Carole Nelson Douglas Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Carole Nelson Douglas

Carole Nelson Douglas was a prolific, genre-defying storyteller who penned nearly 70 novels spanning cozy mysteries, historical thrillers, portal fantasy, and science fiction. For newcomers, navigating her extensive bibliography comes down to choosing between her two most famous creations:

• For Cozy Mystery and Humor Fans: Start with the Midnight Louie series. This long-running series stars a sassy, 20-pound black cat who investigates crimes in Las Vegas alongside his human roommate. Start directly with the first novel, Catnap (also known as Cat in an Alphabet Soup).
• For Sherlockian and Historical Intrigue Fans: Start with the Irene Adler series. This Victorian suspense series features the clever opera singer who famously outwitted Sherlock Holmes. The best entry point is the New York Times Notable Book of the Year, Good Night, Mr. Holmes.

The Midnight Louie Series Reading Order

Midnight Louie is a tough-talking, hardboiled black cat who acts as a feline private investigator. Together with public relations freelancer Temple Barr, he solves mysteries across the glitzy, high-stakes backdrop of Las Vegas. The main novels are famously titled in alphabetical order, making them easy to track, but there are prequel and side stories you should know about.

The Prequels: Crystal Phoenix / Cat and a Playing Card

Before launching the main series, Douglas wrote a duology in 1990 called Crystal Days and Crystal Nights. The original publisher heavily edited these books to remove Midnight Louie's perspective and market them as romances. Years later, Douglas regained the rights, restored Louie's chapters, and expanded them into a four-book prequel series known as the Cat and a Playing Card books. While you can read these first to get Midnight Louie's origin story at the Crystal Phoenix Hotel, you can also read them at any point as companion prequels.

1. The Cat and the King of Clubs (1999)
2. The Cat and the Queen of Hearts (1999)
3. The Cat and the Jill of Diamonds (2000)
4. The Cat and the Jack of Spades (2000)

The Main Alphabetical Series

The main series should be read in publication/alphabetical order, as the overarching plotlines, romance, and character development of the human cast progress continuously from book to book.

1. Catnap (1992) – also published as Cat in an Alphabet Soup
2. Pussyfoot (1993) – also published as Cat in an Aqua Storm
3. Cat on a Blue Monday (1994)
4. Cat in a Crimson Haze (1995)
5. Cat in a Diamond Dazzle (1996)
6. Cat with an Emerald Eye (1997)
7. Cat in a Flamingo Fedora (1997)
8. Cat in a Golden Garland (1997)
9. Cat on a Hyacinth Hunt (1998)
10. Midnight Louie's Pet Detectives (1998) – a collection of short mysteries and pet-related stories
11. Cat in an Indigo Mood (1999)
12. Cat in a Jeweled Jumpsuit (1999)
13. Cat in a Kiwi Con (2000)
14. Cat in a Leopard Spot (2001)
15. Cat in a Midnight Choir (2002)
16. Cat in a Neon Nightmare (2003)
17. Midnight Louie in Something Fishy (2003) – a novella
18. Cat in an Orange Twist (2004)
19. Cat in a Hot Pink Pursuit (2005)
20. Cat in a Quicksilver Caper (2006)
21. Cat in a Red Hot Rage (2007)
22. Cat in a Sapphire Slipper (2008)
23. Cat in a Topaz Tango (2009)
24. Cat in an Ultramarine Scheme (2010)
25. Cat in a Vegas Gold Vendetta (2011)
26. Fruit of the Tomb (2012) – a collection containing Midnight Louie stories
27. Cat in a White Tie and Tails (2012)
28. Cat in an Alien X-Ray (2013)
29. Cat in a Yellow Spotlight (2014)
30. Cat in a Zebra Zoot Suit (2015)
31. Cat in an Alphabet Endgame (2016)

Midnight Louie Spin-offs and Short Stories

• White House Pet Detectives (2002) – a short story
• Once Upon a Midnight Noir (2012) – a collection of Midnight Louie short stories
• Absinthe Without Leave (2018) – the first entry in the Midnight Louie Cafe Noir Mystery series

The Irene Adler Series Reading Order

This historical mystery series reimagines the life of Irene Adler, the opera singer who outwits Sherlock Holmes in Arthur Conan Doyle's A Scandal in Bohemia. The books are written from the perspective of her companion, Nell Huxleigh, and feature rich historical research and a strong feminist narrative. They should be read in publication order to follow the running narrative. Note that several titles were reissued under alternate names in the UK and in later editions.

1. Good Night, Mr. Holmes (1990)
2. Good Morning, Irene (1991) – also published as The Adventuress
3. Irene at Large (1992) – also published as A Soul of Steel
4. Irene's Last Waltz (1994) – also published as Another Scandal in Bohemia
5. Chapel Noir (2001)
6. Castle Rouge (2002)
7. Femme Fatale (2003)
8. Spider Dance (2004)
9. The Private Wife of Sherlock Holmes (2012) – a standalone e-book novella (originally published in the 2009 anthology Sex, Lies, and Private Eyes)

Fantasy and Science Fiction Series

Before finding major mainstream success in mystery, Douglas wrote high fantasy, portal fantasy, and science fiction. These series showcase her signature style of featuring highly independent, strong female protagonists.

Sword and Circlet Series

A classic high fantasy series focusing on the sorceress Irissa and the warrior Kendric as they battle dark magic and seek to save their realm.

1. Six of Swords (1982)
2. Exiles of the Rynth (1984)
3. Keepers of Edanvant (1987)
4. Heir of Rengarth (1988)
5. Seven of Swords (1989)

Taliswoman Trilogy

A portal fantasy series about a modern woman transported to a magical, matriarchal world. Note that despite being planned as a trilogy, only two books were ever published before the author transitioned to writing mysteries full-time.

1. Cup of Clay (1991)
2. Seed Upon the Wind (1992)

Probe Series

A science fiction duology centering on a mysterious, amnesiac woman with extraordinary mental abilities who is hunted by clinical researchers and government agencies.

1. Probe (1985)
2. Counterprobe (1988)

Delilah Street, Paranormal Investigator

An urban fantasy series set in a paranormal noir version of Las Vegas, featuring werewolf mobsters, zombie starlets, and a hard-boiled female detective.

1. Dancing With Werewolves (2007)
2. Brimstone Kiss (2008)
3. Vampire Sunrise (2009)
4. Silver Zombie (2010)
5. Virtual Virgin (2011)
6. Monster Mash (2013)