Where to Start with Christiana Miller
For readers looking to dive into Christiana Miller's magical, humorous, and sometimes chaotic universes, the absolute best place to start is with the first book of her signature series, the ToadWitch Mysteries: Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead. This novel introduces Mara, a down-on-her-luck woman who inherits a haunted cottage in a small town, only to discover that her eccentric, estranged Aunt Tillie refuses to stay dead—and that she herself has inherited a legacy of family witchcraft.
Starting here allows you to fully experience the character growth, the slow-burn romance, and the introduction of key side characters like Mara's flamboyant best friend Gus, the mysterious toad Grundleshanks, and a variety of meddling gods and demons. Reading the series out of order is not recommended, as the overarching plot, Mara's growing magical abilities, and the interpersonal relationships develop continuously across the books.
The ToadWitch Mysteries Reading Order
The core of Christiana Miller's bibliography revolves around the ToadWitch series (often stylized as the Toad Witch Mysteries). The recommended reading order follows the publication timeline, which keeps the narrative chronological. Here is the order you should follow:
- Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead (2011) – The book that starts it all. Mara inherits a cottage, gets a ghostly aunt, and discovers her own magical roots.
- Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie We're In Trouble! (2014) – Mara's magical complications worsen as ancient forces and local trouble descend on the cottage.
- Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie We're Kidnapping Cupid (2016) – Mythology and romance take center stage in this third installment, where the god of love himself gets tangled up in Mara's life.
- Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie We're Canning Demons (2018) – The stakes get higher and the humor gets darker as Mara has to deal with literal demonic infestations.
- Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie It's A Vampire's World (2024) – The fifth full-length novel, bringing vampires into the mix and expanding the supernatural lore.
Crossovers and Companion Novellas
In addition to the main novels, there are critical side stories and crossovers that fans of the ToadWitch universe should not miss. The most notable is her crossover with author Barbra Annino:
A Tale of 3 Witches (2013)
This paranormal crossover novelette bridges Christiana Miller's ToadWitch Mysteries and Barbra Annino's popular Stacy Justice Mystery series. In this story, Mara, Aunt Tillie, and the toad Grundleshanks join forces with Stacy Justice and the Geraghty Girls to stop a soul-stealing entity in Amethyst, Illinois.
- For ToadWitch Fans: This can be read as a standalone companion story at any point after finishing the first book, Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead. It is not mandatory for understanding the main series plot, but it offers a fun expansion of the magical universe.
- For Stacy Justice Fans: Within Barbra Annino's series timeline, this novella is officially positioned as Book 2.5, designed to be read between Opal Fire (Book 2) and Bloodstone (Book 3).
Standalone Novels and Short Stories
Outside of the ToadWitch universe, Christiana Miller has written standalone projects that highlight her comedic timing, screenwriting background, and love for festive supernatural chaos.
The Thief Who Stole Midnight (2012)
This standalone novel is a fast-paced, farcical comedy set entirely on New Year's Eve. The story follows Maddie and Mike, a young couple who return to their condo to prepare for a party, only to find a burglar passed out on their bed. Because it is New Year's Eve, the police are unavailable, forcing Maddie and her best friend Rio to take matters into their own hands before Maddie's family arrives. The book is told in alternating first-person perspectives and was expanded from an earlier short story inspired by the author's real-life experience of being locked in a bank after hours.
KrampusKlaus (2017)
A festive, dark-comedy short story originally published in the Naughty or Nice holiday anthology. It follows Gina and Bobby, who cross paths with a rude, cursed Santa Claus who is on the verge of permanently transforming into the child-punishing demon Krampus unless they can help him break the curse.
Anthologies
Miller has also contributed to and edited anthologies, most notably Love and Other Distractions (2013), which collects cozy mysteries and humorous romance tales, serving as a great sampler for readers who enjoy her lighthearted, voice-driven prose style.
What to Know Before You Start
Christiana Miller's style is heavily influenced by her background as a television screenwriter (having written for daytime dramas like General Hospital and its spin-off General Hospital: Night Shift). Because of this, her books feature rapid-fire dialogue, strong ensemble casts, and episodic structures that make them highly bingeable. Readers should expect a blend of cozy mystery tropes with urban fantasy elements, focusing more on character relationships and humor than dark, gritty magical combat.
Additionally, readers should be careful not to confuse Christiana Miller with the romance author Christina Miller (author of Counterfeit Courtship and the Erie Canal Brides series), whose historical and contemporary love stories are completely separate from Christiana's supernatural comedies.