Carole Lawrence Books in Order

Where to Start with Carole Lawrence

Because Carole Lawrence writes across several genres and under multiple pen names, the best place to start depends entirely on your reading preferences. If you love rich, atmospheric historical mysteries, start with Edinburgh Twilight, the first book in her acclaimed Ian Hamilton series. If you prefer gritty, modern police procedurals with a focus on psychological profiling, begin with Silent Screams, written under her C.E. Lawrence pseudonym. For fans of cozy, literary-themed mysteries, Pride, Prejudice and Poison (written as Elizabeth Blake) or Who Killed Blanche DuBois? (written as Carole Buggé) are delightful starting points.

The Ian Hamilton Mysteries (As Carole Lawrence)

Set in Edinburgh, Scotland, during the late 19th century, this series is praised for its vivid historical atmosphere, contrasting the wealthy "New Town" with the impoverished, dangerous "Old Town." The books follow Detective Inspector Ian Hamilton, a man haunted by the mysterious fire that killed his parents. He is aided by his photographer aunt and George Pearson, a librarian who helps him delve into the criminal mind. The series should be read in order of publication to follow the overarching character development and subplots:

1. Edinburgh Twilight (2017) – Hamilton investigates a series of brutal murders that threaten to tear the divided city apart.
2. Edinburgh Dusk (2018) – A search for a missing child leads Hamilton into the city's darkest, most superstitious corners.
3. Edinburgh Midnight (2020) – Hamilton must solve a murder at the prestigious University of Edinburgh while dealing with political unrest.

The Lee Campbell Mystery Series (As C.E. Lawrence)

Switching gears to modern-day psychological thrillers, Lawrence writes this series under the pen name C.E. Lawrence. The books follow Lee Campbell, a brilliant forensic profiler in New York City who faces deranged killers while struggling with his own personal demons. This gritty series is best read in order of publication:

1. Silent Screams (2009)
2. Silent Victim (2010)
3. Silent Kills (2011)
4. Silent Slaughter (2012)
5. Silent Stalker (2012)

A Jane Austen Society Mystery (As Elizabeth Blake)

Under the pen name Elizabeth Blake, the author crafts cozy mysteries centered on Erin Coleridge, an antiquarian bookstore owner in Yorkshire, England, who joins a local Jane Austen society. These books are filled with literary references and classic cozy mystery tropes:

1. Pride, Prejudice and Poison (2019)
2. Death and Sensibility (2021)

The Claire Rawlings Mystery Series (As Carole Buggé)

Writing under her real name, Carole Buggé, she created the Claire Rawlings series. Claire is a New York City book editor who, along with her clever teenage sidekick Meredith Lawrence, ends up solving murders that pay homage to classic literature and art:

1. Who Killed Blanche DuBois? (1999)
2. Who Killed Dorian Gray? (2000)
3. Who Killed Mona Lisa? (2001)

The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

It is important to clarify that The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a long-running, multi-author homage series published by Titan Books (and previously other publishers) featuring various writers contributing original Holmes stories. While the full series list contains dozens of books, Carole Buggé contributed two specific titles to this collection:

• The Star of India (1998) – Holmes and Watson search for a missing sapphire and go head-to-head with Moriarty.
• The Haunting of Torre Abbey (2000 / re-released 2018) – Holmes investigates apparent supernatural hauntings in a historic manor.

The other books listed in the collection, such as The Adventure of the Peerless Peer (Philip José Farmer) or The Giant Rat of Sumatra (Richard L. Boyer), are written by other authors and do not require reading to appreciate Buggé's contributions.

Standalone Novels and Autobiographical Fiction

Aside from her series, Lawrence has written standalone novels that showcase her versatility:

• Looking for Mary Gabriel (2002) – A poignant, autobiographical novel set in Baton Rouge during the 1950s. Drawing heavily on the author's own childhood, it explores the emotional dynamics of a family caring for a mentally challenged daughter.
• Cleopatra's Dagger (2022) – A standalone historical mystery set in Gilded Age New York. It features Elizabeth van den Broek, an ambitious journalist investigating a serial killer leaving Egyptian relics. The novel was nominated for the 2023 Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original.