How to Read the Sunny & Shadow Mystery Series
Navigating Claire Donally's cozy mysteries is straightforward. The series follows a single, continuous timeline, meaning the publication order and chronological reading order are identical. To fully appreciate the character growth, recurring town residents, and the developing bond between Sunny and Shadow, we highly recommend reading the novels in their original release order.
Sunny & Shadow Recommended Reading Order
- The Big Kitty (2012) - The series kicks off when Sunny returns to Kittery Harbor to care for her ailing father. When she agrees to help Ada Spruance look for a multi-million dollar lottery ticket, she finds Ada dead and teams up with a stray tomcat named Shadow to solve the mystery.
- Cat Nap (2013) - Sunny is dragged into a bitter dispute between divorced veterinarians Jane and Martin Rigsdale. When Martin turns up dead, Jane becomes the prime suspect, forcing Sunny and a sore-pawed Shadow to track down the real culprit.
- Last Licks (2014) - Sunny's grumpy boss is sent to a rehabilitation center, where his roommate dies under suspicious circumstances. While Sunny investigates, Shadow meets Portia, a mysterious calico cat rumored to predict deaths.
- Hiss and Tell (2015) - A high-society wedding at a Kittery Harbor compound goes awry when a woman's body is pulled from the water. Sunny, covering the event, suspects foul play and teams up with her investigator boyfriend and Shadow to crack the case.
- Catch as Cat Can (2016) - Sunny investigates a local seafood shop when the owner is late on rent, only to find a body in the walk-in freezer. She must work quickly to prove the shop owner's innocence.
Who is Behind the Claire Donally Pen Name?
While the "Claire Donally" name suggests a fresh voice in the cozy mystery genre, it is actually a pseudonym for the highly prolific American author Bill McCay. McCay has written numerous novels, media tie-ins, and young adult fiction under his own name. Cozy mystery fans might also recognize his work under another pen name, Kaye Morgan, under which he wrote the popular Sudoku Mystery series featuring Liza Kelly.
What to Know Before You Start
The Sunny & Shadow series stands out for its realistic yet witty portrayal of its animal protagonist. Unlike some cozy mysteries where pets have magical powers or talk directly to humans, Shadow behaves like a real cat. His "voice" is delivered through internal monologues, providing humorous, sarcastic commentary on the actions of the humans around him—such as referring to dogs as "biscuit eaters." The series is lighthearted, focusing heavily on small-town community dynamics, cozy settings like the local cafe "Spill the Beans," and clean detective work.