Catherine Coles Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Catherine Coles

If you are new to Catherine Coles’s delightfully cozy worlds, the absolute best place to start is with Murder at the Manor, the first book in her flagship Tommy & Evelyn Christie Mysteries. This series introduces her most famous sleuthing duo in a gorgeously detailed 1920s English countryside setting. It perfectly captures the classic puzzle-style mystery inspired by Agatha Christie, making it the ideal entry point for her work.

Alternatively, if you prefer historical mysteries set in the aftermath of World War II, you should begin with Poison at the Village Show, which kicks off the Martha Miller Mysteries. This series trades the grand estates of the 1920s for the gossip-filled, recovering villages of late-1940s Berkshire, offering a slightly different but equally compelling tone.

Tommy & Evelyn Christie Mysteries (1920s Cozy Mysteries)

Set in 1920s North Yorkshire, this historical series follows Evelyn Christie—who gained invaluable investigative experience working with the police force during the First World War—and her husband, Tommy. Together, they navigate family expectations, aristocratic drama, and a surprisingly high body count in and around Hessleham Hall.

Because the couple’s relationship and personal lives evolve significantly over the course of the books, reading them in publication order is highly recommended:

1. Murder at the Manor (2020) – The series opener, where Evelyn and Tommy arrive at Hessleham Hall only to find themselves investigating a fatal poisoning.
2. Murder at the Village Fete (2020) – The Christies host a local event that quickly turns deadly when a body is discovered.
3. Murder in the Churchyard (2021) – Rumors and ancient secrets collide when a body is unearthed in a local grave.
4. Murder in Belgrave Square (2021) – The duo takes their sleuthing skills to London, investigating a murder in a high-society townhome.
5. Murder at the Wedding Chapel (2021) – A joyous celebration is cut short by a mysterious death, forcing the Christies to investigate the guests.
6. Murder at Rochester Park (2021) – Secrets of the past come to light at a grand estate, bringing danger to the estate owners.
7. Murder in India (2023) – The Christies travel abroad, finding that murder and mystery follow them all the way to the subcontinent.
8. Murder at the Seaside (2024) – A coastal getaway turns into a search for a clever killer amidst seaside attractions.
9. Murder at Docere House (2024) – Hidden rooms and scholarly rivalry lead to a deadly puzzle that Evelyn must piece together.
10. Murder at Kelleven Castle (2025) – The couple travels to a drafty castle in Scotland, where local legends shroud a very real murder.
11. Murder at the Christmas Ball (2026) – A festive holiday gathering turns tragic, requiring the Christies to unmask the culprit before the snow clears.

Martha Miller Mysteries (Post-WWII Berkshire)

This series moves forward in time to the late 1940s, capturing the atmosphere of post-war England. The stories follow Martha Miller, a resilient amateur sleuth who must navigate village gossip, changing social dynamics, and mysteries in the Berkshire countryside. Reading these in order helps trace Martha’s struggles to rebuild her life after the war:

1. Poison at the Village Show (2022) – Martha is suspected of poisoning a local villager and must find the true killer to clear her name.
2. Daggers at the Country Fair (2022) – A local celebration turns into a crime scene, exposing deep-seated rivalries in the village.
3. Death at Lovers' Leap (2024) – A tragic fall off a local landmark is revealed to be foul play, prompting Martha to dig into local secrets.
4. Murder on the Cricket Green (2026) – The peace of a summer sport is shattered when a local player is found dead on the village pitch.
5. The Martha Miller Mysteries Book 5 (Expected 2027) – The upcoming fifth installment in Martha's ongoing investigative journey.

Lady Matilda Investigates

This newer historical series introduces Lady Matilda, a charming aristocratic sleuth who solves crimes alongside her loyal basset hound sidekick. The series blends lighthearted comedy with clever historical investigations:

• The Case of the Deadly Dog Show (2025) – Book 0.5: A prequel novella that introduces Matilda and her canine companion solving their first canine-related crime.
• The Case in the Vicarage Gardens (2026) – Book 1: The official first full-length novel, focusing on a suspicious death in a church community.
• The Case at Hartcombe Head (2026) – Book 2: Matilda investigates a murder at an isolated coastal manor.

Contemporary Romances & Serialized Projects

Before establishing herself in the cozy mystery genre, Catherine Coles wrote contemporary medical romance novels. These stand apart from her mystery series and can be read in any order:

• Doctor Behind the Mask (2016) – Catherine Coles’s debut novel, exploring the private lives and hidden vulnerabilities of hospital staff.
• Duty of Care (2016) – The first book in the Seacrest Siblings series, following foster carer Penny Miller and pediatric consultant Adam Reynolds.

Additionally, Coles has penned the West Cliffe Bay Cozy Mysteries. Unlike her other works, this contemporary cozy mystery series is shared directly with her readers via her Ream community platform rather than being widely distributed through traditional booksellers.

Reading Order Caveats & Discrepancies

While the chronological order of Catherine Coles's books matches their publication sequence, there are minor discrepancies in metadata across different platforms. For example, some retail lists swap the publication order of Murder at the Seaside and Murder at Docere House, or list slightly different publication years (such as 2020 vs. 2021 for Murder at the Village Fete). Readers do not need to worry about these minor shifts, as the narrative continuity remains clear regardless of which of these two neighboring books is read first.