Books On Board

Cathy Ace Books in Order

  • 26 Books
  • 2012 – 2024 Published

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Reading order
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How to Read Cathy Ace's Novels

Welsh-Canadian author Cathy Ace is celebrated for crafting clever, atmosphere-rich whodunits that pay homage to classic detective fiction while maintaining a modern, engaging edge. Her books span two distinct, highly popular mystery series—the globetrotting Cait Morgan Mysteries and the cozy, Welsh countryside-based WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries—alongside a bestselling psychological suspense novel.

To fully enjoy the character development, running gags, and shifting personal relationships of her protagonists, we highly recommend reading Cathy Ace's books in publication order. While each mystery presents a self-contained case that is resolved by the final page, the main characters experience major life milestones, career shifts, and personal growth that carry over from one book to the next. Reading them sequentially ensures you do not encounter spoilers regarding their personal lives.

1. Cait Morgan Mysteries

The Cait Morgan Mysteries follow the investigations of a Welsh-born, Canadian-based professor of criminal psychology. Cait is a victim profiler with a photographic memory, a fierce intellect, a bossy personality, and an unapologetic appreciation for fine food and drink. Alongside her partner (and eventual husband) Bud Anderson, a steady former police detective, Cait travels the world for lectures and vacations, only to repeatedly stumble into classic, closed-circle murder mysteries in locales ranging from the south of France to the Arizona desert.

If you want to follow Cait and Bud's relationship from their very first meeting, you should start with the debut novel, The Corpse with the Silver Tongue. The series has been optioned for a television adaptation starring Welsh actress Eve Myles. Below is the complete publication order for the Cait Morgan books:

  • The Corpse with the Silver Tongue (2012) — Cait Morgan investigates a murder in Nice, France, where she and Bud Anderson first cross paths.
  • The Corpse with the Golden Nose (2013) — Set in the vineyards of British Columbia, Canada.
  • The Corpse with the Emerald Thumb (2014) — A trip to the lush hills of Mexico turns deadly.
  • The Corpse with the Platinum Hair (2014) — Cait travels to a grand estate in Scotland. This novel won the prestigious 2015 Bony Blithe Award for lighthearted mystery writing.
  • The Corpse with the Sapphire Eyes (2015) — Set in a historic castle in Cait's native Wales.
  • The Corpse with the Diamond Hand (2015) — A murder case that unfolds in beautiful Hawaii.
  • The Corpse with the Garnet Face (2016) — Bud and Cait visit Budapest, Hungary, where historical secrets resurface.
  • The Corpse with the Ruby Lips (2016) — Set during a trip to Jamaica.
  • The Corpse with the Crystal Skull (2020) — The couple visits a luxury estate in the Bahamas.
  • The Corpse with the Iron Will (2021) — Cait returns to Wales to deal with a strange estate dispute and murder.
  • The Corpse with the Granite Heart (2021) — A mystery set in Cait's home province of British Columbia.
  • The Corpse with the Turquoise Toes (2022) — A murder investigation set in the sunny landscape of Arizona.
  • The Corpse with the Opal Fingers (2023) — Cait and Bud travel to Australia, where they are caught in a web of family secrets.
  • The Corpse with the Pearly Smile (2024) — Cait Morgan untangles a complex case set in the English countryside.
  • The Corpse with the Amber Neck (2025) — A murder mystery set in Poland.
  • The Corpse with the Steely Gaze (2026) — Cait Morgan's latest globetrotting case.

2. The WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries

For readers who prefer a cozier, traditional British village atmosphere, the WISE Enquiries Agency series is the perfect starting point. The acronym "WISE" represents the national backgrounds of the four female private investigators who staff the agency: Mavis (Welsh), Annie (Irish), Carol (Scottish), and Christine (English). Operating from a stately home near the fictional village of Anwen-by-Wye in the Welsh borders, the team tackles quirky, "soft-boiled" cases that involve local eccentricities, family histories, and country house secrets.

While Cait Morgan's adventures are international and classic whodunit puzzles, the WISE series focuses on ensemble chemistry, regional British humor, and village life. The series should be read in publication order to track the growth of their agency and the evolving bonds between the four partners.

  • The Case of the Dotty Dowager (2015) — The WISE team investigates a disappearing body at a stately home, establishing their new agency.
  • The Case of the Missing Morris Dancer (2015) — The agency is hired to find a missing dancer during a village festival.
  • The Case of the Curious Cook (2017) — A suspicious death in a manor kitchen puts the WISE women on the trail of a poisoner.
  • The Case of the Unsuitable Suitor (2018) — The team investigates a questionable romance threatening a local estate.
  • The Case of the Disgraced Duke (2022) — A historical scandal resurfaces to threaten a modern noble family.
  • The Case of the Absent Heirs (2022) — The WISE investigators hunt for missing beneficiaries.
  • The Case of the Cursed Cottage (2023) — A local cottage with a dark reputation becomes the center of a new mystery.
  • The Case of the Uninvited Undertaker (2023) — A bizarre death at a local funeral home.
  • The Case of the Bereaved Butler (2024) — The team untangles secrets involving a loyal estate servant.
  • The Case of the Secretive Secretary (2024) — A mystery involving hidden records and office politics.
  • The Case of the Unfortunate Fortune Teller (2025) — The WISE agency looks into the suspicious death of a local clairvoyant.
  • The Case of the Devious Daughter (2025) — A family dispute leads to a complex investigation.
  • The Case of the Petrified Potter (2026) — The team solves a crime in a local pottery workshop.

3. Standalone Psychological Suspense and Short Stories

For readers looking for a darker, more suspenseful tone, Cathy Ace wrote the standalone psychological thriller The Wrong Boy (2019). Set in a remote Welsh valley, the book explores dark family secrets, local gossip, and psychological tension. The novel became an Amazon #1 bestseller, won an IPPY Bronze Medal, and has been optioned for a bilingual television min-series adaptation. Because it is a standalone, it can be read at any point without impacting the continuity of her main series.

Ace has also written and contributed to several short story collections and anthologies. These are excellent companions to the main books, offering quick, seasonal mysteries:

  • The Whole She-Bang 3 (2016) — A crime fiction anthology featuring a contribution from Cathy Ace.
  • Murder Keeps No Calendar (2017) — A collection of twelve short stories, with each mystery tied to a different month of the year.
  • Murder Knows No Season (2018) — A collection of four novellas, featuring seasonal mysteries with Cait Morgan (winter) and the WISE agency (spring), alongside other detective characters.

What to Know Before You Start

Cathy Ace's bicultural background as a Welsh native who moved to Canada heavily shapes her writing. Her dual perspective is clear in Cait Morgan (a Welsh-Canadian expat) and the WISE Agency (where the four leads represent the diverse regions of the British Isles). If you enjoy classic, locked-room whodunits in the vein of Agatha Christie, start with the Cait Morgan Mysteries. If you prefer cozy, ensemble-led village mysteries, start with the WISE Enquiries Agency.

Although the mysteries themselves are self-contained in each volume, we recommend keeping to the publication order for both series to enjoy the natural progression of the characters' lives without spoiling major milestones.

Frequently Asked

What is the recommended reading order for Cathy Ace's books?

It is highly recommended to read both the Cait Morgan Mysteries and the WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries in their respective publication orders. This allows you to follow the overarching character arcs and relationship developments without encountering spoilers.

Where is the best place to start with Cathy Ace’s mysteries?

For the globetrotting, classic whodunit style, start with the first Cait Morgan book, The Corpse with the Silver Tongue (2012). For a cozy, village-based ensemble mystery, start with the first WISE Enquiries Agency book, The Case of the Dotty Dowager (2015).

Who are the members of the WISE Enquiries Agency?

The agency is made up of four female private investigators from different parts of the British Isles: Mavis (Welsh), Annie (Irish), Carol (Scottish), and Christine (English). Together, their initials spell "WISE."

Does Cathy Ace have any standalone novels?

Yes. Cathy Ace wrote The Wrong Boy (2019), a standalone psychological suspense thriller set in a remote Welsh village. It features a darker, more suspenseful tone compared to her cozy mystery series.

Have any of Cathy Ace's books been adapted for television?

Yes, both the Cait Morgan Mysteries (optioned for TV starring Eve Myles) and her standalone thriller The Wrong Boy (optioned for a bilingual television miniseries) have been optioned for screen adaptations.

Are the Cait Morgan books cozy mysteries?

They are traditional "whodunits" featuring closed-circle settings and puzzles inspired by Agatha Christie, but they contain slightly more professional criminology elements than standard cozies due to Cait's background as a psychology professor.