Where Should You Start Reading Catherine O’Connell?
Catherine O’Connell’s books split neatly into two distinct mystery universes, alongside a couple of standalone psychological thrillers. If you are looking for the best entry point to her writing, it depends on the atmosphere you prefer:
- For cozy, witty high-society mystery: Start with Well Bred and Dead (2007). This novel introduces Pauline Cook, a charmingly flawed Chicago socialite who stumbles into amateur detective work after the suspicious death of a close friend.
- For atmospheric, high-altitude suspense: Start with First Tracks (2019) (also published as The Ski Resort). This kicks off the Aspen Mystery series, featuring ski patroller Greta Westerlind, who must piece together forgotten memories of a deadly avalanche while navigating threats from Aspen's elite.
The High Society Mystery Series
Starring Pauline Cook, a jet-setting widow with a taste for champagne and designer fashion, this lighthearted cozy mystery series takes readers from Chicago's high-class art galleries to the exotic locales of Europe and Asia. Pauline uses her social connections and sharp observation skills to solve crimes that stump the police.
High Society Mystery Books in Order
- Well Bred and Dead (2007) – Pauline Cook investigates the mysterious death of her art-dealer friend, Ethan Campbell, a case that takes her from Chicago to England.
- Well Read and Dead (2009) – When another friend goes missing, Pauline follows a trail of corporate intrigue and secrets to the beaches and boardrooms of Thailand.
The Aspen Mystery Series
Trading ballrooms for ski slopes, the Aspen Mystery series features Greta Westerlind, a member of the Aspen ski patrol. Guided by her trusty avalanche dog, Floyd, Greta finds herself investigating dark, buried crimes in the glamorous yet treacherous Rocky Mountains. These novels carry a more suspenseful, atmospheric tone compared to the lighthearted High Society series.
Aspen Mystery Books in Order
- First Tracks (2019) (Retitled as The Ski Resort) – Greta Westerlind survives a fatal avalanche that kills her close friend. Left with memory loss, she must uncover why they were in dangerous out-of-bounds terrain.
- Steep and Deep (2026) – While training in the snow, Greta and her dog discover a human hand, opening up a cold case involving the disappearance of her friend Evie years earlier.
Standalone Novels and Debut
Beyond her series, Catherine O’Connell has written standalone psychological and suspense thrillers. These can be read in any order at any time:
- Skins (1993) – O'Connell's debut novel. Set in New York, it focuses on the murder of a Manhattan fur designer and model, exploring the dark side of the fashion industry.
- The Last Night Out (2018) (also published as The Bachelorette Party) – A dark psychological thriller set in 1980s Chicago. It follows Maggie Trueheart, who wakes up after a wild bachelorette party to find a stranger in her bed and one of her friends murdered.
What to Know Before You Start
Catherine O’Connell draws extensively from her own colorful life experiences to enrich her novels. She has worked as a hotel maid, a floor runner at the Chicago Board of Trade, a sommelier, and a wine sales executive. This background gives her an insider's view of both the working-class grind and the lavish lifestyles of the wealthy, which she highlights with a wry, observational wit.
Crucial Alternate Title Caveats: To avoid purchasing duplicate copies, readers should note that several of O'Connell's books have been republished under alternate titles:
- First Tracks (2019) was republished in the UK and on digital platforms as The Ski Resort.
- The Last Night Out (2018) is also sold under the title The Bachelorette Party.