How to Read Celina Grace: The Best Starting Points
Celina Grace is best known for her twisty, character-driven mysteries that span contemporary police procedurals and historical cozy sleuthing. Because her main series feature strong character development and overarching subplots, reading them in order is highly recommended. Here is where you should begin:
- For Contemporary Police Procedurals: Start with Hushabye, the first book in the Kate Redman Mysteries. This introduces DI Kate Redman and the fictional town of Abbeyford.
- For Historical Cozy Mysteries: Start with Death at the Manor. This novella serves as the first entry of the Asharton Manor Mysteries and acts as a prequel (Book 0.5) to the Miss Hart and Miss Hunter Investigate series, introducing the central sleuthing duo.
1. The Kate Redman Mysteries
The Kate Redman Mysteries is Celina Grace’s signature series. Set in the moody West Country of England, it follows Detective Inspector Kate Redman as she navigates complex police investigations and personal struggles. While the cases are resolved in each book, Kate's personal life and career progress significantly over time, so it is best to follow the publication and chronological order.
Note that reading order lists sometimes differ on how they count the novellas (like Joy or Valentine). In standard novel lists, these are treated as decimals (e.g., Book 7.5), while comprehensive lists number them sequentially. Below is the complete chronological path incorporating both the main novels and novellas:
- Hushabye (2013)
- Requiem (2013)
- Imago (2013)
- Snarl (2014)
- Chimera (2014)
- Echo (2015)
- Creed (2015)
- Joy (Novella, 2015) – A Christmas-themed short story.
- Sanctuary (2015)
- Valentine (Novella, 2016) – A Valentine's Day side story.
- Siren (2016)
- Pulse (2016)
- Descent (Novella, 2017) – A short case bridging key story arcs.
- Fury (2018)
- Tasteful (Novella, 2019) – Another short companion mystery.
- Scimitar (2020)
- Performance (2021)
- Hunt (2022)
- Muse (2023)
- Undertow (2024)
- Mercy (2025)
- Gospel (2026)
2. Historical Cozy Mysteries: Asharton Manor & Miss Hart & Miss Hunter
Celina Grace also writes historical cozy mysteries. These two series are closely linked because the main characters of the Miss Hart and Miss Hunter series—Joan Hart (a kitchen maid) and Verity Hunter (a lady's maid)—are introduced in the first book of the Asharton Manor series.
Asharton Manor Mysteries
The Asharton Manor Mysteries is a collection of four standalone novellas set at the same English country house, with each story taking place in a different decade of the 20th century:
- Death at the Manor (2014) – Set in 1929. Introduces Joan and Verity.
- A Prescription for Death (2014) – Set in 1947.
- The Rhythm of Murder (2014) – Set in the mid-20th century.
- Number Thirteen, Manor Close (2014) – Set in the later 20th century.
Miss Hart and Miss Hunter Investigate
This spin-off series officially follows Joan Hart and Verity Hunter as they team up to solve cozy historical crimes. To get their full backstory, you should read Death at the Manor before diving into the main series:
- Death at the Manor (Prequel / Book 0.5) (2014)
- Murder at Merisham Lodge (Book 1) (2016)
- Death at the Theatre (Book 2) (2016)
- The Hidden House Murders (Book 3) (2017)
- A Murder in Mayfair (Book 4) (2021/2023)
- A Crime at Christmas (Book 5) (2023)
- A Secret in Soho (Book 6) (2024)
3. Standalone Novels and Non-Fiction
Before launching her bestselling series, Celina Grace wrote standalone psychological thrillers under her maiden name, Celina Alcock. These are excellent choices for readers looking for dark, atmospheric one-off stories:
- The House On Fever Street (2012) – Shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger Award in 2006 under her maiden name Celina Alcock.
- Lost Girls (2012) – A chilling psychological thriller.
- A Blessing From The Obeah Man (Novella, 2012) – A standalone short story.
- How to Write a Novel When You've Got No Time or Money (2016) – A practical, friendly non-fiction guide for aspiring indie authors drawing on Grace's self-publishing journey.