance for her family. Together, they form an unlikely and tense alliance to solve crimes while dancing around their own secrets. Read this trilogy in order:

1. Steal Away (2019)
2. Hide Away (2020)
3. Burn Away (2020)

For fans of this duo, the short story collection Holiday Away features two festive stories starring Dutton and Laborde.

The Melungeon Witch Series

Set in the rugged Appalachian Mountains near Sneedville, Tennessee, this series of short stories centers on Cephea Collins, a Melungeon healer who uses herbology, local lore, and keen observation to solve neighborhood mysteries. These short stories are best read in order, or collectively in the anthology volume:

1. The Melungeon Witch (2015)
2. Return of the Melungeon Witch (2015)
3. The Melungeon Witch's Ghost (2015)
4. The Melungeon Witch's Scandal (2015)
5. The Melungeon Witch's Gold (2015)

All five stories are also compiled in the single volume The Melungeon Witch: The Five Collected Stories.

Short Fiction, Collections, and Anthologies

B.V. Lawson is an accomplished short story writer and a recipient of the Derringer Award for her short fiction. For readers looking to sample her standalone work, these collections and anthologies are highly recommended:

• Deadly Decisions (2012) - A collection of Lawson's award-winning short crime fiction.
• Death on Holiday (2012) - A standalone holiday crime short story.
• Blood on the Bayou (Anthology) - Features Lawson's Derringer-nominated short stories.
• Noir Nation No. 8 (2020) - An international crime fiction anthology containing Lawson's work.